Control The Uncontrollable // The Acolyte

11. Good luck

"Why are you making me take the lead?" You questioned, looking up at your former Master as you walked ahead of the group.

He was the one who had been assigned a mission by the council. Master Sol had reached out to you for aid. Yet somehow by any corner, he challenged you to make decisions. It was like being back to being his padawan, beside now you were an adult and he treated you like an equal. He didn't give you lessons anymore, still he kept you on your toes. You sensed he found your question humorous. You stopped, looking up at him.

"Is a Master not allowed to admire his former padawan in admiration?" He questioned back, resting his hands on his hips.

You laughed low. Guess he had a fair point. The two of you were the only ones being able to poke fun at each other in such a troubling climate. Jecki and Yord were arguing like siblings, while Qimir was responsible for lifting equipment. You looked up at Sol, even on this dark planet, his eyes were warm. The wind was harsh here, the sand was ripping up your skin, but you sensed you were close. Close to the cave. You began to walk again.

"You have always been better in darkness, guiding us through," Sol pointed out.

You looked down, but kept walking.

"I fear some council members think I'm too close to the dark," You mumbled, but Sol heard.

The two of you came under the cave. He took down the hood on the robe, but you kept yours. He knew this was a sensitive topic, and the two of you needed to be focused, but he also knew that you were more than strong enough to hold the conversation. He looked at the people following after, a couple 100 meters away. He looked back to you with a hopeful smile.

"Master Gios is one Master," Master Sol reminded you.

You pressed your lips together. Master Sol knew it wasn't as easy as that. If Gios had a distaste for you, that meant Master Kriss did too, and if Master Kriss had a dislike... The list could get long. Sometimes, deep down his blindfull hope made you feel emotions a Jedi shouldn't hold. Annoyance. Irritation. Master Sol however never knew you felt those emotions towards him. You knew he meant well, and on some sinister level his words worked. No matter how large the dislike you had within the council, Master Yoda had taken you under your wing, that... that brought you hope. You looked out to the sandstorm as the last people came in.

"Master, you'll lead the way, I'll cover our back" You explained, but you sensed confusion in the group.

"Go where, it's pitch black in there?" Jecki questioned.

"Trust the force," You smiled lightly at her question.

You let the other pass through, signaling for Yord that he could go. There was no need for him to babysit Qimir, you wished to speak with him alone. You had sensed a massive shift in him. His clumsy demeanor was fading away, as a certain darkness consumed him. The others hadn't noticed, but you had somehow, even if you hated to admit it, grown close to him. You noticed the small changes. The hood was over your head, and your hands were holding each other. The robe covered your whole figure.

"I sense you wish to ask me a question," you said, looking towards the darkness.

"What you did back there, is that something you do often?" Qimir asked.

"The force lives inside of me, it flows through us all. In the name of light, every jedi has their strength," you chimed, not wanting to speak of the quantity of times you engaged in such activities as earlier. You had grown close to Qimir, but you did not trust him.

Qimir stopped, and you stopped as a reaction to him. You turned around, so your body was facing him, but you did not lift your gaze.

"You sound like a priest," Qimir said, his tone was judgemental.

"Most Jedi would laugh at you for calling me so," You said, trying the best you could to hide any bitterness.

"How come?" Qimir asked, this time he forced you to look up at him as he placed a finger on your chin lifting you up to meet his gaze.

"You might be drunk half of the time, but you are not blind. You tell me what you have seen," you challenged him, secretly enjoying his touch on your skin.

Ah there, the infamous smirk of his was back.

"Master Sol believes you should become Master," he began gently, letting his finger go.

"You are hesitant to the idea, not because you don't believe you couldn't, but because of others," his smile disappeared.

Your eyes squinted trying to look deeper into his eyes. Qimir's voice was clear for the first time. He was not slurping any words, or hiding behind a smirk. He was serious, and you sensed that he meant every word.

"Why were you able to 'sense' like you Jedi say, the planet, but not your former master or the others?" He asked, genuinely intrigued.

You lowered your gaze, and stepped towards the darkness. You tilted your head to the side.

"The Jedi believe you can not find peace in the darkness, only in light," you answered monotone, not giving away any emotions, or the true meaning of what it meant.

"Peace is a lie," Qimir whispered, following you into the darkness.

You heard him.

He thought you didn't.

Good luck, you sensed him saying,

Before the Darkness consumed you.