V.1-C.33│Progress II│

Qui-Gon had been living a rather relaxed life after the events that happened on Naboo. With a brand new mechanical hand he had to practice some more to get use to the new part of his body.

He would be lying if he did not feel a little sorrowful about the loss but he understands and has learnt with the Jedi code in mind. This helped him calm his emotions and when he thought about it the prosthetic was actually quite well constructed.

His second apprentice, Anakin was quite talented after all when it came to anything to do with technology. Overall he made quick progress within the Jedi and it would not be long before either himself or Mace would take Anakin on his first mission.

"Today we will be learning about the differences between what is the Living Force compared to the Cosmic Force." Qui-Gon was currently conducting a lesson with Anakin passing on his knowledge to his talented student.

"The Living Force was one of two complementary aspects of the Force, an all-encompassing and all-transcending energy field present in and generated by all living beings, connecting all of life which fed into the Cosmic Force in death."

"Thus, the life created the Force, as the Force created life. Sentience, consciousness and thought could be added on to life."

The acceptance of the concept of the Living Force was only taught by a very small minority and only accepted by a few within the Order. Qui-Gon had taught Obi-Wan the same things and ways just as he is teaching Anakin now.

"A sentient mindful of the Living Force let go of their conscious self and relied on their instincts, living in the present and feeling instead of thinking, thus becoming attuned to life around them and enacting the will of the Cosmic Force."

"You should be aware of the midi-chlorians I have told you about before, right my young Padawan?" Qui-Gon questions.

"Yes Master. Midi-chlorians are intelligent microscopic life-forms that lived symbiotically inside the cells of all living things." Anakin answers.

"Correct but there is more to them." Qui-Gon then continues. "When present in sufficient numbers, they could allow their host to detect the pervasive energy field known as the Force. Midi-chlorian counts were linked to potential in the Force, ranging from normal Human levels of 2,500 per cell to the much higher levels of Jedi."

"At least this is as much as modern day science can tell. The Jedi Order does use scouting equipment to test people. This is the very same test I had done to you on Tatooine long ago."

"Life is sustained by the midi-chlorians, which served as the biological vector between living beings and the will of the Force, and the greater quantity of which allowed a lifeform to have a greater connection to the Force to the extent of actively using the energy as a power."

"The Living Force contained the duality of the light and the dark sides of the Force, the latter of which tempted Force-users, who must reject it by being mindful of their emotions."

"This concept is not widely accepted within the Order if at all, so what I am teaching you is of my own opinion that I have cultivated over the years."

"Master, I have a question. If this is not taught across the Jedi then why do you think this is the correct way of thinking when it comes to the Force."

"Well that is from one of the journeys I had gone on to the supposed birth place of midi-chlorians. This was about the time I was discovering the secrets to manifesting ones consciousness after death."

"Interesting, would you tell me this story?"

"Sure."

Qui-Gon traveled to a planet strong with the Force, a world that legend said was the birthplace of life and the origin of midi-chlorians. He learned from five Force Priestesses who had retained their consciousness after death. He learned that, when a living thing died, its life passed through the Living Force and into the Cosmic Force to become one with the Force.

As the Living Force and Cosmic Force existed in tandem, it became possible for one to retain consciousness and physically manifest themselves after death. Jinn was considered worthy of the knowledge of eternal life and secretly began his training to unlock its mysteries fully.

He also learned from a Shaman of the Whills that achieving eternal consciousness required absolute selflessness.

"So the only way to achieve life after death is to maintain that you become selfless to a fault?"

"Yes and no. The meaning of selflessness itself is that a being would be more concerned with the needs and wishes of others than with one's own."

"That is nice and all but how are you to help others if you are unwilling to help yourself first. You couldn't possibly everywhere at once, or be able to give yourself for safety and peace of every other being."

"While that may be true, I believe that all one needs to do is make sure you do more for others than what you do for yourself as this is truly the way to spiritual immortality."

Qui-Gon then continues with another story of something he had experienced when it comes to the Force. "I had once told Master Yoda that being called a coward was not of great concern to me, but that being called a great warrior was."

"After a mission, I had been given a vision through the Force and it had communicated to me a many great things." Qui-Gon then begins to share his experience.

In his vision, his skin and Jedi robes covered in marks and was surrounded by red humanoid beings who grew out of dark tendrils. Though at least one of these beings tried to attack him as he fought, Jinn quickly ignited his lightsaber and cut the beings down, only for the red coloration to vanish from those he had killed.

Jinn saw he had murdered Jedi, and the same darkness that he had seen on their bodies began to consume him; by choosing violence, the dark side had gained power over him. As the darkness wrapped across his face, Jinn awoke from his vision horrified, only to see the light side had entered into the monument.

He realized the Force had taught him he could find balance that could be achieved without conflict, as unchecked violence would make the Jedi turn into what they sought to confront.

In fact, he found that some of the planet's dark corruption had instead formed into flowers, existing in harmony with the light.

"And that my young apprentice is why I believe that undue violence is unnecessary in alot of situations. That is why being called a great warrior disturbs me so much."

[]

'Captured by a bunch of droids. How stupid.'

Professor Rynalla, sometimes known as 'Profex Rynalla,' was the current captive of Anakin and Grievous and had basically been kept for a few weeks now. The only reason they had done so was to see the reaction if anyone would come looking for her.

"Let me out of here you cyborg scum." Rynalla called out towards the dimly lit hallways.

Laughing the voice of Grievous could be heard as he approaches. "Why, look what he have here." Grievous continues before she can speak some more. "Unfortunately for you, no one has even come to look for you. It seems that you are not that well known or there are not alot of people that care for you."

To their surprise it seems that not alot of people cared for her but that is what someone to deep in the dark side of the Force can do.

Practicing the dark arts without due diligence can led to alot of negative consequences and sometimes those who are in too deep can neglect others around them. One could push those closest to them away from themselves unintentionally.

"You are quite lucky that the Master has plans in store for you."

"Master? So your not even the leader of the faction this is?"

"If you are trying to get under my skin, it is not working. See where your ambition has gotten you, you should be humbled that the Master has deemed you of any worth at all." Grievous had started to accept that Anakin may very well be much more than a mere human.

Even more so his capabilities to be able to control all of these droids and to even create life to such an extent was amazing.

Once Grievous had gotten used to his new form, he had practiced alot to increase his power within the Force and, though limited he could tell the vast difference between himself and Anakin.

"He will be arriving soon to discuss with you the direction of your future." Grievous turned and left after speaking to the professor.

"Hey! Wait! Come back here!" Her shouts could be heard echoing within the facility she had been trapped in with the cold un-living droids patrolling and guarding her from escape.

Rynalla was a very vicious woman, quite cruel as well in her disregard for life. Her ambitions would have originally put alot of lives at danger.

She hired two dozen Klatooinian soldiers and went to Leritor in her bulk freighter, with her two PTR-3 Vedette snub fighters in tow. On arrival, Rynalla found the Sith starship half-buried in the local mountain range known as the Bleaks; she quickly organized a dig site using prefabricated buildings.

Noticing two main groups in the planet, the Human settlers who farmed the inland prairies and the native Sauvax living the coast, she decided to capture strong individuals from each group and use them as slave miners to uncover the ship.

But her plans were thwarted before they could even truly begin. A entire droid army that was extremely powerful above the standards of what she knew had invaded and knocked out and disabled everyone and everything she had brought with her.

Defenseless with only the limited Force knowledge and abilities at her disposal she did not stand a chance.

In a small twist of fate, if you would have it, her own Klatooinian soldiers she hired had easily betrayed her when the chance was given. 'I knew I shouldn't have trusted those lowly beings.'

Rynalla saw those below her weaker than her but she did not torture people for fun. She would have created slave camps though and had them against their will die for her in her search for the Sith artifact and treasure, the Bracers of Najus.

She had records of the immense power and potential it held when it came to users of the dark side of the Force. Even with her limited knowledge she knew it would be immensely valuable to others and not just herself.

Heavy footsteps were heard coming from down the hallway a presence within the Force that seemingly distorted the energy field present on Dathomir.

Anakin had come in the guise of Vader to talk with Rynalla.

"Wh-who are you." Rynalla said while starting to rapidly breath in and out at the beings very presence. 'What the hell is this monster!'

Her very instincts both physical and within the Force told her that her current opponent in front of her was much more powerful then her. The gap so large that she wouldn't stand a chance of survival if she were to try and go against him.

Vader then speaks through the mask, keeping his face hidden standing at 1.8 meters tall. "Hello, professor." Keeping it short and drawing out his words, Vader decides to intimidate the girl first so she is susceptible to his will.

Ominously Vader stands at a mighty 1.8 meters tall in height. This was a combination of his own physical growth and the suit he is wearing. "I have come here to judge you. If your crimes are those that cannot be forgiven, you best say your prayers."

Rynalla gulps at that.

"If you have not done anything too serious then you may be released." Vader states.

"Re-released?" Rynalla is confused.

Playing some mind games, Vader decides to try and build some trust to lower her defenses. "Yes, I have no more use for you after I have gotten what I wanted. You're simply too weak with abilities within the Force."

"Weak!?" Rynalla doesn't want to be told of her insecurities.

"Yes, with little to no training from anyone how did you think you were doing?" Vader continued. "Did you think you were all powerful? All knowing, better than others around you?"

"Yes!"

"No. You are just like everyone else. A mortal who does not understand the nature of the dark side and its true potential."

"I have studied for years. I most certainly know a thing or two, especially about the history of Force-sensitive groups." Rynalla lets something slip not knowing this is what Vader is looking for.

"You have information then? On the locations of potential places with Sith and Jedi temples abandoned?"

"Of course I do. I am not a genius for nothing."

'How moronic, I have come to understand that stupid is not having a low level of intelligence. No it is behavior that shows a lack of good sense or judgement.' Vader then continues. "Your intelligence may help you out in the college you are associated with but here it means nothing."

Rynalla being brought back to the reality of her situation is once again reminded on the presence that towers over her, both physically and within the Force.

"I am willing to make a deal with you for your release. I want you to work for me and in exchange I can give you much more of what you desire."

"Desire?"

"You are ambitious and when your ambition was left unchecked it has gotten you into trouble but I believe we can temper your behavior to be more suitable for society at large."

"Tell me what you can do for me." Rynalla says thinking she may be able to escape the clutches of Vader.

"Very well." Vader then thinks. 'Does this girl never learn?'