Maldecka's nose itched. It was very hard to focus on the meditation she was supposed to be doing when her nose decided to make itself know.
Maldecka scrunched her face up. As she did, she heard a giggle next to her. Kally, Maldecka's best friend since she arrived here four months ago, was always better at meditating. Connecting with the force just came more naturally to her.
Maldecka cracked one eye open to see Kally had been giggling at Maldecka's attempts to settle her nose.
Master Sellanni stood at the front of the class, "Alright, that's enough. You may come out of your mediation now. I believe most of you are headed to Knight Zarro's class next, yes?"
The gaggle of fifteen initiates jumped to their feet and left the room just shy of sprinting. Maldecka was pleased to see she was toward the front of the group, that meant she would be up front in the next class!
"Kally, we'll be in the front today! Kally?" Glancing around it was easy to see Kally got stuck in the back.
Maldecka slowed until she was beside Kally, "What happened? I thought you were right beside me?"
Kally frowned and shoved Maldecka, "Mally, why didn't you stay up there?! You could have saved me a spot in the front. Now we'll both be in the back."
Maldecka frowned at the little jab of hurt she felt. But there was no time to dwell on it, because they had reached the dojo where Knight Zarro taught them basic katas.
Kally had managed to snag a spot more toward the middle of the group. Maldecka was stuck in the far back corner. Normally this class made her happy. It was Combatives and she was good at it. But the sting of hurt from Kally's actions kept creeping into her mind.
Glancing up Maldecka realized Zarro had been addressing the whole group but had not taken his bright yellow eyes off her. Maldecka grit her teeth and focused on the warm-ups. It wouldn't do to anger the only Cathar in the building.
Maldecka put up with Kally's cold shoulder routine for the rest of the day. Finally, as it was nearing lights out Maldecka cornered Kally.
"I'm sorry okay. What can I do to make it up to you?"
Kally beamed at Maldecka, "I thought you'd never ask. You know that cake they had at dinner? We're going to eat the leftovers."
Maldecka glanced around to be sure they weren't overheard, "Kally, you're not allowed to have cake, remember? You got in trouble and..."
"That's why we're going after lights out." Kally quickly interrupted.
Maldecka frowned knowing her hesitation was plain as the day to someone as strong in the force as Kally.
Kally draped her arm across Maldecka's shoulders, "Come on Mally, we're friends. Would I get you in trouble?"
One dusty crawl through the vents and Maldecka was already regretting agreeing to this.
Kally had stopped at a vent panel. Crawling up to her Maldecka realized they were looking at the kitchen. The empty kitchen.
Kally shoved her palm at the vent panel. It abruptly flew away from the wall and hung in the air as she manipulated the force around it. They both dropped down and started looking around for where the cakes were stored.
Maldecka was poking around the pantry when Kally called her over.
"It's got to be in here." Kally whispered as they stood in front of the walk-in cooler.
Maldecka tried the handle of the big metal door and found she couldn't budge it. Kally motioned Maldecka back and held up one hand.
Slowly the door pulled open as Kally manipulated the force around it.
"Well, go grab some cake Mally!" Kally ordered.
Maldecka crept into the cold refrigerator and spotted the leftovers of the cake high on the shelves. She would need to climb to reach it. Just as she reached the cake the main doors to the kitchen slammed open and a loud, angry voice said, "HEY!"
Startled, Maldecka leaned too far back and the whole shelf tipped over, taking her with it. Pinned down and covered in leftovers Maldecka looked to the open door.
"Help me Kally!"
Kally stood there in shock, framed by the open door. She turned on her heel and took off running, letting the heavy door close behind her.
"Kally? KALLY!" Maldecka shouted louder as the heavy door swung closed.
She couldn't hear anything through the door and the cold was creeping through her clothes. Maldecka tried to lift the shelves off herself but could barely lift it a few inches. She was completely trapped.
The cooler door was suddenly yanked open and Knight Zarro stepped in, filling the space with his presence. As he saw Maldecka, his eyes widened. Maldecka looked down, ashamed.
To her surprise the shelves where quickly lifted off and Zarro had picked her up off the floor.
"Anything broken?" He rumbled.
"No sir." Maldecka replied more out of shock than anything.
"Good, hold on."
With that Zarro sprinted from the kitchen, willing the force to amplify the strength and speed of his body. A confident turn and three powerful leaps later Zarro had them on the roof of the building, the stars spinning above them.
Gently he set Maldecka down and sighed. Maldecka remained still, not really sure what was going on.
Zarro seemed to have made up his mind. He sat on the edge of the roof and patted the spot next to him, "You're still in trouble, but I think you need a moment to collect your thoughts."
Maldecka quietly sat with him and the two of them looked out at the stars spanning from horizon to horizon around them.
"She left me behind."
"That she did Maldecka."
"She said good friends don't get each other in trouble."
"Ah, I know for a fact she's wrong. Why me and Orgus used to always get in trouble on late night snacks raids."
Maldecka giggled at the image, "I can't picture you ever in trouble, Knight Zarro."
"Oh, I wasn't always the upright model Jedi I am now." He said with a grin.
Maldecka felt her brief smile fall, "I'm going to have to explain what happened, and who was involved, aren't I."
Zarro peered at a constellation above them, "Under the circumstances, your accomplice will not benefit from protection. Punishment is not done for the health of those enforcing it."
Maldecka wrapped her arms around her knees, "Knight Zarro? Thanks for helping me back there."
Zarro grinned, "That's what Jedi do, Kid."