Chapter 11:
Ben waited at the docking bay of the Temple and shifted awkwardly. He had always disliked this area for obvious reasons; it was far too metal-based. Ben preferred the harmonious sounds of nature better than the screech of incoming traffic. But, the Council had told him to wait there for Luke and he was not going to disobey them now. He shifted again and checked his commlink with built-in timepiece. Luke was late, this meant that they had either stopped somewhere or had been involved in something that meant trouble. After what seemed like hours, Ben could see a small speck on the horizon. As it got bigger and there was no alarm rung, Ben knew it was Master Luke with Miennya onboard. Luke had sworn that unless he had Miennya with him, he would not come back so Ben was relieved at the prospect of his good friend returning.
He had realised during the wait that he was in love with Miennya Skywalker, his adopted elder sister. She had an exuberance around her, a smile that dazzled anyone around her. Her eyes were the most focused point, changing quickly from purple to scarlet and then back again. He had loved her since the moment he had seen her face on the databank but it had been too late to tell her before she had left. He decided then and there that he would tell her everything when she arrived. The ship got closer and closer, the heat increasing as the engines came nearer and the wind increased dramatically. Behind the young master, the rest of the Council filed up with a large bunch of apprentices and students in tow to welcome the pair back.
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As the shuttle slowed down and finally stopped, the door slid open and Luke got out. He was different, more drawn and tense than usual. Crowding around him, they fired off question after question at him until Ben sensed his father's emotions and made space for the Grand Master of the Academy. Confused, they all looked at Luke quizzically because he was alone and they all knew he would have never left without Miennya. Finally, a timid student by the name of Chiara Maxwell asked the question that had been on all their minds.
"Master Skywalker, where is Master Miennya? Did she not come back with you?"
The question was innocent enough, the student unsure of herself but the look that flashed over his face was enough for the students nearby to elbow Chiara and give her a glare as she shrank back. Shaking his head, Luke leaned back into the shuttle and drew out a body as the assembly gasped. There in his arms was Miennya, her skin dead white and her body stiff with blood on her tunic from the wound. Sobbing now, Luke walked through the crowd as it parted silently for him and each bowed in respect. Hanging his head, Ben remembered the thoughts that had been in his mind and started to cry. No longer would he walk with her, soothe her in his arms and it was all his fault. He had told her to confront him and he had sent her to her death, a death that could have been avoided at easy cost. If he had gone after her, if he had stopped her somehow....
Walking back towards his quarters, he passed the open door of Miennya's quarters and stopped. It looked so peaceful, like she was not gone but he knew it would never be the same. Walking in, he picked up her blanket and buried his face into it as he remembered her...