The Backdrafts (Book 4)

[Akirapryde]

Teaching lessons
The Colony
Azgard

The skies over the Colony always seemed so cloudy despite the weather. This grayness gave the entire area a sense of depression. The Teacher looked up to the sky as he listened to the winds around him. They had never been disappointed with their colony on Azgard but he knew that this place was not their permanent home. He felt the change in the winds for them. He had only been waiting in the forest for a few minutes. He could feel their approach just as he could feel the wind on his face. Only a few minutes later his faith was rewarded by the sounds of a air speeder approaching. He smiled at the thought of faith. The force to him was more than just faith. For him, it was voices and echoes of the past as well as future's past. He could hear, see, and feel what was being expressed to him through the force with each passing moment. The world around him was not as simple as many were led to believe. So long ago he had tried to teach that the world was more then just what they saw or wanted to to see around them. He knew that the world a person perceived was a mirror of the pains they held on to within their hearts. Meaning a person's own energies through their heart or soul twisted and fogged their perceptions of the world around them. This was also the true for visions within the Force. There as much more to the world than right and wrong, just and unjust, God and Evil.

So hard had he tried to get others to see that life and the Force were more tightly woven then anyone could imagine. And even those who had strayed from the path were still as tightly woven in to the light as those of light were woven in to the darkness. Back during his time with the Jedi, this line of thinking was considered radical. He had dared to say that in each action there was the foundations of light and dark. That even the most vile of dark lords held on to strings of light deep within his heart. He had spend all of his life helping those who fell from the path to make their way back. For him, it was part of a journey that some had no choice but to endure. He understood that others could learned all that they needed from the path of the light. He also understood that some needed tones of darkness to learn their lessons. Now he had to reach out once more and help one more lost soul.

He looked up the path from where he stood and smiled slightly as he saw the Azgardian air speeder landing. There were a few Azgardian soldiers aboard, but they remained with the speeder. Three people shrouded in cloaks slowly disembarked as the Teacher continued to watch. He knew each of the well. Each had become lost to the shadows along their own paths before and now they each had been found and are now making their way back. His first gaze fell upon Prince Saar who walked behind and to the left of the lead person. His red cloak glided behind him as he walked through the forest. Before, the young prince had been filled with such anger and hate that the Teacher didn't think it possible to bring it under control. There was a time that the Teacher had his doubts about Prince Saar's ability to recover from his fall. However the Prince had found the strength needed to overcome the darkness within the woman that he loved. Using her love as an anchor, he had been able to overcome that hate and anger that had driven him to his fall. When the Teacher first saw the young prince, his future was clouded by darkness and uncertain. Now, the Teacher could see a future filled with such brightness and promise. Prince Saar was a brave and courageous man who possessed the ability to lead masses. With the taint of darkness removed, he could live up to his full potential if he could find a way to overcome the nightmares of his own history. The Teacher knew that there was much left for Prince Saar to face and conquer. Still he knew that the young prince could overcome them under the right mentor. 'And I know just the mentor' he thought with a smile.

The Teacher's eyes drifted over to the young Princess Saar-Chalco. She walked side by side with her beloved prince as they wore the same red cloaks. He understood the meanings behind their cloaks and found it fitting for their recovery from the darkside. Her's was truly a tragic story to be told, one that touched his heart deeply. There are a few special souls chosen for greatness, like Prince Saar whom the Teacher knew was destine to become a great leader some day. Then there are those who's memories would become the driving force behind those very great leaders. This was the path chosen for Princess Saar-Chalco by the Force. The Teacher felt no sadness of her fate, for he knew it was the will of the Force. He could sense everyone's fate through the force so plainly as he could see them through his own eyes. However, Princess Saar-Chalco fate was very special. She was shown her fate by the Force through a vision dream. To him, this could only mean that her journey back from the darkness closer to completion then even he had first suspected. The Teacher learned along time ago, never question the will of the Force. The only time he ever questioned the will of the Force, entire world had died by his own hands. He shook his head, 'she was shown her fate for a reason' he assured himself.

The small Twi'lek girl walking front center of the two young nobles was the reason why they had returned so soon. Even through her cloak, he could see her soft blue skin and features. He knew even without seeing, that she had suffered greatly from her journey back home. She had left their colony a few weeks ago hoping to find the man she loved. He knew that she would run back to him. Her love for him was strong and deep. He had tried to help her understand the power of love and how it could be used to help her lover. However, his time was running out and she could sense the end coming. The Teacher knew that the Force was a funny thing at times. It could show a possible future and give you every opportunity to ensure that it happened as a test. This was the very chase for her, the vision of her lover was a test for her. Sadly she failed the test. He refused to warn her of the test she had entered in to, but he did tried to ensure that she was prepared to face it. She loved him, but his love for her was not strong and only bedded in the flesh. She had to suffer through the test if she was to learn the lessons that the Force was trying to teach her. He had his concerns that she was not strong enough to survive the test. When he had sent the two young nobles to retrieve her, they were given orders to not render aid till the test was completed.

He watched the three calmly walk up as he read each of their emotions. He could feel the joy that each noble felt from their combined love for each other. The young Twi'lek was filled with sadness and suffering from her own losses. He could feel the change in her. He sensed her heart had been broken but he also felt her heart stronger from it. He knew that she had not only survived the test, but learned from it. As they grew closer the Teacher greeted them, "no suffering is greater than that of love lost." He could tell his words hit their mark as he added, "Tell me Fiethia, did you find him?"

Fiethia nodded, "I did." She said coming to a stop before the Teacher with her head looking down in sadness. So much has transpired in such a short period of time for her. She had wished she didn't go, but looking back on the journey she felt she had no choice in it.

"And did he welcome you back as you had hoped?" He already knew these answer but needed her to hear her self speak what she already felt before she ran back to him.

"No Teacher. He felt the darkness within me gone. He didn't trust me. I begged him to return with me so you could save him like you did me." The tears flowing from her eyes dripped down to the ground.

The Teacher stepped forward, "child,” he gently lowered her cloak and rested his hands on her shoulders, “you must understand that the force guides us all on our own paths that we must fulfill. Your path brought you to me. His didn't. We can not change the will of the Force no more than a bird can change the winds that fills its wings." He looked deep in to her eyes, "but that is not the worst of it?"

She shook her head as her tears growing more steadily, "he tried to kill me because he claimed I betrayed him. He thought I had told the authorities about his crimes and was going to betray him to them."

Nodding, "yes I saw this happening and I saw you returning to us safely. This was the reason why I asked our friends here to seek you out and help." He said then nodded to both Biggs and Lysire. "Love is a powerful emotion that can save or destroy one's soul. The difference is in attachment. It is what we do with this attachment that makes us strong or weak. We must learn that the will of the Force will be fulfilled rather we like it or not. We must not defy the will of the Force no matter how much we love someone. Even if it means letting that loved one go."

She looked up at him, "I don't understand Teacher, you said that through one's love anything is possible. Why couldn't I save him."

"Your love was so strong that it gave you the courage to escape this world undetected. To travel to the Outer Rim and find him and his gang. Your love carried you back in to the darkness where I first found you and protected you from its tainting. The reason why you could save him is because his love was not strong enough to bring you both out. The failure wasn't in you or your love for him. The failure was in his ability to overcome his fears and see the purity of your heart. You told me long ago, of the man you loved. The man as a boy before the gang took you both in and started both of you on the path to darkness. The brave and strong boy who would sing to you as a child when you both were living on the streets." The Teacher explained as he took her chin in his alien like hand. Carefully guiding her eyes to his, "Now you must choose to remember him as the boy who gave you hope and comfort or the man that lead a vile gang of criminals. How will you choose to remember him?"

She tried to look away but his touch and soft gaze locked her eyes on his'. "I want to remember the boy who sang to me when I was scared." She said as she tried to dry her eyes with the sleeve of her cloak.

The Teacher let her chin go, "good, now then you have much more to learn before my departure." He said softy to her as she stepped forward in to his waiting arm. He turned as they started to walk back to the colony.

Biggs stepped forward, "Teacher, you're leaving?"

The Teacher heard Biggs question and paused as to listen to the Force and gaged how to answer it. He turned his head over his shoulder, "yes I am departing in a few hours. Galoupt will be taking over till your return."

Now even more confused, "What do you mean till I return? Teacher I don't understand." Biggs tried to decipher what the Teacher was saying but it just confused him even more.

The Teacher slowly let the Twi'lek go as the turned his body half around to face the young female. He nodded to her, "go on, I will meet you by the water's edge. Wait for me there." With her nod he turned completely around to face Biggs as she continued down the path for the colony. He stepped forward towards Biggs and Lysire. Once he was close enough he rested both hands on Biggs shoulder, "you are a remarkable man, Prince Saar” The Teacher knew that the young prince hated the title but it fit him so well. “When I first saw you, I knew right a way who and what you were." For so long he had been waiting for the right person to come along. The one person he knew would take his place. "You have gone nearly full circle along your path. You still have much temptations to overcome and darkness within your heart to face. However with her help” he said motioning towards Lysire, “and through your own personal courage you will prevail. This I am sure of” there were many things that the Force had not yet showed him, but he knew that Prince Saar would overcome his own personal darkness if he could face his own history and learn to forgive himself for being part of it.

“One day, if you heed my lessons, you will return here in their hour of need and led them to a permanent safe home.” The Teacher said motioning back towards the colony, “Till then, you must continue on your journey back without me. I have taught you all that you need at this stage in your journey. Princess Saar-Chalco will help you along the rest of your way. However, heed this warning Prince Saar, you must be prepared to face this journey alone. Remember what I taught you about love and the power and dangers within it. Know how to use it, and respect it." The Teacher understood the importance of not sharing Princess Saar-Chalco's fate with Prince Saar. He loved her completely and knowing of her loss might tempt him from his path in an attempt to save her. "You will also find allies and other teachers to learn from as your journeys continue. IF you listen and take heart of my teachings you will become what you were meant to be." The Teacher explained.

Biggs couldn't help but be moved by such show of confidence. He looked to Lysire who smiled her approval at him with a soft nod. He hated how he had treated her in the past and the horrible things he had done to her. He couldn't say when it happened, but somewhere something in his heart gave and he saw her for the lovely woman she had always been. He never dreamed of feel such emotions for anyone but now that he can, he couldn't imagine not feeling them again. He turned back towards the Teacher, "why must you leave now?" He had hoped to continue the lessons that the Teacher was offering once they returned. It was a urgent signal that sent them to Baklid VI and their near fatel run in with Daz. They had heard about how Daz had kidnapped Lysire's brother and tortured. Daz was still the moster that he remembered despite his hopes that Visst was right. The Teacher urged not to be quick to believe all that the eyes and ears show. That many things even within the force are illusions and reflections of the pain and fear that people feel inside their own hearts. 'I have caused so much pain and fear. I know so many must see me as that same kind of monster' he thought to him self as he calmed his mind. 'I will have to face Daz once more. I know it. Only time will tell if I am ready to face him or not.' Biggs thought calmly.

The Teacher frowned as he looked Prince Saar in the eyes, "I have done all I can to prepare you and the others for the coming darkness. I too wish we had more time, however the truth is, we don't. You are ready to face your trails. You both have achieved so much in such a short period of time." He took a step back and look at Princess Saar-Chalco and smiled at her. Her body had been for ever changed by the dark powers she attempted to control. Her skin forever paled, her body weakened and her presence tainted for all to sense. On first appearances one could easily mistake her for a sinister dark creature that she once was. He knew the deeper part of her that the dark powers had not reached. He could feel the true heart in her that held Prince Saar's love. It is this love that continues to save her from the darkness that still attempts to control her soul. 'Her loss will be tragic for the entire galaxy' he thought with sadness. "Both of you will over come all that will be put before each of you. You must remember what I had taught you. Your combined love will protect and serve you both. Hold true to this."

They both smiled and nodded as the Teacher continued, “now Prince Saar, you have your trail before you. I have explained all that you must do. Go now.” he said as he motioned towards the waiting speeder.

Biggs and Lysire both nodded and turned as that walked back for the speeder. Just as they were half way their, Lysire motioned for Biggs to continue. She then turned and rushed back for the Teacher. She bowed respectfully as she stopped before him. “Thank you for all that you have done for us. I know we will never see each other again. I promise you, we will not become lost again. We will not leave you.” she promised with a tear dripping down her face. She moved forward and hugged the tall alien. As the Teacher bent down to hug her, she whispered, “Thank you for keeping my secret. I know I can't ever tell him. It would rob him of his destiny.” The hug was broken on that as the Teacher nodded. She turned and rushed back to rejoin Biggs at the air speeder. Within moments they vanished through the trees.