A lesson Learned (working title)

OK.
I need a better title for this piece, but plowing ahead anyway...
My blog "Tales from Soma III" has some background info on both
Tenric's homeworld and his being taken as a padawan.

©2007 David Bieri (aka:nightguy)
A Lesson Learned (a tale of Tenric’s training)

Part I

Tenric crashed through the underbrush at the edge of the clearing, breathing heavily. In his right hand was the broken, jagged, end of a stout tree branch and on his left temple there was a darkening bruise. He kept glancing over his shoulder as he ran, looking in vain for signs of pursuit. He cast wildly behind him with the Force trying to both sense and repel his attacker. It was no use, however, for he was still too young and inexperienced to do much more than scare himself with his ineffectiveness.

An exposed tree root caught his foot and sent him sprawling. He jumped to his feet and turned, facing the trees defiantly. A small smile crossed his face as he wiped the dirt away. With difficulty he calmed himself and sought the center his Master had shown him. Sounds of pursuit now came from the trees and he braced himself, gripping the branch as close to the end as possible to extend his reach. It wouldn’t be enough, but that root had given him an idea. He reached out with the Force and moved his hand in a covering motion and the root faded from view.

The brush rustled at the exact spot from which he had emerged and then suddenly parted to reveal…nothing. The area seemed to grow eerily quiet as the brush settled back into place. He could feel the presence of something, but couldn’t see it. There was the faintest of odors on the wind but not enough to help him locate his attacker. He began to get nervous once more. His hasty plan to confront his pursuer now useless since there appeared to be nothing to confront.

Scanning the area, and opening himself as wide as he could to the Force, Tenric prepared for the attack he knew was coming. Suddenly there was a horrendous screech from directly behind him. He whirled and stepped quickly back away from the noise, only to trip once more over the same root. He lost his grip on the branch and it went flying away from him as he fell. He reached out with the Force and called it back, but it simply stopped in mid air and hung there. As his back hit the ground he saw the air over him shimmer slightly and out of the corner of his eye he saw two well-worn boots protruding from the hem of his Master’s robe.

“You are still surprisingly quick footed, my Padawan.” His Master said with a smile, “Quick witted too. Both will serve you well in the time to come.” He finished; referring as he usually did to some future full of foreboding he either could not, or would not explain.

“Not fair!” Tenric spurted as he rose once more.

“Not fair?” his Master chided. “It was you who resorted to illusion first. Do not complain to me of being bested at your own game.” As he finished saying this Tenric’s branch floated slowly back to him.

“But you attacked me without warning!” he complained in return. “You were supposed to be meditating this morning.” He accused.

“Have you still not learned that life very rarely follows the route we have planned for it.” His Master replied. “A Jedi must be always ready, always alert, always attuned to the Force. Otherwise you will fail, whether as ambassador, negotiator, or warrior.” He finished, “Now come and wash up.”

They went to the edge of the pond that bordered the clearing and his Master watched as he washed the dirt and mud from his face and hands. When he had finished his Master examined the bruise that was now a deep purple. “I think we shall let you wear that one for awhile, to help you remember.”

Tenric sighed and hung his head slightly. “Yes Master.”

“Come, my young Padawan, face the water and tell me what you see.”

Tenric wanted to impress his Master so he looked very carefully. “I see fish of many sizes swimming, plants growing from the bottom their fronds swaying as with the current, sediment floating in the water from my washing, and rocks laying upon the bottom.” Then he reached out with the Force and added, “I can sense the life in the pond as it moves and feels, in some way it is all connected.” He finished.

“It is to your credit that you look deeper than the surface Padawan. For this lesson, however, it is the surface I wish you to observe.” His Master’s voice was warm and encouraging. “Tell me what you see there.”

He hid his disappointment at his Master’s apparent disregard for his insight and calmed himself. He pushed down his thoughts about the fruitlessness of watching the water. There was always a good reason for the tasks his Master asked him to do and he knew there was one now as well. He refocused his eyes and watched.

“There are skate-bugs going to and fro on the surface along with other small insects who do not sink into the water, but move upon it.” He began. “There are amphibians swimming along the surface feeding upon the insects as do the fish, and an occasional diver-bird who catches one of the amphibians or fish.” He paused, not sure what else to say.

“Yes. Very good Padawan.” His Master said, “What else do you see?”

He was very much encouraged at this kind word from his Master and bent himself to glean more from what was before him. He was silent for several moments while he watched and thought. “I can see ripples on the water, moving in all directions. Some are caused by the swimmers, some by the divers, some by the fish, while some seem to come from below or are caused by the wind above.” He finished tenuously, not sure if he had sought too hard for something to say.

“You will make a wise Jedi one day my Padawan.” His Master said with a wide smile on his face. “Yes, indeed. Come now and I will teach you about the two arms of the Force, The Unifying Force and the Living Force. It is in understanding them that true mastery begins.”

They moved to the old log usually reserved for fishing and sat with their feet dangling over the water. Tenric was both uneasy and eager. His Master’s tone indicated the sharing of deep knowledge and not just the customary “do this” or “do not do this” that was his usual fare. He was a good student and applied himself diligently to what his Master taught, but up ‘til now it had mostly been physical training or broad teachings about controlling the outward use of the Force. It seemed he had passed some test today and would now begin to learn more of what being a Jedi was really about.

Tenric sat patiently. He knew his Master valued patience above much else. He had often been told that it was the Jedi’s staunchest ally.

“Life is very like the pond and most beings like skate-bugs. Most never really go beyond the surface of it, but skim along unaware of the heights and depths that surround them. They understand only the terror of the unknown.” His Master began. “The Unifying Force is that part which spans the distances of time and space,” he waved his arm upward and out, “like the air above the pond. It surrounds all beings and all things and through it one can gain an understanding of what is happening now, where they are going, and from whence they come. Just as the diver-birds can see their prey and track where they are headed and find their nests by seeing where they have come from.”

“With the Unifying Force a Jedi can look ahead, abroad, and behind. It speaks to us in impressions and visions, sudden realizations and inevitabilities. The Unifying Force brings us peace. It is said that wisdom is to be found within the Unifying Force and the wise Jedi will seek it in meditation.” He paused and gestured out over the water.

“The Living Force is like the water itself. All life directly contacts it and is connected by it; indeed life feeds it and makes it grow like the fish and amphibians that feed on the bugs. It is indeed much as you sensed at the beginning of the lesson.” Here he paused long enough for Tenric to understand that his earlier insight had not gone unnoticed, and for him to realize the nature of the test he had passed.

“Through the Living Force you can gain understanding of why things are they way they are; what influences are at play in a situation, or being. It is with the Living Force that a Jedi can influence those around him and gain knowledge useful for both survival and resolution. Through the Living Force Jedi can heal, touch the minds of beings great and small, and affect things around them.”

Tenric was amazed at how much information his Master was giving him. For the first time many of the lessons he had been made to endure became clear to him. Pieces began falling into place like parts of a puzzle and he could see a picture emerging. His Master sat and watched as this new insight took hold of his pupil. He was, indeed, fiercely proud of Tenric’s progress and sensitivity to the Force. He was waiting now to see what his Padawan would make of this information.

Tenric thought for a few minutes on what he had been told. He knew there was a connection between the two aspects of the Force, there had to be. Each was to be pursued, sought after, and yet both seemed indispensable to the life of a Jedi. His Master had taught him that the Jedi served the will of the Force, but what was that? Which of the two would lead him to that knowledge the Jedi held so dear? He wondered if it was even possible? Was he supposed to realize that?

As he weighed these questions in his mind, each against the other, looking for their merits he found reasons in favor of both. This seemed at odds with what he expected. There should be an obvious path, a balance. His Master had always said that the Force would guide…and then he had it!

“Master!” Tenric exclaimed then, catching himself, continued in a calmer voice. “Is it not the Jedi’s place to stand in the center, between the two arms of the Force, to weigh and balance what the Force shows them and thereby discern the will of the Force? If the Force will guide us then it can do so using either the Unifying or Living Force.” He finished wide-eyed.

“Or through both together,” His Master said with the biggest grin Tenric had ever seen on his face. “The key to a Jedi’s life, to his connection with the Force, is the balance between the two arms. Stray too far toward either side and you will find yourself stepping into darkness.” He finished more somberly. “Now walk with me. It is time we headed back for lunch and I wish to speak to you of how to stay balanced.”

They rose and headed back toward the small hut they shared with Tenric’s grandmother. The walk was pleasant. Tenric listened while his Master explained about the currents in the Force.

“The Force is constantly in a state of flux, shifting and changing, much like the many different ripples you saw upon the water. All living things leave an imprint, or ripple, in the Force, as do all decisions, actions, and events. Each one leaves behind an echo that can be sensed by those in tune to the vibrations, the currents. These currents ebb and flow with the myriad changes of life. Both the Unifying and Living Force produce their own currents and also interact with each other producing new ripples. It is through meditation that a Jedi can learn to discern the differences between the currents and through wisdom that a Jedi learns to interpret them.”

Here Tenric couldn’t repress a sigh, as he found meditation to be difficult and just a bit boring as well. His Master knew this of course.

“You think meditation a waste of time my Padawan.” It was a statement, not a question. “I say to you that the core discipline of a Jedi is meditation. Indeed it is the attitude of meditation that you must cultivate if you hope to remain balanced. Physical training is a type of bodily meditation. Studying is a mental meditation. Why even sleeping could be seen as subconscious meditation…for a Jedi.”

Tenric actually snickered at this last statement, but his Master went on as though he didn’t notice.

“If you ever hope to master the various saber techniques you will need to learn not only to meditate, but to enter a meditative state even while fighting. It is the balance between the Unifying and Living Force that makes a true saber master.” He knew he had Tenric’s attention now, as one of his padawan’s highest hopes was to become a true master of the lightsaber.

“It is the unifying Force that allows a Jedi to see and sense into the future during combat, or other challenges. However, it is the Living Force that flows through a Jedi and enhances his strength, speed, and endurance in order to allow him to take advantage of that knowledge. The Living Force will also fine tune the information imparted by the Unifying Force. Just as the Unifying Force can augment the action of the Living Force.”

He could feel all this sinking into his student like a sponge. Tenric would lay awake tonight rehearsing this day’s lesson over and over until fatigue claimed him.

“All life, my Padawan, is an exercise in symbiosis. The Force is no different. A Jedi who wishes to master the Force must learn to accept this interconnectedness, and learn how to use it. The road is a long and hard one, but the rewards begin even while one is still upon it.”

They continued to the house in silence. Each lost in thoughts of what the future may hold. Tenric was given the afternoon off in order to find his own special place of meditation. His master had promised to show him how to find and recognize the currents beginning in the morning and he was eager to get started.

He did lie awake most of the night…………………..