Playlist:
❶ "Who Are You?"—The Last Jedi OST
⊘ Silence
❷ "The Blue and the Grey"—Lincoln OST
⊘ Silence
❸ "Lesson One"—The Last Jedi OST
❹ "The Fencing Lesson"—The Mask of Zorro OST
⊘ Silence
❶ Naluma moaned. Luke watched helplessly, biting his lower lip, tears welling in his eyes.
You are one with the Force, the Force is with you. You are one with the Force, the Force is with you. You are one with the Force, the Force is with you. He focused his positive energy into her thoughts when she was lucid enough to benefit, batting down the fears swirling in her mind.
Humph. Wish it was this easy to battle my own fears and doubts.
"Master Skywalker, you'll need to leave the room for the rest of the treatment. We need to irrigate her wound and add three more pins to hold her bones while they heal. We'll suture it with a laser. The procedure produces nausea in 98.6% of humanoid bystanders, and we cannot risk you infecting the operation theater. Sorry, but you must wait out there."
The med droid's voice was cold and clinical, but Luke cheered when he realized that he wouldn't have to watch the procedure. He left but kept a vigil over her with the Force. He wouldn't sleep until he was sure she was safe, out of pain.
Oh, 'Luma.
The next day, Luke returned to the landing pad. With bags under his eyes, rumpled uniform, and matted hair, he just wanted a hot shower and a fresh uniform.
Jannah and Kallay sat on the ramp with their knees pulled to their chins. The taller girl's arms flailed while she recounted something to the older girl. Kallay caught Luke's glance and rolled her eyes at him.
With a slight shake of his head, he smirked at her. Kallay turned back to Jannah and grabbed her arm to get her attention. Both girls stood to greet their master.
"Didn't I tell you guys to stay on the shuttle?" Luke placed his hands on his hips.
Kallay tilted her head, raised her eyebrows, and smiled. "We are on the shuttle, Master Luke."
Jannah pushed forward. "Besides, do you know what it smells like in there? We needed some fresh air." She fanned her hand in front of her face while scrunching her nose and crossing her eyes.
Luke grinned. "Can't argue with that logic."
Jannah asked, "How's Naluma?"
Kallay turned to him. "When can we see her?"
Luke extended his hands to silence them. "Wait." He gazed into the dark shuttle. "What's going on in here?"
His countenance darkened as he led them up the ramp. He jumped to the side as Tandolleau and Wei'ahtt rolled in a ball toward them.
Wei'ahtt wrapped his leg around Tandolleau and flipped him over. He pinned the smaller boy to the ground, holding his arm over the teen's neck. "Give it back, Tandolleau."
⊘ Luke cleared his throat to get their attention.
Tandolleau gazed up from the floor. "Uh, Wei'ahtt—"
"I'm not letting you go until I get it back. Now where—"
"Padawan."
Both boys jumped to their feet, their ash-gray uniforms in disarray.
"You're right, Jannah, it does stink in here." Luke advanced two steps toward the boys. "Can only guess that you two have neglected basic hygiene these last two days."
Jannah giggled.
Luke turned on her. "This is nothing to laugh about."
Wei'ahtt said, "Well, Jannah, if you hadn't taken a thirty-minute shower and then dyed your hair, there might have been enough water for the rest of us."
"What, don't you like my blue tips, Wei'ahtt?"
The boy blushed.
"I know Tandolleau does. Hasn't been able to take his eyes off me." Jannah winked at the boys. "I think you do, too."
Kallay elbowed Jannah in the ribs. "Cut it out."
"What?"
Kallay glared at her friend. "He doesn't need this right now."
Luke sighed. "PT clothes, all of you. Outside in five."
Tandolleau held a scrap of paper beyond Wei'ahtt's reach. He teased him with it as they passed Master Skywalker for their quarters.
With the Force, Luke grabbed it from him. He glanced over the scratchings inside. He sighed again and shoved the paper into his pocket. "Get going."
While the four Padawan headed to the crew quarters, Luke stopped in the galley at the rear of the main cabin. "How did you end up on KP again, Kalder?"
The mature Padawan raised his eyebrows at the Jedi Master. "It was either that or deal with Jannah's cooking. Swapped dishes with her."
"Well, she needs to learn how to cook eventually."
"I can only handle what she calls cooking once a week." Kalder stirred a few herbs into the pot of sauce.
"How much longer?"
"About an hour. How's Naluma?"
Luke shook his head and bit his lip.
"PT clothes. Need to get rid of some of this energy."
"Need to stir."
"Artoo can do that while he's airing this place out." Luke grinned. "Reminds me, need to order water from the station."
Luke headed back to the cockpit and fired up the communications array. He pulled open his dwindling financial account before placing an order to fill the water tanks. He sat back in his seat as the credits drained even further.
The Jedi arrived at the shuttle exhausted. Luke had run out their pent-up energy. Unfortunately, both Wei'ahtt and Tandolleau smelled worse by the time they returned.
The water tanker had just the uncoupled from shuttle junction when they reached the ramp. Luke said, "Wei'ahtt, hop in the 'fresher. Tandolleau, you're next. Kalder, me, Kallay, and then Jannah. Three minutes of water only. Artoo, program the refresher."
The little droid spat out a few curses and moved to the console. He beeped a few more strings of binary at Luke.
"How low?"
Artoo beeped again.
"Yeah, I'll order a fuel charge." Luke sighed once more. Water, fuel ... getting low on supplies , too ... but I need every credit for Naluma. Maybe she can survive with just four days of bacta instead of five.
After dinner, Luke cleared his voice. "Jannah, dishes."
"I know." She took the bowl and utensil from him.
"And I want them dried and put away, this time." Luke pointed his finger at her and gave her the look.
"Yes, master."
"Boys, start the laundry. Bedding first. Then the uniforms."
"Yes, master."
"Kallay, cockpit."
"Yes, master."
❷ Luke spun the captain's seat to face Kallay in the co-pilot's seat. He fished the scrap of paper out of his pocket and handed it to her.
"What's this?" she asked with wonder.
"I was hoping you could tell me." Luke nodded his chin toward her. "Go ahead. Read it, if you can."
Kallay chewed on a stray strand of hair while she unfolded the crinkled paper. A few seconds later, she said, "Oh."
"You don't sound so enthused."
"I'm not."
"So, you knew about this?"
"Yeah, I could tell he's interested."
"Is he bothering you at all? I can talk with him."
"Master Luke, maybe you should talk to him and Jannah. It all started with her trying to play with Tandolleau and Wei'ahtt to make my brother jealous. It's just escalated from there."
Luke sat back in his seat and sighed yet again. "How far has she gone with this?"
She squirmed in her seat and squeezed her lips together.
"Kallay." He tilted his head and bit his lower lip.
"She's teasing them beyond control, Master Luke. When it's time to change, she makes sure her tank comes off with her tunic. She removes her pants while showing off her ... her assets. Kalder's about ready to scream. Tandolleau is enjoying the show, and Wei'ahtt's so embarrassed he forgets to exhale."
"Go get her." Luke straightened in the seat and rubbed his forehead. Naluma, how did you handle all this teenage nonsense?
⊘ Kallay returned within seconds. Jannah followed her while drying a pot lid.
"Have a seat." Luke motioned to both girls and then shut the cockpit hatch with the Force.
Kallay returned to the co-pilot's seat.
Jannah sat behind her, resting her legs on the empty seat behind Luke. She slouched in the seat, rubbing the pot lid with her towel absentmindedly. "Waz up?"
Luke stared at her. She shifted abruptly to attention in her seat. He hesitated, deciding on his approach. "Just wanted to discuss Naluma with you. When she comes back, there's going to be some changes. You're going to need to help her with personal things, like bathing and possibly even using the refresher."
He took a deep breath and stared out the cockpit. "I'm swapping cabins, too. She'll be in mine, and I'll be with you."
Kallay said, "Of course, Master Luke. We'll help out however we can. Right, Jannah?"
Jannah shot an angry glance at Kallay but schooled her tone before speaking. "Of course, we will."
"You know, I could install a portable refresher unit this week. Then she wouldn't have to leave the cabin except for bathing," Kallay said with a hopeful smile.
Luke twisted his neck back to her. "You could?"
"Yeah. We could pick one up on the next supply run."
Jannah said, "Yeah, we're out of almost everything."
Luke sighed again and turned back to the viewport. "Do you think you guys can behave yourselves if I sent you over to Cerea?"
Jannah opened her eyes wide and batted her lashes. "Of course, Master Luke."
Luke swiveled to her and leaned forward. "Don't 'Of course, Master Luke' me. I know you've been teasing the boys, either leading them on ... or worse. It ends now. Do you understand?"
Jannah pulled back, opened her mouth, and then shut it. She nodded her head. "Yes, Master Skywalker."
"I want your complete cooperation on this mission. No flirting. No touching. No teasing. Is that understood?"
"Yes, master."
"Kallay, how much will the refresher cost?"
"With parts, maybe five hundred."
Luke rolled his eyes to the ceiling while calculating the costs. "All right, five hundred for the refresher. That leaves us two hundred for food. I want healthy, cheap, and tasty."
Kallay smirked. "You ask the impossible. Everyone knows you can have any two of those, but not all three, master."
Jannah sulked. "With that budget, I'd rather eat MREs."
"Go right ahead. We have about three months in storage." Luke's eyes hardened. "And I don't want you in uniform tomorrow. Civvies—modest civvies—for the trip."
Jannah's eyes sparkled at that news.
Kallay nudged her.
❸ Luke continued, ignoring Jannah's response. "Tomorrow, Naluma starts bacta. I'm going to stay with her for the four hours. As long as she doesn't fall asleep in the tank—"
Jannah asked, "They're using a bacta tank? Why not a bacta bed? They wouldn't even have to move her, and she'd heal much faster."
He dropped his head into his hands. His voice cracked. "I'm doing the best I can for her. I'm not even sure we'll have enough for the five days of treatment she needs."
Kallay laid her hand on Luke's forearm, just in time for a tear to hit. "It'll be okay, Master Luke. We can all chip in."
"No. I'm not taking your credits."
Jannah said, "I can ask my mother—"
"No." He glared at Jannah. "If we involve your mother or my sister, then the Senate will know. They'll wonder how the accident happened and where and why we didn't transport her to a military base first and ..."
Kallay said, "You're getting reimbursed, right?"
Luke nodded.
"Then let us use our stipend money to buy the supplies at least. We can get reimbursed later, too." Kallay smiled at him. "Please let us help, master. Naluma's our friend, too."
Reluctantly, Luke nodded.
After a few moments of silence, he said, "Let the boys know what's going on. Meet me in front of the shuttle in five with sabers and spheres."
"Yes, master," both girls replied and left after that dismissal.
Luke leaned back in his seat and swiveled to the cockpit viewport. He stared at the landing platform across from the shuttle as he started his relaxation exercises. Still not sure we have enough for five days of bacta. Oh, 'Luma, I'm sorry.
Luke ... no ... fear.
❹ The artificial lights on the landing pad glared in Luke's eyes as he evaluated the saber forms. Having set the sabers to stun, the Padawan sparred against each other in the basic Soresu drills.
As the attackers swung down with the blades, the defenders pulled up to match them. Kalder's blade scattered across the tarmac.
Wei'ahtt deactivated his blade and grinned. "Want to try that again?"
Kalder glared at him and reached out with the Force for his saber.
Luke stepped between them. "Everyone, stand down." Kalder stepped aside, breathing heavily, while Tandolleau looked on. The girls separated, deactivating their sabers.
"Kalder, release your emotion. It will only get you killed." Master Skywalker stepped into the middle of the group. "You're letting your emotions get the best of you. I know we're all under stress right now, but this only makes it more realistic."
Tandolleau interrupted. "Battle is always stress, Master Luke."
Luke rolled his eyes at the interruption.
Kallay elbowed the tall, dark young man. "Sh."
"As I was saying, you cannot let the stress control you. If you do, then you will have no control of your emotions. Your anger will control you."
Luke stepped out of the circle of students and ignited Naluma's lightsaber, which he had carried on his hip since her accident. The purple blade hummed and fizzled as he set it on stun. "Wei'ahtt, come here."
The Jedi Master pulled himself into the opening pose. With his right elbow pointing behind his ear and the blade toward Wei'ahtt's shins, he rested his weight on his back leg and counterbalanced with a straight left arm that ran parallel to his extended left leg.
Wei'ahtt lit his saber and mirrored Luke's position.
"The problem with you, Wei'ahtt, is you're always compensating with your upper body strength. Your saber work should be about position and finesse, not about overhanded power."
Luke nodded and began the drill. He stepped into the first pass, blocking Wei'ahtt's first strike. The boy's saber halted in mid-air when it met Luke's purple blade. The sabers crackled when they met, sawing back and forth.
Wei'ahtt adjusted his torso and pushed harder on Luke's lightsaber. The Jedi flicked his blade and pushed Wei'ahtt's away. Luke whirled his blade around and touched Wei'ahtt on the neck with a clean stroke.
Extinguishing his saber, Luke nodded at the Padawan. "The more you rely on your physical strength, the more your enemy can overwhelm you with the Force."
"You used the Force? I didn't detect it," Wei'ahtt said as he rubbed the tingles out of his neck.
"Didn't have to. You made it easy for me. Wei'ahtt, you may be the strongest of the Padawan, but you will face opponents who are stronger than you one day. In all of my battles, I've faced taller and stronger opponents. If I hadn't used the Force, they would have had me in one pass. From now on, Wei'ahtt, I'm your sparring partner. You others will rotate partners each day."
"Yes, Master Skywalker." The Padawan bowed in unison.
Luke looked around the area. "Everyone, grab a training remote."
The Padawan hurried to the base of the shuttle ramp where Artoo guarded the spheres and recorded the drills.
As the remotes whirred into action, Luke said, "No. Keep them off. We're going to try something different."
The Padawan shrugged and waited for instructions.
"Wei'ahtt, Kalder, and Jannah, put your remotes on the ground. Everyone else, try to grab a remote using the Force. Whoever has one at the end of five minutes won't have to do chores tomorrow." Luke raised his hand and nodded to Artoo to start the timer. He dropped his hand while he said, "Go."
The battle raged with each Padawan huffing and puffing to control the spheres. Jannah pulled Tandolleau's first, but lost it to Wei'ahtt within seconds. Kalder used the Force to tickle his sister behind the neck and grabbed the sphere while she was distracted. Then Jannah made eye contact with Kalder and batted her eyelashes at him. His eyes widened, whether in fear or interest, Luke could not tell, but it was enough of a distraction for Jannah to grab the remote. Wei'ahtt tried his own tactic on Jannah, with no success.
⊘ Suddenly, Luke bent his head back in agony and screamed. He reached out with the Force and threw the remotes at the ramp. Then he sprinted toward the med center.
"Master Luke?" Kalder yelled.
"Come!"
The Padawan rushed after the Jedi Master. Jannah's long legs pranced like the fianna they had seen cantering up the mountains of Khalkha. Kallay's shorter legs pumped twice as fast to keep up with the pack. Kalder darted between the Padawan, catching up to Luke within seconds. Tandolleau maintained a quiet form as his feet struck the pavement. Wei'ahtt thudded, wheezing behind Kallay.
Together, they dashed into the medical facility with one collective thought—Naluma.
Did you know ...
● After rereading this section recently, I wanted to flesh out some of the summaries. I also wanted to develop the Padawan a little more. One day, I hope to write the Padawan Adventures, following the Famous Five's first year—from Jakku to Papweqor Minor.
Tell me what you think ...
● How do you see each Padawan right now? Do they have personality and flaws? If so, which ones?