Three weeks have passed since we arrived to Tython. Every day from morning to night, me and the others were training with the masters until we dropped.
The first night, and every night that followed I was beaten by Depa in our duels. Everyone else dealt with the same issue. Mace told me only when I can land three consecutive strikes on Depa. Is when I will have completed my training.
Anakin struggled to stay still and patient with Master Plo. When he asked Master Plo what they were sitting and waiting for ? Plo just said. "For a sign." Anakin had a hard time learning to sit still, and listen for a sign from the Force. Especially for hours if not weeks. He is always a active person, and always likes to be on the move. So training like this will really test him.
Seris made next to no progress, with masters Kuro and Shaak Tii. She struggled to keep a constant barrier of the Force repelling the rain around her whole body. Especially since it had to be as close to her body like it was her skin itself. Flexible and fluid, but strong and impenetrable. It didn't help with Kuro throwing harsh comments at her, along with stones at places she didn't cover in her barrier. The point of this training was to keep a constant calm and control over ones self, in the worst situation.
Seris always liked to act like she was the model Jedi, but the truth is she was just as flawed as everyone else. The masters wanted to help her to know when to express herself and when to be reversed. Her barrier would reflect her emotional state. The masters know she is talented, but her mentality restricts her true potential from shining.
Derren was learning to listen to the Force with Master Fay. In doing this he finally found a wall he could not overcome with just natural talent. The point of this lesson, was not just to listen to the Force, but to also not be swept away by it. To maintain his sense of self, while repelling outside and internal negative influences. Hence why he has to repel the rain while meditating. Keeping the rain away while keeping himself plant in who he is.
Obi-wan on the other hand would be doing something different. He would spend time between each group going back and forth. Learning from the master's and helping to guide the padawans.
He would spar with Mace, and Depa. They will help him refine all of his saber forms. He mainly focused on Form 3, and Form 5 the most. Knowing that these two were the best opponents to help him strengthen himself. Then after pushing himself physically, he would then Meditate with Fay, and Plo. This allowed him to discover a part of himself in the Force. This allowed him to reach deeper into the Force more then he has before. He felt like he was on the cusp of discovering something, but he couldn't quite figure out what yet.
Then he would test his might against Kuro and Shaak Tii. Not just with the lightsaber, but how to approach difficult situations. What drove Obi-wan to improve so much was seeing Anakin and Cain, achieve so much with the other younglings. He also thought back to the fight with the Sith. He didn't know his name was Maul, but he wanted to make sure that he could be the Master Anakin needed.
So Obi-wan pushed himself to improve in the area's he was weak in, and surpass Qui-Gon in the area's where he failed.
Each day after training, I would sneak away in the dark to find Bo-katan.
She had stayed on the planet while, sending some of the other Death Watch members to keep an eye on Kamino and Fett for any changes. I told her about Tyranus or Dooku, and to keep and eye on his comings and goings. While another group would head to Myrkr and secure the ysalamiri.
Every night I met Bo, I was tired and exhausted from training with the other masters. She didn't care.
"Good, now you will learn our ways at your worse. As a mandalorian you don't always get to dictate the condition you enter a battle in. No matter if your tired, hungry, drunk, or even if you have to shit! Always fight with your all."
Each night she would spar with me either in hand to hand or with vibroblade's. While doing this she would tell me about the Mandalores history.
The first day was on the Mythosaurs.
"Listen well foundling." Bo said as she swept my leg and threw me to the ground. "The First Mandalore , and his followers who conquered the planet's wilderness, and defeated the native Mythosaurs. They then used their bones to build the first cities. The skull of the Mythosaur became the enduring symbol of the Mandalorian people. Now stand up, and try not to fall so quickly this time. I know I told you that you can't use the Force, but that doesn't mean your weak."
I stood up sweat beating down my face. That was the third time she dropped me to the ground. She told me that for our training I can't use the Force. Which is fine, I believed I got to reliant on it the past decade. Little did I know, how hard it was to fight when exhausted, and fighting against a hardened veteran.
I need to make sure when I bring the ysalamiri here, I create an area clear of the Force for training. That way this new order of Jedi or whatever we will be, will not be cripple should we lose our connection or ability to touch the Force for whatever reason.
The rest of the lesson's throughout my time with Bo were about. Mandalore the Indomitable. My Ancestor Tarre Vizsla, surprisingly not much was known about him personally, only his feats and accomplishments. And Mandalore the Ultimate. I knew most of what she told me. But to intensify my lesson's, she would say I can only speak in Mando'a.
I started picking up the habit of cussing in Mando'a. Bo started slapping me over the head for every curse word I said, and their were oh so many.
"Stop cursing so much, you must really be your mother's child. You have her mouth as much as her looks." She said with a stern gaze, that sometimes shifted to one of maternal and comforting.
Now that I think about it Bo doesn't talk about my mother Selene. She hasn't even brought up my father once either?
So I asked her the hard question on the third week.
"Bo? Why don't you talk about my mom or dad? You talk about our history, and my family, but nothing about my parents. So why?"
Bo's eyes narrowed in frustration at Cain's question.
She put her Viroblade away, and paused before she spoke.
The after taking a deep breath and sighing, she spoke.
"I haven't talked about your mother for a lot of reason's. I feel like I betrayed her, and her teachings and I was so blind to it all these years. I didn't fight with honor, I didn't even know you existed. So to speak about her, I feel like It would be a disservice to her."
Bo then took out the black pearl necklace.
"You wanted me to hold on to this until you won against me, and was accepted as a true Mandalorian. But I believe you should have asked someone better then me. As for your father, I didn't know if your mother had any lovers or married in secret. So I can't tell you anything about your him. I never even seen her interact with a Sephi."
I see so she feels guilt for everything. I mean I understand where she was coming from. A mentor figure who taught you died, and had a child you knew nothing about. Then you spend probably a decade and a half doing everything against those teachings. Every time she saw me and the necklace, it must have broke her heart. Now she's my mentor and must teach me our ways. The ways she strayed away from, and ensure I don't do the same.
"Do you know what my mother and the other True Mandalorians goals were?"
Bo nodded. "She wanted to build our resources, and power so we can unite Mandalore like days of old. And be a force that others could look to for strength and direction. She even wanted to stop the whole Mercenary business our people were known for and..."
Bo paused looking down at the black pearl necklace in her hand.
"... She wanted to make Mandalore the greatest empire in the galaxy. Not as conqueror's, but as Warriors that guided others into being the strongest, and the wisest. To lead the galaxy into a new future."
Bo said with a tear forming in her eye, which she blinked away a moment later.
"I understand thank you for telling me this Bo."
Bo shook her head. "No. I should have done this a long time ago, so it's the least I can do. Let me also give a piece of advice. I been watching your training with the Jedi and I can see why your stuck when fighting."
I then sat up after hearing that sentence. My eyes narrowed as I focused on what Bo was going to say.
"Your not weak by any means. Your tall for your age and very muscular. Not to mention your years of training shows in your blade work. Besides being in more intense battles against stronger opponent's your missing one important thing."
"What is that?" I asked hanging on every word she was saying.
"You lack confidence!"
"What?" I said with clear surprise in my voice.
What does she mean I lack confidence? I know I try to be humble as possible and take every moment of everything in life as a learning lesson. But that doesn't mean I lack confidence. So what does she mean?
"Let me be more specific. It seems you have a lack of confidence in your own skills."
My eyes widen with surprise from that statement. My skills I know I'm not the strongest but, I know I want to be stronger.
Bo then continued. I believe the other Jedi see it as well and want you to learn on your own. But I don't agree with their methods. Cain I cannot attest to your skills in the Force, but I can tell you move and speak with purpose. When you move your blade your movement's are beautiful, and polished, I can tell you put countless hours into your craft. I see the way you moved against the two Jedi. you had a look on your face like you were enjoying the fight. But every time it looked like you were about to make progress their was a dead halt."
Then Bo kneeled down and placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Cain I don't know if your comparing yourself to others or trying to be something your not. But stop it. I don't even want you to be like me, your mother or even Tarre Vizsla. I want you to be better than all of us. So if your comparing yourself to anyone in that order don't. Be who you want to be, and don't ever put yourself in a box. Be your own person."
I paused for a moment taking in everything she said. I Looked around and watched the Tython forest and tree's. And the long forgotten and Jedi temple behind me. Then it all came crashing in on me.
Bo was right. I was stuck comparing myself to the demi gods of the Skywalkers and characters like Revan and Star Killer. I knew I was the only one beside Darth Vitiate whose midichlorian count came close to the Skywalkers. I thought myself as less then or a pretender compared to Anakin or Luke. I was suffering all these years from a inferiority complex without even realizing it.
I smirked. I think I know now what I need to do.
I stood up, wiping the dirt and sweat from my body and face.
"Thank you Bo, I believe your right about me. And thanks to you telling me this I believe you, might have helped me find what I needed to break out of this mentality."
Bo nodded. "Good. Now go back and get some rest. I will be leaving the planet tonight. I need to go check in on my people. Be well until we meet again Cain."
"You as well Bo." I then went in for a hug.
This surprised Bo, who did not expect the show of affection. It didn't help that me and Bo were both the same height of 5'11. So we stood shoulder to shoulder. Hopefully I can keep up with Anakin's growth to 6'2 or more.
"Your a great teacher Bo, and my mother would say the same thing, I know it."
Bo didn't say anything. She just embraced me in return. Then after a few moments in silence the hug broke, and I return to the camp with the others.
The next morning I stood before Depa, our lightsabers ignited as we were about to start another sparring session.
Windu stood to the side with Obi-wan Observing. And over above us the storm clouds began to form. The wind became strong, as the air around started to become very wet. The others were in the middle of their training as well.
I knew today I would have to stop holding myself back. I'm not Anakin, or Luke, and I'm definitely not Revan or Star Killer. I'm not the chosen one of the Force, or the Sith'ari. I am Jasen... No I am Cain Vizsla, and I want to be free in this world and thrive. In order to do that I must become stronger, even if I have to surpass the Skywalkers... no the Ones and Abeloth themselves.
I will let today be the first step forward towards that path. I breathed in deeply and then focus on Depa. I reached deep into the Force like never before. I felt everything. Not just the Force, but the planet and everyone around me.
I then felt myself leave my body. I saw my body holding my light sabers, standing across Depa. I looked at my body it was made of the same golden light I saw in the void world. Then I saw translucent like strings reach out from different area's.
Then their colors changed instantly. One was a silverish deep sapphire blue from the base of the waterfall. One coming from the sky was a jade emerald like green. Another sapphire blue with a white hue came from a nearby river. The final one was a silverish white with a golden hue coming from a cliff by the campsite.
I then instinctively reached my hand out and called to the colorful strings with the Force. Then the strings moved towards me until the all imbedded themselves into my astral self. A rush a of emotions and sights came to my mind quicker, then I could comprehend them at first. Then everything became clearer. Like the Force was helping my mind comprehend everything.
I then saw multiple places and people so clearly. From the plant's, and tree's, to the oceans and the animals of Tython. I saw all their Force lights. Then I saw the others. Anakin, Derren, and Serris. I even saw Barriss who was, back on Coruscant.
They were all struggling with their training.
Anakin struggled staying still and listening to the Force for a sign. He felt his meditation was more like a punishment. Instead of a chance to find enlightenment.
Barriss was sparring with Luminara and barely able to keep up and Luminara was just pushing Barriss with no end. She felt like she was suffocating, from the pressure her master was forcing on her.
Derren I felt his emotion's he was struggling to not be swept away in the Force and maintaining a Force Barrier. He felt like his was good enough, that's why he doesn't try hard enough. Why do something that others have done already if not better.
Seris was struggling to maintain the Form Zero Force barrier, as Master Kuro threw rocks as much as insults at her. She felt like she was gonna blow up at the master's.
What's going on here? Why can I see and feel everything on Tython. more then that, I feel so powerful like I so deep in the Force, I am basically part of it. Then I felt a powerful presence. It was so powerful and encompassing, I felt like I was nothing compared to it.
I then looked up My golden eyes widen in pure Terror. I saw something I couldn't even comprehend. A entity made of stars and the cosmos. It's Form was constantly shifting, so I couldn't understand what it truly was. It was so massive, that it made the planets look tiny compared to it.
What the hell am I looking at.
The entity that encompassed the sky and space around the planet, suddenly began to become slightly more distinguishable. It became a white solid figure. What looked like a head turn to me. The face had no nose, or mouth, or eyes. There were no distinguishing features from it's face to it's large body. I couldn't tell if this was a angel or a god, I just new I was endanger if I saw something I wasn't supposed to.
Then I heard a echoing voice ringing through the silence of this astral void.
"Interesting"
Before I knew it the entity disappeared from my sight and the space in a instant. All I saw was stars and the Force lights.
What the hell was that?
No, No focus. I need to focus on the right now and this moment. The others are struggling and need a push in them in the right direction.
Then the feeling came to me almost instinctively. I said one sentence. the same sentence I needed to hear. I spoke my words cool and calmly.
"Let go, and believe in yourself. because I believe in you."
Then in that instant my golden light, glowed over the color strings reaching back into the others. Then each one heard my voice, and each one felt a rush a power and feeling.
Then one by one each person glowed like they did on Ilum.
Anakin glowed a silverish deep sapphire blue aura. Plo noticed instantly and was astounded and happy. "Well done Padawan Skywalker, you seem to listen really well to the Force. What does it tell you. If you can hear me right now?"
"I was told to let go and believe in myself." Anakin said with his eyes closed.
"Good now lets continue to do just that." Plo then began to levitate in the air and Anakin followed. Then as is Anakin presence brought out Plo's latent potential. Plo began to glow a bright blue with a yellow hue.
Back on Coruscant, Bariss was glowing a jade emerald like green aura. Her master Luminara was surprised. "Barriss your glowing ,and I feel your power in the Force. It seems like your training is progressing well. Let's continue."
Luminara readied herself with her saber in a From 3 stance. But Barriss deactivated her lightsaber.
"No master. I believe I won't need spar anymore." Then Barriss got into a meditative kneeling posture. Her Green aura glowed brighter as others gathered around her in awe.
"No disrespect Master, but I believe this is the correct decision, and I am listening to the Force."
Luminara only nodded. Then let me join you my padawan." Then Luminara knelt next to Barriss and began to meditate. Then suddenly underneath Barriss, green grass started to form on the temple stone. A warm healing wave then began to radiate off Barriss. Soon more and more people began to gather around Barriss, some even knelt and began to meditate near her. While the grass began to spread more and more in the temple garden.
As the rain began to fall by a nearby river. Derren began to radiate a sapphire blue with a white hue glowing aura. Fay didn't say a word she just meditated floating next to Derren.
"Tell me Padawan Derren what do you feel?"
Derren began to levitate high in the air. Not as high as Fay, but higher then where he was weeks ago.
"I feel at peace master. But more importantly I feel like myself."
Fay nodded. "Did it feel good to let go of that part of yourself that was stopping you from being the true you?"
Suddenly the rain fell around them, but unlike before. The rain didn't touch Derren. It slid off a invisible barrier of the Force.
"It felt freeing master. I also believe in myself now. So I will take things a little bit more seriously from now on." Fay just smile while saying nothing. The two just floated in the air and meditated in peace, while enjoying the sounds of the rain.
Seris began to glow, a silverish white with a golden hue aura around her body. By the edge of the campsite cliff. Master Shaak Tii, and Master Kuro were both astounded. Not just by glowing aura around Seris body. But by how she began to dance in the rain.
As she dance the aura around her glowed brightly like a star. The masters saw not only as the yrain bounced off the Force barrier Seris was creating. They could tell every part of her was protected with the Force.
Then Kuro began to throw rocks with the Force all around her body. But Seris who was dancing like a ballerina caught the stones. Seris's eyes were not open, she dance in peace. All she new around her was the words Cain said to her through the Force.
Those words brought so much joy and power to Seris, in that moment nothing could break her out of this trance. She was not training anymore, she danced in joy from that feeling. And hoped wherever Cain was, he could see her dancing. She dedicated her dance to him. He could see every movement and every emotion she felt, and He smiled
I saw everything and I felt everything that they felt. I could even see my physical self standing with my golden saber and the indigo shoto saber. I began to glow a bright golden light, I then decided to try an reenter my body. In a moment I did and I opened my eyes.
For me what felt like minutes must have barely been seconds out here. I saw Depa, along with Mace and Obi-wan's, eyes widen in surprise. Then they looked around sensing the shift in the Force around the area.
"Cain you are becoming the eye of the storm and those around you are part of you." Mace said with a smile on his face. His normal stoic expression broken, by the pure enjoyment from what he was seeing and feeling.
Deep beyond the tree line, Bo-katan stood looking at Cain with a smile across her face. "I don't know what you did Cain but I feel the air around you changed a lot."
I then heard the thunder and lightning crack like before. Then in a instant I sprinted and launched a strike with my Shoto blade that Depa deflected. She then countered with a cross slash. I countered with my golden lightsaber. In the distance through the rain our lightsabers glowed between lightning strikes in the sky. Our sabers collided with rhythm as we matched each others strikes.
As I went for a vertical strike with my regular saber. Depa deflected my strike with a sliding motion, and stepped beside me. "Your reading my shatterpoints well Cain, while I can't even see yours. I can barely feel the darkside in you."
"I' am in Balance, I believe this is the true state Vapaad should be. A calm and controlled fury, not just aggressive and random." I said quietly. Depa nodded "Then please show me how you found this balance."
In a almost instant motion our lightsabers collided. Green, indigo and gold shined in the dim grassy field. What exchange next was truly amazing from what Mace and Obi-wan saw.
Depa and Cain were moving so quickly they could barely be comprehended. They saw steam rise from the flurry of lightsaber slashes and strikes that occurred. The rain was not touching the two, and was being vaporized by the lightsabers when it got to close.
I didn't notice anything but Depa, her shatterpoints, and out duel. For every slash I sent, she parried and came back twice as fast and hard. For every counter she sent my way I parried and counter back. We were in a perpetual motion of constant back and forth.
I could feel my robes sticking to me. Not from the rain but my sweat. I don't know how long we went on dueling, but I new one thing I wasn't gonna lose, because right here and right now in this moment I wanted to win more then anything.
That's when Master Windu shouted "Stop!" Then in a instant he was in the middle of our exchange. His lightsaber blocked both of our strikes, and broke our momentum.
"You two are done sparring. You been dueling for three days straight."
Depa and my eyes widen greatly.
"Three days?" I said surprised. Then I looked around to see the others gathering around us. Anakin, Seris and Derren, to Master Plo, Fay and Kuro.
Next thing I know I felt exhaustion hitting my body hard and I wobbled, almost falling to the ground. Then Plo and Anakin catch me.
"We got you Cain." Anakin said.
Windu and Shaak Tii, caught Depa who was already passed out.
I was starting to lose my ability to stay conscious, but I did my best to stay awake for as long as possible.
"You all felt that right? How we all felt in synch in the Force?"
Anakin and Seris nodded.
"Not only that I could see and feel you all, even Barriss back on Coruscant. Cain how is that possible?"
I looked to Master Fay, who just stared at me with a knowing look, but said nothing.
I struggled to speak, but I was able to force it out.
"...Force Resonance"
"What's that?" Seris asked as she held on to my hand with worry in her face.
It's what we did. We resonated in the Force, and become one while still being many. Our strength, our feelings, they joined together like a Force bond, but we were more.
After that I passed out from exhaustion and my conscience drifted into the black void.
Then multiple images appeared before me in the dark void. Then were like mirrors reflecting different scenes.
To my left. I recognized Bastila Shan and Revan in different conflicts. Bastila was fighting against dark Jedi, while Revan was wearing his mask fighting against Mandalorians.
Then to my right Someone in Jedi robes with Mandalorian armor wielding the Darksaber appeared to my right. It was Tarre Vizsla, and the following images was a older woman with her face covered in dark Jedi robes.
But she had long white hair in braids. I knew who it was, but I couldn't believe it. It was Kreia, but not her Darth version from the KOTOR game. She was with a woman and had only one hand. So probably during those events but she hasn't revealed it yet.
All the images of long dead characters from star wars legend lore, was confusing me. And before I knew it one more image appeared next to Kreia. It was a younger woman, she wore black robes that showed her nobility. She had fair skin an was beautiful with long brown hair, under a black hood. Then her yellow Sith like eyes gave it away. I was looking at Vaylin, Emperor Vitiates daughter.
Seriously what the hell is going on?
Behind Cain in the distance of the black Void. Empty Abyss like eyes were staring at him and the images Infront of him. The jagged white monster like teeth appeared in the void. A nightmarish smile formed at what it was seeing. Releasing a dark eerie feeling behind Cain.
I then turned looked back feeling a dark presence behind me. But when I turned nothing and no one was there. I then turned back around to see all the people in the images were staring back at me. Like directly back at me.
"What they hell is going on, can they see me?"
"No I cannot see you, but I can hear, and feel your presence in the Force. Quite intriguing, I have never experienced this bright feeling before." Kreia said.
What the hell! She can hear me?
"I don't know what trick this is, but if you value your little life. You will stop this before I find you and end you." Vaylin said.
Yup that sounds just like her. To bad she's hot but psychopaths. Well that's daddy issues for you.
"Interesting, I feel a bright warm presence in the Force. I cannot see it but I can hear someone. What is going on hear?" Revan said.
I can't believe it. It's Revan, thee Revan. The Anakin Skywalker, and Darth Vader before Anakin was born. If this situation wasn't confusing, I would be amazed.
This is insane am I flow walking or something right now? But I never heard of flow walking into multiple events, and seeing them so clearly.
"Is this a message from the Force? This presence feels so warm and I hear a voice, what is this?" Bastila said.
Then a strong masculine voice spoke. It was deep and reserved, it felt like it carried weight.
"I know not who this is, or if this is a sign from the Force, but this bright warm presence. It reminds me of the light of the Force I see and feel when I'm with my children. If you have anything to say then say it now. You have my ears."
That voice was Tarre Vizsla. I didn't know what was going on but I decided to speak anyway. Hello I am Cain!" Then the images disappeared behind a green fog I would recognize anywhere. Mother Talzin was here.
Her hand then reached me on my shoulder, and I turned to face her. Her cold stoic expressionless face greeted me.
"Hello my student. Here you are again shining so bright again. You must leave this place now."
"What do you mean Master?"
"You are shining so brightly in the Force like never before. Those around have begun to take after you as well. Especially the so called chosen one, he shines bright like a distant star. But you, you are like a giant sun lighting the way for others. And now you have awaken those who were asleep."
I looked at her with confusion across my face. I couldn't comprehend what she was saying. But then I thought back to the giant figure in space I saw. Or Abeloth from a few years ago. I wonder what did I awaken, and what will happen to the galaxy now. The only thing that came to mind was a book the was loosely placed into Star Wars legends lore. I believed it was called Supernatural Encounters.
Then as I was stuck in thought. Talzin place a finger to my forehead
"Now leave before it's to late"
Before I new it I left the void and fell into true sleep. When I woke up, I was confused and floating in a Bacta tank.