บท 24: Ch 24 Return to the Temple
(Really struggling to write anything, hence the infrequent chapters.)
(Recap: Ben dropped off his apprentices on Coruscant and flew off to the Wellspring of Life for some training. Now he is returning.)
Leaving a crimson trail in his wake, Ben flew from across the galaxy like a meteor. He had some time before the girls' birthday and his flight gave him time to think.
To contemplate about his encounter with the strange creature in his mind. At first, he was thinking it was a manifestation of his old self, but finding that it shared none of his personality proved it something else. It's later appearance changing finalising it.
There was something about it though, it was trying to break his Will. This is something to be expected from the darkside, especially when you want to take over a person's mind.
Now, he can't be swayed by the Force, and that creature was anything but the Force, so that resulted in the question of what was it really? Was it put there by the God that reincarnated him? Was it some challenge for him to overcome? It felt that way considering the whole door situation...
But no, he didn't feel that was it. There was something about how the creature acted. It knew a few key piece of information, like how he killed himself in his past life, but not why he did it. How he hates himself more than anything, but not why he felt that way. Like the fact he hated and was so quick to anger at seeing his past self laughing, because it was something 'he' should never do, for what that life had to offer was too horrible to ever have the luxury to laugh.
Another thing was that it seemed to be trying to mimic him, to be him the longer things went on for, almost like a child copying an adult.
He thought about it for quite some time, even coming to the possible and likely conclusion that it was a Demon trying to take over his mind. But that came with the doubts of how the Demon got there and how he never sensed it before.
It was far to weak to have invaded his mind at any point, nor should anything be able to hide from him there. So, again, the obvious conclusion is a mischievous God. But it was just to weak for Ben's liking to see it as a challenge. The only way it held any power, was if he directed hatred at it, something a rational mind could deal with without bother, whereas his fatigued and already frustrated mind at being trapped, was vulnerable to. Ben's anger had been a driving force at one point of his past and a weakness to exploit in more recent times. Though, it never seems to end well for those that provoke him.
However, this lead to something he wouldn't usually considered, what if it was something born only recently. Something born from him.
For what was the first sin he committed upon reincarnating? Wrath. Birthed from his anger and hatred at seeing someone precious to him harmed. His first step into becoming a Demon himself.
'What if, after escaping becoming a Demon, one was created inside me instead? One that powered itself on my anger and hatred, but weak from being incomplete. So, it therefore needed, or more likely wanted, to defeat and destroy my Will to take my body.' He pondered to himself while strafing in his flight. 'Which would explain why it took whatever small fragments of information it had gleamed and tried to mentally attack ne, based on the guilt I've felt from failing certain individuals.'
Coming to that conclusion, Ben's gut told him that it was the right answer and it let him put a close to the matter, just in time too, as he could see Coruscant getting closer by the millisecond.
Easily tracing the girls' Force signature, Ben took the precaution to sense their environment and when he considered it appropriate, he reached his right hand out with black wisps of smoke and pure energy dance along his arm, then with a pull, he warped through space to bypass the temple walls to quickly reunite with his apprentices.
...
In a modest living quarters, Ben's dear apprentices were sitting around a low table and speaking with one another, when suddenly the space in one part of the room began to distort, spiralling around on point. A faint trace of the darkside was emitted as it opened up, almost unnoticeable, but very clear to the girls.
Alarmed, the girls raised their guards as they jumped to their feet, only to freeze as they saw the best thing in the universe appear. It was their Master!
The moment he appeared, the distortion stopped and he shifted from his anodite form, his helmet off as he greeted the girls with a smile. "Hey! Miss me?" He asked cheekily, barely containing his joy at seeing them again.
Actions speaking louder than words, the three of them pounced and dived into his body with excited cries. "Master!! You're back!!" They wrapped their arms around him, firmly ensnaring him so as to make sure that he doesn't dissappear.
Chuckling at how adorably they were, Ben stared down at them with fondness and stroked their heads like he was used to. "Yup, I'm back..." He said, perhaps with more than one meaning to his words, as a gentle yet melancholic smile rested on his face.
---
A short while later and the four of them had sat down, Ben immediately asking them about how they had been and whether they had made any friends.
He was quite happy to hear that they were treated like all the other padawans by most, at least they were treated as well as anyone else. Though, there were a few particular Jedi that had taken to looking after them a bit more than others. Other than that, he learned that they had apparently rapidly progressed in learning the seven saber forms, which made him quite proud. Well, except for Form 7, because Mace Windu thinks too highly of himself and won't teach anyone, not allowed it to be learnt in other ways.
But even better news! They had succeeded in accomplishing the task he gave them, they made some friends. Knowing how reserved they had become because of their circumstances, he knew it must have been difficult to open themselves up.
He was going to ask for more details, like who they are and what they're like, but it was soon his turn to tell them how his little adventure went, as the girls eagerly enquired.
And so, he began telling them about his trip, keeping some details to himself by simplifying it to; being trapped in his own mind for awhile and fighting off a dark creature. He played it off as being a simple matter, but the girls knew that he was doing so, and that it was so they wouldn't worry about him.
Unfortunately their reunion was disrupted when the door to the girl's dorm room opened. A look to the entrance revealed two Jedi, the easily distinguishable Yoda and an athletic young, blue skinned Twi'lek woman, whom Ben guessed to be Aayla Secura.
Inviting themselves inside, they were mildly surprised to see that the girls weren't alone and that, in fact, their Master had returned with their whole Jedi temple none the wiser.
Yoda was the first to speak as they drew close to the residents. "When failed to appear in class, the younglings did, concerned I was. See now why, I do. Glad I am, to see your return, Lord Tennyson."
Ben simply snorted back in response. "I'm sure YOU are." The girls had been happy to tell him that no few amount of the Jedi bastards had tried to do what their type do best, poach the students of others. Even having the audacity to tell them that he had left them and wasn't planning on returning.
Yoda wasn't one of those people, so Ben didn't hold anything against him as an individual, but the little man IS in charge of and responsible for those that did try. Ben's distain wasn't hidden, even radiating into the Force, making the two Jedi feel disheartened, as though the Force itself was distainful of them.
Through the Force, all was clear, even the reason for this show of distain, so Yoda could could only look down in embarrassment and shame as his large ears fell. Meanwhile, the woman behind him looked like her whole world was on the brink of falling apart.
Seeing the Jedi Knight in this state, Ben knew it would only take a small push for her to fall to the Dark side, so scoffing at the miserable states, he waved a hand at her in a sweeping motion and released a golden pulse towards them.
The wave of pure Light side energy swept over the two Jedi, immediately replacing the feelings of disappointment and shame, with hope and awe. Hope was directly pushed into their being by Ben to remove the dark shadow he'd created, but their awe was all them.
Their awe came from the fact that he could so simply shift the balance Force and their own feelings. Doing so for a trained Jedi Knight like Aayla would already be an amazing feat in their minds, but Yoda was different. After hundreds of years of meditation, earning the 'distinguished' title of 'Grandmaster', the little fellow had never even heard of such mastery over the Force. To be able to shift the Light and the Dark with a wave of a hand, Yoda was only now beginning to understand the depths of Ben's power, but more than that, how shallow his own understanding of the Force was.
If Ben were to pay attention to the little Jedi Masters thoughts, he'd laugh with no small amount of mockery. He is a being made of Magic, which his system integrated with the Force, allowing him to grow exponentially more powerful, while making him immune to the influence of it. He is basically a second Cosmic Force, but with a body. His only limit with the Force is the limit of the Force itself, which has always been an untapped goldmine of possibilities.
Yoda was very tempted to seek the guidance of Ben, but just as quickly as the desire came, it was squashed. Perceiving this temptation as a desire for power and therefore a temptation of the Dark side, and rather than trying to understand it, he chose to deny it.
Seeing the two Jedi standing there and not saying anything, Ben stood up, the girls swiftly following without him saying anything. "Regardless of what the undisciplined mongrels tried, you have fulfilled your end of the deal, so, so shall I." Ben said, taking a few steps and stopping before the Jedi Master, who listened curiously. "I am willing to offer your order six years of protection and for those that desire it, and if I deem them worthwhile, I am willing to offer lectures and training in ALL aspects of the Force." He told the old creature straight forwardly and waited for his response.
Yoda turned silent as he contemplated this offer of a lifetime. Having a someone as powerful as Ben as a mentor for the younglings could be very beneficial, if the three apprentices he'd already cultivated were anything to go by. But, then there was the problem of having him spreading teachings of the Dark side, which he would undoubtedly do from what little they'd learned about the man from his overtly loyal apprentices.
In Ben's opinion this was a very good deal, a perfect balance between risk and reward. He could teach them all about the Light side, while hinting them towards the power of the Dark side and how to maintain a balance between them. But, he decided to add an additional 'offer', though it was mainly for his purposes. "Additionally, I will take some missions from you, though it will only be the ones that actually interest me."
"Hmm..." Yoda hummed in thought, before eventually shaking his head. He couldn't make any decisions without the input of other council members. "First, speak with the other Master's, I will." He then looked at Ben with scrutiny. "But ask I must... Your protection, need, why would we?"
Hearing this question, Ben stared down at the green man without lowering his head. His lips began to lift gradually, confusing the two Jedi and scaring them when a dark chuckle escaped him, his lips forming into a malicious smile as he spoke. "To save you from your demise, what else?"
His actions and words made them gulp nervously, but they were nothing compared to the scenes that were suddenly flashing before their eyes. They saw as the entire galaxy was covered in darkness, which they naturally attributed to the Sith.
Following this, they saw a hunched figure in black robes, holding his hands out weakly. An insidious laugh erupted from the individual and then, a storm of blue lightning exploded out from their fingers, seemingly directly towards them. And that was where the visions stopped, leaving the two Jedi coated in their sweat and gasping for air.
"And now you know." Ben sneered at them, condescension in his eyes ad he stared at them. The fact that none of them could sense their impending doom showed just how weak and pathetic they really are, how blind to the Force they had become. It shows just how useless they are and how much they need his help. "So close to your destruction and yet none of you could feel it. This is the consequence of your own ignorance."
After catching his breath, the first thing Yoda did was bow his head slightly. "My thanks and that of the Jedi, you have. Revealed a great tragedy, you have. Discuss this with the Council immediately, I must."
Giving only a uninterested nod, Ben positioned his hands behind his back. "You do that." He said while waving Yoda off, disregarding his and Aayla Securas presences. He then turned to his apprentices with a grin, saying. "Meanwhile, how about a spar. I'd like to see how the traditional lightsaber forms have aided your training."
Like a trio of excited puppies, the girls' eyes lit up in excitement and they began running around, quickly gearing up before standing at their previous position. """Ready Master!!""" They cheered in unison, making Ben chuckle at their cuteness and pat their heads, gently stroking their Lekku.
Having their Master stroke their Lekku again, the three girls shivered with joy and a sense of pleasure. It had been so long, six whole months without his touch, and they were ecstatic to be feeling it again.
What the three young Twi'leks failed to realise in their bliss, was that the two Jedi had yet to leave and seeing what was happening, one of them couldn't hold themselves back as they release an interrupting cough. "Ahem!"
Being interrupted made not only the three girls frown and look at her, but also Ben, who was equally dissatisfied with having their bonding ruined. After all, who doesn't get unhappy when someone interrupts their family moment.
"What is it!?" He asked, his voice laced with irritation. It made both the Jedi freeze as they suddenly felt like something was wrapping around their throats. But it wasn't the Force, it was the feeling of a beast looming over them with their jaws wrapped around their necks, ready to take that final bite.
Aayla immediately started sweating in nervousness, but she had to explain herself and so, spoke with a french accent while restraining her nervousness. "I-I apologise for interrupting, but we believe there is something you should know... About your apprentices."
Remaining silent, Ben waited for her to tell him, but all she and Yoda did was look at the girls. So, easing his expression, he looked towards them as well and found them with nervous expressions. Which made him frown again and look at the Jedi with a threatening gaze, considering it's them who are causing distress to his students.
Before he could demand an explanation, he heard the girls talking next to him. They were apparently so nervous that they had forgotten they can converse in their minds, though they were at least trying to speak quietly.
It was Maila's sweet and innocent voice that first entered his ears. "Do we have to? I don't want Master to stop loving us..." She was so distressed that she had tears welling up in her eyes.
"Nonono!" Unfortunately, Thalia was fairing well under the sudden pressure she felt from having part of her life, which is a strong stabilising factor, disrupted. She was staring at the floor, holding her left Lekku with hands, frantically stroking it to try and calm herself.
As for Vette, even though she was panicking about their situation, she was quick to hug her two sisters and try to calm them. "I-It will be okay. N-nothing will change, we will still be happy. Don't panic!" Though, whether she was saying it to her sisters or to herself, she didn't know herself.
Their distress only furthered Ben's wrath, but he was quick hug them, gently wrapping his arms around the three distraught girls and whispered to them soothingly. "Girls, there is nothing for you to worry about. Until the choice is no longer mine, I will never leave you. Just breath." He held them firmly to reassure and comfort them, all while glaring at the Jedi responsible and saying just one word. "Explain."
There was no room for discussion, his voice escaped as feral growl and even as he comforted his apprentices, it was like he was ready to pounce on them the moment he didn't like what he heard.
Aayla could feel her mouth go dry, but gulped nervously nonetheless as she prepared to speak. "To our understanding, as a show of affection you tend to stroke your Apprentices heads and Lekku..." She felt the pressure lower and took a gasp of air in relief.
This was because Ben was struck with confusion, wondering what that could have to do with anything. His expression stayed the same throughout however, still glaring as he asked. "What about it?"
"A Twi'leks Lekku, especially female Twi'leks and those of us with a strong connection to the Force, have a high sensitivity, which is why it is tradition that they only be touched by family members and ones-" She paused, concerned about his possibly violent reaction. "-life partner..."
Ben felt the cogs in his brain stop turning as he considered the implications of what he has unintentionally been doing all this time.
When his head started working again, he quickly lifted his left arm with the Omnitrix attached, looking for a more in-depth explanation. "Omnitrix, give me an Analysis of the Twi'lek biology. Specifically the Lekku." He commanded and received an answer a moment later.
"Genetic Sample Analysis: Twi'lek. The 'Lekku' Or Singular, 'Lek', Are Long, Fleshy Appendages Protruding From The Head Of a Twi'lek. A Twi'leks Brain Extends Partially Into Their Lekku, Creating A Vast Circuit Of Nerves Within And Subsequently Raising Their Sensitivity. Due To Millennia Of Evolution, They Have Developed The Ability To Feel The Emotions Of Others Through Pheromones Transmitted Via Physical Contact. Those With A Blood Relation Share Similar Pheromones, Giving Eachother Comfort, While Foreign Pheromones Will Tend To Spur Feelings Of Euphoria When The Individual Is Viewed Positively And Feelings Of Extreme Disgust When Viewed Negatively.
The Addition Of The Organisms Designated - 'Midichlorians', Brings An Increase To The Lekkus Sensitivity." A deep, simulatated version of Ben's voice sounded out from the Omnitrix.
While the Jedi were looking at the device in curiosity, Ben's face warped into pure disgust as he realised. "I've been stimulating them..."
Sensing their Masters sudden discomfort, the three girls looked up with concern. "Master..." Maila innocently called. "Are you okay?" Thalia continued and asked, tightening her grip on his robes.
Straining a smile, Ben tried to reply confidently, but choked out. "Y-yeah. I'm fine." His hand subconsciously went to stroke their heads to reassure them, but froze midway when he realised.
Vette being the more mature and levelheaded, decided to ask the important question. "What does 'stimulating' mean?" The tilt to her head created the perfect picture of innocence.
But that just made Ben feel all the more uncomfortable, as he now has to give them the more in-depth sex talk. He'd already explained the reproduction process, but had yet to explain the more... Recreational uses.
Releasing a sigh, he withdrew his arms from them and stepped back. "I suppose you're at that age..." He said as if it was the most unfortunate thing in the galaxy and then began an explanation he's glad he isn't having with Gwen or Keira.
Throughout the long explanation that detailed both scientific reasons and emotional aspects, the girls had a variety of expressions ranging from confusion to embarrassment and shyness.
Meanwhile, Yoda and Aayla stood by the side patiently. There was a tender smile on the old aliens face as he watched the younger generation growing up. Aayla chose to maintain a stern, disciplined expression and listened silently, but appreciating the uniform manner in which he gave his explaination.
Once he'd finished, he was ready to go throw himself down the temple stairs, but instead chose to turn to Aayla and politely bowed his head. "Jedi, I apologise for my over reaction, I am somewhat protective of my Apprentices. If you wish to, you are free to seek me for training in the future." Although he said this, he already had thoughts of training her if she showed more promise and sought him out, this was just him extending the invitation.
He truly loses nothing from this, as is the cunning of someone who dwell within the dark and it's clear to the Jedi, but neither said anything and just accepted with nods.
Raising his head, he couldn't bring himself to look at the girls and equiped his helmet. "If there is nothing more to talk about, it's time for the spar. Let's go..." He said and with hurried steps, exited the room.
The others followed him out, Yoda departing to discuss the events that took place and Aayla herding the three embarrassed young Twi'leks after their Master...
_____________________
[Status
Name - Ben
Lv - 69 (123,060/245,000)
Title - Wielder of the Omnitrix, Anti-Hero, Idol Slayer
State - Healthy MP - 428,000
STR - 3633
END - 3734
AGI - 3633
CHA - 3635
INT - 308
LUK - 777
AP - 0 SP - 1,715,200
Primary Skills: CQC Lv-5, Marksmanship Lv-5, Intimidation Lv-5, Danger Sense Lv-4, Sneak Lv-4, Mana Manipulation Lv-3
Secondary Skills: Drawing Lv-3, Math Lv-4, Science Lv-4, Writing/Literacy Lv-4, Maneuvering Lv-5, Driving Lv-4, Engineering Lv-5, Cooking Lv-4, Pain Tolerance Lv-9, Bioengineering Lv-5, Programming Lv-5, Torture Lv-5, Acting Lv-4, Enchanting Lv-3
Unique Skill: Wrath, Love and Lust, Gluttony, Sloth, Complete Language Comprehension, Eidetic Memory, Analyse, Night Vision, The Force]
(0 Recoveries Stored)
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