Control The Uncontrollable // The Acolyte

25. The Moon

Everything froze, not even the rough wind with the sand made a sound. Everyone, no matter what side you were on, understood each other's intention. Master Sol, Yord, Elzar wanted to escape with the relics. The Stranger wouldn't leave until Master Sol and Yord laid dead at his feet. Then, there was you. Perhaps the only wild card on the table. You wanted everyone alive, and Qimir with you to Coruscant. To be judged for his crimes against the republic, but alive. However, you knew that was an idea The Stranger would rather die for than to make reality. You heard the three men ignited their lightsabers.

"Don't!" You shouted and stepped forward.

"You can not speak sense into the darkness," Master Sol preached, tired of your naivety.

You looked up at your old Master. He didn't sound like himself anymore. Not like the man that had in so many ways raised you. Sol was cold, opposite of what you had described him like to Qimir. He used to be your sun, now he himself sounded like the darkness he so much feared.

"Sol, let me talk to him," You looked over at him, your eyes begging for a chance. Doubt filled Sol's eyes.

"I know him," You reminded him. After some time, Master Sol finally gave you the nood.

You sighed out of relief. You looked over at the Stranger, and slowly began to walk over in his direction. You kept your hands on your back, as you began signalizing a message with your fingers for Elzar. Without being able to turn around and check, you had to trust the force that he had gotten the message. You stood now only two meters away from The Stranger.

"Hey," You said, trying to sound normal, but you couldn't hide your heavy heart.

The Stranger stood still, but that in itself was a better sign than if he moved.

"I have something for you, that I don't need," Your voice softened up, before your hands slowly went to your lightsaber.

You got it out of the lock grip, and took one step closer to The Stranger. He did not take out his hand, unlike the creature of the darkness you faced by the Sith temple. You knew exactly why The Stranger didn't take out his hand. Because unlike the creature by the temple, The Stranger wasn't really a monster. The Stranger wasn't really a Stranger either. It was Qimir.

You pressed your lips when you realized he wouldn't take it himself. Deep down, you believed he didn't want to fight either. You leaned down, and placed the lightsaber at his feet, before you took two steps back giving him space. You sensed that behind you they had already been able to evacuate the area thanks to your aid. You took the fabric that was around your robe, holding it in the waist off. Naturally, the robe fell to the ground.

"I know you can't see me, so I should not see you," You whispered and tied the fabric around your eyes.

You took some deep breaths. It was not too late.

"It's only us and the force now," you whispered, as you try to focus.

You hadn't asked Qimir about the helmet, but you knew one thing from when you first faced each other. It was force proof. Whatever it was made of, which you were confident were the minerals from his cave, somehow blocked out the force. At least from someone outside to reach in. You could not possibly change him, but you could change the environment. You silenced your environment with the force, even though the battle had just started.

Leave them, Qimir whispered through the force.

"I can not," You whispered, but loud enough for him to hear.

They will never see you for what you are, for what you could be, I- I would. Together we would- Qimir's voice strong through the force, but you couldn't let him finish.

"I never chose the light side because it would be easy. I never chose the light side because of them. I will continue choosing the light side, because it's what I believe in," You whispered.

You could hear The Stranger take one step closer to you, and the men automatically lifted their lightsabers. Before anyone could do anything, you grabbed both Qimir's hands, holding them in yours. Signalizing to them that you were fine. Truth was, that on the inside, your heart was wrenching in ways you had never known. In battle you got scars, you bleed, you cry, but nothing was as painful as holding onto your lover's hand for the last time.

"I-I don't fear you-" More couldn't you say before your eyes began to tear up.

"I don't fear you, but I recognize what you are, what path you have chosen," You tried to pull yourself together, but the jedi in you betrayed you and the human was all that stood in front of him.

"But I meant every word I said, the darkness more often than not, is just waiting for the light to show up," Your voice was shaking, as tears streamed down your face.

And though you couldn't sense The Stranger in front of you, you could feel Qimir's touch, as his one hand lifted up your chin for the last time, and his thumb caressed your tears.

Like the moon, you could hear him echo.

Your head was shaking as you nodded desperately.

"Like the moon," You whispered.

It was time.

You could sense Elzar had gotten your message.

"I am so sorry," You mumbled.

In one fast movement, you reached for the force and pushed the Stranger's hands down, to lift yourself up by the force, breaking the silence you had created by the force around the two of you, as you jumped up on the gate to Elzar ship. Your heart broke, when The Stranger shouted out in pure darkness. The man you once knew is gone.

You ran to the inside of the ship and up to Elzar. He was shocked that your little maneuver worked. You, on the other hand, knew that this wasn't over. Master Sol and Yord was still out there, and you knew they were battling him. Elzar sensed your worries, and quickly moved out of the seat, for you to control the ship. You sat down in the seat and tried to find them in the town. They had spread out, which was wise as The Stranger could only fight one at the time. You were beyond relieved to see your old Master alone, and you quickly picked him up. When you finally found Yord, The Stranger was hovering over him. You knew that Yord's life could change within seconds. You gave your seat back immediately, and ordered them to lower it to Yord's level. You ran out to the gate, and held onto the ship.

"Yord!" You shouted.

The Stranger fought aggressively, unlike Yord who like any good Jedi fought to protect. However, that would not keep him alive today. You knew you had to make a choice, but you didn't want to. You didn't want to fight, but you had to. You began to walk off the gate, to Master Sol and Elzar's strong disregard, but you couldn't stand here. Yord was your oldest friend. Perhaps your only friend. You jumped off, and with the force on your side, you pushed The Stranger off his balance and ran to pick Yord up. Haltering from the duel you got him standing, as you rushed towards the ship, but you knew The Stranger was going to be faster than him. In an instant, you stole Yord's lightsaber off him and pushed him onto the gate of the ship with the will of the force as your lightsaber crashed into The Stranger's.

"I will do what I must to survive," The Stranger's filtered voice warned you. You moved further and further back, closer to the ship.

"You can not protect them forever," The Stranger changed his grip, as his lightsaber swung against yours, both equally matching each other's speed, but not strength. You did not hold anger, unlike him. You didn't need to. In one swift movement, The Stranger disarmed you, and lifted you by the force into his chokehold.

"But I will try," You hisked.