| 1. The Mission |
| -Dow-Ma- Dow-Ma walked into the Jedi temple. Kala followed him. Earlier she had told him that the Black man with no hair could be found here. He was sure it was Jode. He had not seen his old sparring partner for five years now. What could his movements do with his destiny? Soon enough the two saw The black Jedi. Dow-Ma recognized him immediately. "JODE!" He bellowed. "Dow-Ma!" He responded. Almost fluid like the two Jedi drew their sabers. Ignited them and entered into what most onlookers would regard as mortal combat. It ended with Jode slashing at Dow-Ma's back and Dow-Ma deftly parrying with a no look block over his head and behind his back. "Never could beat you." Jode said, extinguishing his blade. "Your reputation as one of the best duelists remains I see." Jode offered. "Only you could push me to such a desperate move, Jode." Dow-Ma said, doing the same to his blade. "Good to see you again. I have a Padawan here who is of the opinion our paths are destined to meet. What say you?" "I have been ordered to rest and meditate on my recent actions." Kala jumped in, her boldness showing no boundaries. "I am having another vision. Wait." Kala dropped to the floor. Dow-Ma dropped with her, concerned for his apprentice. -Kala Ann Marie- Kala felt the darkness around her, clouding her, hovering over her. Her eyes flung open and stared into the concerned face of her master. "What is it?" he asked "Sith," Kala breathed, "they are here. Very, VERY close by." -Jode Val-Ednu- As they picked up Dow-Ma's padawan, a young padawan rushes up to them. "The council wishes to see you now, " he says. Jode nods and heads off to meet them. "Wait," Dow-Ma calls, "I�ll go with you, if she�s right we'll be heading towards the same destiny anyway." Jode looks at him, and then her, and nods. "Oh by the way," Jode says, "I let you block that last attack." "No you didn�t." He says smiling. "Yes I Did." "No you didn�t..." *** When we arrived, Rejean was already waiting. "So good of you to finally show up." he said sarcastically. "Ah Knight Val-Ednu, finally, now we can begin." Ki-Adi Mundi says. "Welcome Knight Dow-Ma." "Thank you my master." "What is this all about masters?" Jode asks. Master Yoda looks straight at me. "What know you of the origins and History of the Sith?" he inquires. "A fair amount my Master," Jode says pensively "why?" "Have you heard of the Legend of the Tree of Woe?" Master Windu inquires. Jode�s heart skips a beat. It couldn�t be. He could feel Dow-Ma's apprehension, he knew of it too. "What is the Tree of Woe?" Rejean asked looking confused. "The Myth" Jode began, "is that about three thousand years ago, at the beginning of The Great Sith War, Many of the Sith Lords were doing battle with each other for supremacy. They were literally wiping each other out." "What does that have to do with us?" Dow-ma's padawan asks. Jode continues, "One such battle took place between three powerful Sith Lords." Jode could almost feel the darkness entering the room as he spoke. "These Lords were 3 of the most powerful of their time, skilled in Sith magic and the use of the Dark Side. For seven days and seven nights they did battle, drawing on all the life essence of the planet they were on and finally laying waste to everything, even themselves." "Where the bodies fell," Master Windu continues, "a Tree sprung up, gnarled and ugly beyond comprehension. But this was not just a Tree; it contained the evil life essence of these three Dark Lords. As the Myth goes, whoever comes into contact with the Tree will immediately be turned to the Dark side of the Force." "And if you already belong to the Dark Side?" Rejean asked cautiously. "They gain more power than you can ever imagine," Jode continues, "enough to bring a new reign of Terror to the Galaxy." "Which is why we need you to find and destroy it," Mace Windu says. "Destroy it?" Jode asks, shocked. "Can it be destroyed?" "All things must end!" Yoda stated. "But it's been lost for over three thousand years" Jode begins again. "No one knows what planet its on." "Nevertheless," Master Windu continues "It must be found. Surely you have felt the Darkness, some Dark lord or lords are searching for it, The Tree senses it and is trying to draw them near." "Its alive?" Rejean asks, startled. Dow-Ma looked apprehensive as if he had feared something like this. "Dark time this is for the Jedi," Yoda says softly, "grave danger in the future I see for us all." Jode nods knowingly. "This rising turmoil with the Mandalorians is coming to a head, we cannot afford to give them or their allies any advantage," Jedi Master Adi Gallia says. Jode looks into her eyes, "Yes." "Prepare your self and May the Force be with you," Yoda says finally. We exit the chamber and head down the Hall. �I don�t think it�s the Mandalorians looking for the Tree, I doubt they even know about it. It was someone else,� Jode says "Do you fear anything Rejean?" Jode ask. "Why?" "Just be prepared to face those fears," Jode says. |