Chapter One
A light wind blew a few stray locks of blonde hair across her face where they danced to and fro, obstructing her view of the vast ocean laid out at her feet. A flash of lightning curiously divided the bright afternoon sky. She counted the seconds from when it struck, to measure how distant the storm was. That was the trick, wasn't it? One mile for every second?
One… A wave crashed a few yards from her feet and engulfed her with a fresh waft of salty sea air.
Two… The water rushed up to her ankles. It was warm and she wiggled her toes in the shifting wet sand.
Three… A bird called from the depths of the dark jungle behind her, an eerie mournful wail challenging the rhythm of the ocean.
Four… Something silvery glinted in the wave's receding path, rolling and turning, fighting to dislodge the sand that covered it.
Five… She bent to scoop it up but before her fingers could touch the metal surface a crash of thunder echoed in her ears. Everything went dark. Sure, she could feel the sand under her feet and the cool wet surface of the object she retrieved from the sea's grasp, but the world was black. She imagined this must be how her uncle felt all the time; his eyes had been relieved of their sight years ago.
She palmed the object, trying to visualize it. Her thumb found a small button near the middle of the cylindrical object. What does this do? It could be dangerous, but why should I stop taking risks now? It's a little late to start being rational after all these years. So she took a chance. A flash of red blinded her, and then it turned blue, then red again. It continued this pattern and the quick succession of colors began to make her head spin and her stomach lurch. She dropped the object, but it made no difference. After a few seconds her vision began to clear. She could almost make out the source of the light. Just one more blink.
"Kate!"
Great, now I'm hearing voices. Like I needed any more problems. It didn't matter, just one more second and she would see it. She closed her eyes.
Before she could open them again, something was shaking her and screaming. "Kate!" She blearily opened her eyes and received another shout in her ear. She yawned and pushed her little brother off her, slightly annoyed that he had disrupted her dream. It was the third time she had had that particular dream, but this was the first she had seen of the flashing lights.
"Kate, Mother says you have to get up! Now!" he whined.
She chuckled and ruffled his curly brown locks. It was hard to stay mad at him.
"Tell her I'm coming, Gam, ten minutes tops."
The small boy hurtled out of the room, legs pumping and arms flailing. He wanted to be a swoop rider one day and Kate didn't have the heart to tell him he had one chance in a million, maybe a half a chance in a million. Their family was very poor and could barely afford an ample amount of food, let alone a swoop bike. It had been that way ever since their father, Kalmar Asan, had disappeared. Some said he had been killed by a pack of Canyas, but Kate suspected he left when he found out her mother, Samil, was pregnant with Gamira. They called him Gam because he said it was a much better racing name. Canyas were a ferocious species of large lizards native to Carun, a small planet on the Outer Rim of the galaxy that the Asan family called home. Canyas had been known to attack humans before, but less and less were found these days since poachers began hunting them for their spines which were rumored to be sharper than vibroswords and stronger than steel. But whatever the reason, he was gone and that was that.
Kate began her morning routine. She scrubbed her face and fixed her hair, which was tousled from a night full of tossing, turning and odd flashing lights. Her clothes were slightly wrinkled from being left in a heap on the floor but she shook them out a few times and decided they were fine. Donning her loose shirt and tan leggings, she felt guilty for not helping her mother with breakfast and resolved to be extra helpful around the house. Just as she was fastening her sandals her mother poked her head into the room.
"Hurry up. There's someone important here to see you."
This sparked Kate's interest and she hurriedly put on her other shoe and followed her mother to the kitchen. Sitting at the low stone table was a man dressed in modest brown robes. He had a few wisps of white hair clinging to the back of his head that had been fashioned into a ponytail, but otherwise he was bald. He stood up when they walked into the room and Kate guessed his height to be around six feet. There was an odd sparkle in his old chestnut-colored eyes that both unnerved and intrigued her. What an odd old man.
"This is Master Dekka. He's a Jedi from the academy on Talún, and he wanted to talk to you, Kate."
Kate eyed him nervously. She didn't know what this was about, but there was something strange about him she didn't like. He smiled at her, his eyes almost disappearing beneath the wrinkles of skin. Wow, this guy has got some pretty white teeth for his age. He must be at least eighty.
"So, young one, I've been talking to your mother. She says you're quite special." Samil beamed. Dekka continued, "But so do all mothers, so I'm going to have to be the judge of that."
Kate saw an annoyed expression cross her mother's face, but the shadow quickly passed. Samil felt slighted at his doubting of her daughter's talent, but she wasn't about to be rude to a guest in her own house, especially someone of his caliber.
Dekka glanced at Gam, who was tugging at the hem of his robe, shooed him away and then looked back at Kate. "I'm going to ask you some questions and tell you to do a few things."
She said suspiciously, "Why?"
Annoyed, Dekka replied, "First lesson. Don't ask, just do."
Kate sighed inwardly but kept her thoughts to herself.
Then the questions began.
How old are you?"
"Seventeen."
"Dou you have any close family?"
"Other than my mother and Gam, no."
"Have you any experience with a blaster or any melee weapons?"
What was this guy trying to do, draft her? She didn't exceptionally want to be in any military, so she understated a little.
"A bit." Samil raised one eyebrow slightly but said nothing. She knew Kate spent most of her free time outside practicing. Either she was shooting at rocks half-buried in the sand a dozen yards away, or she had a wooden stick she had carved in the likeness of a vibroblade in her hand jabbing at imaginary foes. Of course, there wasn't much else for her daughter to do outside of daily chores; Carun was a boring place, a desert planet. She gave her head a little shake and returned her gaze to the Jedi sitting at her kitchen table.
"Show me."
So Kate stood up and led them outside.
"Blaster first. Hit that."
She tried not to giggle as he pointed out a helmet-sized rock perched on a sand dune about twenty feet from where they stood. I could hit that in my sleep.
But she humored him, positioning her feet squarely on the ground. She raised the blaster, aimed and fired once. The shot hit the stone dead center where it left a smoking fist-sized hole before the impact sent it rolling down the other side of the dune and out of sight. Kate grinned and let her arm fall to her side. Who said girls can't shoot?
"Hmph, well that was easy."
No kidding.
"Try that one over there."
It was about twice as far away, but she hit it easily.
"That's all well and good, but not very practical. Nobody's going to stand there and let you hit them. Let's try with something that moves."
Kate followed hesitantly as the old man stepped over a sand dune an walked away from the house. He indicated a small Redana, a peaceful furry brown creature with six legs and a long tail, nibbling at a lone plant braving the desert sun.
"Go on, I haven't got all day."
Kate looked at him in disgust. "No."
"What?" He sounded incredulous.
"I'm not going to kill an innocent creature for no other reason than to test my skill with a blaster." You run out there, old man, and I'll show you how well I can shoot. She shook her head. Where did that come from? What an awful thought. She silently rebuked herself.
Dekka chuckled. "An interesting suggestion, and not entirely undeserved, I think."
"Were you reading my thoughts?"
"Maybe. But you performed well."
"What? I didn't do anything."
He watched her carefully. "That was my point. You have a fine respect for life." With that he made his way back into the house.
Curious, but effective enough.
When they returned inside they found the old Jedi sitting on the floor next to the table, legs folded, eyes closed.
Gam giggled and pulled on her sleeve. "He fell asleep."
Dekka cracked one eye, and then wearily stood up, using the table for support. "Not sleeping, meditating. Although you move so slow I should have taken a nap. Could have used one too, these old bones have forgotten how tiring it is to travel. Sit." He gestured at a chair and sank into the one opposite it. Kate sat down slowly.
"Alright, I'm going to give you a scenario. Purely hypothetical, but answer truthfully. Tell me what you would do, not what you think I want to hear. Well, what I want to hear is what you would do, so really…
Gam was right, old people do like to talk.
"So, someone has wronged you. Do you forgive them or try to get back at them in some way?"
"What did they do?"
"Let's say… Your friend pushed you and you fell and broke your nose."
"How did I manage to… Never mind. Well, I would forgive them. They were only joking and they had no way of knowing I would get hurt."
"Good. You are battling an enemy. You have defeated them and they surrender. Do you show mercy?"
"Of course! Why wouldn't I?"
"Alright. Have you ever been in love?"
"Wait, what? What does that have to do-"
Dekka cut her off. "Answer the question."
"I… I don't want to talk about that. Don't… Don't ask me again."
"Fine, do you think you will fall in love again?"
"No. Never again." Her eyes began to tear a little but she blinked fiercely and it subsided. No point in dwelling on the past.
Dekka's face softened a little, but Kate wasn't looking for sympathy.
"Are we done?"
"One last thing. I need to see how you are with melee weapons. Go find two sticks. I don't want anyone getting hurt which is inevitable if we use real blades. Now shoo!"
So with a small sigh Kate walked outside and fetched two three-foot-long sticks from the old woodpile that had been there for years. Why, oh why did he have to remind her of that? She threw the sticks down and picked up a rock. Who did he think he was? She chucked the stone out into the vast desert and screamed in frustration and sorrow. Coming into her house and re-opening old wounds. She took a deep breath and calmed herself, then retrieved the sticks and walked back towards the house just as Dekka appeared in the doorway. She cheered up a little; sparring always lightened her mood. If Kate was good with a blaster, she was marvelous with melee. He won't know what hit him.
"Toss me one." She complied. "Ready?"
She adjusted her grip and took a step forward in response. He swung, she blocked. He jabbed, she dodged. He swung once more and she met the blow and twitched her wrist in a circular motion. The stick flew up into the air and landed next to the house. Kate set the end of her stick on the Jedi's chest.
"Impressed?" She imagined the stunned look on his face meant yes.
"You're a little older than we would have liked, but I'm willing to make an exception. You already have considerable skills, particularly when it comes to melee."
Yeah, I totally owned you.
Dekka frowned. "You need to be taught to control your ego and more importantly, guard your mind. Reading your thoughts is like paging through a book."
Kate's face burned red.
Dekka kept talking. "But you have the right sot of personality."
Confused, she asked, "For what?"
'For a Jedi, of course! You've been accepted into the academy on Talún. If you're ready, we can leave tomorrow morning."
Kate could only stare at him in disbelief. "Why me?"
"You're what we call force sensitive. A pupil of mine was passing through Carun and he told me he met a young lady here who was very strong in the force."
Of course. Kate remembered him. What was his name? Jano? No, that wasn't it. Jannik, yes.
He had approached her while she was wandering around the local market. He seemed nice enough so she made small talk for a few minutes before excusing herself and heading home.
"But I can't leave. My mother and Gam need me here," she protested.
Dekka said, "The academy is willing to provide your family with enough credits to live comfortably, along with a personal assistance droid to make up for your absence."
Kate hesitated and turned towards her mother who smiled and nodded encouragingly.
"Alright. I guess we can leave in the morning then."
Dekka smiled. "At first light."
Samil stroked her daughter's hair and hugged her tight. "Don't worry dear, you'll be fine."
Kate sniffed and said, "I'll visit you the minute I become a Jedi. I promise."
Samil wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and rubbed Kate's shoulder. "Now go get some rest. I love you."
Kate left her mother and went to look for Gam. She found him in his "special place", between a storage container and the wall.
"Gam? Gam, it's Kate. Are you alright?"
A large amount of sniffles and sobs preceded his answer. "No! I'm not okay. You're leaving us just like Dad left Mom. It's because of me, isn't it? I'm the reason he left and now it's my fault again!"
Kate could almost feel her heart breaking. "No, Gam, no that's not why at all. I have to leave. It's the only way you two are going to get by. The academy will take care of you."
There was a small shuffling and Gam crawled out and put his head in her lap.
"I don't want you to go, Kate."
She smoothed his curly hair and said, "I have to, Gam. You'll be fine. Hey, look at me."
He sat up and she put her hand on his small shoulder. It is not your fault Dad left. He left because he's about as smart as a hutt's backside."
Gam giggled and Kate pulled him into a hug and kissed the top of his head.
"I promise I'll visit soon."
"How soon is soon?"
She picked him up and set him down on his bed. "I'll be back before you know it. Then I can tell you all about being a Jedi," she said as she pulled the blanket up to his chin. Gam smiled and closed his eyes.
Kate silently slipped outside and walked. Just walked. She made her way to the highest dune in the desert, faced east and sat down. The sand beneath her was still warm and it offered some comfort. I've never been to another planet before. I've never even flown before. A fresh wave of pain hit her and the tears she had held back all day came pouring out. She lay on her back and looked up at the sky and all the stars and planets. Which one is Tarún? Maybe it's so far away I can't even see it. It could be on the other side of the galaxy. She calmed down a little. She always wanted to travel the galaxy and this was her ticket. The redana she had refused to harm earlier perked up his ears as a soft sound filled the night air. Kate was singing.
"There's a world out there
Full of good and bad
But you're there for me
Through it all.
When I fell, you caught me
When I called you, you came
When I wept I could feel
Your arms around me
And I knew it would be okay."
Kate lay there in the sand with her arms wrapped around her body, staring at the sky.
The rising sun found Kate trudging over the dunes. It had been a long, sleepless night, but she felt better for it. Her mother and Master Dekka were waiting outside. She apologized for being late, received an incoherent grunt from Dekka in reply, then went into the house to retrieve her things. Gam was sleeping peacefully. She kissed his forehead and he rolled over. She slung her bag over her shoulder and walked slowly through the doorway. She picked something up off the ground and handed it to Samil. It was her wooden vibroblade.
"Give this to Gam. Teach him how to defend himself, okay?" She gave her mother one last hug, then turned to Dekka. "I'm ready."