Intro - Future
I remember thinking so little of her the first time I ever saw her. My uncle had met with her days before, in a downtrodden Rebel base. He had said close to nothing after the meeting, only that he had found a talented pilot. This information made a jab at my uncertainties, as I was expected to be the best pilot. At least, I expected as much. She was three years my senior and had served as a Resistance pilot for over a year and a half. She was our final recruit.
All I could see was how scrawny and unkempt she looked. Though she was a bit over eighteen, her eyes looked much older, while the rest of her face much younger. She had the expression of someone who had seen the worst but was ready to face whatever was coming. I remember often being envious of her security, despite her evident lack of talent. I could feel no particular pull from the Force towards her, and I knew that she wasn't oblivious to the fact.
Still, outside of any logic or reason, Luke had invited her to join the Order, and in a similar manner, she had accepted. How thin she was. I remember Samer mindlessly offering her some rations he had saved during the trip. She accepted them gratefully and ate quietly. Despite his chattery nature, Samer seemed to feel and know that she was not open for conversation. So we carried on in silence, accepting the fact that our lives, however different, were now forever intertwined.
We finally arrived at the Jedi Temple, and everyone seemed eager to unboard. Biding my time, I unstrapped my safety gear, gathered my things and turned to leave. She was standing in the middle of the way, waiting for me. Again, I didn't make much of her.
"I'm Charlie." she said. While I had thought I would find defiance in her voice, all she projected was openness and warmth. It was welcoming.
"I'm Ben." I said, suddenly seeing her in a completely different light.
"I know." she answered, with a confident grin. "Your uncle talks about you a lot. He says you're in a growing sprout. By the gods, if you keep growing, child..." Charlie was open and fresh. She spoke as if the were three hundred years old, and that was close to the age mirrored in her eyes. "I'm happy to finally put a face to a name, Ben." She extended her right hand towards me.
I stood frozen on the spot and eyed her carefully. There was something different about this girl… Unlike every other rational being I had come across, she said and expressed exactly as she felt. There was no wavering, no hesitation. The cadence of her voice moved to the rhythm of her heart. And as I regarded this small, thin girl with a smile that said she had nothing to lose, something changed in me. It was a feeling I thought I would never feel again, not after Ella. But here, out of nowhere, stood this young woman in whom I knew I could trust.
Nothing would ever be the same.
After what seemed like forever, I took her hand and shook it tightly. She had a very nice grip. "I look forward to getting to know you better." I said, trying to let my words mirror my emotions, as she did.
She smiled, and her auburn eyebrows furrowed. "I should run ahead and introduce myself to the others as well." she said, emotion overflowing in her words.
"Yeah." I answered as I turned to fidget with my belongings, buying some time. I felt Charlie eye me for an instant, paying notice to the long deep lines that ran under my eyes. She hadn't seen that much pain in forever, and it moved her profoundly. But she didn't pity me. Not at all.
As she exited, I felt deeply shaken. Though I had grown to get along with the other padawans, I had never felt a connection as strong as this. Everything about her was welcoming: Her rough, boyish voice; her light, sunny freckles; her crooked smile; and her bright, green eyes. Suddenly, I was overcome with confusion. This emotion was strong and passionate, and it went against the Jedi ways, where there was no room for attachments.
I took a deep breath in an attempt to settle my mind. I couldn't let my emotions get ahead of me. There was something new growing inside, but somehow I knew I needn't fear it nor turn away. Feeling an unfamiliar calm, I unboarded the ship, at last looking forward to my future.