Undertaken (#Wattys2015) (Star Wars)

Chapter 19 - Presence Sense

"The thing is, you use the Force rather when your instincts tell you to, not when your will." Mace stated, staring into the distance. The two kneeled on the ground - at least for Bost; Windu was rather standing, - having a moment of considerate silence. "Let's get going." The master sighed at last.

The boy emerged from the grass, lifting up the communication device with the Force. It landed in his palm after a quick flip in the air. Mace smirked, Bost smiled.

Without another word, the boy began to make his way towards the supposed group of scout droids. This batch was an older design, beige, weaker metal soldiers, not the more and more popular super droids. Bost didn't worry about the quick peace breaking, beige units weren't too hard to finish off.

He focused on the surroundings to see if he could spot any. Greenness covered most of his sight, he needed to be careful with each step he took. He got near a bush, and swiped a branch away to see the scouts standing around behind it.

"This is it." He whispered to master Windu, "So I just go ahead and destroy them?"

"No. Stay hidden right here, and rely on the Force. Focus on the commander droid. Damage it. A push would work, but think about another way. The Force can crunch metal if you try it."

"Alright."

He peeked out to spy the commander. The beige droid had red and green markings on its chest and metal head. "I got it."

"Now Focus," He heard Mace, "create a Force field around him, and take your chance. Remember, a Force-push would alert the rest of the scouts more than a silent crunch."

He could feel it. He could sense it. The Force was around, in the air, in the living trees, around the droids, everywhere.

"Close your eyes. Trust in the Force. See the droids with it."

"What? See the droids without my vision?"

"Feel their presences." Windu explained calmly, "Shut out the world and focus on presences around."

He did as he was told. He loosened and let his eyelids fall. He had his hands extended to prepare to use the Force, but something else dragged away his attention. A presence. Obi-Wan. I feel him. Back in the house with... Anakin. They're asleep. Alpha too. I sense trees. Leaves. Their movement. I see them surrounding me. There's a device next to me, but he's not here. Mace Windu's not present, he's further away... In a dark room by himself. He separated himself from other beings, I can sense them too... They're powerful. Wait... I sense a familiar being on the same planet, he knew me... He's sitting in a crowded room... Right, the senate! Bail Organa! Speaking of Alderaan, where's the planet? ... Yes, I feel it. No one's familiar though. I wonder if it's possible to connect with dead people... No, I can't feel them. Although I do feel a different presence not far from the Senate and Mace... She's trapped and abandoned. Force sensitive, but not like Obi-Wan or master Windu, it's a different Force... But it's familiar. I've felt this Force when... No. No. During the destruction of Alderaan's city, my home. She's a Sith! There's a Sith on Coruscant!
Wait, wait... Concentrate now. Focus. Master Windu is my priority. Get back to the droids and... There. The commander. Focus. Rely on the Force. Get out there and do it.
Focus....
Focus....
Focus....

Loud noise broke the perfect silence as the group of scout droids broke into millions of pieces, shattering and breaking, then falling on the ground. Bost had a single fist clenched, keeping the shattered droids in the air for a few moments, before letting them drop. Not a single droid remained.

"That was amiable." Master Windu spoke after a considerate silence. Bost relaxed, blew out some air he didn't realize he was holding, then went over his hair with his hands to ease the upper mess.

"You destroyed them all!" Mace enthused, "See, you can do it easily!" At this point, he sounded like he was proving it to himself rather than to the boy. "Yes... And I'll answer all your questions with time."

"You sensed my thoughts just now?"

"Get used to it."

"Alright," He smiled, relieved. They were fine. Weren't they? He did it. He earned his trust.

Mace smiled too, "You'll be fine, don't worry. You can concentrate and focus extremely well. With a little training, you will grow up to be one of us."

"Thank you, master Windu." He bowed.

After a moment of silence, Mace spoke. Bost found his voice somewhat shaky, as if he was uncertain in a way. Unfortunately, he couldn't finish the possibly important sentence. "You'll be a great Jedi and-"

Beep. Beep. Beep.

They both listened.

"The commlink!" Bost remembered, "Must be Obi-Wan. I..."

"Go," Mace smiled, "They'd start worrying about you."

"Uh, right." He sighed, "I guess it's goodbye then."

"No. It's May the Force be with you."

The transmission broke and Mace Windu's hologram got replaced by the bearded Jedi master's. He looked certainly relieved after seeing the boy. "You're in one piece!" He exclaimed joyfully, "Come here, you got all ten fingers and two arms? Not a scratch, right? You're all good? Where in the Galaxy are you?"

Bost heard Anakin grumbling in the background, "Master, you're going mad."

The boy himself just laughed, "I'm fine! I'll be back in the house in five mins."

With a loose sign-out hand motion, he turned the device off and was on his way to greet the three Republicans.

Time to start another day.

((Hi readers! I just wanted to inform you all that I've entered this story to the #Wattys2015 along with Spacebook and What Now? since I never tried to enter competitions before... Wish me luck! And vote for my stories if you can! Thanks!))