DISCLAIMER: I do not own Star Wars! All rights to George Lucas; with the exception of a few characters I created.
"I, uh, I was just, um…" I hung my head and let my voice trail off.
"What were you doing?" He asked firmly. He put his hands on his hips; an indignant look on his face. "You were looking for trouble, weren't you?"
I was surprised that he had created an excuse for me. "Well, you know. I was so bored. I had to find something to do." I lied.
A slow smile spread across his face. He put his hand on my shoulder. "You're just like me. Can't rest until they're all scrap metal." He gazed off into the risen sun.
"Yeah. Just like you." I said, not at all in the conversation. I have to find Daylomb. I have to apologize. I was thinking.
"Padawan?" Master Skywalker interrupted my thoughts. I looked up into his face.
"Huh? I mean, uh, yes?"
"You weren't listening, were you?" He asked, a skeptical look on his face.
"Sorry." I said apologetically. "I've just had a lot of things on my mind lately."
"I can tell." He turned, looking back in the direction of our campsite. "We'd better go 'pack up.' I almost forgot, but, I guess you didn't catch that Daylomb character."
"No, I didn't. But I can keep looking while you, uh, 'pack up.'"
"Suit yourself. But," I started off in the direction Daylomb had gone, "hey," he called me back to attention. "Be careful. I'll contact you in twenty standard minutes."
"Yes, Master. I'll be back." I took off running. I went a little more southward; I didn't want to lead him to my brother. When I was a considerable distance away, I twisted around and checked to make sure Master was out of sight. "Yes." I was hoping Master wouldn't watch me until I was out of sight. That would throw me way off course. I made a sharp eastward turn and jogged the whole way until I found a pair of footprints.
"These can't be mine." I measured my boot length against the footprints'. "Yeah. Definitely Daylomb's. He always did have big feet." I ran, following the tracks for at least ten standard minutes. I'm running out of time, I only have ten more minutes. I ran for a few more minutes, then stopped and looked around. "How the heck did he get so far away?" Then I noticed a small object moving slowly on the horizon. Daylomb! "Daylomb! Wait!"
The object turned and two small eyes glared at me. He took a few steps closer, then stopped again. I finally caught up to him. He looked so calm, so uncaring. He waited for me to speak first.
"Daylomb," I tried to catch my breath, "Daylomb, listen, I wasn't going to let him find you. I just had to—"
"Save him." He finished, not at all out of breath.
He must not have been running like I was. "Exactly. I couldn't just let him die…"
"And did you?"
"Huh? Did I what?"
"Save him?"
"Oh, uh, well, not exactly…"
"So he died."
Daylomb always tried to finish my sentences for me. In all the years I've known him, he'd never broken that habit. I hated it.
"No." I said, getting annoyed with his finishing for me. "He didn't. He saved himself." I was prepared for his classic eye-roll and lecture, but it never came.
"Timmy—Kiambo—if you wanna live like a Jedi, then you have to have a Jedi family."
I looked at him for a minute, trying to puzzle out his words. He turned and started walking away. "Wait." I said. I trotted forward a few steps to catch up. He didn't stop walking when I did. "Daylomb…" I protested. He kept walking, getting farther and farther away. "Big Bro?" He kept walking until he was out of sight. "It wasn't my choice!" I screamed into the setting sun. "I could either lose you, or him!" I kept protesting for another five standard minutes. I knew he couldn't hear me, but I kept shouting anyway until I could no longer see him, then I sank down onto my knees. "What have I done?" I whispered to myself. I sat there for as long as I dared, thinking about the last few days, the brother I would probably never see again, and the Master I had tried to save. He's gone forever. I know it. I'll never see him again. And all for what? Nothing.
I stood up, still thinking those same thoughts as I headed back toward our camp. By the time I made it back, Master had everything loaded onto a ship and ready to go. He must have called for a ship.
"Didn't catch him?" He asked as he helped me up onto the ship.
"No, but I was close."
I glanced at the eleven Masters surrounding me. "No, Master Windu. I was unsuccessful in capturing Daylomb."
"Hmm." Master Kenobi said. "We will have to make more of an effort next time, Padawan."
"Yes, Master." I said, hanging my head. I felt completely defeated. "What happened to Ricochet?" I asked quietly.
"He was killed in an express-way explosion. He was given a proper burial." Mace Windu replied.
"And Sparks?" I asked. I was concerned about him. He was my oldest friend and member of my squad.
"He's been released from custody. Commander Python was questioned, and found innocent, also."
"He was found innocent?" I felt a glimmer of hope course through me.
"Innocent, he was." Yoda answered my question. I felt relieved.
"You may return to your quarters now, Padawan Da." Master Adi Gallia told me.
"Thank you…Masters." I gave them a slight bow and headed back to my quarters. I reached my quarters and flopped on my bed, exactly where Daylomb had lain only a few days ago. Then I stood up and gazed out the window.
Air speeders whizzed by the window, stopping at different shops and homes. I watched a pair of droids cleaning spray paint off of a tall, permacrete building.
Daylomb's words rang in my mind. Jedi family. Jedi family. Jedi family. The two droids flew off. But, Daylomb, what if my family aren't Jedi?
END
Thank you for reading this story! Well, if anybody did. I appreciate the reviews I have gotten and am grateful for your support! I will be publishing some other books in this series that I have written soon. I should have the first one shortly, but I am revising it and stuff. Thank you!
Mrs. King Aragorn
