I heard a scream after the explosion. A woman came rushing into the room were I sat on the floor, and swept me up in her arms. My mother. I could feel the fresh, hot blood dripping from her head. When I looked up at her, she smiled at me as we ran into a bedroom.
"No worries, my baby, you'll be safe." She sat me down in the closet and began putting clothing over my." I swear I won't let them take you." She stooped and looked at me again and smiled. Her eyes watered as she bent down and hugged me. Her heart raced against my chest. "I love you Rish." She whispered.
The explosions came closer as my mother slammed the closet door. "Never forget." I heard through the door.
In the darkness I heard everything. My mother pleading with the intruder. Another short of explosion and the cry of my mother as she was killed. I heard her body hit the ground. I heard the hydraulics of the door activate. I lay as still as possible. When I peeked through a gap in the cloths, there was nothing but green light.
"Mommy!" My first words. My last words.
"Rish!" I felt a sudden jolt and everything went dark again. There was pressure on my wrists and ankles and soon I realized, "It was just a dream."
"That must've been on hell of a dream, the way you were kicking and shouting." Although it was pitch black in the room I knew exactly whom I was talking to.
"James, get off!" I leaned to one side so that James fell on the floor.
"I was just worried. This could have been you on the floor rubbing your ass and ribs."
I sat up from my bed and wipe the cold sweat from my forehead. My body was still trembling. "Still, you don't need to climb all over me. Are you gay or something?"
James didn't answer. He just cleared his throat and mumbled something.
"That's not funny man." I said smiling. He laughed in the darkness. "Seriously though, are you ok?"
"I'm fine." I waved my hand at the light sensor. The force pushed the button, and slowly, the room was lit with blue light.
"You look horrible." James said from the floor.
"Really?" I through off my sheets and went into the bathroom. James followed me. "Why are you following me into the bathroom?"
"No reason."
I looked at the mirror. Aside from the tangled, matted dreads on my head, I didn't look too bad. My usually milk chocolate skin was three shades lighter and I could see the veins in my hands and arms. My eyes were droopy and blood shot.
"I look like a sith." I said.
"No, they look more like this." He pulled the skin around his right eye and moth down. He looked more like a swamp creature more then a Sith, but I laughed anyway. I turned to leave the bathroom, but James stood in the door.
"Move." I said. He looked at me and smiled. "Move." I insisted again. I tried to go around him but he followed me. " James, it's way to early to start messing with me."
"Who's messing?" he reached around and hugged me.
"… Whoa…well um, good night James." I hugged him back and he let go.
"What was that for?" he asked me.
"You hugged me so---"
"I did not!"
"James, go to bed." He finally moved out of the way and went to his bed. I went over to the light sensor and turned off the lights. When I leaned back in bed I buried my face in my pillow. "Never forget." The words rang in my ears. It'll be dawn soon. I thought to myself….
Never forget. The words were still on my mind when I was out jogging. Apparently my aura matched my clouded mind.
"Rish, is something bothering you?" A man jogged from behind me. "I sense a ripple in your thoughts."
"No Master Arn. I gave him a fake smile. Just a bad dream." He smiled back at me. He was a short man compared to his peers. His skin was a healthy peach color. His hair was long enough to fly in his face. Most of it was tied back, but he let down two locks in front. I guess that was his style.
"How about a good meditation session after your workout?"
"That'd be nice. Can James come?"
Arn looked straight ahead as the smile on his face straightened.
"If Master Ters says it's alright." He coughed a bit. "He'll probably want to come himself…. Rish, I have some things to attend to. I will meet you at the south docking bay after your workout."
"Yes Master. Have fun." He chuckled and turned his head to me.
"I doubt I will." He muttered as he ran faster. Soon he became a blur of tan against the Forrest green.
I continued at my pace, watching the trees go past. Yavin 4 was a beautiful place, if you like green. The entire moon was a forest, from one horizon to the other, except for the temples and natural brakes in the forest.
The sun was up over the trees now, the mist of the morning drifting away. I leaned against the temple wall to rest. As I was about to stretch for my exercises there was a ripple in the force around me.
"Where is Master Arn?" a voice said from the door way around the corner. I looked around and my face collided with a flat belly. After gathering my self I bowed to the Jedi standing before me. " I'm sorry Master Ters."
"Oh, it's quite alright Rish." He smiled down at me. We stoop there for a moment. "So, where is your Teacher?" he asked firmly.
"Master Arn? He had some business to handle before our meditation session."
"He did, did he…? Strange. He told me to meet him and you here to go to the meditation camber." He paused. "Well, since the both of us are here, shall we go?"
It was an invitation more than a question. He folded he arms and turned back into the doorway. I followed after him.
I admired Alexander Ters more then my own master, for some reason. He had a more noble sense about him that Master Arn lacked. I felt a little guilty.
"Master Arn leaves you alone too often, you are still an apprentice."
"He believes he can trust me. Besides, James isn't always at your side."
"I know exactly were James is though. Master Arn does not set you an agenda."
As I was about to protest, I got another chill in the force. This one stronger then the last. I slowed my pace, trying to pinpoint the disturbance.
"What is it?" Ters turned his head, still going forward. He obviously did not feel it, I thought.
"Nothing." We reached the meditation room. Master Ters took off his outer robe and hung it up. The room was empty for the most part. Only Jedi fresh out of apprenticeship, and Jedi Masters were eager enough to be late to breakfast. James also was in the room. He was the only person I recognized.
I sat on a soft mat between James and Master Ters. The door swung open and two twe'laks came in. they were twins, that just graduate to the title of Jedi. The slightly taller one was Fre-gu and his brother was Erd-ki. Both of them were a deep red, with their lekktus raped around their necks. When Erd-ki saw me he smiled and waved. I waved back. I crossed me legs on the chair and closed my eyes. I let my mind clear of everything as the Force took its place. Soon clouds came into my mind. They drifted around, slowly, lazily. I beckoned them to move aside and they did, revealing a great blue orb, floating above a large white temple. The light from the orb was inviting. I floated up the white temple to reach the orb, and then I opened my eyes again.
"Are you hungry?" Master Arn was standing at the door.
"YES!" James jumped up from his chair.
"You're always hungry." I said
"Your point?" James smirked at me. He looked over to Master Ters, who was in a corner chair.
"I'll be there." He said.
As we left the room I walked next to James. The hall was as empty as the meditation chamber, mostly because everyone was at breakfast. The sun was high now; shining in the torch lit hall, lighting the areas the torches could not reach. Large windows were carved out of the ancient walls. Like all the floors on the first level, it was dusty. Probably to help us be less accustom to the golden lifestyle everyone in the galaxy thinks Jedi have.
"Rish, I don't like you always being under Master Ters all the time." Master Arn said. "Every time I leave you, you're going to him." I looked at James and he shrugged.
"What do you mean?" I asked
"I mean that you need to learn to be independent."
"Oh, his plenty 'independent' Master Arn. You should see him during cla-"I gave him a stiff jab to the side. "That was uncalled for." James said as he rubbed his side.
"Shut up." I hissed.
"What happens during class James?" Master Arn turned his head and smiled.
"Nothing worth telling." He replied. I glowered in his direction.
"Well anyway," Master Arn stopped at the mess hall door and faced us. "Rish needs to have the Force as his alley, and not other people. The Force is the only thing you can depend on in times of true trouble."
"Having a good friend at your side is also something to depend on." I retorted
"Yes, but a friend can only go so far. There are many places only you can go." He opened the door and began to walk in.
"But Master-" I felt a swell of heat on my neck from frustration.
"No, 'But Master's' today Rish. I am hungry. Come, let's eat." He disappeared behind the door.
Deep space aboard the cruiser Misera VI
The footsteps of the General could be heard from the lift down the hall, even with my door closed. I didn't react. Hopefully he will knock this time. No such luck. The door to my personal Meditation chamber.
"My Lord we are currently setting our …. "I chuckled to myself.
"I told you to knock before coming in, General Hasca" I looked over my shoulder toward him. Although my eyes were closed, I saw him move uncomfortably.
The General cleared his throat. "My Lord, must you really meditate … in such a way?"
I rose from my knees, letting my long white hair drop to the bottom of my bare back. Stretching out my arms, I summoned the dark side of the force to direct the shadows of the room to cloth me. The dark corners and the shadow cast by the dim light shifted and bellowed toward me. Soon I was surrounded in the darkness and it formed into my clothing.
I dug into my pocket and pulled out my tattered blindfold. "I think it's time for a new one." I mused to myself. The General cleared his throat again. I tight the cloth over my eyes and looked at him. "Ah, yes General, As you were saying?" I strode over to him and patted him on the back, escorting him out of the room
"Well My Lord," He began, (his buoyancy reestablished) "our course is set for the Yavin system." We reached the lift and were moving up, toward the bridge.
"Good, good." And that ended the conversation. An awkward silence (for the General) accompanied the gentle hum of the lift. I smiled contently as the lift slowed and finally stopped. We stepped out and strode down the hall, toward the command center. Before we went in, General Hasca stopped me.
"My Lord, I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but the others… think you're a bit strange."
"Oh?" I cocked my head and smiled. "How so?"
"Well … I'll just say that you're not like the other Sith Lord. You're kindness throws them off. They don't know if it's genuine or a pitfall. They're used to the cruelty of-"
"Well General that is exactly why we all are here, isn't it?"
Hasca's visage contorted in confusion. "I don't understand."
Don't dwell on it General, because it's neither here nor there. Lets focus on the task at hand, shall we?"
"Of course my Lord." We stepped into the Command center.
"Darth Severe, Dark Lord of the Sith on the Bridge!" the General called out. I rubbed my ears as everyone rose to the feet.
"As you were." I waved them down.
"Make the jump General." I whispered.
"Make the jump to hyperspace!" He shouted. I rubbed my ears again. Must you yell?