Finding the Truth

[Gazer]

Meditation. The everlasting thoughts that stretched out into the vast universe of the mind calmed the young warrior. This man had something on his mind. It was something that needed meditation. This thought needed calm. It needed the best influences of the light side of the force. It called into the fiber of his being to be relaxed and collected. He was on a mission. This was not a mission of revenge. It isn’t something to be held in high regards by other people. This inner task isn’t even going down in the books back at the Jedi temples. It is about finding someone he thought to be a leader. He thought of this person as a friend. As an inspiration. The young man needed some answers. He felt conflicted. He felt confused. He needed to hear it from the mouth of his old master. He tried to concentrate in the packed passenger freighter that was on its way to Nar Shaadaa. Leon was sitting in a large room on a passenger freighter that held 25 other people. He was crammed into the starboard window by a group of 4 Rodians that were far to into their conversation to notice him.

”…Seems like everyone here is friendly enough…” Sarcasm slid through his dark colored hood covering most of his face. He was playing it safe until he got into the rotten cities of Nar Shaadaa. He knew that the force would guide him to the person he sought out. Even though he was young, he could easily pass through most places without too much trouble. And if there is trouble, he could certainly handle it himself. The ship landed and everyone got off the ship. One by one everyone left, walking off into different directions, every being having its own place to be. Leon looked onto the landing pad they were on. He was walking in blindly. He let his trust in the force guide him, which could lead him to his own demise. ”Not the smartest of moves Leon… But I got to keep going. I need to know what happened…” He kept his head down and moved through the streets of Nar Shaadaa. He had no idea where to look first. He walked past all types of shops for all ranges of customers. He searched for hours with no luck. Finally, he walked into a nearby cantina which had all sorts of species inside. The clutter of the bar was something to be seen and the bar was definitely a good lead to find her. He was tipped off from the beginning and had talked to many people before he set off onto his little journey. He took a seat at the bar and ordered a drink. Nobody cared that the boy was under aged but he looked the part anyway. He felt the glares and the wondering gazes of the people and the things that dwelled here. He couldn’t get the feeling out of his head that he made a mistake, but he couldn’t regret anything at this point. He was already invested into his own actions.

Leon then felt a disturbance, his face scrunched and then his head flew into the bar. He quickly rolled to face his attacker and it was one of the Rodian’s that was on the passenger freighter. The Rodian obviously wanted something, and that something was probably credits. Leon then bobbed to the left to dodge a strong right cross that was intended for his chin, and he tackled the thing into a nearby table. Leon quickly got up and the Rodian thug then started to spew out curses at the boy. The alien was frantically trying to unlatch his blaster pistol from its harness and Leon quickly noticed the other Rodians coming to his rescue. So he ran out towards the exit of the bar. After pushing through a couple of people and his hood coming off of his head, he ran down a nearby alleyway and hid behind a large container. The Rodians quickly came after him but didn’t notice him run down the alleyway. He watched them run past the alleyway and down the street. ”Maybe out in the streets isn’t the best of covers…” Leon said under his breath, and he turned and walked down the alleyway, his lightsaber close to his hand.

 

[Black Noise]

Mira stepped out from the shadows in front of Leon. She hadn't needed to search hard for Leon, he had called for her and Mira never had a difficult time sensing her old padawans, even the ones she didn't have long. Turning her head, her blindfolded face looked to Leon as she spoke.
"You called out from me? What do you wish to know?"

Mira's hand was testing on her Saberstaff. While she was fully aware of the rodians out there, she didn't set her hand on her saber in case they came around. Rather, she fully intended to fight Leon, he would not be allowed to leave without a battle wound. Leon had come for answers, and Mira would give, in exchange for a display. She could not allow one of her padawans to go back out into the world unprepared for Sith battles.

No matter how far she drifted away from the Jedi, her padawans stayed her padawans, forever.

 

[Gazer]

Leon watched the shadow move into his path. He knew that this was the person he had been looking for before her face registered in his mind. He was numb. He was calm. He was ready. She was careening her hand over her weapon, and he took into account the fact that he might not leave here without some injury. Or he might not leave this alleyway. He was hard in his expression. No trace of fear throughout his hardened face. But where he felt confidence and calm, he took a step back without realizing it. He took in a low sharp breath. Her malice was affecting him. There wasn’t anything he could do to steer her back. He felt an overwhelming sense of... dark. Her presence was over powering, like a perfume that filled his senses with memories and feelings. He felt his stomach drop with this new sense. He didn’t show this, but he knew that she felt it. He was still young. He had so much more to experience and his lack of experience slowed him down. He had so many new avenues to explore. But he couldn’t let this bridge be burned without some sort of answer. He needed this knowledge. It was his first real taste of the dark side.

”I just need to know one thing, Ms. Mira…” He said with a low coldness. He made sure his hand was close to his own weapon. The tension made him very uneasy, but ready. ”What happened? What happened for you to make such a huge change in your life? You’re the first person I ever met as a Jedi. I considered you a friend. I looked up to you, wanted to be like you. But now… I don’t know what to consider you.” He said, looking straight into her face. He knew that she couldn’t see without using the force, so he knew she could tell that his face was very serious. Even if Mira was his Master only for a short time, his loyalty and his dedication made him latch on to her once friendly personality. His loyalty is obviously misplaced here, as she now worked for the very thing he wanted to go against. That made him angry, not sad. He wasn’t going to cry over his old Masters change in views. How could someone he knew for such a short time make him feel like this? This question swam around in his head. The betrayal of people he considers friends hurt him. It’s the one thing Leon cannot stand. He took in a deep breath and exhaled. His face still focused on his old master, he let his words out without realizing it. ”…Is there something to the dark side I don’t understand… Is this the better path? It’s a question I’ve asked myself many times before at while in bed… Is what I’m standing up for the right thing to stand up for? Is there a quicker path? An easier way to deal with the problems that we all face? Is there a better way to ensure peace?”

Leon realized that he might have given out to much of his inner conflicts. He looked down quickly and then back to her, again checking to make sure that his distance was correct before the inevitable happened. He felt a rushing calm that came from nowhere. Like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Now all that was left was this old fashioned western standoff. Instead of two gunslingers, there was a Master and an apprentice. Like if samurai were in a Clint Eastwood film. This time though, the advantage went to the Master. The apprentice has no choice but to follow the teachings of the Master, and now, the apprentice would hopefully get the answers he deserves.

 

[Black Noise]

Letting her hand fall limp from her blade, Mira shook her head solemnly. Her eyes, blindfolded and totally sightless, held no emotion, and the blindfold only made her seem even more impersonal. However, when she replied to Leon's questions, her voice could be heard to carry the inner emotions her blindfolded eyes locked away so dearly. Her voice wasn't mocking or condescending, as Leon asked fair questions, they were questions she expected him to have. Truthfully, she'd be worried if he didn't.

"You think this is a sudden and great change, Leon? The master you met at the Jedi Temple was a facade, a pitiful facade put up to deceive myself into believing I was something I would never be. My regret is that it deceived everyone else as well."

Crooking her head back, she sneered and replied to his second round of questions.
"There's nothing to the Dark Side you don't understand, Leon. There is no definite 'better path,' only the path you believe best fits your personal goals. I wanted strength, I wanted a more efficient path to power. Power I can use to cut down every enemy I see fit. Criminals don't deserve to see the light of day, and rather than going through the system of the Jedi, I can skip right to the point and slit their throats. I'm not gonna lie to you Leon, it feels good to slit the throats of those you hate."

Drawing out her saberstaff, she held the hilt out without igniting the blade.
"However, in regards to whether or not it is a better way to ensure peace. Well, frankly Leon, no. The Dark Side will never ensure peace, and I'm quite sure I'm ok with that. Peace has never been in my nature, only the security brought by power. That's the only reason why I came here today, Leon. Not to turn you, but to gain the security that, by letting you go, I know you're powerful enough to defend yourself against one such as myself."

Igniting the dual bladed weapon, Mira adds.
"You're not going to get out of here without defeating me, Leon."

 

[Gazer]

Leon was taken back at the words his old master. He thought she would go on about the dark side being the one, true path. The path that was to enlighten himself and that truth would in turn make him realize all of his own inner demons. But... Her words were something a little deeper than he expected. She amounted herself as a killer. She was a predator. She was an alpha. She didn't view the dark side as he thought most people that walked that path did. She did it because she could cut down her enemies without the restrictions of the Jedi. Or maybe it was just because the Jedi were to humble in their approach of things, not giving her the freedom of the thrill of slaughter. Had she been lost to the dark side? No... Leon didn't think she was. Because if she had been, there wouldn't have been that slight sliver of care she had for him. Even if she showed this through bruises and cuts. If she could find the strength in her bonds over the one's she once looked over, she could see the path that she once led. The care for her students and her own unique inner urges was a strange conflict to have, as he viewed it. But she still showed her willingness to teach. However she emanated it, she was doing this as a test of Leon's own strength. To test his will and power against a foe who had no limits. To fight and prevail over a predator.

Leon's face scrunched with anger. He felt an anger he had not felt before. He couldn't handle the fact that she was lost to her own actions. Leon felt anger and confusion because he didn't understand her. How "good" did it feel to slaughter your enemy, instead of just a humble victory? How could someone feel this way? What made her tick? He couldn't understand her mindset... Maybe it was her upbringing? Like a lion is taught to hunt from an early age, it must have been in her blood. He let out a sharp sigh, letting her know the annoyance he felt. He unhooked the saber she had given him in a class he once took under her. He gripped the cold metal like it was a ledge he was fighting to climb up. Memories... What were they now? The past could never be relived, it seemed. You only get to live the good times once. All the rest of the attempts you make to relive those memories... Seem to be you trying to relive the memories you made before. Life was a cycle that repeated itself and it seemed that her past came back around for another pass.

He looked up at her, taking off his robe he wore, throwing it against the wall near him so it would not get in his way as he fought. He didn't know how he would hold up against a much more skilled opponent. From what he could tell, she seemed more of a technical fighter, while he was more brute strength. Her skill would soon be showed to him anyway, so he tried to keep that out of his mind. He tried to relax by taking a breath of fresh air. This helped him clear his mind and ease his beating heart. Her saber ignition showed him she was more than ready to show him her talent. "Then i'll have to leave this place with more questions, more doubts, and more wounds that haven't had the time to heal then before..." He ignited his saber, the blade shooting to life as he held it, the blade coming dangerously close to the wall to his immediate right. "...It seems that, even though you've seen the path that see's the light in the darkness, you've always seen the darkness in the light... I never intended to sway towards the dark... I just wanted to know. I wanted to know why beings in this universe go towards injustice and give in to temptation, instead of seeing the right that is obviously outweighted by the wrong. I'll never forget how to see the light through the dark... And it seems... you'll never learn how to see the dark through the light..." He swong his blade over head, letting the saber prop up at a 45 degree angle to the right, as he slouched over in a ready stance. Even though he is a young Jedi, he spent most of his time training his skills to become a better saber duelist. He spent hours building his skills from the ground up. Before he came to this dump of a planet, he never spent a day without practicing his skill set. Physically and mentally. Hopefully, his skills would show through that training. He would wait for her to attack, because he didn't feel the need to let his anger control his actions. He felt the light become apart of his very soul. And now, was his first real test against a force greater than him.

 

[Black Noise]

Mira wouldn't lie, truthfully speaking to Leon tore her heart in two. Here was a boy, so full of the light, so wanting to stop injustice and wrong, and Mira was his master who had become both of those things. Gathering the Force, Mira leaned forward and dashed ahead. She wondered how he thought, what he felt. When Mira saw a murder, her first instinct was to kill the murderer and everyone he knew. If Mira felt inadequate, then she'd fight and slaughter until that feeling went away. When she felt the itch to kill, she killed.

It was beginning to dawn on her, ever so slowly, and far slower than possibly any other being. She was not normal, she was inherently evil. Something in her mind had died when she was a child, and its death lead to the birth of the darkest things that made Mira who she was now. As a child, her hope died. Her hope that everything was alright, that she had people to count on, that she was loved by anyone, it died. It did not die a natural death, no, it was tortured for long periods of time then slaughtered mercilessly. Everyone she thought she loved died, everyone that she counted on died, everything she hoped for failed and died.

Leon was strong, far stronger than he knew, and far stronger than Mira. He still had his hope, and Mira, though truly unintentionally trying to destroy it, had failed. He fought against his anger, against the urge to strike out against her. He resisted the strong pull of 'why' and responded with knowledge surpassing one of his level. Leon would become a great Jedi Knight. But he'd have to fight Mira first.

Her blade flew up, her momentum and the Force speeding up her body and movements into a blur as she aimed to smashed her right blade into Leon and cut cleanly through his midsection. By using her right blade, her body was placed effectively away from Leon and could easily twist out of the way of a preemptive counter-attack.

 

[Gazer]

Leon noticed the speed of this women. She was right to have been called a master. Leon could barely keep up with his opponent. He could also sense a trickle sadness from her. Maybe she did still feel the love for her old student's. Maybe she just wanted to teach them the galaxy is a cold place. He didn't know. It didn't matter right at this point. Her action's showed she wanted to fully test the boy's skill with his lightsaber. She wanted to bring him pain. Leon was fully ready to learn the hard way. Now, he would have to show her what he had learned.

Leon took a quick step back with his rear foot and his lead foot came back simultaneously, effectively shuffling backward's. While he did this, he swept his blade down in a waxing moon shape from the top of his head to the bottom of the swing. The hilt would be a steep diagonal line to the ground and the blade would come down to effectively meet Mira's own blade. His right hand that gripped the top of the hilt was now lower than his left hand that held the bottom. Leon made sure that he had his balance correct and this assured his parrying and his speed to back up in the alley were possible. He tried to parry the women's incoming attack by parrying her blade to the his left. On impact with Mira's saber there was the classic crashing sound of a lightsaber and Leon now knew that this was it. This was the showdown of his life. He made sure to keep enough distance between him and his aggressor. She was fast, faster than he could imagine. But Leon was also quick. Leon took in a steady stream of breath and remembered his meditation on the light side of the force. He would not be cut down today. He would show his devotion to the light side of the force. He would show her that he was ready.

 

[Black Noise]

Mira smiled as Leon's blade came down. She smiled, not because he made a mistake in his movements, but because he made no such thing. Leon was physically stronger than Mira, and pushing her blade to his left was a good way to move her aside. However, as their blades met with a resounding crash, Leon would see how much fast Mira was. Strength was never her forte, speed and endurance was where she focused herself. So, with ease, she shuffled back as her right blade was parried and struck out with her left blade, swinging it towards Leon's neck. While his position was effective for blocking blades at the midsection and torso, it became a slight burden towards strikes at the neck and head. Mira had no doubt that Leon could pull his hilt up in time to block his neck, and holding her off again wouldn't be took difficult.

Perhaps he'd see that she was making for easy strikes. Perhaps he'd see she was purposefully holding back as the Dark Side surged towards Mira. Hopefully he did, and he reacted, or his faith in the Light would soon be shattered with the painful reality of the Dark Side.

 

[Gazer]

Leon saw the attack coming, knowing that she would use his attack force to her advantage and she used it well. It almost caught him off guard but Leon quickly ducked under the blade flying and he shuffled back a couple of step's. He didn't want to be in the range for a counter attack so close to her. He knew her speed was extrodinary, but what puzzled him was that he thought she would be much faster. He remembered the time when he was facing another student for practice and she moved so fast that she was almost instantly between him and the other student. She was so fast she stopped two student's from almost hurting each other badly and the amazing part was she was half way across the room. Why did it seem like she was holding back? Maybe Leon was just faster than he thought. Leon didn't know but the thought of her holding back made him angry. He didn't feed upon his anger nor did he act on it. But his instinct's were telling him to get aggressive. But he didn't. The force flowed through him with the light of the universe and it guided him away from such emotion's.

Leon stood with his saber outward, waiting for another flurry of attack's. If he were to attack, he would know it would be out of anger. "...I can feel the dark stain inside of you... But that darkness is not for me... Why do you let such thing's control you? Why does it seem like this scuffle is for nothing? When I'm hurt and I'm down... Will you finish me off? Am I your enemy?" Leon quickly swong his blade back around and went back into the classical Djem So stance, his blade 45 degree's above his head.

((Ooc: Almost forgot about our thread lol))

 

[Black Noise]

((OOC: I did forget about our thread ':( ))

Mira stepped back a bit, the Force surging into her body as Leon spoke. He noticed, and it relieved Mira a bit that he did. She could see the remembrance on his face, he was remembering some of the short time he knew her. Smiling as Leon raised his blade, Mira suddenly surged forward, putting the strength of the dark side behind her actions now. The taint permeated every inch of her as her body became a blur, so fast that if a blink would cause one to miss half her movements. As she moved, she yanked at Leon's blade with telekinesis, grabbing to overpower his resistance with the Force and rip his blade aside.

Smashing into Leon, she reached out for his chest with one hand and attempted to hold her blade an inch away from his neck with the other. If successful, she'd pull him close and respond.
"I'm glad, that you reject this. My intention was not to turn you today, it was to turn you away. If I wanted you dead, you would've never seen my face."

At that, she would deactivate her saber and turn around to begin walking away. However, she would only walk to the end of the alley, where she could lean against one of the walls. Facing Leon, she'd ask.
"You are not my enemy, am I your's?"

 

[Gazer]

Leon gasped lightly as the force of her move's overpowered him. It was confusing how she could be so powerful. Leon pondered if he would ever be on level with her. Feeling her intent, he knew that she was stronger than she let on to be. It made Leon shudder when he realized how out matched he really was. What could he do? The force of her yanking and throwing his hand aside with ease made him powerless. The blade to his neck just made him feel even more vulnerable. There was nothing but opportunity between them now. One false move could mean his end.

But his will remained strong. His courage was thrown out the window but his inner peace made him hopeful. There was nothing but evil throughout the galaxy. Why turn now, when it mattered the most? He looked her in the face. He cringed a little. Her word's echoed throughout him. When she let go, all he could do was watch her. He watched her walk away. Why did he feel so weak?

He looked around for a moment, gathering himself from the death that just looked him in the face. Leon's arm that held his lightsaber fell to his side, deactivating from him pushing the power button. This is the weakest his ever felt. Why was it so overpowering? "...No... No your not my enemy... You were a friend, a friend that I thought I could trust... Maybe I was wrong for coming here... Maybe this whole jedi thing is all above me..." Leon slowly came to term's with his naivety. He had to find the light within the dark. Find the truth within the lies. And here it was, right in front of him. To be a jedi mean's to lay your life on the line. Maybe he is to careless.

 

[Black Noise]

Mira leaned against the wall, removing her blindfold and blindly staring into the stars. Millions and millions of stars up in the new night sky, and she couldn't see them. She hasn't seen stars in over twenty years. Something so simple, so complex, Mira wondered if she'd see the stars again before she died...

"Leon, what do you think it means to be a Jedi? Do you think it means strength? Do you think being a Jedi will make you physically strong enough to protect everyone you love? That's a fool's thought, and it will lead you to the dark side, just like it lead me. I crossed the Rubicon a long, long time ago Leon, I was sixteen. I didn't have a friend in the world. That wasn't because no one liked me, it was because everyone I ever gave a damn about was dead.

There are plenty of people out there who doubt you Leon, more than enough people. They don't need you to help out by doubting yourself. You made a choice to be a Jedi. You could turn right mow, join the Sith, but I believe you won't, it isn't who you are. There is kindness in your heart, kindness I wish I still had.

There's a poem out there, can't remember who wrote it. Says,
'To be a Jedi, you need Strength and Honesty,
A little Strength, and a little Honesty,
And Love,
The love alone will do, if the strong are few.'

To be reckless, stupid, and brave out of your mind is the way a padawan should grow up. I'm worried about any padawan that doesn't make a buttload of utterly stupid decisions. Make them now, learn from your mistakes. If you take away one thing from meeting me here, take away this. You are not judged by how strong your body is, but by how kind your heart can be."

At that, Mira leapt high into the air and disappeared along the rooftops.