The trip was uncomfortable and confined. He had such little wiggle room between the other boys that he finally stopped trying and just accepted his fate. The sun on this alien planet was already high in the sky, high noon, and he started to sweat which added to his dismay. It didn't help anything that Cavan and Hilab started a conversation with him. Cavan was the much more talkative one, with Hilab being much more of a listener. He kept his answers as short and uninteresting as possible to try and dissuade other conversation, but unfortunately for Ben the other boys did not pick up on his hints. It made for a very long trip.

When the large and looming Jedi temple appeared in the distance it was a welcome relief for Ben, even if it was another fifteen minutes before the vehicle finally stopped at the foot of the temple. He would have jumped out of the vehicle immediately but he was still stuck between Cavan and Hilab. When Cavan finally moved, Ben practically leaped from the vehicle with a tiny groan of joy. It even brought a smile to his face, one that he didn't try to hide.

He stretched his long arms and legs and took in the scenery and the large and imposing stone structure. It must have been abandoned for a considerable amount of time before his uncle saw fit to make the place habitable again. It was old, and impressive, and very much in need of repair. But even as he stared at the stone structure he could see small movement on the surface. He squinted and looked again, it was the movement of robots making small repairs on the building. Still, with the size of the thing it would take years before they were done.

Behind him he heard the sounds of the other boys opening up the back of the transport vehicle. He turned and looked back at them as they started to unload. Luke had gone to join them at the rear of the vehicle. He motioned to Ben and he came to him reluctantly. He had a feeling he knew what his uncle wanted.

"I want you to help Hilab and Cavan bring these to the supply room. I need to attend to some things, but I will see you later tonight." He gave Ben a nod as he turned to walk off. He hadn't waited for Ben to respond, there was no need to as Ben could not refuse his request. He watched his uncle walk off into the temple with a purpose, his robes flowing around him.

Ben turned and bent down to pick up a box. It was heavier than he expected and he tried not to let the other boys realize it was too much for him. However, Hilab noticed he was straining and motioned to a cart that Ben hadn't noticed before. "You can put it on there," he said in a deep baritone voice.

He took the few steps and set down the box on the cart, actually grateful that it was there. If he had to carry all these boxes individually he'd be exhausted before the end of the day. And he didn't want to look weak in front of anyone. Despite the number of boxes, between the three boys it didn't take long for them to load up the cart. However, they all three had to push the cart to get it too move. Hilab himself was much stronger than Ben had guessed. Once they got the momentum of the cart going he pushed it almost on his own. It gave Ben a chance to rest his arm muscles which had turned rubbery after the physical exertion.

Once at the supply building they unloaded everything and arranged the containers according to their contents and use. It was mind numbingly boring, he felt his mind drift away as he stared at each monotonous beige box and sack. Even then they were not done as Cavan started to write down the inventory and keeping stock of the new arrivals. Ben suppressed a groan and kept his face as neutral as possible. It was taking a lot longer than he had first estimated, but neither boy seemed to be in a hurry. He was starving and was determined to resist the urge to ask when they would eat next. Eventually Cavan was done with the minutia of the supply inventory, and Hilab had been leaning against the side of the building staring off into the distance.

Ben turned to look and see what was so fascinating off in the distance. He had to shield his eyes from the setting sun to see clearly. At least the day was ending which put him in a slightly better mood. As he squinted he could make out perhaps a dozen shapes, he quickly surmised who they were and what they were doing in the distance. They had to be the other Padawans from the academy, and they all appeared to be sparing with one another. He could tell that many were human, but there were other species as well. He thought he even spotted a Wookie but he couldn't be sure.

He was staring so intently at the figures that he didn't notice when Cavan came up right beside him. "Have you ever done sparing before Ben?" Cavan asked cheerfully.

Ben had not heard the boy approach and when he spoke next to his ear he actually gave a small jump. He had to resist an urge to punch the other boy in the face. But now was not the place or time for things like that, instead he cast his eyes downward so Cavan could not see the sudden hatred in his eyes.

"I've never trained with a light saber before. But my father taught me to use a blaster when I was younger." He said calmly. Mentioning his father was making him feel strange. No matter how hard he tried to forget him, Han still crept back into his thoughts at the most mundane of moments.

Cavan shrugged and wiped his hands on his shirt, rubbing off the dust from the supply room. "It doesn't matter, no one has ever trained in a light saber before they came here. We are all learning." He smiled at Ben and the glum boy just nodded at the other.

Meanwhile Hilab started to walk towards the other padawans and Cavan turned to trail after him. Ben followed them, but he kept his eyes trained on the others as they kept getting closer. He had never seen anyone use a light saber before, and he would not deny that he was entirely enraptured with watching. They were graceful and fluid in their movements. Even the youngest of them seemed to possess a skill that he wouldn't have believed possible in ones so small.

He could not deny to himself that he was intimidated by all of this. It was a lot to take in, and he was faced now with how incompetent and useless he was. It was not a new feeling to him. But it was one that he was very tired of feeling. Ben shook his head trying to clear his thoughts. Despite what he thought of Jedi or even his uncle, he could learn things here that would help him in the future. He had to keep an open mind so to speak. He would take what he needed and leave the rest behind. Useless things like Jedi ideologies and family ties.

As all three boys walked closer to the padawans a few of them noticed their approach. A few stopped and waved, and the others took notice and stopped in their sparing. There were only a dozen of them but seeing all of their attention turn to him made him self-conscious. The children, despite being young, all busied themselves with putting away their equipment while the few older ones came to greet the trio.

Cavan and Hilab greeted everyone and introduced Ben to the students. All of them looked Ben over like he was some kind of new and exciting specimen. He could tell that they all knew his families past by how wide their eyes went when he was introduced, while the younger ones didn't seem to know that he was different from every other force user that came to train. He could always tell when someone was uncomfortable with his families past; it was in the way they kept their distance and also how they looked him over. It was like being trapped in a zoo. They thought he was dangerous. They were right. The thought gave him the briefest of smiles but he stilled his features as he gave a half-hearted greeting to the academy students.

The introductions were blessedly brief and he didn't even attempt to learn anyone's name while they introduced themselves. Even with a dozen students at the academy he would be able to memorize everyone's name, but he couldn't bring himself to even want to try. Everyone was much more focused on the next thing on their agenda, which was thankfully dinner.

The thought of food was enough to distract himself from the leers of the other teens and children. At least he could fill his stomach and perhaps rest soon after. He followed the others as they made their way to another small building that looked like it had been added on to the main temple. He trailed off after the others, staying off to the side as they all chatted and joked with one another. He lost sight of Hilab and Cavan which he was thankful for. He wanted to be alone with his thoughts for the first time that day.

The small building that they all piled into was indeed a very simple mass hall. There were two long rows of tables and chairs arranged in the center with a makeshift kitchen occupying the entire left side of the building. The right side was covered in widows that gave them a nice view of the temple and surrounding forest. Everything was very open and there was a surprisingly warm feeling to the place, one of happiness and comradery.

The food was served cafeteria style and Ben had to grab a plate and tray along with everyone else. He was purposefully last in line. It gave him time to look at everyone as they piled their plates with food and joined their fellows at one of the tables. He could tell who friends were and who were not; just from them sitting together, and how even now smaller cliques were formed. All of the older students instinctively grouped together at one table while the younger ones took the other table.

Ben took his food and sat down at the table with the older students. Besides his best attempts he would be seated next to Cavan again. There were no other seats and he wasn't about to sit at the younger table were the kids would gawk at him. At least Cavan had already learned everything about him, everything that he cared to tell, on the ride to the temple so he might have a chance to eat in peace.

The idea was sound in theory, but in practice as soon as he sat down everyone near him started to engage him in conversation. He didn't even try to hide his gloomy attitude at this point but still no one took the hint.

"Are you really the son of Han Solo and Leia?" a girl across from him asked in a hushed and excited tone. She looked to be perhaps 12, and she still had a lot of enthusiasm that young girls seemed to possess in spades. She had her hair pulled back in a very tight bun and she had an olive complexion with hazel eyes, her clothes were the simple padawan robes of a Jedi apprentice.

Ben nodded slowly as he brought the fork to his lips. "I am, my name is Ben." He answered quickly as he bit down on the food. If his mouth was full then maybe no one would ask him obvious questions.

Surprisingly Cavan seemed to get the hint finally and turned to the girl. "You can ask him questions after he eats his dinner Thara, he had to travel from another planet and he's probably starving by now."

Thara, as it seemed her name was, looked thoroughly chastised and a little embarrassed. "I'm sorry, we just don't get new people very often here. Especially not ones that have famous parents." She cast her eyes down and her cheeks turned bright red. But he didn't care if she was embarrassed, at least she was not talking anymore.

I have a famous grandfather too, he thought silently to himself. But no one would ask him about that. They would talk about it amongst themselves of course, it was inevitable. But if they were like other children they would never have the guts to ask him anything to his face.

The dinner was over quickly enough. Ben ate slowly and chewed thoroughly. He didn't want anyone to know just how hungry he was. But at least the food was good and he finished at the same time as everyone else. Clean up seemed to be something that was delegated to half the students while the others filed out the door to go about their evening. Ben watched curiously not sure of he was supposed to help or if he was supposed to clean. He would have even asked Cavan, but the boy was already out the door before he could open his mouth.

The girl, Thara, saw him looking confused and her face lit up as she realized what he was thinking. "Only the young students have to clean today, tomorrow the older kids have to do it." She said it cheerfully as if it were some prize that awaited her instead of chores. She even eagerly took his plate and tray for him as she flounced off to the kitchen portion of the mess hall. Ben mentally groaned as he watched the girl wander off, then he turned and followed the last of the students out of the mess hall. He wasn't looking forward to the rest of the evening.