EPILOGUE

Poll checked the coordinates for the hyper jump one last time. Sure that the coordinates were accurate, he activated the hyperdrive, and the ship made the jump to hyper space.

In his cabin, Gar-Ren-Jedi sat reading a book. He had read it many times before, but he enjoyed it. He couldn't remember exactly which of the planets he had found it on. They had visited dozens of planets in the twenty seven years since leaving Tarrataul.

The Force, he had discovered, seemed to be everywhere, even in the vast expanse of hyper space. It was more than a power generated by his home planet, he had decided. It must be the single power which bound the universe together. With it, he had been able to follow the Sith Master.

They had nearly caught the Sith Master many times. Always he had been able to find allies to aid him. There always seemed to be those who would aid the dark forces of evil in order to accomplish their own ends. Many times, just as they thought they had the Sith Master, he would escape them.

They were not all defenseless. Gar-Ren-Jedi and the others with him had found allies, too. He had made many friends on the dozens of worlds they had visited. It saddened him that he had to leave them behind. The Sith Master had to be stopped. If he took the

time to train new Jedi on these planets, the Sith Master would get farther away. He might have the time he needed to replenish the Sith Lords he had lost on Tarrataul.

So each time they had pushed ever farther out into the galaxy. Pursuing the evil which the Dark Side of the Force had unleashed on the uncounted billions of the universe.

Now, it seemed, they might eventually catch the Sith Master and end his quest for good. In their last battle, they had damaged the Sith Master's hyper drive generator. They had been pursuing the Sith Master for almost two full weeks. Poll had estimated that the Sith Master's hyperdrive would fail to function within another twelve hours.

They traced the route he had taken from the last planet. They had located the probable area where he would be forced out of hyper space and back into regular space. There was a system in that area with a swamp planet. It was the only planet capable of sustaining life.

The inhabitants of the planet they had just come from had named the planet Dagobah. Gar-Ren-Jedi, Poll, and the three initiates with them now headed for this Dagobah. For what Gar-Ren-Jedi hoped would be their final confrontation with the Sith Master.

"Master," came a voice from his cabin door.

Gar-Ren-Jedi looked over and saw young Joutin standing at the door.

"Come in, Joutin," he said smiling.

The young man entered obediently and took a seat. Joutin had petitioned to join the crew of the Republic at the last planet they had visited. Reluctantly, Gar-Ren-Jedi had agreed. Of the eight who had begun the journey with him, only Poll remained. While it took only a single person to pilot the ship, it required at least four to do all the necessary tasks of running it. Poll had suggested taking some of their new found friends with them in their quest to stop the Sith Master. Reluctantly, Gar-Ren-Jedi had finally relented.

"Master," said Joutin, "Master Poll asked me to tell you that we've made the jump to hyper space."

"Thank you," said Gar-Ren-Jedi.

In the years since leaving Tarrataul, Gar-Ren-Jedi had grown used to his students calling him "Master".

"Joutin," said Gar-Ren-Jedi, "you are the newest, and youngest, of the Jedi. You have just started your training. In the years to come, you will learn much about the Force."

"Yes, Master," said Joutin. "I hope I can make you proud of me."

"I have no doubt that you will," responded the elder. "But you must always beware of the Dark Side of the Force. It will seek to seduce you with temptation of great power. You must always remember that power, without the knowledge to use that power, can only serve to destroy you."

"I will do my best," said Joutin. "And I'm sure with your help, and that of Master Poll, I will be able to resist the Dark Side without any problem."

"That would be your first mistake," said Gar-Ren-Jedi. "The Dark Side is always present. It is very powerful. No matter how well trained, you are always subject to the seduction. It will be the most important test you will ever have to go through. Remember that."

"Yes, Master," said Joutin. "I will."

"Joutin," continued Gar-Ren-Jedi, "Poll, I, and the others who began this journey with us, have seen many worlds on our journey. We have left seven of our companions buried on distant planets. It is possible you may one day die on a distant planet. Or that if you do survive, you may never again see your home."

"Master Poll explained that when I asked to join you," said Joutin. "But I believe I can be of some small help to you."

"Indeed," said Gar-Ren-Jedi. "More than a small help, I would imagine. The Force is strong in you. It may be that you are the one which Poll and I have been seeking for several years."

"Which one, Master?" asked Joutin.

"You know, of course," said Gar-Ren-Jedi, "that my father is the one who first discovered the Force?"

"Yes," said Joutin. "Master Poll has explained the entire history of the Jedi Order to us."

"Well," said Gar-Ren-Jedi, "he trained my brother and me in the Force. It was my brother who became the Sith Master. Now I have to hunt him down. To destroy him so that the Dark Side of the Force does not spread any further.

"But there is more to it than that. You see, there is a balance in nature. We've seen it everywhere we've gone. A balance which helps to promote harmony and stability. Even in the Force, there is this balance.

"But the coming of the Sith Master has upset that balance. He seeks to dominate all he comes into contact with. It is his desire to one day rule the entire galaxy.

"Poll and I have the second sight of the Force. Some times we have the ability to see into the future. Some time ago, I had just such a foresight.

"In it, I saw a young boy. I could not see him clearly. I do know he will be found on a distant planet. This boy will be strong in the Force. Perhaps stronger than even myself or the Sith Master."

"Surely no one is more powerful than you, Master?" asked Joutin.

"I cannot say," said Gar-Ren-Jedi. "No one has as much practice or experience in the Force as the Sith Master. I cannot say that, one day, there may be someone so powerful in the Force that they make me look like a neophyte."

"I cannot believe that would ever happen, Master," said Joutin.

"Perhaps," said Gar-Ren-Jedi. "Perhaps not. Only time will tell. As I said, I have had a vision. I have foreseen the coming of this young man. It is he who will bring balance back to the Force.

"I do not know how far into the future this vision was. So I have no way of knowing who this young man will be. It is possible you are that young man. I cannot say.

"But I know that he will restore the balance. In doing this, I know he will help to make up for the evil which I helped loose on the galaxy."

"You cannot blame yourself, Master," said Joutin. "No one blames you for what happened. You must not blame yourself."

"Perhaps I may be able to forgive myself some day," said Gar-Ren-Jedi. "But for now, we must find the Sith Master and put an end to him once and for all."

"Yes, Master," replied Joutin.

"Well," said Gar-Ren-Jedi, "I believe it's almost time to eat. Will you go see if the food is ready yet, please?"

"Certainly, Master," said Joutin.

The young boy moved from the cabin to the kitchen to check on the meal. As he left, Gar-Ren-Jedi wondered if this young boy might be the one he had foreseen.

Even if he wasn't, Gar-Ren-Jedi knew that, one day, this young warrior would come. He would bring balance back to the Force and set things right once more. Perhaps Joutin was that boy. Perhaps that young man still waited on some distant planet for their arrival.

Or perhaps that vision would take many years to come to pass. Whatever the case, Gar-Ren-Jedi hoped that he would live to see the fulfillment of that prophecy.

The End