The Force
Selected. Axle Tinguard has recently started his journey to find his true potential. After fighting off the only two Sith Lords in existence, Axle prepares to leave for the homeworld of his enemy.
Axle and Ahsoka are in their room. Axle was in a T-shirt and sweatpants. Ahsoka was in a tube top and skirt as she laid on top of him starting to wake up. "Good morning." Ahsoka sighed sounding very relaxed. "Morning." Axle responded in the same way. "Are you sure you have to go alone?" Ahsoka asked. "Don't worry. I'll be back within a week." He answered.
Just then, they heard footsteps outside their door. "Quick, hide." Axle told Ahsoka as she pulled the covers over herself. Axle stood up as soon as the door opened. "Master Skywalker. Can I help you?" He asked. "Have you seen Ahsoka? We need to get going." Skywalker said. "I think she's in the refresher." Axle lied. "Alright, well when you see her, tell her to meet me in the hanger." Anakin said. "Will do." Axle nodded. Skywalker looked back at Axle's bed and saw that the covers were elevated, "What's that?" Axle had to think quickly, "Those...are my extra pillows." "O...k." Skywalker replied confused and walked away. Axle closed the door, "That was too close." Ahsoka emerged from the bed, "Extra pillows? Really?" "I had like 3 seconds to answer ok." Axle jokes.
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Axle drops out of Hyperspace at Marraband, "Alright, let's see what's down there." His droid, R3 starts beeping, *Beep* *Beep*
The starship lands on the dusty deserted planet. "Stay with the ship." Axle tells R3 as he walks into a cave.
It started to get dark so Axle ignited his single blade for light. He soon came to a tomb. All of a sudden, dust started to pick up with the wind. A figure then emerged from the tomb. It was made out of Ashes and fire. "Do you know who I am, child?" The figure asked. "No." Axle responded stepping back. "I am Darth Bane. Creator of the rule of two." Bane explained. "Master Yoda spoke of you only once." Axle replied. "What brings you to my tomb? Have you come to be my apprentice?" Bane asked. Axle stood up straight with a ferm voice, "No. You are dead. You cannot teach me or show me anything." Axle started to walk forward toward the illusion. "NO!!!" Bane screamed as he charged. Axle just outstretched his hand and pulled Bane closer to him. "NO, NO, NO!!!" Bane yelled as Axle absorbed the mirage. The room became quiet. A red glow from where Bane used to float was there. It was a Sith Holocron. Axle was hesitant, but slowly reached out and grabbed it. "Axle." Ellisia's voice echoed once again. "What must I do now?" He asked. "Go to your next destination. Be warned, I cannot help you on Malachor, as it is pure darkness." Axle was again hesitant walking back to his ship.
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Axle and R3 arrived at Malachor. *Deep breath* "Ok. I'm ready." Axle said as they descended. Axle saw the entire surface was flat and grey. It was all dark. They touched down next to the only building there. "R3 stay with the ship again." Axle ordered as he walked into the dark structure.
After walking for a while, Axle heard faint laughter, "Axle.....Tinguard." "Who's there?" Axle responded, reaching for his saber. A dark figure appeared. "I asked you a question!" Axle yelled, pulling out his saber. "Why do you fear me?" The figure asked. "Because I see a dark figure on a planet full of darkness and I'm alone." Axle taunted. "Unexpected. You are the first I have met to tell me the truth in some time." The figure replied. "Are you a Sith?" Axle asked. The figure paused, "Yes and no. I am a Darth, but part of the Sith order I am no longer." "What's your name?" Axle asked again, not letting his guard down. "I...am..called...Revan." Axle just stared with the same look. "No reaction? Do you not know who I am to you?" Revan acknowledged. "No." Axle replied. Revan looked disappointed, "Hmmm. Then maybe this will jog your memory." Several Red sabers ignited around Axle. He ignited his split-saber. The Dark figures emerged and attacked. Axle fended them off with ease. After 5 minutes, all 10 of them were dead.
"Impressive." Revan spoke up. Then, Axle remembered that this was the same vision he had on Mortis. He breathed heavily as he remembered everything, "How did I not remember this?" "Because your memory, along with the other Jedi with you, had been whipped when you left Mortis." Revan answered. "Why am I here?" Axle asked again. "That is for you to decide. But let me ask a better question. Why is she here?" Revan's mysterious voice questioned as the darkness cleared showing Ahsoka chained to the ground. "Ahsoka?!" Axle questioned and started to show some fear. Ahsoka just stared back. Her face was full of terror "What did you do?" Axle yelled. "I did nothing. It was you who brought her here." Revan answered. "What do you want?" Axle says. "I want you to reach your full potential. And to do that, you need to know pain." Revan laughed as he ignited his blade and shoved it through Ahsoka's stomach. Axle stared in horror. Ahsoka stared back into Axle's eyes. Ahsoka then dropped to the floor. Axle had tears running down his face. He then felt something take him over. His eyes turned a dark red yellow. The entire building and ground shook. Axle picked himself up and ignited his blades. With all his anger he attacked Revan. The ex Sith Lord laughed through his mask. Axle swung his blades every which way, but Revan blocked all his attacks. Axle parries Revan and kicks him. Then with all his strength, he raised his hands and shot force lightning at the former Sith. This shook the planet.
After Axle finished his attack, the shaking stopped. Revan was lying dead on the floor. Then Axle ran back to Ahsoka. He held her body in his arms and cried to himself until mysteriously, she faded away. Then Revan's body faded away. Laughter echoed around the room. Revan appeared again. "This...is...an illusion." Axle realized. "Yes it is. But it shows you that you were unprepared to protect the one you love." Revan explained. Axle just sat there thinking. "Do you wish to protect her?" Revan asked. "She doesn't need protecting. Ahsoka can handle herself." Axle answered. "But that illusion proves otherwise. If you join me, I can teach you how to prevent something like this from happening." Axle gave much thought. "I only want to protect Ahsoka." He said. Revan smiled, "Then kneel." Axle did as he was told. Revan ignited his blade. He hovered it above Axle's left and right shoulders then above his head. "The dark side is with you, my apprentice. You are now a Lord of the Sith. You may rise." Axle stood up, but Revan was gone. No voice or laughter could be heard. Axle's eyes returned to normal.
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Axle returned to his ship. *Beep* *Beep* *Beep* R3 said. "Yea I know. The entire planet shook." Axle responded trying to lift the mood, "We still have one more planet to visit. Let's go" The ship left Malachor and jumped to Dagobah.
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*Beep* *Beep* *Beep* R3 says. "I'm fine buddy, just tired is all." Axle says rubbing his head. They dropped out of Hyperspace. "There it is. Dagobah. I feel the planet's life. This place is rich with the light side." Axle explains as they touch down. "I shouldn't be long. We'll be home soon." Axle said to R3. *Beep* *Beep* the droid answered. "Axle." Ellisia called. "I'll be back R3." Axle said and started to follow Ellisia's voice.
"Ellisia, what was that on Malachor? Why did Revan want me to reach my full potential?" Axle asked. "You and Revan are closer than you think." Ellisia answered. "How?" Axle said, confused. Ellisia paused, "He is your ancestor." "WHAT!!!" Axle yelled, "AND YOU DIDN'T TELL ME!!!" "I couldn't. You were out of reach on that planet." Ellisia explained. "Is there anything else you wish to tell me?" Axle asked. "In your final test, you will find another one of your ancestors. Follow this cave." Ellisia said and the light shined in a large opening of a cave. Axle walked in.
Something was different. He could hear many different voices. "Ellisia, what am I hearing?" Axle asked. "You are hearing voices from the past, present and the future. Ahead you will understand the question I could not answer. Your key point in the history of the force." Ellisia says. Axle took a deep breath and walked forward.
He soon came into an opening and mist started to surround him. All of a sudden, the mist cleared and the entrance was gone. Axle looked around and walked slowly through the fog. "Axle." another voice echoed. It didn't sound like Ellisia. "Who is it?" Axle asked. Just then, a bunch of sparkling lights spun around and connected together revealing a figure. "Hello Axle." She said. He just stood there and stared, "Are you my ancestor?" "Yes. My name is Satele Shan." She answered. Axle then remembered when Master Yoda told him of the Jedi history. "You...you were once the Grand Master of the Jedi order during the Galactic War and the Cold War." Axle geeked out for a second. "Yes. I was." Satele confirmed. "What must I do to complete my quest here?" Axle asked getting back on topic. "I will show you what will happen in the coming year. I will also provide you with advice, should you ever face the dark side within you." Satele informed.
The mist started to rise and take form. Axle was confused as he heard voices again. However, one voice rises above from the rest, "Execute order 66." "Yes Lord Sidious." Axle was stunned by what followed as he saw many of his fellow Jedi being gunned down by clones. This horrified him, but that wasn't even the hard part as he then heard the voice of Anakin. "It's not the Jedi way. He must live." "I pledge myself...to your teachings." Axle heard all of this and he collapsed. "MAKE IT STOP!!!" He yelled. But it didn't, it kept coming. He then heard Master Kenobi, "YOU WERE MY BROTHER ANAKIN!!! YOU WERE THE CHOSEN ONE!!!" Axle couldn't take it anymore. Suddenly, a dark figure in a mask appeared and a deep breathing filled the room. "NO!!!" Axle yelled again.
The mist then faded away and the cave became silent. *Heavy breathing* "WHAT WAS THAT!!?" Axle screamed. "It is the future." Satele answered. "What did the first voice say? Order 66? What is that?" Axle asked, still dazed and completely drained. "Darth Sidious. If he manages to complete his plan, this future is certain." Satele explained. Axle continued to ask questions, "What did order 66 mean?" "Order 66 will mean the entire destruction of the Jedi Order and Republic." Satele answered. "You said that this future is certain if Sidious completes his plan, right?" Axle asked, regaining his strength. "That is correct." Satele said. "I need to warn the Jedi, we need to stop him now!" He said with concern. "The Jedi cannot defeat Sidious. Any Jedi who faces him will fail." Satele said. Axle took a second to think, "So what do I do from here?" Satele smiled and took his hands, "You now have the knowledge and tools you need to train yourself. You have but only three paths. Stay with the Jedi order and fight for what you believe in; Forget about the order and train yourself away from everyone in whichever practices you wish; or Forget about this entire incident, as it is not the certain future. You do not have to choose now, but think about your own path." "You said you have knowledge if I lose myself to the dark side." Axle said. "If you feel like you're losing yourself, think about what you love from your past. If you master this ability, you will be able to use the dark side without being consumed by it. Be warned, it will take you a long while to learn this." Satele explained. Axle looked into her eyes, "I will do what I can to protect the ones I love." She smiled, "Goodbye Young one." Satele said as she ascended into the air and vanished. Axle turned around and saw the exit.
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Axle was now on a Venator-Class star destroyer. He was in his room with the Sith and Jedi holocron. "Axle." Ellisia echoed. "Ellisia, What should I do?" He asked. "Combined the holocrons to view your path." she explained. Axle was confused. He knew how to open the Jedi holocron, but never opened a Sith holocron. He thought about it. Using light side energy opens the Jedi holocron, so opening a Sith holocron would need dark side energy. Axle wasn't sure about this, but he trusted Ellisia and remembered Satele's advice. Axle first opened the Jedi Holocron. Then using his hatred toward Sidious, the Sith holocron started to slowly open. Axle struggled with the power of shifting between the light and dark. The Sith holocron was finally open. Axle's thoughts of helping others kept the Jedi holocron open and his thoughts of ending Sidious's life painfully kept the Sith holocron open. He then moved the two holocrons closer together, then all of a sudden, something pulled them like a magnet and slammed into each other. Axle then saw a bright light coming from the holocrons, he looked into it and he suddenly appeared in a white looking room.
"Hello Axle. It is good to see you." Ellisia said. Axle turned around and saw a glowing figure. "Ellisia?" Axle questioned. "Yes. Welcome to the gateway to the force." She said. "It is time you know who I really am." She started, "I was the first selected for the tests facing the light and the dark. I soon came to a realization. Both sides have access to different abilities, then I wanted to teach myself how to combine both sides into one. This was difficult, but I soon was able to do this and I had access to everything the force had to offer." "What does this have to do with me?" Axle asked. Ellisia smiled, "The one selected will not only be in a key role in history. If they accept my teachings, they will learn how to combine the force as well. Only one can be selected, but the one who is, can pass on their teachings until the next one is selected." "What about Master Yoda? Did he accept your teachings?" Axle asked. "He did, but as Grand Master of the order, he carried a great responsibility. He said he couldn't continue, and that the Jedi needed him more." Axle understood. "So he didn't learn everything, therefore couldn't pass on his knowledge about this." Axle said. "Correct. Now I give you the same choice, will you learn from me?" Axle thought about what Satele had said about his three paths. "I will be honored if you would train me." He answered. "This will be interesting as it will be my first time training a legend." She said "Wait a legend?" Axle replied. "Yes. You are one of three. The Black Wolf, The Grey Wolf and The White Wolf." she reminded him. Axle remembered, "Ahsoka and I? We become legends?" "Yes. This choice has revealed your future. I cannot say more." Ellisia said. Axle took a moment, "I understand." Ellisia smiled, "Figure out what you must do with your path. You are no longer a Jedi. At least you will not think or act like one. If you complete the training, you will be known as a Gray Jedi. Come back whenever you wish to continue your training."
Axle then opened his eyes and he was back in his room, the two holocrons on the table. He stashed them in a bag and walked out.
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Axle returned to Coruscant and arrived back at the temple. Master Yoda greeted him, "Successful your journey was?" Many other Jedi came to meet him. Ahsoka, Anakin, Obi-Wan, Windu, and the entire Jedi council. "It was Master." He answered. Ahsoka approached him and gave him a hug, "Glad your back in one piece." She smiled and looked into his eyes. Axle looked back at her, but then his smile went away. He informed everyone about his entire journey which gave them a shock.
"I...I can't be a part of the order anymore. Not directly at least." Axle said. Ahsoka was confused, "You're joking right?" "No. I'm not." He looked away from her. Everyone started to frown. "But...but you can't leave. What about your friends? What about me?" Ahsoka tried to hold back tears. "I'll still be in contact, but I need to find my own way. I need to be free of all these rules." Master Yoda spoke up, "If no longer a Jedi you are, who are you?" Axle paused, "I am a Gray Jedi." Yoda gave a little smile. "Will we ever see you again?" Ahsoka asked, still trying to hold back tears. "Are You kidding? I would never let anything get in the way from seeing you again." Axle ensured her. She gave another tight hug. Axle started to back away, his hands slowly slipping from Ahsoka's. He gave another look to his family, then back to her. Axle gave one last smirk to Ahsoka as he descended down the steps of the temple.