Qi Tian Mu gazed with unseeing eyes on the scenery before him. The beautifully stark landscape of the Alderaanian desert at dusk had no effect on him as he sat on the little rock overhang and pondered his life. Tian Mu wondered, not for the first time, if his life mattered at all, in the big scheme of things.

'What difference does it make that I belong to a noble House?' he thought softly to himself. The "noble" House of Qi was noble only in name. It was scorned and ridiculed by most of the other Houses on Coruscant these days. Of course, those other Houses were all bootlickers of the Empire.

He kicked at a rust-colored rock with the scuffed toe of his boot, hoping against hope that this time wouldn't just be another pipe dream, another of his fanciful chasing after rancors to slay.

He remembered back nine years earlier to the first time he tried to play the hero...

 

The Beginning of the End

He was only twelve years old, coming home from school, and up ahead on the autowalk he saw three boys taunting his older sister, Jin Mei.

"Reb scum, reb scum, go back where you came from!" They pushed at her and tried to trip her as they taunted her. He remembered pushing past the few people between him and his sister as he ran to rescue his sister from her tormentors. Tian Mu grinned slightly as he remembered jumping at the three boys from behind, taking all three of them down in his first headlong rush. Of course, they didn't stay down, and when they got up they made him pay dearly for his rashness. He was big for his age, but not that big. If it weren't for his sister rescuing him, he would have returned home that night in much worse shape.

That night was a turning point in Tian Mu's life. As his mother applied ointment to the worst of his cuts, he asked her why the boys called Jin Mei "reb scum." His mother silently finished tying the last bandage then looked toward Lao Ye, his grandfather. When he nodded quietly to her, she sighed and began the story that would forever change Tian Mu's life.

"Many years ago, in the time of the old Republic, Lao Ye and your father served the government with distinction and honor. Even though it's been centuries since our House was considered wealthy, we were still respected. All of that changed when the Empire gained control."

She went on to tell him the heartrending story of House after House that either capitulated to the Empire or was forced to the fringes of society, slowly becoming outcast.

"The House of Qi was one of the ancient noble Houses of Coruscant who refused to bow to the Empire's pressure," she continued. "As a result, many of the Houses who were supposedly our friends began to avoid us, thinking this would bring them favor with the new rulers. However, there were a few other noble Houses who stood firm with the House of Qi, thus making it difficult for the Empire's lackeys to act overtly against one House without angering the other Houses loyal to the old Republic. The emperor decided to take things into his own hands and began to confiscate all the durelium mines on Geonosis, most of which belonged to the House of Qi. The emperor knew if we did not have this income, we would be unable to maintain the personnel necessary to protect our House, and one by one he could bring down the last few remaining houses. He was right."

She paused, summoning the strength to tell her son the story.

"Eight years ago your father went to Geonosis to check out why production at our mines suddenly fell off. While he was there, he was caught in an 'accidental' gas explosion that supposedly killed everyone in the mine, only there were never any bodies. With your father gone and the mines in the control of the Empire, we had to look to other sources of income. That's when we were forced to begin selling off the heirlooms of the House of Qi. And that's when our status as outcasts became apparent. Many people assumed we were in league with the Rebel Alliance, when the truth was that the House of Qi was loyal only to the Republic. But it didn't matter what the truth was; the lie was convenient for the other Houses to jump on us like a pack of sleens."

She collapsed back into her chair, all of the energy drained out of her.

"And that's why your sister is called 'Reb scum,'" she sighed.

Grandfather got up from the corner where he had been sitting and spoke softly into the silence, "I think it's time Tian Mu is taught the Order of Qi," He got up, opened up a closet, reached in and brought out a long narrow leather bag.

Mother's eyes widened as she cried out, "Oh no, he's not old enough yet! Let's at least wait until he's finished school!"

"No, the time is now," There was an edge to Grandfather's voice that Tian Mu had never heard before. "Now that he knows the story, he must be prepared to live up to the name of the House of Qi." His tone softened as he continued, "Zhu Li, you know he's the last of the House of Qi. He needs to know the rest of his heritage, too."

"Yes, I know, I was just hoping...I don't know, I guess I was hoping this day would never come." She suddenly sat up straighter, as if she came to a decision. "Yes, it's time," she said firmly. "It's not the time we would have chosen, but it's time. Let his training begin."

Grandfather withdrew from the bag a pair of ancient broadswords that Tian Mu had never seen before. They were beautiful, yet simple and unadorned, with the ancient character of their House etched in each blade. Grandfather handed one of the swords to Tian Mu, and it was so heavy that it was awkward for him to lift.

"I can see we're going to need to work on your strength before we can start with this," grandfather said with a grin as he flourished his blade over his head and then down to his side.

Thus began the training of Tian Mu in the Order of Qi. Not only did his grandfather push him to the limit to condition his body and teach him how to use the sword, he also trained him in the art of logic and the manners of a courtier. But most importantly, he imparted to Tian Mu the wisdom of virtue, and the importance of being a man of honor, integrity and compassion for the oppressed.

For the next four years, Tian Mu's training continued unabated, going from lesson to lesson, his skill and strength increasing until he was virtually a match for his grandfather.

His newfound poise asserted itself at school, as well. It didn't take long for his classmates to learn the hard way that it wasn't safe to mock Tian Mu or to bully the smaller students when he was around. At the same time they learned that he was a natural leader. Tian Mu projected an aura of confidence that was easy to follow. Gradually he earned the respect of his classmates so that they deferred to him whenever there was a need for leadership. It was this leadership and confidnce that saved his life, at a time when he didn't think he wanted to be saved.

Kalin Meer, the district commissioner who controlled the old part of the city where the House of Qi was situated, had long coveted the Qi estates. The main house exhibited the simple graceful architectural lines of an earlier era on Coruscant, and the lesser buildings blended well with the main house into a harmony of structure not often seen in modern Coruscani architecture. The Meer family was not of noble blood, even though they had recently risen high in the local government. Kalin knew that once Tian Mu reached his majority when he turned 16, he would inherit the Qi estate. As Tian Mu's 16 th birthday drew nearer, Kalin tossed and turned at night, trying in vain to think of a way to wrest the estate from old Qi Lao Ye before the boy became of age.

Finally, his opportunity came knocking in the form of his own son. One night his son was out all night, and in the early hours of the next morning he appeared at the front door more dead than alive, his back and legs shredded raw and bleeding profusely. He had obviously lost a lot of blood, and he fainted as he entered the hallway. After a medic attended to him and assured the family that his life was no longer in danger, his story eventually came out - how he and a number of his classmates, on a dare, had gone down to the surface of the planet to spend the night. It appeared that Qi Tian Mu was once again the leader of the group, out on another of his adventures. Only the adventure turned bad. In the dark depths of the planet surface, the group of boys ran into some creatures that only could have come from their nightmares. After they had made their campfire and laid out their bedding, they were just getting over their original jitters when suddenly they were attacked simultaneously from all sides. They all fought courageously, but it was against overwhelming odds. Out of the original six, only two boys made it out alive. One of them was Jorin Meer, who died in his father's arms that night.

As he mourned the loss of his son, Kalim's dark thoughts turned toward the Qi house.

'The heir is removed, and I didn't even have to do the removing!' thought Kalim to himself. That night he immediately began plotting the complete downfall of the House of Qi.

Later that morning, with the gate guard - who was actually a city employee rather than a loyal Qi retainer - turning a blind eye, Kalim swept past the front gate with a cohort of city guards at his heels, loudly condemning the Qi family as traitors to the emperor.

Tian Mu's mother and grandfather answered the strident demands with poise and calmness, rebutting every charge made against them, all to no avail.

Kalim gestured to both of them and yelled to the captain of the guard, "Bind them and take them to the House of Justice."

Just then Jin Mei heard all of the commotion, rushed from her room into the Great Room and ran up to her mother. "What's happening, mother?"

"Her, too!" shouted Kalim as he pointed at Jin Mei. "Now I've got all of you. I've wanted to make a clean sweep of this rat's nest for a long time! Your brat of a son was taken care of last night, and now I've got the rest of you!"

"Last night? What do you mean?" cried Zhu Li.

"Your son went on an adventure to the surface that ended unexpectedly!" he gloated. "One of his classmates was the only one who barely made it back alive, but he was able to tell us what happened. Your House is finished! It's mine now!"

As the news sunk in, Zhu Li exchanged glances with Lao Ye and Jin Mei, and in those brief moments all the love and care from their hearts was shared between them. Then Zhu Li gave the faintest nod which was returned by both the others, reached into her robe, pulled out a thermal well and depressed the detonator. The resulting firestorm incinerated the main house and everyone in it, along with most of the lesser buildings.

Five days later at dusk what appeared to be a ragged beggar came limping up to the scorched and twisted gate of the Qi estate. An old retainer who still lived in one of the lesser buildings came to the gate bringing a flask of water for the beggar to drink. He took the flask with a word of thanks, drank his fill, and then gazed at the still-smoldering remains of the Great House.

"What happened?" the beggar asked in a choked voice.

"Don't you know?" exclaimed the surprised gardener. "Where have you been for the past week? I thought all you beggars knew all the gossip. After young Qi died on the surface, Kalim Meer came to seize the estate. When the mistress learned of the young master's fate, she detonated a thermal well rather than allow Meer to desecrate the estate. It now belongs to the emperor, what's left of it."

An anguished groan escaped from the beggar as he staggered and would have collapsed except for the helping hand of the old gardener.

"Here, here, let me help you over to my cottage. It's the only one that wasn't damaged in the blast," he said as he helped the beggar over to the door of his cottage just inside the front gate. As the beggar sat down, the gardener caught a glimpse of his face and almost dropped the beggar in shock and surprise.

"Master!!" he exclaimed joyfully as he knelt at the beggar's feet.

"Yes, it's me, Yong An, but it would have been better if I had been killed on the surface instead of living to see this!" the beggar cried bitterly as he threw back his hood to reveal the features of Tian Mu, seemingly tortured in shock and despair.

"But...but...you're alive! How...?" Yong An asked in amazement.

"Grandfather's lessons didn't go to waste," said Tian Mu, in a tight voice, then he groaned as he tried to get comfortable as he sat on the doorstep.

"Oh, my master, I'm terribly sorry," said Yong An in apology. "I've totally ignored your wounds asking so many questions. Here, let me help you to my bed." The old gardener gently led the boy into the small cottage and into the only sleeping room where he settled Tian Mu on his own bed. He bathed an ugly wound over Tian Mu's right eye, then went on to wash the dry crusted blood from the gashes on his shoulders. As he ministered to his young master's physical needs, he also ministered to Tian Mu's shattered emotions as he struggled with the sudden knowledge of the death of his entire family. He sobbed with heartbreaking abandon until he finally slipped off into the blessed release of sleep.

Two days later, as Tian Mu's youthful resilience began to assert itself, the loss of his family was more painful than his wounds. He had spent the past two days brooding, thinking thoughts of revenge. That morning, when his faithful servant called him to breakfast, Yong An gently thrust Tian Mu back into the practical issues of life.

"Master, what will you do now? You cannot stay here. If the emperor knew you were alive, your life wouldn't be worth a dinar [small circular piece of metal used as a token to play hologames, having no monetary value] ."

"I have no idea," responded Tian Mu hopelessly. It was hard for him to think beyond right now, much less plan for the future. "Did anyone else survive the blast?"

Yong An's face clouded over and his eyes became misty, "Su Fan [Yong An's wife] was in the kitchen preparing the food for the midday meal," he said somberly. After a moment he went on, "However, Da Peng and Guo Mei Rong had just left arm-in-arm to go to the market shopping when it happened." Yong An actually smiled as he thought about the newly-married couple. "I've seen them a couple of times since...that day. They'll be so excited to hear you're still alive!"

"No!" Tian Mu said fiercely. "No one but you must know that I still live. That way at least I'll have a chance of getting off Coruscant."

"Where will you go, young master? What will you do?" queried Yong An, concerned for his young master, not even turned seventeen yet, for all that he looked to be in his 20's.

Tian Mu kindly put his hand on Yong An's arm, "It's best that you don't know. Don't worry, I'll find some way of communicating with you. Thanks for all that you've done for me, Yong An. You've been a mountain of support." Tian Mu began to choke up when he thought of his grandfather always being the strong one he turned to. Now he was gone, just like all of his family. Tian Mu was alone now, completely alone...

Three days later, with nothing but borrowed clothes from Yong An, his old carrysack full of food from the gardener's kitchen and a few odds and ends that Yong An had stashed in, and his sword sheathed in a leather scabbard and slung over his back under his cloak, Tian Mu finally talked himself onto an old drop ship transport that was just ready to lift off for Alderaan but still had an extra berth. Tian Mu didn't care where he went, just so long as it was off Coruscant. The ticket was three times as expensive as it should have been, which caused Tian Mu to be very grateful that Yong An persisted in giving him all of his Imperial currency.

As Tian Mu lay in his tiny berth that night, he remembered the old gardener's parting words as they said their final goodbyes next to the destroyed gate, "Young master, I know that you feel empty inside, with only hate to guide you. Please remember the words of your grandfather as he trained you in the Order of Qi: Strength (Yong An crossed his arms over his chest with his hands in tightly closed fists), Wisdom (he touched his right hand to his head), Virtue (he covered his heart with his right hand), Honor (he wrapped his left hand around his right fist), and Compassion (he held out both hands palms up). If you hold firmly to these truths, you will never fail." Tian Mu didn't realize at that time just how important those words would become to him in the next few years.

 

A New Life

Two weeks later, when the freighter landed at Aldera's spacedock, Tian Mu hardly had time to look around before a man with a greasy appearance came over to him.

"Jhor's the name, assistance is my game!" He bestowed a sickly sweet smile on Tian Mu. "Just arrived, huh? I bet you're a new student, right? No friends or relatives in town? Don't worry, Bud, I can fix you up. Where'd you say you're from?"

"I didn't say, and I don't need any help, thanks anyway." Tian Mu got a creepy sensation from Jhor and wanted to break away from him as soon as possible. Jhor's comments did start him thinking, though.

'Maybe I can become a student,' he thought to himself. He turned back to his self-appointed guide to ask for directions to the university, when he realized that Jhor had already fastened himself onto a more likely candidate.

'Well, I should be able to find my way to the university without his help,' he thought confidently, and with that thought he struck out to take care of first things first - satisfying his hunger and thirst.

After learning that not all food that looked good tasted good, and not all liquid that looked like water went down like water, Tian Mu continued his search for the University of Aldera. As he turned a corner he practically ran into what was obviously a student, reciting from an ancient text. After exchanging apologies, in response to his query he was rewarded with directions to the admissions building of the university.

Three hours later, after filling out the extensive application and sitting through the interminable entrance interview, Tian Mu found himself enrolled as a plebe student in the University of Aldera's Institute of Intergalactic Diplomacy, two months before his 17 th birthday!

 

The next four years seemed to fly by. Tian Mu realized that the philosophy of his professors were in stark contrast to what he remembered hearing about the diplomatic world on Coruscant. Here at UnAl, the ultimate goal of diplomacy was always peace, whereas the goal of diplomacy on Coruscant seemed to be how much you could get while giving the least. Tian Mu quickly realized that, while he certainly did not agree with the Coruscani school of thought, he also didn't fully agree with the Alderaanian philosophy of peace seemingly at any cost. He believed that force was at times necessary to ensure peace, and he frequently came to odds with his professors over his unwillingness to accept their ideals as his own.

Still, Tian Mu was constantly amazed at how his training with his grandfather had prepared him for this course of study. Even though he did not wholeheartedly agree with his professors, the courtier skills which his grandfather taught him stood him in good stead with both his professors and his classmates so that, before the end of his first semester, even though he was the youngest student in his class, he was accepted as one of the leaders.

His life was still empty, however. As semester after semester slid by, Tian Mu felt that he was just marking time, just doing things to fill up the empty void in him that threatened to engulf him. By the beginning of his fourth and final year, Tian Mu was much changed from the 16-year-old boy who had arrived three years earlier. Tian Mu was now a young man, fairly good looking with noble features except for the slowly fading scar over his right eye from his misadventure on Coruscant, of medium height and build, his skin a rich brown shade, black hair, and almond-shaped eyes. It was his eyes that attracted the girls, intense black eyes that seemed to see right into your soul. But he wasn't interested in any deep friendships much less a romantic relationship. It was just too difficult for him to form any close relationships for fear that he would lose them just like he lost his family.

It was during the beginning of his last year at university that something occurred which once again changed Tian Mu's life forever.

 

Truth

He was seated at his desk mulling over the possibilities after graduation, idly thumbing through the pages of job offers for graduates from the diplomatic institute on his holoviewer, when he was distracted by a peculiar sight out his window. He paused the holoviewer and stood up to get a better view of what was taking place outside. He saw a group of about twenty lower-level students seated in a circle on one of the few grassy areas on campus, and in the center was a young man that Tian Mu recognized as Theron Lars, one of his classmates. Curious to know what was happening, Tian Mu left his room and went outside to hear what was being said.

"What is truth?" Theron questioned the students around him. "Would you recognize it if you saw it?"

"Truth is different for each person, depending on who they are," responded someone in the circle.

"Then how do you know that your truth is any more true than someone else's truth, even though the two truths are very different?" challenged Theron.

"Well...it just is," answered the same student, rather lamely.

"What if I told you that you can know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free?" countered Theron. "What if I told you that it is possible to know the Truth and then live by that truth, no matter what happens around you? What if I further told you that this Truth will enable you to live life the way you were intended to live it?"

As he spoke, Tian Mu felt a thrill go through him, almost as if he had experienced an electric shock.

"Aw, you're just talking about another aspect of the Force," said another student.

"No," replied Theron, "Not just another aspect of the Force, but the foundation of the Force itself."

"Are you a Jedi?" asked one of the students.

"No," responded Theron.

Several students around the circle began muttering at that point, and one of them exclaimed, "Then why are you trying to explain the Force to us, if you haven't even experienced it?"

"Because I've experienced the Truth, and I know that the Truth is stronger than the Force. Indeed, it is the strongest force in the universe."

The students in the circle began standing up and wandering away, muttering about the blind leading the blind. But as they wandered away, Tian Mu came up to Theron and asked him if he wouldn't mind explaining more about his theory regarding Truth. As they walked back to Tian Mu's room, Theron began...

That was the beginning of Tian Mu's journey in following the Truth. Tian Mu wasn't interested simply because of Theron's persuasive skills. Indeed, most of the people who heard his arguments discounted Theron as a little off-balanced, but for Tian Mu, Theron's words rang true in a deep place in his being, almost like he was coming home to his true self.

Tian Mu had been discussing the Truth from Theron for several months, and he felt as if he had come to a crossroads, where he needed to make a decision to take the plunge and completely dedicate himself to the Truth, or to decide that this philosophy, this system of thought wasn't for him after all. It was almost frightening, as if he were being swallowed up by something much bigger than himself.

"That's exactly what it is, my friend," answered Theron when they were discussing this one day shortly before graduation. "If you decide to dedicate yourself to Truth, there's no looking back. It will guide your life and help you when you most need help - when you have hard decisions to make."

"It sounds almost too good to be true," whispered Tian Mu to himself, thinking how much he yearned for something to truly believe in, to dedicate his life to.

"What if I decide to become involved in something, not knowing if it's compatible with the Truth?" asked Tian Mu.

"If you allow the Truth to guide you, you will always know," answered Theron. "Of course, knowing what is right does not guarantee that you'll choose to do what is right," he continued. "But you will have Truth to guide you, you can be sure of that. Even if you stray from the Truth, it will always be there to show you the way back."

Late that night, two weeks before his graduation, Tian Mu decided to give himself to the Truth, to dedicate himself to it, to live for it. As soon as he made the decision, he felt a peace that he had never felt before come flooding into his being, and he knew he had made the right decision. Little did he know just how soon his new resolve would be put to the test.

           

The next morning was the first day of a weeklong job market, where reps from hundreds of different corporations from all across the galaxy came to recruit graduates. As Tian Mu wandered among the booths, one of the reps approached him.

"May I have the priviledge of introducing myself? My name is Jalin Meer, and I represent the Galactic Empire. I've heard that you are one of the top students this year, and I would like to talk with you before all the other reps descend upon you." Jalin smiled warmly as he spoke.

Tian Mu felt himself immediately go tense when he heard the name. It was Kalim Meer's eldest son! A Meer! Tian Mu found himself struggling with an intense hate that had suddenly sprung up in him out of nowhere. Jalin was at least ten years older than Tian Mu and had obviously been working as a diplomat with the Empire for several years, so he probably didn't even know about what had happened on Coruscant four years earlier.

'Meer killed my whole family!' part of Tian Mu seemed to scream at himself.

'No, they chose to die and take Meer with them,' a more rational voice answered.

'I want their blood!' that first voice screamed out in violent silence.

'What about honor, virtue and compassion? What about the Order of Qi?'

This conversation flashed through Tian Mu's mind in less than two seconds, and Jalin had no idea of the struggle was going on in Tian Mu. He also did not know how much danger his life had been in if the hate would have won. But it didn't.

Tian Mu shrugged visibly as he conquered his hate and responded to Jalin.

"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I have no desire to join the Empire. But thank you for your interest in me."

"Oh, that's too bad. The Empire is always interested in developing motivated young men like yourself." Jalin reached into his vest, took out a silicon wafer and handed it to Tian Mu. "If you change your mind, please feel free to contact me."

Tian Mu slipped the silicon wafer into his pocket without looking at it and then briefly grasped Jalin's outstretched hand.

After Jalin turned away to talk with someone else, Tian Mu had to intentionally initiate the mental exercise Lao Ye had taught him to drain the tension away from him, and the after-effect made him feel physically exhausted. He looked around and then found a chair to sit in, to rest and to process what had just happened.

"Hey Tian Mu, what's happenin'?" Jael Oyr, one of Tian Mu's classmates came sauntering up and flopped down on the arm of his chair. "Can you believe all these guys? As if we would buy their line! Most of these reps are just con artists tryin' to con us poor, helpless young grads into committing the next ten years of our lives to slave for their corp!" He grinned as he spoke, and Tian Mu couldn't help but grin back.

For anyone who knew him, Jael was the last person that anyone would call poor and helpless. Rakishly handsome, confident almost to the point of being cocky, friendly and generous, everyone who met him liked him. And for those who didn't like him, they needed to be fast to avoid the sting of the whip that Jael kept coiled around his waist under his vest. He was Corellian, and like most Corellians he was restless, always looking for adventure. He and Tian Mu had spent many hours out on the Alderaanian desert alone, just the two of them, teaching each other the skills of sword and whip until they had become an even match for each other.

But Jael also had a serious side that most of his acquaintances knew nothing about. He was deadly earnest in his desire to join the Rebel Alliance and work toward overthrowing the Empire. He had had many long conversations with Tian Mu on this very subject, and now he lowered his voice before he asked his question.

"What did that bloodsucker from the Empire want with you?"

"To recruit me, what did you think?" responded Tian Mu.

"And...?" continued Jael.

"And nothing," said Tian Mu. "Nothing would entice me to join the Empire," he spat out, almost under his breath.

"Good," rejoined Jael. "Just don't sign anything today, Tian Mu. Wait until after the evening meal, when everyone else will be interested in singing and dancing. I'll find you." With that he wandered away and into the milling crowd.

Tian Mu waited for an hour after he finished supper, fidgeting in his room, waiting for Jael to contact him. He didn't know for sure what this was all about, but he had a good guess, and he thought that there wasn't a much better way to live for the Truth...

Suddenly he saw a vague figure in the window waving at him. He turned and walked out. Jael was standing half in the shrubbery near the door, and as Tian Mu came out, he cautioned him to be quiet and follow him. He then led Tian Mu what seemed like down every alley and back road in Aldera before they finally arrived at a run-down old tavern on the opposite side of the city from the university.

"In here," whispered Jael, as they silently entered the pub...

Five hours later, back in his room, laying on his bed still fully clothed, Tian Mu couldn't seem to go to sleep.

'How could I even think of sleep after tonight?!' he thought to himself elatedly. Jael had explained to Tian Mu about his connections in the Rebel Alliance, had waxed almost poetic in describing how he was going to dedicate his life to a cause worth living for, not some corp that just wanted another warm body. Then he dropped the big question; Jael asked Tian Mu if he would like to join the Rebel Alliance, and he had accepted! They had talked for hours about what it would be like as a rebel.

'Not only an ideology to live for, but a cause to die for!' thought Tian Mu, still basking in the euphoria of his decision. It wasn't a difficult decision for him at all. As he lay on his bed, he could hardly wait for graduation to take his part in this greatest and noblest of all adventures!

 

That was two weeks ago. Now, with graduation behind him, as Tian Mu sat on the rock waiting for the Rebel ship to come and take him to one of their secret training bases, he had time for second thoughts.

'Did I make the right choice? Is this really the right thing to do? What difference would I really make, anyway' Then he saw a speck in the sky that very quickly became visible as a Firespray, landing just a hundred meters away from him.

'Well,' he told himself as his characteristic optimism asserted itself over his misgivings, 'The time for doubting is past; now it's time for action!' With that, he stood, shouldered his old carrysack from Yong An, checked to make sure his whip was securely wrapped around his waist and his sword slung over his back, and he stepped out to meet his future.

 

A New Focus

Tian Mu sat on the edge of his bed, hardly feeling the rough hide of the sea cow that served as his bedspread on board his personal ship, the YT-2000 Sheng Long. He was unaware of the tireless ticking of his wall chrono, endlessly proclaiming the passage of time. He paid absolutely no attention to the soft recorded sounds of the dutar lyrically sounding from the player on the bedside table. No, his whole being was fixed on one overriding thought -

"I must leave the Army!"

He, Brigadier General Qi Tian Mu, Commanding Officer of the Rebel Alliance Army's 3rd Division, found himself dissatisfied with his life and the direction it was taking. It seemed on the surface that everything was going well for him - He was involved in a noble cause. He had gone through the ranks of the Army in record time and had been given a command position despite his young age and lack of military experience. Other officers respected him. For a period of time he was one of the instructors at the Academy. He even had the privilege of mentoring some of the younger Army officers.

On top of this, he had also achieved a modest level of financial security when he had the good fortune to come across an abandoned YT-2000 on a routine patrol. After a refit where he had done most of the labor during his off-duty hours, doing a major overhaul on the cargo bays, he had transformed the beat-up old freighter into a modest but comfortable home, a home he had christened the Sheng Long that could go with him anywhere in the galaxy.

And yet...

And yet, something gnawed at him, keeping him awake at night recently, telling him that all was not well with his soul.

As Tian Mu tossed and turned in his bunk, trying without success to go to sleep, still searching for what he did not know, he suddenly remembered the book that his grandfather had given him so long ago...

"Tian Mu," Lao Ye put his hands on Tian Mu's shoulders and looked him in the eyes. Only recently was Tian Mu tall enough for his grandfather to do that. Tian Mu saw concern etched in the older man's eyes, and something more, almost...fear. Fear for Tian Mu?

"Tian Mu," he said once again, "You are practically a grown man now. Your seventeenth birthday is not far off, and you will need to begin to assume some of the responsibility which your father had before he was..." he paused for the briefest of time, "before he died."

Tian Mu's eyes narrowed in anger as he remembered how his father had been murdered by Imperial agents who then rigged the death to look like a mining accident.

'If I ever have a chance for revenge...!' he thought bitterly to himself.

But Lao Ye went on...

"You will often be faced with difficult choices, and sometimes you will be tempted to take the easy way out. That is how we are all born - to take the easy way out, the way of least resistance, least pain." His grandfather grew stern as he continued.

"But you do not need to be like everyone else! You have the strength within you to rise beyond what your human nature will want you to do." Then his voice lowered to a mere whisper as he fixed his unwavering gaze on Tian Mu.

"You can choose what is best over what is merely convenient! You can choose excellence over mediocrity, of being like everyone else who just wants to save their own skin or just have a comfortable life." Lao Ye paused as he gathered his thoughts.

"Tian Mu, I have trained you the best I know how for the past four years. I have helped you to discover reservoirs of physical strength in you that you didn't know you had as you have become a man. I helped you to understand psychology and how to use it when dealing with other beings. I have trained you in the ancient and honorable art of the sword. I have helped you look at others through their own eyes. I have taught you to recognize hidden malice and corrupted power, and how to avoid those pitfalls yourself. But there is one thing that I cannot teach you - I cannot teach you to find yourself."

He allowed his hand to drop away from Tian Mu's shoulder as he sat slowly in the rawhide-covered chair.

'He's getting old!' Tian Mu thought suddenly, and with that thought came a sense of panic and loss that he had never known before. 'What will I do without Lao Ye?' he sked himself forlornly.

His grandfather sighed a deep, reverberating sigh as he went on. "No, I can't teach you to find yourself, but I know where to point you." He reached into his voluminous robe and pulled out a small book. Not a holo, but a real printed book!

"Lao Ye! That must be worth a fortune!" Tian Mu cried as he looked carefully at the book. He saw that the binding was not damaged, nor was the cover. In fact, it looked as if it were brand-new! But Tian Mu knew that was impossible; no one made actual books any longer. It was a known fact that books were an awful waste of resources, costing far more to produce than they could be sold for. Holos had replaced books for centuries, and so it was rare to see a real book, much less a book in immaculate condition!

"Yes, it is worth a small fortune," Lao Ye chuckled, "but not because it's in such good condition. Rather, because of its contents."

He held the book out to Tian Mu who almost reverently took it in his own hands, feeling the rough texture of the cover. He gingerly opened it, almost expecting it to fall apart in his hands.

"Don't worry," Lao Ye laughed, "You won't destroy it by reading it. That's what it was made for!"

Tian Mu smiled sheepishly at his grandfather as he lowered his gaze once again to the treasure in his hands. Then he read the title on the spine, which was etched in gold letters - The Book Of Life .

"The Book Of Life?" Tian Mu muttered half to himself. 'What was that supposed to mean? Was this some ancient book of magic?'

Lao Ye saw the questioning look on Tian Mu's face and said, "Well, it's not a book for everyone, I will tell you that right now. Most people would scoff at what this book teaches, but I have lived my life by it, and I have no regrets!" He said the last almost as a challenge, as if Tian Mu might question the wisdom of adhering to the book's precepts.

"Well," Lao Ye went on, "It's yours now. Yes, that's right, it's yours," he said in response to the look of surprise that had sprung up on Tian Mu's face. "And you can do whatever you want with it. You can sell it if you want, although I doubt most people would be willing to buy it. I would put it away if I were you, until some time later when you have time to read it the way it's meant to be read."

Tian Mu looked at his grandfather a little quizzically, almost to ask what way that was, but he said nothing. He just carefully put the little book into his pocket, to put it away later.

"Tian Mu, I can't emphasize enough the importance of that book. I really cannot decide for you what kind of a person you will become. And believe me when I say that you do not have the inner strength necessary to always make honorable choices. No one does, and we all learn that hard lesson eventually. But if you read that book with an open mind and a willing spirit and a ready heart, you will learn how to become a person who knows how to bend in the storm without breaking. You will be able to develop a firm foundation that will hold you steady through anything that this life can throw at you. And most importantly," he said with a dramatic pause, "You will discover who you are, who you really are, what kind of person you are meant to become."

'How could any mere book do that for a person?' Tian Mu thought doubtfully to himself as he went up to his room after the day's lesson was over. It had certainly not been a normal lesson. 'But then,' he thought with a smile, 'what was ever a "normal" lesson with Lao Ye?'

As the following days went by, full of other lessons to be learned, Tian Mu almost forgot about the little book that was packed away up in his room...

 

Tian Mu immediately turned the light on and began rummaging through his sparse belongings, trying to find the forgotten book.

'Maybe it will help me,' he thought to himself, 'I sure don't know what else to do!' And so, in the bottom of his personal trunk, inside an old knapsack that he had brought with him when he had fled from home, he found the old book - The Book Of Life.

He paused, almost afraid to open it. Finally he overcame the brief feeling of crossing a bridge for the last time, never to return, telling himself it was just superstition. He walked over to his bed, arranged his pillow into a comfortable heap, turned on the bedside lamp, laid down and began to read...

Almost thirty six hours later, Tian Mu carefully, almost reverently, set the book down on the small nightstand next to his bed. He had finished it, had read it from cover to cover, and it had indeed changed his life!

Tian Mu saw himself in a totally new way. He realized that the reason why his life had lost its sense of purpose was because the purpose that he had been living for was empty, because it was ultimately only for himself. He came face to face with the fact that all of his high-sounding goals of aiding the Rebel Alliance in their quest to overthrow the Empire and restore the Republic was in fact just empty words to cover up his own thirst for personal vengeance. He had been using the RA to further his selfish ends!

Through the teachings of the book, Tian Mu realized that the ancient adage was actually true - that the end never justifies the means. He also now knew, deep down in his heart, that a person's motives were a window to his heart - that doing the right thing for the wrong reason was in fact doing the wrong thing. And he knew that the window to his heart had been darkened by hate and bitterness.

Fortunately, the book did more than just reveal his wretchedness; it also gave him a hope for the future as it taught him how to allow Life to guide his steps, rather than be controlled by hate and bitterness.

He also realized that his grandfather had spoken the truth - the book had shown him that he had been created a specific way in order to achieve a specific purpose. He now knew that purpose was not to be found in the Army. Returning to the Army would be too much of a temptation to revert to his self-centered goal of revenge. No, he must find a different path for himself, a path that more accurately reflected who he was meant to be.

Guided by the teachings of the book, he had formed a much more accurate picture of himself. This picture showed him that, as long as his motives were pure and he was not acting in selfishness, he had the ability to lead and to give guidance and clarity to others.

 'How could I put these abilities to good use?' he asked himself searchingly. Was there a possibility of him staying in the Alliance and still helping to work toward the overall goal of bettering the galaxy by overcoming the Empire?'

As he meditated on his new-found knowledge and his change of perspective for his life, he suddenly realized that serving full-time in the Diplomatic Corps, where he had already been serving part-time, would be a natural application of expressing his new focus. Instead of yearning for the chance to kill other beings, he could work to help unite the sentient beings of the galaxy behind the Alliance, in order to re-establish justice and freedom in the galaxy rather than to pursue his own selfish ends.

While Tian Mu realized that he must forswear the use of offensive force to accomplish his goals, he also realized that Lao Ye, his grandfather had not trained him to be a master swordsman for no good purpose. Instead of striking out at others, he knew now that he was called to protect the helpless, to be a shield to the oppressed, and to be a deliverer for those in need. Oh yes, in this galaxy filled with injustice and hate, greed and cruelty, he was sure there would be times when diplomacy would fall short, and his sword arm and keen eye would still have plenty to do!

But the more he thought about it, the more he realized that he needed to reach out his hand in fellowship to his brother army officers. It was possible that his increased insight into himself might help him to give others insight.

He knew from reading the book that while there was only one Truth, each person was responsible to find their own path to it, and that he had no right to tell others they must follow the path he had found. Indeed, that would be tantamount to forcing them to follow his path, which would in effect cause them to not follow the path designed for them.

But what could he do that would benefit the command that he had come to love? He knew that his role should be to help others achieve their true potential, and to learn how to work effectively with one another. Suddenly, it dawned on him that he could be available to offer advice and counsel, much as a chaplain would.

'In fact...' he asked himself with a start, 'why couldn't I become the Army's chaplain?' That idea resonated within him. And as always, thinking of something immediately translated into action for Tian Mu.

He began writing out his resignation from his current position as Brigadier General and Division CO, and then included a proposal for the creation of a new position in the Army - Chaplain. As he wrote, explaining to Cevin the circumstances that necessitated this seemingly abrupt change, he already began to feel new hope and energy surging up within him.

It was no surprise that General McClane enthusiastically agreed to Tian Mu's proposal. And so, with little fanfare, Tian Mu resigned from his rank of Brigadier General and moved into the role of Army Chaplain, doing all he could to provide advice and counsel to his fellow officers. At the same time, he expanded his activities in the Diplomatic Corps, using his skills to help forge closer relationships between the Alliance and other organizations who had similar values.

 

A Restless Soul

And yet, all was not well in Tian Mu's soul. There was still something lacking, like an emptiness that was waiting to be filled. He began having strange dreams, dreams filled with faces of people that he didn't recognize, yet he felt that he should know them. Night after night, it was almost as if they were beckoning to him.

'Is this the hole in my heart?' he asked himself wearily after one dream-filled restless night. 'Who are they? What does this mean?' He knew with virtual certainty that those ethereal faces that inhabited his dreams weren't any relatives. "The Empire's minions did their work well in that area!" He had to use the old exercises that Lao Ye had drilled into him, to calm his heart and purge the feelings of hate and violence that always threatened to rise up in his soul whenever he thought about his family. So no, it couldn't be one of his own. But who?

That question began haunting his waking hours to the point where he could bear it no more. It was as if a quest were calling out to him, refusing to allow him to rest, invading every waking moment. And so, after another restless night he wrote a report to General Cevin McClane and another identical one to High Ambassador Jake Azzameen, requesting an extended leave of absence. He didn't know how long he would be gone, but he knew that he could not be effective until he found whatever - or whoever - it was that would fill the hole in his heart. And so Tian Mu set out on his search to find...he knew not what.

 

A New Beginning

Two years later, Tian Mu suddenly and unexpectedly returned to Republica, but not alone. He had succeeded in his mission, and his success was more than he ever could have imagined. The Sheng Long had two new residents - Qi Sheng Ming and Qi Mei, both cousins of Tian Mu. The brother and sister were both children of Tian Mu's uncle, his father's older brother.

Sheng Ming was about a year older than Tian Mu and wise beyond his years. He was also partially lame - his left leg was paralyzed from the hip down - as a result of a fall several years ago. In order to be able to make a living, Sheng Ming had turned to music and had become an accomplished satar player. Tian Mu, himself an accomplished dutar player, thought there was more than just coincidence in that.

Xiao Mei was several years younger, and Tian Mu couldn't remember seeing a more beautiful woman. Of course, he recognized the fact that he might be a little subjective, but from the reactions of the male population on Adbatar, just in the two days that they had been back, he thought he wasn't alone in his assessment. It was no surprise to Tian Mu that Xiao Mei had a beautiful voice that could hold you in its spell for hours as she sang.

Tian Mu had returned a whole man. Sheng Ming and Xiao Mei were indeed the missing pieces to his heart. The hard places he had searched for them and the heartbreak dead-ends he had followed down were all worth it in the end. They were family.

During his absence, Tian Mu had heard rumors of the changes that had taken place, but nothing could have adequately prepared him for the reality.

'So many new faces!' thought Tian Mu as he paused outside the Grand Library of the Republic Deplomacy Command. 'And new buildings, and new labels...it seems like everything's new!' he looked around in bewilderment.

He had come returned to a home that had even changed its name. No longer the Rebel Alliance, it seemed to have grown up in the past two years, and now it was the New Republic!

'I like that,' he said to himself. 'The New Republic. But it'll take some getting used to, that's for sure!' He tried to be casual as he looked at the people who were walking past, trying to make out the new insignias. Some he thought he could figure out, but others were just too different. It would definitely take some time to get up to speed.

'Well, it's time to get to work!' he said as he turned toward the building behind him. He had an appointment with High Ambassador Jake Azzameen, and he didn't want to be late.

'At least there'll be one familiar face!' he thought cheerfully as he mounted the steps...

Jake had been warm and welcoming, which didn't surprise Tian Mu. They had already become friends before he had left, and he had a good feeling that they would be able to pick up where they left off.

It turned out to be much more than that. Jake had offered him the rank of Consul! It was more than he was expecting. Tian Mu had put his heart and soul into his first month on the job at RDC, and his hard work was noticed and appreciated.

Just before Jake retired from the RDC, he promoted Tian Mu to Quartermaster and awarded him the High Ambassador's Award. As Tian Mu received the award with mixed feelings. He was of course pleased and honored, but he was saddened that Jake would not be around the RDC. He had looked forward to many more years working together under his good friend, but it wasn't to be.

After Tian Mu's return to Diplomacy, he still felt like he should look into the possibility of returning to the Army as the Chaplain, but he had doubts as to whether it would be the same. After all, Cevin had retired shortly after Tian Mu left on his quest. Although Edyn had taken Cevin's place, and Edyn was a good friend, Edyn had also retired almost immediately after Tian Mu returned. And so he waited, wondering what to do...

The new Army High General, Wolfgang Nospe, took things into his own hands by personally contacting Tian Mu and offering him the position of Army Chaplain! It was obviously the answer to Tian Mu's quandary, and he eagerly accepted the offer.

Now Tian Mu truly felt as if he were home. With family members when he thought he had none, back in both Commands that he loved, working in a government that still fought for freedom and equality for all...he felt that his life couldn't be much more complete.

In the years to come, Tian Mu recognized the possibility that his vocation might change. But he knew that he would always have within himself the foundation - the Truth - to which he could anchor himself, unchanged in an ever-changing galaxy.