Do I Live For Nothing (Page 11 of 25)

Vector and Yi'shar spar in the cargo bay.

"You are still angry with Rane," says Vector as they fight. "The darkside will test you at this time Yi'shar. It will tell you to use your anger; it will try to lure you into using its power to hurt and cause the person you are angry to suffer."

Yi'shar's saber attacks become faster.

"Focus your anger; don't let it guide you, but use it to make you stronger."

Yi'shar attacks Vector fiercely, and the strength is evident. Vector struggles to stand against his attacks. They end in a saber lock, and thrust away to opposite ends of the room.

"Good. now, keep your focus. Remember what your anger is directed towards."

I Am Jedi

Yi'shar attacks Vector again. Vector can feel the anger in Yi'shar, and he uses it. But the darkside of the force begins to be felt in Yi'shar. Vector decides the test has gone on long enough, and ends the fight by disarming Yi'shar.

"Now, calm youself. The darkside is beginning to tempt you. Its calling. You're angry, and it will tell you that it has the power to satisfy your anger. Use your anger in a fight to focus your attack, but don't let it drive out your sense of compassion and justice."

Yi'shar stands panting, "I felt it master. I felt the darkside."

Vector, "I know. It was time. You had to feel it before you met the Sith. Yi'shar, in a fight, it will seem like giving in to the darkside is the thing to, the way to end the conflict, even the right way to deal with your enemy. But feel it now. Feel the echoes of the darkside and the pain that it leaves. Feel the terror and the crushing weight, the emptiness."

Yi'shar lowers his head, his eyes closed. "Yes, it's there"

Vector, "Remember that echo. And when we face the Sith, you will be ready to stand against the darkside."

I Am Jedi

Vector forces the voice from his mind.

Yi'shar, "Vector, I don't think I can stand against it. It was hard enough here fighting you."

Vector, "I know. You felt a small part of what I felt on Mustafar. But you will face the darkside one day; you cannot hide from it. I don't have all the answers on how to fight it, but now you have felt it's power and how quickly it can corrupt. You felt it tell you to kill me, didn't you?"

Yi'shar, "How did you know that?"

Vector, "I felt it, sensed it through your actions. Remember that. Don't let the darkside lie to you. It will turn you against your closest friends. Your emotions aren't evil, but they are one of the doors that the darkside will use. Keep a guard at that door."

Yi'shar leaves to take a shower. Vector goes to his room; he sits staring at the stars flashing by. "Sara"..........."No, focus!"

I Am Jedi

Vector senses the dark presense, and rushes to the cockpit.

"Rane?!"

No response.

Vector stretches out his hand towards Rane, concentrating through the force. Rane.....resist. Stay strong. Don't let it use your emotions, don't let it bring up your past, don't let it lie to you.

Vector focuses his strength in the force to helping Rane.

I Am Jedi

Yi'shar senses his master's life is in danger, and runs towards the cockpit. But before he can get there, Vector closes the door and locks it. Wait, padawan. I'm alright. Wait. Yi'shar stands at the door, unsure...

Vector turns to Rane. Through the force, he helps Rane calm. "It's alright, everythings fine, it's gone now. Are you ok?"

I Am Jedi

Vector nods. "You're part of this team now Rane. You're one of us. We're here to keep each other from falling. I know that it was the darkside that brought this on. I won't let you fall, any more than I'd let Sara or Yi'shar fall." Looks at Sara. "I'll leave you now."

I Am Jedi

"Listen Rane, if you're gonna be here, you're going to be a part of us. And that means we work together, whether we like it or not. You needed my help, and I gave it. That's it. If you don't like it, you can take the first ship back to you station when we get to a space hub."

He turns to leave, and says over his shoulder, "Oh, and you're welcome."

Vector finds Yi'shar standing outside of the cockpit. "What was that all about?"

Vector draws Yi'shar away. "Whatever that voice was that was in your head, also tempted Rane. It took control of him for a moment, but it's alright now."

"He tried to kill you didn't he?"

Vector stops, "It's over now. I'm fine, and he is still on our side."

"No, he's on his own side, he's never been on our side. Whether he's a Sith now or not, his only reason for being here is because of Sara. He doesn't care about what happens to us! and he still is open to the dark side, and I can easily see him reverting back to it, whether it means joining Cratus or taking his place."

Vector stops him, "Enough! ......." he sighs. "You may be right. The fact that the darkside took over him, even momentarily, is not a good sign. I'll watch him, but he is still a part of this crew, the same as you. And we will work together."

Vector leaves Yi'shar and goes to find Sara. He finds her standing alone.

I Am Jedi

"Sara..........are you alright?"

Vector was standing behind her. His face, usually so calm and resigned from the years of Jedi training, betrayed a genuine concern now.

I Am Jedi

Vector, "Alright............um, no thanks."

Vector is obviously uncomfortable with what he's about to say. "Sara, I have to talk to you about Rane. I was willing to let him come on this journey because he's your friend and you wanted him. But I'm not sure it's a good idea. This may sound juvenille, but he and Yi'shar are obviously at odds, and I'm not sure that he has any desire to get along with me either. We're headed to the most dangerous situation any of us have ever faced, and we don't need hostility among our friends................. I suppose what I'm sayin is, I'm not sure he needs to be here."

I Am Jedi