Silver Lining

This article, , is a direct follow up to Twists of a Force Sensitive, which is a part of the Force Chronicles story-line. As such it features Vin Garth and Zur Cen as the main characters.

Vin wasted no more time. He’d taken a quick cursory look at young Zur’s stolen data pad and immediately wished he had a faster starship, or a communicator that couldn’t be traced by the CIS. And now that he dwelt on it… he didn’t want the Supreme Chancellor finding out just yet either. As he was currently in possession of neither of things he was looking for he was left with little choice in the matter: he’d have to return to Coruscant personally.

“Uh, what am I supposed to do?”

Vin had almost forgotten completely about the young Zabrak. He took the young man’s measure for a time before grinning. Vin wasn’t sure why he hadn’t sensed it before. He must’ve been focusing too much on Bull to notice Zur, but the kid was exceptionally strong in the Force. Even without a reading Vin knew when to trust his instincts. They’d kept him alive for a long time and steered him clear of disaster on countless occasions. He knew when they where right and right now they told him this child he had discovered by accident – no by the will of the Force – would become something extraordinary.

“I’m going to begin your training.” Vin declared.

He really should send a message to Master Yoda about his findings first but he’d rather do it in person, so he figured it could wait. The information hinted at a great conspiracy with the ultimate destruction of the Republic as its goal, though a great deal was left out, or merely hinted at; and nothing was truly definitive. It would probably provide few answers. Vin was only guessing but the scope of what he had uncovered could only truly be pulled off by an army comparable in size to that owned by the CIS. There weren’t any others that could possibly be used.

“Do you know what this is?” Vin held out his lightsaber.

Zur ignited the red blade owned previously by Bull and looked at the vivid colouration with a tad of apprehension.

“It’s a lightsaber… but I don’t like the colour.”

“Give it here.”

Vin often changed the colouration of his lightsaber from time-to-time and always kept a few spare crystals on-hand of varying colours when he fancied a change. Right now he had the standard blue and green shades and also had an orange, yellow and white crystal. He asked Zur which he preferred and the young Zabrak pointed to the orange.

“Orange it is then.”

Vin sank into a meditative state. Bull’s old lightsaber came to pieces in the air before the Jedi Knight and the red crystal, which floated to sit beside Vin’s collection, was replaced with Zur’s chosen orange. Using the Force Vin realigned the lenses and finished by setting the weapon down on his lap.

“I’ll teach you how to do that too, and when I do you’ll make a lightsaber unique to you alone, to be wielded by you alone. Always remember Zur: this weapon is symbolic. It represents a Jedi and all they stand for.”

“That was so cool!”

"Well, yeah." Vin answered, and in doing so demonstrated just how little like common Jedi he was.

Zur ignited the sabre and marvelled at the orange light suspended in the form of a blade. He waved it cautiously through the air but suddenly began a series of complex movements that surprised even Vin! He cycled through a normal grip and a reverse grip and brought the blade around his body with a certain familiarity. He was clumsy however. If Vin was to hazard a guess he would say that his little Zabrak apprentice had seen some practice with a standard sword. Or perhaps it was the Zhaboka? Vin had to sate his curiosity.

“Hold a moment.” He said. Vin retrieved two metallic hilts. “Catch.”

He and Elena – and on occasion he and Ellie – sparred frequently. It kept them sharp if nothing else, though for Vin he always derived a sense of pleasure from furthering his skills. As such Vin had a collection of training sabres on-hand for just such an occasion. He threw one to Zur and took one himself.

“I want you to try and hit me.”

“But… why would I wanna hit you?”

“Because I want to test something and this is the fastest way.” Vin answered.

To his credit young Zur showed no more hesitation. He lunged at Vin with his practice sabre! His Form was clumsy but showed promise. He didn’t transition from one strike into another too well and Vin barely had to expend effort to parry his energetic strikes, but one thing he had in abundance was doggedness! And he was a bloody master of mimicry for by! Whatever move Vin used to parry and counter young Zur immediately mirrored after only a few failed attempts. It was incredible!

“You’ve had practice in close-quarters combat.” Vin noted.

“I used to fight in the ring.” Zur revealed.

“I’m sorry, but what’s the ring?” Vin asked. He had never heard of it.

“Bull commanded a legit mercenary force but that was merely a front.” Zur said. For a child he was surprisingly coherent. “He was a businessman who dealt in violent sports. Certain shady peoples would come from all over the galaxy to bet on the bouts – which sometimes involved children.”

“Unbelievable.” Vin whispered, disgusted. “You were one of those children, weren’t you?” Zur nodded.

“I said I stole that data pad because I was hungry?” Zur looked genuinely concerned. “I lied. I stole it so I could use it as leverage to free myself. I’m sorry.”

Eh? He was sorry for that!? If Vin wasn’t so impressed by the young Zabrak’s plan he would have ridiculed him for apologizing when others where at fault. In fact he was of half a mind to turn his ship around and dish out some justice Vin Garth style. Instead he put a comforting hand on the young mans shoulder and knelt so he was looking his new apprentice straight in the eye.

“You did nothing wrong and I can assure you that nothing like that will befall you when you’re in my care. You have my word on that. From now on… we’re partners, friends and brothers in the Force.”

“Yes sir!”

“That’s more like it.” Vin answered. “Now, how about I introduce you to the Jedi Council?”

Vin wasn’t going to like this particular meeting but little Zur had gone through too much for Vin to sit on his hands in regards to this information. He didn’t care if he was sent chasing all the phantoms in the galaxy or ridiculed for breaking the Jedi Code – again, nor was he particularly caring if the CIS discovered that he had discovered their plot. The middle notion was the most likely scenario anyhow. Of that he was certain.

“Uh, what’s the Jedi Council?”

“A bunch of old farts, though two – called Master Yoda and Master Kenobi to me and you – are men worthy of your respect. So don’t say I called them all old farts.”

Yet Vin could take a silver lining from all this: he had discovered a young Zabrak with potential to become stronger than Vin himself...