NationStates Jolt Archive

Closed unless invited.

The Long and Dark Road

Planet Ossus
Special Forces Training Center
The Republic Remnant

There was a split which occurred in the Jedi order when Palpatine for a second time usurped control of the Galactic Republic. The majority of Jedi sided with the faction under the influence of the Masaki Clan, and by association the Cordian Empire. These were the Jedi who believed in a new order of Jedi, Jedi that should learn the ways of their enemies, ninjutsu techniques, and elemental attacks, Jedi who believed they could become Emperors themselves, like the Masaki’s have. They were ones who put the Order and themselves before the Republic.

There were others however that believe differently than their brethren. These were the Jedi who believed above all else in the sacred liberties and freedoms of the Republic, and who swore to defend the Republic with their lives and if need be die in its defense. These were the Jedi who thought themselves to be unable to hold public office because of their singular abilities and control of the minds and emotions of others, who knew they could be corrupted and dared not the risk. Instead they wanted only to be the protectors of the Republic acting as law enforcers in wild lands, or force multipliers in the service of the military. Above all they wanted to restore the Republic to what it once was, and they wanted to bring the Sith to justice, redemption was not acceptable in their eyes. It was these Jedi who established a headquarters on the ancient site on Ossus and who trained here with some of the best the Republic military had to offer.

This is what Jedi Master Christopher Hawkins believed, this is who he was, and now he had an apprentice with such raw potential it could hardly be quantified. She, Hera Agathon already knew this history, but she did not care because it was not her history. There were no Jedi in the Colonies after all, but in just over a year, if the training went as it should they would have their first. Hawkins did not want to make Hera into a tool to serve the Republic but rather give her the abilities to enable her to retake her homeland, which was currently subjugated by the Galactic Empire. After all what was not a Jedi than someone who would fight the Empire?

And she had reason to fight and hate the Empire and Cain faction. They had after all been the ones responsible for the death of her father, and so many others when they shattered Adama naïveté dream, Adama her mentor of many years a man Hawkins knew she loved and pained to see hurt. She had much horror in her, much sorrow, all of which could make her easily fall into the Darkness if she did not learn how to use her darkside for good as he had. But as Hawkins looked at his apprentice he could tell that she was still hiding things from him, deceiving him, hiding the bad with light, it was an old trick but one he also knew and would continue to watch.

“That is enough Hera, stop and come forward.” Hawkins told her as she got off of the treadmill which she had been running on for three hours. He knew in that time she had covered 26.2 miles exactly, a good pace, and she appeared to be feeling the short run. She should have exerted herself enough to make clear thinking difficult, to make her reactions slower, to make her not wanting to continue more training. Too bad, the enemy hardly ever meet you on even terms or when you were rested. The think about training is that the trainer often felt like an enemy…

“Tell me Hera, what are the seven forms of light saber combat?” Hawkins asked her as he drew his light saber and ignited it with a snap-hiss.

Hera ran, for what seemed like an eternity. Foot by foot she ran like a hamster inside a wheel, as her master, Hawkins watched idly by. Her hair was pulled up in a pony tail, as Hera wore a form fitting black tank top and runners shorts. Her hair bobbed as her body continued to run, mile after mile showing clearly her new tatoo, the brand that kept the force from finding her, if she so desired it.

Although she was a hybrid, a half breed between the cylon and human, her body still grew tired. She was used to exercise, used to running, aerobics, used to the general running of physical training that the military often gave after boot camp, after her training as an assain for the Colonies. But here and now, Hawkins seemed to make it his life’s mission to push her body to the limits.

By Hawkins Command, Hera slowly got off the treadmill, as she reached for her towel. Her face was soaking wet, her legs sore. This was very different from the little training she got from the Coreworlds. Here there was no time to sit in the garden, no time to rest in fields as they discussed the philosophy of the force. This was less force training, as it was elite forces training.

Hera placed her face inside the towel, slowly pulling the towel across her face, soaking up the sweat. She pulled it down from her face, and began to rub her neck with the towel. The light blue towel, ran over the black tribal tattoo on her neck.

“Sir” Hera replied as she caught her breath, “You want me to name what?” she said clearly confused. She barely knew how to turn a lightsaber on, and yet in the back of her mind, the darkness spoke to her. She could feel it, as she watched Hawkins speak. His mouth was closed, but his voice came Clear.:

Hera smiled, as she listened to Hawkins answer his own question.

“Form I- is the Sarlacc. Form II- Ysalamir. Form III- Mynock. Form IV is called the hawk Bat. She replied as she giggled at the strange names that were being said. She smiled, as she tried to regain her composure. “I am sorry sir, these names are quite amusing though, Form V is the Dragon, Form VI is called the Rancor, and Form VII is called Vaapad.”

Hera knew what was about to occur, as she stood straight waiting for her repremand from her master for giggling. He was a serious mentor, he did not believe in humor during training. He was more than a jedi, he was a Master Sargent.

Hera just watched and waited, as Hawkins stared at her, his lightsaber ignited by his side, pointing near her, as if he were about to attack. Hera could feel the anger inside of him grow, as he thought she was not taking this seriously. His anger, felt comforting, it felt all so fimiliar.

Hera looked to him, standing at full attention. “Sir you can not forget Form Zero though.” she replied, waiting for her reprimand.

"Yes Hera those are the Common names of the seven light saber forms, named for creatures in this galaxy that their movements resemble. Form Zero is not a form at all but is simply using the other tools at hand besides your light saber to solve problems. It is the form you will use as a Jedi in most situations."

He told her,

"You are small and lithe and possess quick reflexes and great flexibility. Form IV, Ataru would be most suited to your abilities. Ataru was an aggressive combat form relying on a combination of power, speed, and grace. Practitioners of Ataru are always on the offensive, attacking with wide, fast, and powerful swings. They constantly call upon the Force to aid in their movements and attacks. By allowing the Force to flow throughout their body, they could overcome their physical limitations and accomplish great things. It is also the form I first mastered, and it is the first of two forms that I intend to teach you."

"Activate your light saber Hera, assume a balanced two-handed guard: holding the lightsaber vertically with both palms, either on the right or left side of the body." Hawkins waited for her to do so.

"To properly train an apprentice in this form I would need almost a decade I can not afford that length of time with your training Hera. Besides you already possess formidable combat skills, the Cordian Academy should have taught you the basic parries and attacks of this form, now you will show me what you have learned. Using Ataru spar with me,"

That was all the warning Hera had as Hawkins saluted her quickly and then attacked with his blade coming at Hera in a powerful sweep.

When you fight a man, he is not your friend. Those words echoed in Hera’s mind, in her soul. It was the one truth that she really knew. All bonds, respect, honor, none of that mattered when faced with an attacker. How do you fight for your life? You fight with every fiber of your being.

The Green glow of Hawkins saber shined off her pale face, as she quickly grabbed the pure white lightsaber, the ornate electrum handle, the gift that Hawkins gave her. Here now, he would no longer be her master. In the ring, as in the world, there is no bond, no mercy, only a victor and the dominated.

Hera reached for her lightsaber, turning on the powerful blade within. The blade hummed and hissed. She watched the battle before it happened, could see the blows, before they hit. She watched Hawkins, as unknowingly he told her everything he was about to do. There was no mercy, no salvation. Training mimics reality, and thus she needed to fight for her life.

Hawkins began his swing, the green blur, from his might, his speed, his power. She saw his form, she saw his technique, she could feel what was about to occur. Hera dropped down, ducking below the blade, as she balled up her fist, and swung with the incredible speed her half cylon body would give. Her fist, sped towards Hawkin’s stomach, with the force of a 300 lbs boxer.

Hera may have punched with the force of a 300lbs boxer but Hawkins was a 300lbs Marine who loved to box. He saw her blow coming and defended himself against it not with any physical attack but with the force. The force bond that existed between them that let Hera see Hawkins moves also worked the other way.

He held his left palm up creating a force barrier which Hera's hand impacted with harshly.

"You are using form zero, I told you to use Ataru. The right idea would have been to parry my swing, using my own momentum to power your counter attack. Ataru requires you to move quickly becoming a blur to your opponent so he can not defend himself against your attacks. Something like this..." Hawkins told her as he then flipped over her head in a move that would have seemed impossible for a man of his build, as he landed his saber thrust for Hera's exposed spine.

Hawkins knew she had little formal training and that he expected the impossible of his apprentice, but training was not a game, being a jedi was not fun, it was dangerous and right now powerful Sith hunted Hera. If she was not ready for them when they called upon her she would die. Hawkins would not have her die because he was soft of her, treating her like a little girls. Besides she would learn, he suspected the bond between them and her cylon brain could study his movements, his mastery of Ataru, and replicate them in a timely manner.

Pain swelled in Hera, as the force once again racked it’s evil force on her body. It’s invisible hand reached out, crashing into her flesh her bone. Her hand was writhing, but that was the least of her concerns. Her concern was for her mission, her life.

In a second, the force picked up Hawkins, carrying him over her, his blade moving to her neck, the very heart of her life. This was not training, this was a duel. Hawkins was trying to kill her, and she knew she had to live.

As Hawkins went over her head, and landed behind her, Hera swung her lightsaber over her back. She could feel the blade, feel his blade. He wanted her to become a blur, and he would get his wish.

Sparks of light slammed into each other, as the green blade met the white one. Hera was not scared, but she knew this could only end in one way. She had to win. Hera reached inside her, as her emotions swelled. Hawkins Blade began to slide away from hers, as Hera twisted, in a blinding moment, swinging her blade with furious speed towards her masters neck.

Hawkins' eyes grew wide for a second as they percieved Hera's skillful counter, a move of the quality expected of a seasoned Jedi Knight. He turned his wrist so that his blade took hers at an oblique using her force enhanced speed against her with only a minimal parry. He then thrust his free hand at her stomach sending a force push at Hera. It impacted her hard driving the wind from her and throwing her down to the floor.

Hawkins deactivated his saber, and walked over to his apprentice. He saw that her hand was bleeding and several of fingers likely fractured. He placed both his hands over hers for a few moments and when he pulled them away they were mended.

"Your technique with the light saber has improved greatly young one, but to be able to truly master this form you need to learn to use saber attacks in tandem with force techniques. Use the force offensively not only to increase your agility and strength but also defensively, you must sense my attacks, learn to defend against a push like that. Had you been a Sith, that attack would have shattered your ribcage.

"Now stand, and assume the opening position again." He waited for her to do so. "You have learned defensive techniques, hand to hand, even adequate swordmanship so far. What you lack Hera is command of the force, you can call on it to increase your agility I have seen that, but you can't execute a simply push." He told her,

"You must concentrate the force in the palm of your hand, concentration here is key. Then you unleash it quickly throw it like a wave of energy at your target. Observe."

Hawkins raised his hand and then fist closed then opened it quickly towards the opposite wall made of reinforced ferrocrete. The wall shattered with a large crater in its center, debris and dust exploding from it.

"That is a technique best used against a single opponent, but you can also release it in a sphere from your body, blowing away many opponents should they be surrounding you."

"Now, Hera, Try it on me." Hawkins ordered her.

Hera’s move was flawless, her master should have been defeated, the feigned attack should have landed next to his neck, yet instead she was crushed by a devastating invisible hand, that flung her around like she was a toy in a dog’s mouth. It was quite surprising, more than painful, as she flew backwards, like a stick in a tornado, and smashed into the floor below.

More than her body ached, as her pride was crushed by the invisible hand below. “You are weak, pathetic. You let yourself be tossed around. Here I thought you were mighty, worthy of my secrets.” the small voice from the immaterial object spoke to Hera, as she grabbed her bruised torso. “Show him what you are made of, embrace your true nature.” she heard as her anger swelled at the humiliating blow she received.

Hawkins soon approached, his lightsaber deactivated, as he healed her wounds. The peaceful mend of broken bones, of lavish light, of flesh that was once torn comng back together.

She stood up, and reactivated her lightsaber, as Hawkins ordered. He was taunting her, waiting again for the fatal move, to strike her down again. This time she would not let him.

Hera closed her eyes for a second, as the world around her turned into a barren wasteland, sand covered the floor now, as t he winds ripped around her and her master. Hera opened her eyes, her white blade held to the side. She attacked.

Hera ran to Hawkins with terrifying speed, as she held her hand out, she could feel the rage flow through her. She reached out to her master, she could feel his body, his flesh, as she picked him up and threw him against the now invisible wall. Hera continued to run, slashing her lightsaber at him, ducking from side to side, his moves, as she whirled around, jumping, kicking, and slashing. She turned herself into a virtual ball of light, as she channeled the force, her inner strength at her master. She would not be knocked to the floor again.

Slash after slash, Hera moved, as Hawkins blocked the blade. She spun, jumped over him, moved around him, his moves matching hers perfectly. As she continued to fight though, her body began to grow tired, she was pushing herself far beyond what her body could do. Her mastery of controlling the force was still young, still new, still to inexperienced. Hera’s arms grew tired, but still she had to fight. She was not weak, and she would learn what needed to be learned.

Hawkins wondered how his apprentice had mastered the force so fully to be able to pick his body up in the air and to throw him against the wall while running fully at him. Even some of the strongest of Jedi Knights would have had to remain motionless and concentrate greatly to utilize such a technique.

He used the force to negate most of his acceleration towards the wall but not all, when he hit he did so with so much force that his back would be bruised for sometime. His spine may have been fractured in places if it was not adamantine.

As he renewed his parrying of Hera’s blows he also noticed that she had copied the moves of Ataru that he had shown here just minutes before. Hera had great force reserves more than he had even felt in Travis Masaki, could that coupled with the calculating mind of a machine be enough to copy her opponents moves and techniques almost instantaneously, it seemed it was but he could not help but think that she was drawing her knowledge and powers from another source. Of course he knew what that was, what ever that Sith Lord had put into her mind.

Yet, her attacks were slowing, her movements were becoming sluggish, her mind could not perceive his moves six movements ahead or with just as many alternatives to those six moves, making her defense against his own counters less able. She may be able to proficiently copy his attacks and use powerful force attacks, but her body, was still human, still weak, still lacking the endurance of his own old bones.

As Hera sparred with Hawkins her force aura was visable, a bright white emission from her body, it was almost blinding. Hawkins when he reached his highest levels of combat also cast a similar light, it was the living force manifest in this world that was seen from him. Whatever light was coming off Hera it felt much different. It was not exactly Sith, but it surely wasn’t the living force. It may fool those who have not experience the living force for themselves but it did not fool Hawkins. Its seemed to his military mind to be a smokescreen intended to hide something from him and everyone else. Just what had Hera to hide, he would need to blow the smoke away to find out.

She came for his neck this time again, he parried the sweep of Hera’s blade but she had the reflexes of a gymnast and quickly spun around behind going for his kidneys. Hawkins swung his own blade perpendicular to hers using his leverage to pin it to the side of the wall holding it there with his greater strength. Hera could only look at him, struggling to regain her breath, at his mercy. Hawkins free hand reached to his opposing hip, he pulled out a second light saber and ignited the weapon, its yellow blade hissed only an inch from her neck. The white light slowly dissipated from his exhausted, beaten and defeated apprentice.

The sparring match was over.

“You are weak.” He told her his voice filled with disgust and disappointment in his failure of an apprentice. “Utterly pathetic. I thought you would become a worthy Jedi Knight, but I see now that wont be.”

The words would cut into the young woman's core but they were meant to, they were meant to provoke a reaction. It remained to be see whether Hera could be pulled back from the abyss if the Sith Lord still influenced her, and for how long has his influenced gone unchecked. Was she corrupted to her very core, or was there still something to be redeemed. If Hawkins believe in her God he would have prayed that it was the later but if not, well he would cross that bridge if he had to.

Note Bena... since i wont be around tomorrow OG to answer ur question Hawkins didnt hear the words in Hera's head. He heard them enough on his stay on wayland its all standard sith taunting...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNhKVADTz68

Gold, the symbol of wealth, the symbol of status, the symbol of strength, stared Hera in the face. She could see nothing more than gold, as Hawkin’s lightsaber stood an inch away from her neck, from taking her life. He could sneeze, and she would be no more, her body would lay decomposing, filled with worms, as her flesh would fall from her bones.

“You are weak.” she heard again, this time not from some hidden object, or some trap laid within her mind, but from her master. “Utterly pathetic. I thought you would become a worthy Jedi Knight, but I see now that wont be.”

She listened, she could see, it was all to plain to her. For all her strength, for all her speed, for all her emotion, she still laid on the floor, staring down Hawkin’s lightsaber, instead of the reverse being true.

“He is right.” she heard, as the “object” spoke to her. “He should be where you are, but instead you are in his place. I also thought you were worthy, but here you lay on the ground... like a whipped dog.” Hera could do nothing but watch, watch as her master was about to slay her, to take what he never gave. Her eyes widened, not out of fear, but out of expecting the inevitable.

She took a deep breath, waiting for the end, waiting for Hawkins to do what she always knew he would do, waiting for what Emily Rydo could not see, she waited for the warm plasma to enter her chest, and snuff the life out of her. Hera was not scared, All things die, even the stars. If this was to be her end, it would be.”

“GET UP NOW!” she heard, in her mind, as Hera closed her eyes. She felt a surge of strength at that moment. “Do not lay there beaten, do not fight fair. He wishes to see your strength, then show him.” she heard.

Hera now realized strength alone however was not enough to beat an opponent. Experience was a key essential, experience is what she truly lacked, it is what she needed from Hawkins. She could only get that experience from him, and she would. Hera watched Hawkins, as he held his lightsaber at her, continuing to taunt her like a sith lord would his apprentice. Hera just looked up to her master and smiled, as her body vanished, her force presence masked by the sealing technique he himself put on her, her footprints on the desert floor non existent. Hawkins was still in her world, her imagination, here she was a goddess.

She moved away, slowly rolling to the left, as Hawkins pulled his lightsaber up, waiting for the strike that never came, as his apprentice walked away slowly leaving Hawkins’s range. He was alone now in the barren wasteland.

Hera watched him, as his memories poured into her. She could see his torment as a gladiator on wayland, she could feel his pain at being forced to kill the hutt, at being forced to kill Jennifer Massaki, at watching his own lightsaber being plunged into the heart of his fiancee. That was his weakness. He wanted to act like a sith, it would be so.

Hawkins, alone, left to wander the desert world, so like tattoine, yet so much more desolate, waited, for the attack that would not come. Instead of lightsabers clashing, all he heard was clapping. Clap... Clap... Clap...

A very familiar voice whispered in his ear. “Since when do the Jedi worry about strength. Since when does being worthy, or not being pathetic have anything to do with the Jedi. The Masaki’s are pathetic, yet they rule the Jedi in the Galaxy... they rule you.” Hawkins heard, the sweet loving voice of his dark side love, the fiancee he killed.

As Hawkins turned, she stood behind him, the lightsaber hole in her chest still fresh from when he killed her, her eyes as yellow as his lightsaber. “When did you care about those things, or are you now one of us?” his fiancee asked of him.

So here he was back in one of Hera's environments out in the raggedly edge of a barren wasteland. Was this how she felt inside, he remembered not to long ago before the confrontation with the new Sith Lord this had been a fertile garden instead, now it was a barren landscape of death.

But why was it still...if the seal was holding the garden and Hera's peace should have regrown, but it hasn't. Was there something dark still infecting her? Was it that object the Sith implanted in her mind while she slept? He would find out.

An figure who resembled his dead love spoke to him about some dribble. It was Hera's words but she was using figments of his own memories to get his response.

"Tell me Hera, the words I spoke to you at the end of our sparring match, You have heard them before haven't you. You are still hearing them or words like them aren't you. The Sith he is still in your head isnt he?"

"His words are poison Hera. They seem sweet, they will appeal to you, make you beleive that you are important and strong, and that others are out to get you. In the end they are hollow, they are nothing. In the end there is only two sith the apprentice and the master. The apprentice can only move on once she kills her master. The master will never allow that to happen. It you listen to his words you will become nothing but his servant, his slave. Listen to mine, and you can become a great Jedi, independent, together we will liberate your Colonies' and its people. But that road is not an easy path, it will be long and dark,"

"You did not lose the sparring match because you were weak, your strength and control of the force has advanced at unheard of levels. I just have more experience more endurance than you. I said those words to reveal this darkness in you, to find out how deep the infection has gone." Hawkins turned his back on the woman.

"You can strike me down in this world. You could hold me prisoner for many seasons. Do it, I wont stop you, the man in white would love you to. He fears us Hera that is why he is trying to turn you against not only me, but your home as well. It is your choice, we can either continue your training or you can claim your first Jedi, and walk the path of the Sith."

Beads of sweat, formed on Hawkin’s neck, as the dry hot desert sun, beat down on him, covering him like a blanket, enveloping him. The heat was nearly unbearable as Hawkins stared down his old flame, his now deceased lover, who’s life was extinguished by his own hand.

She laughed, openly mocking Hawkin’s speech his gesture’s. “Please Chris.” the familiar voice from beyond the grave said, “You know she would never harm you, she is too weak, to impotent. Hera still has loyalty, honor, and love within her.” His fiancee said, grinning like a predator to her prey.

She walked up to him, closer to him, as the cold icy grip of death grabbed Hawkin’s hand, embracing it, as she walked along side him. “You see,” his fiancee continued, “Hera as you know has considerable potential. She is the first of her kind. She will in fact eventually lead the next of what her mother calls God’s Next Generation. Right now though, you are an obstruction to that plan.” the woman continued.

As Hawkins and the woman continued to walk, slowly in the distance, like a mirage, Hawkins could see an oasis. Small trees poked up into the sky, as lush green bushes ran along the outer edge of the waterpool. It was in the shape of a perfect circle, as the two approached.

As Hawkins got near the oasis, he could see an outline, on the sandy floor below, one that looked all too familiar, one that looked exactly like the brand he had placed on Hera, the very seal that was designed to keep the darkness at bay, that which now held back the desert sands, and scorching heat, the only thing preserving the water hole and it’s life.

“This is what you have done, this is all you have saved.” the dead love of Hawkins continued. “It is not much, it is all that keeps her weak, it is all that is keeping you alive. How small a sliver of hope that you have saved, such a small portion that Emily helped to plant. It is not enough, and soon the seal will be broken, and this small waterhole will be devoured.” she finished.

As she said that, the world shifted, and Hawkins now stood on the Battlestar Ares. Hawkins like a force ghost could do nothing but watch, as Hera snuck into Admiral Cain’s quarters, with Travis Masaki at her side. Admiral Cains eyes were wide, as Hera stared at her. Hera’s eyes were yellow with hate, as the Admiral laid on the ground screaming, as her body was being brutalized and tortured, by the invisible snakes that once attacked Hera. She screamed til she stopped breathing, and laid dead.

“Come on we need to go” Travis said to Hera, as he pulled her out of the Admiral’s Quarters.

Waves began to shift across the room, as the room changed, now to a pilot’s quarters. A young woman with blond hair laid sleeping, her infant girl with black hair laid next to her. The door crept open, and all that could be seen was the glow of a white lightsaber, all that could be heard, was a humming noise, and the girgling of blood, as Hera reached over and picked up the infant.

The room began to wave again, as Hera stood before the Jedi Council. Emily stood in front of her, Hawkins could see himself sitting on the council, clearly disappointed in her. “For your crimes, against nature, against the jedi order and the force itself, we hear by sentence you into exile.” Emily said.

Hera watched Emily, her betrayal, as Hera retorted. “I was sent on the mission by you, I completed the mission that you sent me on. The force called to me, called me to her, told me to do what I did, and you dare say that I am the one that is violating the will of the force.”

Waves continued, as Hawkins returned to the desert. His fiancee smiled. “It is already set in motion. Coredia will bring her to us and your seal will fall. Once Hera's love and faith in you, and Emily is destroyed, nothing will stop us from bringing her to her rightful place.”

The desert faded, as Hawkins stood over Hera. Her eyes stared at Hawkins yellow lightsaber, as it was near her neck. Hera closed her eyes waiting for the fatal strike.

As she spoke Hawkins knew her words were false, he knew she lied. As he looked into that small pool of water, the lone oasis in a wasteland he smiled and was happily filled with hope. Here was proof seeable and a feelable that there was still a soul inside Hera, that she still clung to some good. She would become a Jedi, he knew that now, he felt that now more than ever. After all that has been done to her after all that she had suffered she would overcome.

As he returned from the vision of a possible future Hawkins was staring at his apprentice, his yellow blade at her throat. He acted like nothing had occurred once again, he deactivated his sabers and placed them in his robes while he floated a canteen up in the air in front of Hera.

"Drink you've earned it." Hawkins told her. "You tried to beat me Hera but you simple are not up to my level yet. That is nothing to be shameful of, I have been a Jedi for fifty years now, and you have just begun, you still have a long way to go, savor the journey.

"You have come a long way in these last months Hera. You have become proficient at Ataru and manipulation of the standard Force Techniques. That is something that would take years for a student to accomplish at the Academy. You must continue to train in your free time, techniques such as a force push may seem simple, mundane, and monotonous, but if you are able to utilize that simple easy technique at a higher level then your opponent you will have the upper hand. Even an apprentice can push a droid ten meters, but it takes much more skill to push one hundred droids twice as far."

"Your only weakness is your endurance Hera, when you had energy you dueled on par with me, even pushed me back a bit. You may be half cylon, that gives you inhuman endurance already but that alone is not enough. The Sith are demonic in their assaults. They do not tire. They will outlast their opponent, you must strike them down before that happens if not fight until you die or drop. When the time comes that you face the Sith, your demons do not try to beat them, you cant try. You must simple do, at that time there is no try, do you understand my apprentice?"

Hera felt relief, as soon as the yellow blade of Hawkin’s was withdrawn. She sighed in relief, as she reached up for his hand, helping her up to her feet. The tiny voice, the voice that persisted like a recording, but was feint was wrong. It was wrong... Hawkins did not desire her death, he never did. It had lied to her. Although it did give her strength, and forbidden knowledge, it was trying to mislead her, to force her to do what she thought Hawkins was going to. She was glad she did not listen.

She listened to Hawkins as he spoke, of the enemy, the true enemy, not the sith in the galaxy, but the hidden one deep inside her. That enemy was relentless, it never did tire, it hounded Hera, battered her defenses daily. If it were not for the seal on her neck, holding the darkness at bay, if it were not for the trust she had in her master, her friend, she would have fallen, she would have stolen the life from him. She was glad she did not listen.

Hera walked slowly over to her gym bag. She took her lightsaber, the beautiful weapon, the ornate handle and placed it within the bag. She reached inside, and grabbed a bottle of water. She unscrewed the cap, and took a quick sip from the bottle. As he continued to speak, she just looked at him.

“I understand sir.” she replied, as her hand reached out with the bottle, gesturing for Hawkins to take a sip. “I understand quite well sir.” As he watched, Hera seemed to gain her composure back, as her energy was returning to her. Hera noticed a subtle change in Hawkins this time, one she had not seen before. She knew this time, after a duel that unlike the previous times, she would not be sent to do another PT drill, weapons training, or time meditating. This time, something was off. Since she had been on Ossus, free time became a myth, a luxury she could only dream of. What was he refering to, she could only wonder.

"I have pushed you hard Hera. Understand that is because of a simple philosophy that is applied to every branch of service her on Ossus, whether it is Jedi, Marine Recon, Special Forces or Cobra. We train how we fight, like every moment is life and death. We do this to build confidence in our abilities so that when the shit hits the fan we do not let our comrades down."

"Out there right now deep in the Galactic Empire or in Chronosia or in Balrogga, there are Sith or other vile men training to do us harm. They are true believers and fanatical, only by training as we have these last months can we overcome them. Together we will. Return to your quarters and rest. You will have tomorrow off to recover before we move on to your final phase of training. I suggest you contact someone who would want to be notified in case of your death. This next phase is dangerous more so than the previous. Tell me Hera are you afraid?"

Hera just looked into Hawkins eyes as her response was clear and cut, like that of a solder. “Sir No sir.” she replied to his question. As she answered, she reached into the force, and pulled her gym bag to her. Sure it was a waste of power, but Hawkins told her to practice every chance she had. Hera turned to her master, and saluted, as she walked down the hallway.

She came to a wooden door, and she turned the knob. She walked into it, her quarters and put her gym bag on the ground. The room was barren, nothing adorned it, just a bed, with some generic sheets and a thin grey wool blanket and a cheap dresser.. Her sheets was folded tightly, so tight that one could easily bounce a quarter off it. She reached into her bag, and grabbed a towel as she hit the showers.

After she got out of the shower, and got dressed, Hera reached into her gym bag, and grabbed her lightsaber. She tucked it underneath her blue over coat, and attached it to a belt that covered her waist, wrapped around a navy blue dress. She could not escape the fact that she lost. How did she lose. Her form was sound, her moves flawless, until that second lightsaber caught her offguard. Hera realized that was the moment. She was enraged, she closed herself off to his mind at that moment, she could see now that in her fit of anger, she lost a precious moment, she did not glean the precious thought that cost her the victory.

She was impressed by the move, as she opened the door to her room. She took off running down the hallway, running as fast as she could, she knew what she had to do. Hera ran past several other knights, as her long blue overcoat flapped behind her, from the air moving around her, as she ran. She soon came to her destination, the workshop.

Hera opened the door, and began to search for what she needed, for the edge that Hawkins had. She ran through the shelves, collecting what she could. Power supplies, rechargers, casings everything. She smiled as she could see before her every thing she needed but one, a crystal. None looked right, none felt right, none of them were right. Hera sighed for a second, then she closed her eyes. She reached out with her senses, scanning the room, the walls. She could see everything, everyone, in the temple. She could see the mouse running in the kitchen, the tiny cracks in the foundation, the students training under the careful tutalige of their masters. She could feel what she was looking for. A small crystal called to her, she could see it, hear it. It wanted her, and she wanted it. She kept her eyes closed, as she walked to it. She opened a drawer, and reached her hand into the drawer. It felt warm, it felt right as she pulled out a small purple crystal. Hera looked at it and smiled. “Welcome home.” was all she said.

Hera then began to get to work, over the next few hours, she welded and smiled, as piece by piece she constructed her first lightsaber. She concentrated with the force, as she melded the pieces of it together. The gold electrum hilt, fused with the purple crystal. The power supply with the recharger. Everything fell into place, even a small switch that extended the blade by a foot. When she completed it, she turned on the blade, the purple blade that hummed in the air, and hissed. It was hers, an extension of her, yet still, unlike what Master Emily or Hawkins taught her, she did not feel attached to it. Although she poured herself into it, although it was an expression of her identity, Hera could not help but feel, it is just an object.

Hera sighed though as she looked at the blade. She looked down at it, as she reached down with her other hand and pulled out her blade given to her by Hawkins. A fine gift it was, and it had served her well. The beautiful silver blade, yet still something was missing from it. Hera had to know what it was.

Hera placed her hands on them, as she closed her eyes. Why was she not attached to them? Why were they just objects? Hera waited, she listened to herself as the answer came. She could feel a surge of power in her body in her hands, as she could see a white glow emit from them. From her body pulsed her own inner feelings, her power, as she watched in amazement. Hera could feel the power in her blades grow, as they became more than objects, they became her.

Hera soon opened her eyes, to see the wonder she did not before. The hilts changed. Beautiful, ornate, possessing an attunement to her own, her silently hidden dark power, made of her, they were now one with her. She could now feel them.

Hera Attached them to her waste, as she walked back to her room. It was time to sleep, and soon, it would be time to practice, until Hawkins came for her.

The next morning was tough, as Hera finished her twelve mile run in the morning. Her breath hard, and sweat dripping from her, she reached down and grabbed a towel, and wiped her face. She then reached down into her gym bag, and grabbed a watch. 05:23, the watched glistened in the dark dawn that surrounded the skyline. Even on her first day off in many months she could not enjoy it, she could not sleep in. Getting up early had become ingrained in her, her morning exercise routine became tradition. Hera wait a few minutes, alone outside the Ossus temple, as she pulled out her lightsabers.

She fought hard against an invisible enemy, swinging dashing, ducking, as if she fought a foe in reality. She kicked hard, punched as if she fought someone real, pushed her body and her flexibility to the limit. She had to practice, it was more than conditioning, more than tradition, it has become part of who she is. A hour went by, as she continued to batter the invisible foe, a whirl of silver and purple flashes around in a whirl wind, as she continued to reach into the force, pushing and pulling the nothingness around her.

After the morning workout and combat practice was complete, Hera walked into the cafeteria, where she sat down. Bacon, eggs, biscuits, grits, fresh fruit, all of it was available to her. Even after all these months she was still amazed that the Ossus temple was not the place of peace and serenity the Konoha Temple was, instead it was a military training ground. No wonder Master Hawkins thought so little of the Coredians, their softer ways, it was the exact opposite of the Ossus temple. At Konoha, they taught to be at peace and harmony with the force. At Ossus they taught how to be the sword and arm of the force.

Still though Master Hawkins words haunted Hera. “You may not survive the next phase. Are you scared?” She was not afraid. She was not scared, but he was right. Out of respect, out of duty she had to notify someone. But who. She was alone, she always has been. It was her fate, she feared, as she thought of anyone who might be alive that would desire to hear from her.

Her Father was dead, the fate of her mother, only God knows. Adama could be anywhere, if he is even alive. There was no body to contact save one. Emily Rydo.

After she ate her breakfast of cornflakes and milk, and half an orange, Hera got up and ran to the communications room. Walking it would seem, was no longer an option, after Hawkins made her run everywhere, for many months.

She looked at the interface, and paused. Would she even remember her? Would she even care? Hera did not know, as she turned on the machine.

“Master Rydo, I am not sure if you remember me or not, Hera said showing her low self worth and opinion of herself in others eyes, but you were instrumental in my life. Last night, I was informed by Master Hawkins that it was time to move to the final stage of my training. It has been a short yet intense few months since I left Konoha. And Although I may not survive the upcoming phase, I wish for you to know that I deeply appreciate all that you have done for me.” Hera concluded.

After she had saved and sent the message, Hera turned back to go to her quarters, where she awaited Master Hawkins, to begin the final phase.

Hawkins watched as Hera left after she flatly stated that she wasn't scared. All Hawkins had to do was remember his own trials, his own experiences...the trails were literally a make or break scenario. They were real, a Jedi passed, was killed, or turned to the dark side. The Republic understood all to well the consequences of a Jedi who while serving the Republic and falls into darkness, the results were men like Darth Vader or women like Darth Nightshade. The trials would reveal whether a candidate could resist, could fight the Sith, and would be worthy of the title Jedi Knight.

The Jedi of the Republic were members of its special forces, went on high risk missions and could be captured thus they had to attend Sear School which would be the final phase, designed specifically to break a Jedi. Would Hera break? When the time comes if she didn't she would die. As Hawkins did, as every single one of the few Jedi the Republic had in the past. There was a reason why the Cordians had thousands of Jedi and the Republic less than one hundred. Hawkins knew fear all to well,

"You will be Hera, you will be."

Hours earlier

Hawkins whistled along as a plattoon jogged by singing an ancient cadance. The soldiers sang loudly as they ran in step,

"Ran to Coruscant in just one day, Old Palpy asked how'd you get here in just one day. I replied with a whole lot of anger, With blood sweat and a whole lot of danger!" That brought Hawkins back to his own days as a Marine but they were long past as he walked into Hera quarters and placed a note on her desk before he left. By the time she saw it he would be off of Ossus and deep into the Farstars.

A simple hand written message awaited Hera on her desk, it read:

A Jedi must be a skilled tracker. You must be able to discover your query without being detected, with an enemy noticing you. Search the force and you will sense my location. Then come and find me you have two weeks to do so.

By the way where I am it is illegal for you to go. But a Jedi life is not easy. Don't get caught, don't be noticed or you fail.

The Mind of Hera (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_OEDiSXe2s&mode=related&search=)

Hours ticked by, as Hera waited in silence, in Meditation, surrounded on a stage by curtains. The backdrop was red, with gold trimming, as she looked out to an empty audience. Chairs filled the old opera house. Hera looked up, and smiled, as she could see the beautiful artwork that once adorned the Opera House of Kobal. Here, she was alone, yet she was comforted. She was in the great opera house, in the city of the gods, on Kobal itself, before the great blaze that scattered the thirteen tribes of man to the stars.

Hera spun around, as she smiled, dancing on the stage in pure happiness. She danced up and down for what seemed like hours. She smiled, as she was surrounded by beauty, the five long white curtains that hung behind her. She could not have been happier, until she heard something.

She turned quickly, as she saw something appear in the center of the stage. A white babies crib, waited for her, as a light shined down on it. “Where had it come from?” she thought to herself as she walked over to it. Inside was pure darkness, pure evil, and it was even more beautiful than the opera house. Hera reached down, and picked up the small child, her hair as black as coal, her eyes brown. The baby looked at Hera and smiled, cooing in the sweet way babies do. Hera watched the baby in her arms, studying it, feeling the fragile neck, the lightness of it, the helplessness of it. “Welcome sis.” Hera told the baby, smiling down to her like a mother would her own daughter. “I will take good care of you.” Hera said, smiling, as she embraced the baby.

The Opera house vanished. The baby was gone. Hera looked around, to see only the blank walls of her quarters, the bed, the dresser, the small generic desk. Nothing more existed here. Sadness filled Hera as she walked around the room, waiting for the master that would never come. She paced back and forth, til she noticed a small letter on the desk.

She read the letter, and she knew what she had to do. She was a predator, and he wished to act like her prey. She had to find him. She had to prove herself, not to Hawkins, not to Emily, but to herself, and to that little child in the crib who cried out to Hera. She would do that.

Hera closed her eyes, as she focused. “Where are you hiding... Master Hawkins”

Galloway's World
Heart Systems
Farstars Cluster

The Farstars Confederacy contained over 150 habitable worlds contained within twenty-two star systems, each linked together by a wormhole. Due to superluminal distortions and gravimetric waves any ship that elected to travel at faster-than-light velocities did so at their own peril. At random incalculable strong grav waves would tear through hyperspace obliterating any vessel in its path. As such the wormholes were the only feasible connections between the star systems. Some systems were hub systems much like the several airports on old earth. Outlying systems connected to them, as such these systems developed much greater economies than the outlying systems, and also acted as strategic control nodes.

The threat of the Galactic Empire was well known to the people and worlds of the Farstars. Before contact with the Calamari the Farstars existed only as a loose conglomerate of a merchant league. When the Empire was reborn and the Reformed Republic was shattered the Calamari and their few remaining allies were driven back and back. While the Republic suffered defeat upon defeat the Farstars armed for war. Quickly their large merchant fleets were armed and refitted with military grade technology to supplement the few military ships of the Confederacy. These ships were sent into the fray and they bleed alongside the battered remnants of the Republican Navy. They met with horrific defeats and bloody stalemates as they were constantly pushed back. However instead of breaking into a route the men and women of the Confederacy were became tempered like steel in a furnace, and they continued to resist harder and harder. Because they knew something no one else did. They knew that while they died and bought time with their outnumbered Regular Navy ships and their out gunned and under protected merchant conversions, that the Farstars industry base had been mobilized behind them and was constructing not only a fleet but an entire navy safely secured and secluded in the Farstars.

Hawkins could sense the pride and anticpation of the workers in the system as he passed through it. He entered a lightly guarded wormhole terminus. It was protected only by a cluster of AI turrets and a single destroyer division, because its destination was a bleak system containing only two dead planetoids.

Hawkins entered the empty system, it was also what was called a dead end system as it had no exit point but the one Hawkins had just flown through. Except Hawkins knew a secret about the system that only the highest level of security clearance could discern. The system contain a closed wormhole. It was the time of worm hole that could only be discovered by literally flying through its terminus. It was the same phenomena that brought the first merhanter ship to Mon Calamari and now Hawkins entered it.

The system beyond was the anti-thesis of the system he had just passed through. It contained over a dozen habitable planets, and many more inhabitable satellites. There was maintained only one colony of isolationists in the system who lived on the Planet named Miranda. It was the furthest planet from the sun and it had a pretty extreme axis which would lead to long severe winters and storms that made Nor'Easters seem mild. Which was why the colonists choose it. They were a people who forsaken technology and preferred to live in primitive times near that of medieval. But to each his own. This system was the future, the hope of a people who had very little of each. It was on Miranda that Hera would find her master.

Miranda's Curse (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzdAb-kY5_g)

The room began to shift, as Hera watched, apathetically at this game of cat and mouse. She waited, as the ghosts of the past came to life, as Master Hawkins walked into her room, and left the note. This was not an ordinary test of skill, unlike the many before her, as she followed him, her body still in the room meditating, as she walked down the cooridors, down long hallways to a Farstars transport ship.

Hera, followed him, silently, as a ghost as the ship took off heading for the dark and bleak wormholes, the one that would lead her to his location, the one that she would find her master at.

The trip was long, as Hera stood over Hawkins shoulders, first travelling through the Mon Cal hub, then to a lesser hub, and finally to the closed wormhole. She watched with ease as he landed on the backwards medieval planet below, and walked into a bar and ordered a drink.

Hera still sitting in meditation awoke, the only words that left her lips was that of a whisper... “Miranda”.

Hera stood up, and reached for her lightsabers, the objects of war, the tools of a knight, now an extension of herself. She had but one choice, she had to do what she was trained to do, to hunt her prey.

Hera stood up, and began to walk down the hallway, to the outside areas. Here the solders passed, chanting and singing songs of glory, as they marched in tune. Hera took very careful note of these troops, the marines uniforms, their posture, their accents. She listened to them, as they spoke to her of their training, of their commanding officer, of their upcoming mission. She waited patiently until she heard the right message, as the men without saying a word, turned their heads and told her their secrets.

One marine, walking by, oblivious to the young girl in dark blue, wearing combat boots and a purple overcoat walked by. “Tomorrow 05:30, transport one hundred and Thirty one. I can not wait to go out and kick some bucket head ass, too bad I have to go to Mon Cal first.” the man said as he walked by.

Hera walked by and smiled. She briskly walked, her long overcoat covering her features, as she continued forward to the library. She wanted to learn all she could of this planet, of the trade hubs in-between and what to expect, and she had to do it before 05:30. Hera looked down at the clock, 14:23. She had time.

Hera continued to walk, as a brisk cool breeze blew by her, slightly chilling her thin body to the bone, as she walked by the trees, as the warm sun shined on her. As she walked, she soon reached her destination, the archives. Hera walked in, saluting two Ossus marines, as she entered the great halls. She walked around, the large computer terminals that held all of the knowledge of the Jedi order on Ossus, star maps, a wealth of information that anyone would love, existed here in this one place. Hera slowly walked over to a desk, and sat down. She reached for the computer terminal, as she pulled up a holographic map of the Far stars, the worm hole junctions, the list of known planets, all but one planet... Miranda.

Hera sighed as the planet her master was hiding, as her goal to prove her worth seemed to diminish. She could clearly see the path to the dead system, Moncal the most prominent hub in the Farstars, then to the insignificant system, then to the dead system, but from their the trail ended. Either way though, she had to go, but how. Hera sat back, clearing her mind, forcing her disappointment inward, she tried to formulate a plan.

Minutes ticked by as she figured out what she had to do, Hera got up, and began to walk to the Ossus quarter master.

Did anyone appriciate him? No ofcourse not. Nobody cared a lick so long as they got their food on time, and mostly their pay check. Other than that nobody cared about the overworked quartermaster. And this had been a day from hell, over 1200 complaints and inquiries in a single shift. It was enough to give a hard working man an ulcer.

He looked up from his mountain of paper work to see a young woman approaching him in a Jedi Apprenice's robes. The baggy robes concealed much of her form but he could see her face and she looked not to be even twenty standard years old. The Jedi must really be losing their people fast if they need children to fill the ranks, but he supposed that was the case all around in the Republican Navy. And he had to admit if he had to listen to some more grief he didn't mind hearing it from some one of the fairer sex, hell hes gotten good enough with it with his wife."


"What do you want?" He asked Hera gruffly.

One did not need to be a psychic, or a user in the force to see the poor man in front of her was overworked and tired. As he spoke in his gruffly tone of voice, Hera walked over to him and just smiled. As she looked at him the man began to speak, not with words to her, but his inner most thoughts.

So many complaints, so much work, and so little respect, is what she heard, as she walked closer to the man. She held out her hand, and offered it to him, “Hello, I am Hera and who might you be?” she asked of him politely knowing that a little respect can go a long way in getting someone what they want.

She paused for a moment, carefully judging her next words. She knew that subtle words, slight body language, signs of respect, and of course a beautiful smile was something that can make anyone’s day turn for the better.

“It is a pleasure to meet you.” she replied as she smiled to the man. “I know you are very busy and I do not wish to detain you for long, but Master Hawkins has sent me on an errand, and you know how grumpy those old Jedi masters can be.” she replied to him. “He asked me to if it is not too much trouble, but I am required to get a specialist uniform for an upcoming training op. He has this crazy idea to send me in with a squad of troops on a war game exercise, and he wants me to blend in with the other platoon members.” she said smiling. “I guess he wants to see how well I work with others. Is there anyway I can get a uniform, and an ID? I would be most grateful.” she asked politely. “I am a size 0.”

The quartermaster looked at the little girl in front of him and laughed.

“You a Jedi working under that cold-blooded bastard Hawkins, girly run along I don’t believe you. Unless of course you have copy of your orders?” He asked not expecting her to have any.

Hera looks puzzled for a moment as she begins to laugh. “Oh I am so sorry sir.” she replies with a smile, “I forgot to hand this to you. I am so sorry.” she replied, like an absent minded valley girl. Hera lowered her head, as she fumbled in her pocket for her “orders.” As she did, she focused on the quartermaster, searching his mind for what the orders would look like. It did not take long, as he had seen quite a list of orders in his life time. Hera continued to stare at the floor, as she could feel the power surging through her, the desire to use it more and more.

“Why put up with these lies, force yourself on him, take him over and make him do your bidding.” she heard in her mind.

“No”, she thought to herself, “It is not the time nor the place. You do not kill a fly with a cannon, this will work quite well.” she replied to the inner voice in her mind, with her own thoughts.

“Here they are” she replied, “ forgive me again, I am so sorry I did not offer this to you first.” Hera reached out with her hand, offering him the orders for the items she required, with an exact signature of Master Hawkins.

"These appear to be authentic, I have to be sure though Adept Agatheon, every day I get bogus orders for materials" The quartermaster withdrew. Minutes later her returned with the uniform for Hera. Tan swede tactical boots, ACU's, combat harness, an M-203 Carbine with 4 four loaded magazines, a combat knife, web harness, and a three day assault pack. "I know you are a Jedi, but this is the standard load, and will help you fit in. I don't know how much you know of this weapon but never load it unless there is baddies near by." The quarter master said as he cleared the carbine and handed it to her. "There is a changing room out back. Is that all?"