Chapter 4
We were fed twice a day- once in the morning, and again in the late afternoon. The meals weren't horrible, but there wasn't a lot. The other girls didn't eat much anyway, so they usually gave me a little bit more. I felt bad about this, but Amii told me not to worry about it.
Every chance they got, they would teach me more Basic and about the Force. Every day, I learned. And to keep our fitness up, Kariia flipped the beds up on their ends and we would do pull ups.
"I got it from a holo-vid I once saw," she said. "It was a stupid movie, but I'd watch it again for the action,"
So, every day was a routine. We'd get up, have our breakfast, and then they'd teach me. Lunch, then back to training. Then we would go to sleep, dreaming of freedom.
And so it was, for several days...
Finally, we felt something in the Force. Some one was coming. We all stood up when the door opened. A young man with a small beard was there, lightsaber in hand, gesturing with the other.
"Come on! We're busting all of you out!" he said. He then ran to the next room and opened the door, releasing the next group of padawans.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" I asked. "Let's go!"
We all scrambled out the door and joined the mob of freed padawans. I found myself jostled to the front with our rescuer.
"So, who are you?" I asked as we simultaneously opened doors.
"Aslan Harcon," he replied, sprinting down the hallway. "And based on Master Ade-Ja's description, I'm going to guess you're Ginger Rixla,"
"Right you are," I said, opening another door. When I got a glimpse inside, my heart swelled with happiness.
"Tibler!" I said, running in and giving him a hug. "Let's get out of here!"
"No kidding!" he said, laughing a little bit. We ran out together, out into the beautiful sunlight.
I heard a new sound- and it wasn't a pleasant one, either. I turned to see some droids with those 'blasters', as Tibler called them. Colored light beams were coming out, like mini lightsabers. I ducked involuntarily as one came towards me. I started running again, into the large speeder that Aslan was already starting up. I looked around at the other Padawans, already on board. Most were quite a bit younger than I was, and some were crying. The older apprentices were starting to get onboard, some immediately went to the younger students and tried to comfort them. I went to the nearest, a human girl with subdued red hair. When I sat next to her, she looked up briefly, then hugged me and cried into my shoulder.
I was not expecting that kind of reaction, and I didn't know how to respond. So, for pretty much the entire ride, we sat like that; the younger girl crying while I sat there. As we got closer to the Temple though, she settled down and was able to look me in the eyes.
"T-thank you..." she said. Her voice was young and innocent, and her big blue eyes looked truly grateful.
"You are welcome," was all I could say.
"What's your name?" she asked shyly.
Starting to get a little bit tired of the introductions, I told her my name, and she told me hers: Marley Shilite. "I like your voice," she said. "It doesn't sound boring like every one else's. It's kind of special,"
I didn't know how to respond to that, so I just smiled and looked out the window. Marley followed my gaze and pointed excitedly.
"The Temple! The Temple! That's the Temple!" she said. It was true- the Jedi Temple was out there, and we were approaching quickly.
"Strap in, kids," Aslan called out from the front. "It might be a rough landing!"
We all immediately heeded his words and 'strapped in', as he called it. The over-seized speeder bounced once, and then skidded to a halt. Every living being breathed out as one, then cheered Aslan on his amazing skill. He stood up, looking a little pale, then directed every one to exit the speeder bus from the front to the back. The entire speeder was emptied in a matter of seconds.
Several older-looking Jedi were watching Aslan with utter contempt. I wondered why- he had just saved all of us, hadn't he?
One of the oldest looking masters spoke first- "Aslan Harcon, met me in my office immediately,"
"Then with the rest of the council when you are done," said another. Aslan just about deflated with an emotion I couldn't define. As the older Jedi walked away, I approached Aslan Harcon. I kneeled next to him and asked him what was the matter. He looked at me and replied.
"The council specifically told me not to go. They said wait until they devised a plan. I couldn't wait though," he said. He looked at me with forlorn eyes. "My younger cousin was captured, and she's all I have left of a family. I had to rescue her, along with every other Padawan there."
We both stood up, and we entered the Temple. Aslan Harcon was silent. He looked as pale as- if not paler- than Amii. I decided that it would be best if I didn't try and give him any false comfort.
Aslan made a sudden sharp turn to the right, and I followed him down a narrow corridor. It occurred to me that I had no idea where I was supposed to be going, but I held my tongue. Aslan turned to me and said, "Stay here until I get back,"
He hurried down the hall, made another right turn, and was gone. I sat down with my back against the wall. It occurred to me that I was rather hungry and shaking a little bit. I willed myself to put aside my anxiety and try to calm down. Why did I even need to be anxious? Nothing was the matter.
Time escaped me at that point. I have no idea how long I was sitting in that position before Aslan Harcon came back. He looked even worse than before.
"How are you?" I asked. I didn't know the words for 'are you ok?', but Aslan didn't seem to notice. He turned and didn't even try a fake smile.
"Grand Master Barbaros Klaegei would like to see you now," was all he said. Then he walked away. I called out after him- I didn't know where this guy was! Unfortunately, Aslan continued walking- or really, shuffling his feet. It was as if he was trying to go as slowly as possible. Then again, he probably was.
I sighed to myself and went in the direction Aslan had come from. I assumed that the Jedi Aslan had mentioned was the one he had just talked to. I turned at the same place, and luckily for me, there was only one door at the end of the hall. I took a deep breath, then quietly knocked on the door.
