AN: Thanks for the reviews!

"Defenders of the Force, Episode 1: New Blood"

By EsmeAmelia

Chapter 2

"Everyone, stay calm!"

Luke ran onto the stage before the droid finished the warning. "Keep calm, everyone," he repeated. "We need to exit the building in an orderly fashion." He looked up at the balcony. "Han, you still have Owen up there with you, right?"

"Got him right here, kid," called Han.

"Hi Dad!" called Owen, waving down at his father. "Are we really gonna all blow up?"

"NO Owen, we're not," Luke said as Leia came running up behind him.

"Parents, come down here and find your children," she shouted in her calm-yet-forceful voice. "Once you have them, exit through the back doors. We will all meet at the restaurant across from the temple."

Despite Luke telling everyone to stay calm, there was practically a stampede down the stairs of panicked parents looking for their children. "Oh no!" 3PO was wailing from the stage. "This is awful! R2, why did I let you talk me into doing this orientation?"

Since Mae knew exactly where her own parents were, she decided to take the shortcut to them. She climbed over the seats, pushing her way past the other trainees, and ran up to the stage.

"Mae!" Rianna exclaimed, running up to her daughter and gathering her in a hug. "Don't worry, everything's going to be fine." She then looked up towards the audience, scanning the frantic crowd. "Owen? Owen, where are you?"

"I'm right here, Mom!" Owen called as he and Han came running up to the stage. Immediately Rianna opened her embrace to include Owen as well.

"Anakin!" Leia called into the audience.

"I'm coming, Mom!" Anakin shouted as he pushed his way through the crowd.

"Wait, what about the twins?" said Han.

"They'll be fine," said Luke. "All the classrooms are being evacuated. The important thing is to get out as fast as we can."

. . .

As far as Mae could tell, everyone got out safely, though she couldn't say she had been counting heads - that was her parents' job, after all. However, they probably wouldn't have bought her and her brother ice cream if there was anyone left in the building, so she could eat without feeling guilty.

The restaurant was packed with people. Most of the adults were talking among themselves at the counter while most of the children were eating. Mae was seated in a booth with Owen, Anakin, and Tamyra.

"When's the temple gonna blow up?" Owen said with a groan before licking chocolate sauce off the bottom of his spoon.

Mae rolled her eyes. "We don't want the temple to blow up, Owen."

"Well that'd be a rip-off if it didn't. What's the point of a bomb threat if the temple's not even gonna blow up?"

Tamyra laughed. "I like your little brother, Mae. He's hilarious."

Mae groaned. "You'd think differently if you had to live with him."

Tamyra laughed again, making Mae wonder if there was anything in the galaxy she didn't find funny.

"You know, Tamyra," said Anakin, "I'm the youngest brother in my family too."

Despite being unable to see, Tamyra raised an eyebrow in Anakin's direction. "Yes, I know that."

Mae suddenly wished she were sitting with Jaina and Jacen, who were over at another table with some of their classmates. She looked out the window, where she could see that the Jedi temple was still standing. Who would send her father a bomb threat, anyway? She couldn't think of anyone. Maybe the Sith had secretly returned like they did when her grandfather was a boy. It was possible.

"All right everyone," Luke called out, causing all heads to turn and see that he was holding up his comlink. "R2 just informed me that he found the bomb and disabled it, so it's safe to go back in!"

"Thank the maker!" 3PO exclaimed.

"Are you sure?" said a mother.

"Yes," said Luke. "R2's never let me down."

"There's a first time for everything, kid," said Han, leaning against the counter with a beer in his hand. "And if you think my kids are goin' back in there after that . . ."

"I'm sure they'll be fine," interrupted Leia. "We don't want them to miss class and fall behind, after all."

"You mean you're still having class today?" a father exclaimed, and within seconds Luke was surrounded by horrified parents voicing their concerns in rather loud tones.

"Okay, okay!" said Luke. "All classes today will be cancelled."

"What?" Mae exclaimed, awkwardly rising from her seat, the table pushing into her waist. "Dad, aren't the Jedi supposed to be able to face danger?"

"Of course they are, sweetheart," said Luke, "but they also don't go walking into danger when there's no need to."

"R2 found the bomb!" said Mae. "You said we could go back in!"

"Master Skywalker," said Tamyra, "if I may, I don't think there's any danger."

"Well it's better to be safe," said Luke. "The droids will scan the building for another day, and if nothing else is found by tomorrow, then we'll resume orientation and classes."

"But what about those of us who are from other planets?" asked Tamyra. "I'm supposed to be staying at the Jedi temple - where do we sleep tonight?"

Luke sighed. "All right, those of you whose parents dropped you off, you can stay at my place."

"What?" Rianna and Mae exclaimed together.

"I mean, if it's all right with my wife," Luke quickly ammended.

Rianna briskly stirred her tea. "Well, I guess it's all right - so long as everyone goes to bed at a decent time and I don't want any fooling around."

"Yay!" Owen shouted, throwing his arms up and nearly hitting Mae in the jaw. "A sleepover!"

Mae sank back into her seat. This was not how she imagined her first day as a Jedi.

. . .

Most of the trainees from off-planet had come with their parents, and thus they were able to stay at hotels and didn't have to take advantage of Luke's hospitality. There were only nine who had been dropped off like Tamyra, but that still meant the living room was the only room that had space for all of them.

While the children got themselves oriented, Luke and Rianna went to their home office to discuss the matters at hand, but they had barely started talking when the door slid open and Mae peeked in the doorway.

"Mae?" asked Rianna. "What are you doing here?"

Mae shrugged. "Everyone's arguing about which holofilm to watch and 3PO's shouting at them to calm down. I was wondering if I could stay here until the chaos dies down."

"Of course, sweetheart," said Rianna.

Luke immediately got up from his seat and wrapped his arms around his daughter. "I'm sorry things didn't go as planned, honey," he said, his real hand pressing into her back while his artificial hand was careful not to.

Mae looked over her father's shoulder at her mother, who had turned her chair to face them, one arm on her desk, the other in her lap. "Mom, what does your Force philosophy tell you about who planted the bomb?"

Rianna gave a slight grin. "I'm afraid Force philosophy doesn't have the answers to everything, dear."

Mae released herself from her father's embrace. "But wasn't there anything on the security cameras?"

"No," said Luke. "Whoever it was used the air ducts or something."

Mae folded her arms. "Then we need security cameras in the air ducts."

Luke smiled at his daughter. "Maybe we do."

"Do you at least know what the bomb threat said?" Mae asked. "Maybe we can get some clues from there."

"As a matter of fact, I have a printout of it right here," said Luke, going over to his desk and picking up a piece of paper. "You can read it if you want."

Mae took the paper. The message wasn't long, but it was clear with its intent.

Luke Skywalker,

You don't know us, but we know you.

We know how the Jedi are why the galaxy fell apart.

We know that the Jedi only pretend to care about people.

We know how you plan to corrupt young people because they happen to be born with a certain power.

We have planted a bomb in your precious temple. Should you proceed with your planned orientation, it will go off.

Signed,

The Revolutionaries.

"The Revolutionaries?" asked Mae. "Who or what are the Revolutionaries?"

Neither Luke nor Rianna had an answer.