Friday, November 05, 2004

The Lessons of K'te

The lessons I learned from K'te would later prove to be invaluable to me. He knew a great deal about the Living Force, that element of the Force that influences our actions and senses most directly.

I was surprised to learn that he knew very little of the Jedi Knights. By this time I had done some research on my own and learned a good deal about the Jedi and the great power their order used to have.

I learned that K'te came from a remote Twi'lek tribe that had never had much to do with the civilized galaxy, and had cultivated its connection with the Force independently. From what I gathered, they weren't nearly as powerful as the Jedi Knights had once been. They understood the Force, however, and were able to craft lightsabers.

K'te explained to me that he had been sent to Dantooine to face the adversaries of the Remnant of Exar Kun as a rite of passage. If he returned, he would be granted elevated status in his tribe. If he failed, death was the only alternative.

With a heavy heart, I told him of my previous encounter with the Remnant, and of the Twi'lek that Gerrvin had fought and killed. K'te bowed his head at this.

"He was my cousin," he said.

I felt a great weight press upon my stomach. How could I have been part of this?

K'te soon reassured me, however. He told me that in the eyes of his tribe, his cousin died an honorable death, defending himself against the Remant's minion. It was part of his Path.

I asked K'te what he meant by that, and he told me that his tribe believed that every person had a Path to follow in life, which was connected to the Force. It was only with proper focus and attention that one could perceive whether one was following this Path correctly. If the omens and signs it provided were followed, it would eventually lead the person to becoming one with the Force - the ultimate goal of existence.

I told K'te the story of my family's separation, and of the Holocrons I had found and my feeling that there was something I was searching for, but had not yet discovered what it was.

"This is your Path," K'te said. "You feel the significance of the Force."

After many more hours of conversation, it finally came time to decide what to do about the Remnant of Kun.

"He expects me to return with proof of your death," I told K'te. "If I don't return, he will surely hunt me down and murder me."

K'te nodded. "The Remnant is indeed powerful with the Force. However, those that follow the Dark Side are easily influenced. Take this," he said, offering me a metal object.

"What is it?" I said, turning the object over in my hands.

"It is an ancient artifact of my people," K'te said, "A lightsaber from the old generations, hundreds of years ago."

"This is the sort of weapon I saw your cousin fight with," I said.

"Yes," K'te answered. "Only those sensitive to the Force may use them. They are very powerful. This one no longer functions, but it has great significance among my tribe. The Remnant knows this, and knows I would never willingly give it up."

"And yet you have," I said.

K'te nodded. "There is more to the Force than brute strength and feats of arms. There is cunning and mental strength. That is what my cousin failed to realize. I have no chance to destroy the Remnant - no one in my tribe does. However, by convincing him that you have killed me, I can defeat him."

"Defeat him?" I asked, "But he will not be harmed. He will continue as before, murdering and ruining lives."

K'te nodded again. "This is true. But the Remnant seeks the power of the Dark Side. Each such deed brings him more power. To deny him a victory such as this is the same as defeat. Followers of the Dark Side must feed their powers with evil, lest they weaken from starving their anger. You will give him this lightsaber, and I will return to my home. The Remnant will weaken, and another may yet have a chance to defeat him for good."

Thus agreed, we both packed up our campsite and went our separate ways, K'te setting off on foot to the South, while I mounted my speederbike and departed toward the Jedi temple ruins.

The Remnant was eager to see me. I could sense the greed in him immediately. He asked me hurriedly, "Is it done?"

I nodded, and offered him the ancient lightsaber.

The Remnant eyed it suspiciously. "This is an artifact of the old Republic. You got this from the Twi'lek?"

I nodded again, silently.

The Remnant inhaled, then raised his hands. "It is seething with the spirits of the ancient Jedi. Do not give this to me."

I put the lightsaber away in my pack, then looked back up at the Remnant.

"You have done well. Once again, I reward you." He handed me a small leather pouch. I could sense immediately that it contained a Holocron. "Now go. Get out of my sight."

I did as he asked, heading back for Temple City as fast as I could. My heart was light and my spirits raised. I felt that I had taken a significant step along my Path, and that my previous encounter with the Remnant of Exar Kun had been redeemed.

I didn't know if I would ever see K'te again, but I hoped that he found great praise among his tribe.