Beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep.

I woke up from my nightmare in a cold sweat. Every day, I have the same fevered dream. Was it a story of my past, or was it just a reoccurring nightmare? And, if either of them exists, who was the young man and who was the older one? Moreover, throughout the whole dream, why could I only hear, but not see? This dream opened so many questions, and I only wish I just knew what it meant!

Groggily, I pushed myself up and hit the low ceiling of my room. "Blast it!" I yelled, but not loud enough for anyone outside my walls to hear. I rubbed the now swelling bump on my head.

Beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep.

I climbed down my ladder from my bunk and slapped the off button on my alarm clock. There was no need to press snooze, the Council had disabled all snooze buttons on all youngling alarm clocks. Besides, I was already out of bed.

I stretched and looked at the time on my oh-so annoying alarm clock. It read that it was 4:30 in the morning. I clicked another button on the clock and a hologram of my day's schedule popped up. I had a few classes today and another duel between students in front of a Jedi to pick their apprentice. Then to my dread, the calendar read "Only 17 more days until your 13th birthday!"

"Blast IT!" I yelled louder than last time, slamming my fists on the table.

Hi. In case you do not know me, my name is Kay-Lin Ryder, but my close friends call me Kay. I'm human and I have long, blonde, slightly-curly hair and hazel eyes and I am a little taller than average for my age and species. I am 12 years and 348 days old, in case you have not already done the math.

I live in the Jedi Temple in the capital planet of Coruscant. Sadly, I'll probably have to leave my home soon. You see, I'm a youngling and I'm almost thirteen, without a master. This is definatly not good news. If a youngling is not chosen by any Jedi Knight (or higher ranking Jedi, for that matter) to be their padawan by their 13th birthday, the youngling is placed into another, lesser role in the Jedi Service Corps. Depending on where the student's talents lay, this could be in the Agricultural Corps, the Medical Corps, or the Exploration Corps. I will probably face a future in the Exploration Corps. Not a fun job, trust me. Right now, my main goal is to impress a master enough so I can officially become a padawan.

My door burst open. My best friend, who happens to live in the apartment next to mine, was standing in the doorway. "Kay, are you alright? I heard a voice, and…"

"I'm fine Obi-Wan," I said with a smile.

"Are you sure? Maybe you should do more calming meditations…"

"I'm fine, thanks," that was Obi-Wan, always trying to help.

"Well, if you're sure you okay…I'll just…go then…" Obi-Wan slowly started to close my door.

"See you at the Fountains, Obi-Wan," I called after him. He opened up the door a crack, waved, and shut it.

Obi-Wan is my best friend at the temple. He is extremely shy and he just had his 11th birthday last week. Both of us are desperately looking for a master, he is just lucky he has more time. I cannot believe a master has not taken him yet. He is really nice, smart, sweet, and caring… except around Bruck Chun. As long as anyone could remember, Bruck and Obi-Wan had been bitter rivals.

I could see why a master wouldn't want me as an apprentice. I'm everything a master wouldn't want. I'm hyper and a class clown. I have a rough time taking things seriously, which is not a virtue with the Jedi. As you can probably gather, meditating is hard for me. I'm also strong-willed, stubborn, and I like to be in charge. I'm the clumsiest kid in the galaxy and I trip over my own feat constantly. My head just hasn't caught up with my growing legs and arms, not to mention my gigantic hands and feet.

I do have my postives, though. I'm as loyal as a dog and I'm fairly strong, both physically and in the force. I'm also pretty good with a lightsber. I know it's not exacty the thing to flaunt about in front of Master Yoda, but I'm a fair fighter. I'm also pretty athletic. One of my proudest accomplishments was actually beating one of the masters at the flying similator. Needless to say, I'm an pretty good pilot, if I do say so myself. Obi-Wan and I are exact opposites, but we balance eachother out.

I did a few stretches to wake up my body. I did a couple breathing exercises and I was pretty much ready. I decided today that my usual rotine of a few morning meditations could wait. I threw on a fresh tunic and clipped my training lightsaber to my belt (it doesn't hurt to carry it). I was ready for a brand new day. Hopefully, I may impress a master yet.

I checked my alarm clock. 5:02 am. Obi-Wan's going to kill me.

As I was throwing on my boots, I ran through hallways and flew down stairs. I meet Obi-Wan everyday in the Room of a Thousand Fountains promptly at 5:00am. Obi-Wan hates it whenever I'm late.

I sprinted through the bottom floor of the Jedi Temple. The Room of a Thousand Fountains is an enormous greenhouse full of many plant species, and full of fountains that join together to form pools, streams, and brooks that flow through the room. It's the most beautiful place in the entire temple, maybe even the entire galaxy.

I opened the doors and stepped into the room. Even though I've lived in the temple for about 12 years now, it's still took my breath away everytime I entered it's double-doored enterance.

I hated using the pathways in the Room of a Thousand Fountains. I just found it more peaceful to make my own cource through the trees and shrubs. I stepped off the pebbley path and onto the springy fresh grass. The fresh dew on the green blades sprinkled water onto my boots. I figured I knew were Obi-Wan was; in his usually meditation place on a small, flat stone just large enough for the two of us to sit on by a bubbling stream.

I reached the stone. Obi-Wan wasn't there. I immediately knew something was up. Was Obi-Wan playing a trick on me for being late, or did something actually happen? In either case, I started my search for him in silence.

It didn't take long for me to find him. I was climbing to the top of a cliff that became a huge, roaring waterfall when I found Obi-Wan. I was releived that I found him, but nevertheless, I felt my stomach go to my throat. Even though I love piloting, I hate heights! He was crouching in some plants on the rocky edge of the cliff. Obi-Wan was so deep in the trees and torny shrubs that the only part I could see clearly of him was his left boot. "Hey, Obi-Wan, what are you doing in there?" I said, trying not to throw up.

Obi-Wan didn't even acknowledge that I was there. In fact he didn't even move.

I was immediately conncerned. "Look, I know I'm late, but that doesn't mean you have to ignore me…" I was just about to say "so let's head down before I throw up all over you," but suddenly, Obi-Wan whirled around and looked at me. I could tell he wasn't mad, he just put a finger to his lips, and motioned for me to join him.

I dropped to my stomach and crawled my way through the brittle leaves and sharp branches next to Obi-Wan. Only then did I become aware of the quite voices. A twig snapped under the weight of my boot and Obi-Wan winced. Obviously, whoever was talking didn't hear it because they kept right on talking.

I layed down next to Obi-Wan and peered over the ridge. There, I saw an old, small, wrinkled alien talking to a tall, muscular male humanoid.

"Who's that?" I whispered to Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan looked at me like I had a disease. "That's Master Yoda…"

"Not Yoda, you nerf herder! The other guy!"

"You don't know who HE is?"

"No!"

"That's Ral-Lor. Real nice, funny guy. I guess he just came back from the Klatooine mission. I hear he's one of the youngest Jedi yet. The Klatoonie mission was only his third without a master. He's a real role model," whispered Obi-Wan. Sometimes, that kid was just like an encyclopedia.

"How do you know all this?"

" 'Cause, unlike you, I listen. Now, SHUT UP!" he whispered in a slightly angry tone.

We focused our attention on the people bellow us.

"So, you wanted to see me, Master?" said Ral-Lor.

"Yes, Ral-Lor. Still getting used to missions on your own, you are, but hoping you would do me a favor, I was."

"What can I do for you, Master Yoda?"

"Take on a apprentice, I wish you will."

"What? This early?" Even from high up, I could see the shock on the young Jedi's face.

"Ral-Lor, ready you are. Strong you are in the force. And, for many younglings, last hope, you are. No more aprenticeless Jedi are schedualed to arive back at the temple for the next two weeks, I fear."

They stood in silence in the shadow of the big oak tree for a minute. Ral-Lor thoughtfully put his hand behind his head and scratched. Finally, he said, "Sure. I'll take on an apprentice, Master Yoda."

"Alright. Scedualed a training duel for today, I have already done."

"How did you know I was going to say yes?"

Master Yoda chuckled and walked away. Ral-Lor was left standing there, alone, in utter shock.

I turned to Obi-Wan and both our eyes widened. "TWO WEEKS?!" we whispered in unison.

Obi-Wan suddenly became worried. "Kay, this may be your last chance to get a master…"

Obi-Wan, forever the selfless little kid. "Obi-Wan, you have your own master troubles to deal with, don't worry about mine." Suddenly, another crazy scheme shot into my mind. "Obi-Wan, I just had an epiphany." Obi-Wan slapped his forehead. Eveyone knew what it was like when I got my epiphanies. "Here's our chance to impress him!"

Obi-Wan sighed. "What exactly do you have in mind?"

I winked. "You'll see. Come on!"

I ran down the cliff, Obi-Wan at my heels. I was depending on Ral-Lor to only leisurely walk back to the enterance of the Room of a Thousand Fountains. I reached the bottom of the cliff and signaled Obi-Wan to keep following, silently.

We finally reached one of the most popular meditating places. It is impossible for anyone on the path not to see who was meditating in the clearing.

"And now, we meditate," I said, folding my legs into a meditating position.

"You know, I could see anyone in the temple saying that, except you," said Obi-Wan jokingly. I gave him a glare, and he looked confuzed. "What? You weren't joking?" he asked, even more puzzled. Finally, I saw something click inside Obi-Wan's eyes, and he sat down next to me, and didn't ask another question.

We sat meditating for the next two minutes or so. There was no question now that Obi-Wan had figured out my scheme. Finally, our waiting paid off. I reached out into the force and saw Ral-Lor came down the path.

With the help of the force, I folowed Ral-Lor's every footstep. He came trodding down the path untill he was right next to us. He stoped and turned his head to face Obi-Wan and I. He paused for a few seconds, and then did something very unexpected. Ral-Lor turned around and headed towards us.

He sat right down next to me on the fresh grass and was immediately in deep meditation. Both Obi-Wan and I stayed completely still, both of us not daring to show any signs that we senced Ral-Lor.

We sat there for what seemed like hours. I figure that it was probably only ten minutes, but it seemed like ten years. Finally, Ral-Lor took a deep breath and said,"You two can stop pretending now, you know. I'm not a moron, I can tell when you're faking it," he said, opening his eyes and turning to Obi-Wan and I.

We atempted to stay in silent meditation, but we knew our cover was definatly blown.

Ral-Lor sighed. "You guys heard everything, didn't you?"

Both Obi-Wan and I opened our eyes, which were widened immediately as we turned towards each other, and then back to Ral-Lor.

Ral-Lor laughed as he stood up. He walked closer to us. "Well, good luck today, guys. You two definatly have the makings for some great Jedi," he said as he messed up my hair with his right hand. I smiled up at him and he smiled back at me with his playful brown eyes. Then he just… walked off.

"Whoa," said Obi-Wan in shock. "I think he actually thinks we're…somewhat cool! That's a first!"

"I couldn't see Mace doing THAT! And, what, they're the same age?" I said, jokingly, but with a little bit of grudge in my voice. Honestly, I hated Mace Windu! He was a selfish pig who just kissed up left and right to get the best everything. Everyone thinks he's close to becoming a master with all his brown-nosing.

"Maybe you still have a good chance of getting a master, Kay," said Obi-Wan, hopefully.

I stared off to were Ral-Lor walked out of the Room of a Thousand Fountains. "Yeah, maybe I do."