"The food was excellent." Sara complimented.
"Oh you are extra kind." Mikey replied. "The power failed twice, the wine was sour, not that you can drink it, and the dog got half of it." Sara giggled and he laughed.
"She was hungry can you blame her." Sara countered. "A meal is only as good as the company."
"I bet you didn't expect that from a biker running with a few bad apples." Mikey stated. "Here is your tea. At least I can't mess that up." Sara took a sip and she smiled. Tea was one thing she missed. It made her think about her time in Japan and China. She thought back to it all and the past was so far away. "Hey I messed it up didn't I?"
"No not at all it is perfect." Sara replied. "I just am reminded of the time before. Nearly twelve years and I still feel like it happened yesterday."
"I know what you mean." Mikey stated. "I was such a dirt bag, and now I just wish I knew what I do now."
"Life leads us on a journey it is up to us to direct it." Sara stated. "You have done your best."
"Still you have done better? Jedi and all?" Mikey asked. Sara smiled and shook her head.
"I did what I can I just hope it is enough." Sara replied. "That is all what anybody can do."
"You saved Qui-Gon's life and Anakin is here away from that scum that turned him." Mikey stated proudly. "Now that is something good. I don't think I could have done that and if they remain here I think he will grow up just fine."
"He is the chosen one and his mother is not safe." Sara countered. "She has to live, but I am hesitant to get involved further."
"That is for the future to determine." Mikey stated. "Right it is just us." Sara grinned and hoped he wasn't thinking he had a chance. He was sweet and all, but she had enough of romance and she wasn't fond of short term flings. Though she could tell he was hurting for anyone to show him comfort and he hoped to have it through sex and it didn't take a jedi to see this. "Mike it has been a nice evening and I am tired."
"Okay I understand. You don't have to lie ya know." Mikey replied. "I am just like you I am lucky if I get four hours of sleep."
"I meditate a lot and I sleep less than four hours a week sometimes I go a full month." Sara countered. "Being a force user is more than what the movies show. I enjoyed myself and we can do this again. You are just too eager." His mouth opened and then closed. Sara hugged him and left. She heard the glass shatter on the wall. She felt his anger and a bit of his shame. His eagerness had spoiled the evening, but she had known this would hurt him. She wiped a tear from her face and fought feeling pity for him. That would not be fair. Maybe he will calm down and learn to be what? A friend? No he would need relief that she felt turned off to give him. She wanted something normal. Why was she feeling this way? Could it be that it was just being home that caused this? All the years she spent on Tatooine she never once needed anyone, but she had a goal there and she had seen it to the end. His situation was no different. He was trying to escape his problems with being in the gang, but she knew he wanted a family more than anything. She could have given him that family and that struck her the hardest. She was ready to have a family she knew this now and it pained her. The ones she had wanted she pulled away from and the one who she was ready for was false for her. Could this have been a sign? Again she didn't sleep that night only meditating kept her refreshed. In the morning she knew her search would begin. She felt that it was time she found someone from her family. Maybe that would settle her need. Having a ship helped move around and so Japan was not that far away. She wondered the whole few hours whether this was going to be a good idea or just cause her pain. That made her feel that she had to do this. To see the dojo of her great uncle was a relief to see it still standing. Japan had not had droids going around and recycling everything, so it took nearly an hour to find a place open enough to land.
"T7 and C2 take care that no one messes with the ship, and if they do let me know. Keep all the hatches manually locked." Sara ordered.
"Your order shall be obeyed perfectly." C2 declared. T7 whistled a bit. "I don't think you will have to shoot anyone."
"Only if they get inside the ship." Sara added. "No deaths if it can be helped. I don't need to come back to the ship and find her turned to slag." She turned and walked down the ramp. It raised as she got on her speeder bike. Thirty minutes later she was at the door of her great uncle's house. She hesitated to knock as she wondered if he was one of the survivors or if someone else lived here. She raised her hand and the door flew open. She jumped back and quickly corrected into a bow. In Japanese she said. "Kon'nichiwa watashi wa katsute koko ni sunde ita to aki no mae ni watashi no oji de torēningu. Hello I once lived here and trained with my uncle before the fall."
"My student it is so good to see you." the young man replied. "I am your uncle Kato Kin." Sara started to cry and she hugged him as his words rang true in her heart. "Now don't make a scene come in first. Then you can cry properly." Sara laughed and she wiped a tear from his eyes. He grumbled as she did this, but then laughed as well. The house had not changed much, but it was not empty. Various droids moved around and some looked very human like. If Sara didn't know the force she would be fooled. "Your room is still as you left it. Though I was thinking of clearing it out. A couple wants their children to be trained."
"Then you should clear it out, Hanshi." Sara replied. "I can't believe I never came to see if you survived. I am so sorry."
"I am not your Hanshi anymore then I am truly your uncle." Kato stated. "No need to apologize you had your fate to follow, and tell me everything. Kazumi can you make tea, and something to eat?"
"Hi." Kazumi bowed and went to the kitchen. They sat down and Sara told him of the things that she had done and the places she had seen. Hours passed by for her story. They had the tea then lunch and dinner and finally a snack before bed. Just before midnight Kato called a halt.
"You have had such adventures. My life has been as dull as ever." Kato stated. "I will enjoy hearing more in the morning, but after exercise. See you at five."
"Then goodnight." Sara replied.
"I changed the bedding in your room and aired it out." Kazumi added as Kato took her arm. "Goodnight, Sara." Sara bowed and watched the two head into their room. She wondered as she giggled to herself if Kato knew that she was a droid. Kazumi was not the first droid she had met that was humanoid. Nearly a quarter of the droids she had come across were human like or resembled a different species. The rest were just like the ones in the movies. She knew a few that acted more human then a human. She debated asking him about that in the morning, but as she debated with herself she fell asleep. It had been a long time since she had slept a full four hours and that it wasn't plagued by dreams was a plus. At five Kato came into the dojo with Sara already waiting with the other students. She didn't think he would have any, but as she walked in the calmly meditating group was there. They made no notice of her joining them. Like her they sprang to their feet and bowed to their teacher. He merely nodded in return. The training was just like she remembered. Slow at first and it built to a good tempo and then slowed again. Thinking back she remembered how much she had sweated during his sessions and this barely made her glisten. She would have to continue later with a more vigorous routine. Kato called on her to help with the training and she slowly got a feel of each students strengths and weaknesses. After breakfast half the students went home and Kato guided them back into the dojo. It felt different then earlier and this time she got the workout she needed. The remaining students were just like her changed by the symbiote. At the end she had to use a bit of the force to remain with the others.
"Sara stop using your Chi. This is exercise to build strength and balance." Kato scolded.
"I am beyond my limits. I didn't want to show weakness." Sara replied. "Though I use more than Chi, I use the force."
"Regardless you show weakness by refusing to admit you are tired." Kato scolded. "A better example I expected of you, but I didn't forget your pride."
"May I excuse myself?" Sara requested.
"Show me this jedi force. I would like to feel the difference." Kato demanded. Sara lifted the three other students and then set them down.
"Yes now I see." Kato stated. "Training is over for today." The students got up bowed and calmly walked out of the room. Sara was a bit surprised that they didn't react to her use of the force, but the way Kato trained it was possible. "Sara you are one of these jedi?"
"Yes I am, but different I follow my own path. My code differs from theirs, but not by much." Sara replied. "Yet I feel lately that I am lost or I am in the pause before the storm."
"Hmm, yes I feel that as well. I may not be one of these jedi. As a martial artist I have trained my senses well." Kato stated. "You need this pause and a better place you will not find. Yet I have something to show you." Sara wanted to ask what it could be, but could only follow. He lead her into his room a place that she had never been and into a room that she would have never guessed was there. In it were pictures of many people young old smiling sad. A accumulation of memories. "Which picture calls to you?" Sara frowned and then one jumped out at her and into her hands. "Yes very good. That is your real father and mother. I saw them last just after the Fall." At this Sara wanted to ask a million questions, but respect held her tongue. "They had hoped that you would be here, but you were gone as far as we knew. Later we found out that you found yourself in the middle of protecting the world and this picture we found. Your parents smiled and I never felt more pride and love." The picture showed her by the Herald with both blades active. She didn't even remember doing it.
"Where are they now?" Sara asked.
"They have moved on. Last I heard they were helping a village in China. I doubt you could find them before they returned here." Kato countered. "What they did leave was this." He held up a holocron and Sara gently took hold of it and it floated for a bit before activating.
"Dearest Sara we wish to have seen you before you took a hold of your future, but events have changed that. We are proud of you and hope to see you one day. That can be a long time as we feel the changes happening. When those strange ships vanished it was like a light came on and we have seen the world in a new light." Her father stated.
"We just know that we will help where ever the force guides us. Our mothers taught us much. Without the force it was just wisdom, but now our eyes are open. I feel sad that I didn't raise you myself, but I hope you understand that it was needed. For you more than us." Her mother added. "Take this and you will learn even more. This holocron recorded the family history of each member of the Herald." It went dark then a menu appeared.
"This is a treasure one I will study a long time." Sara humbly stated.
"You are a woman now. Years ago you would have been mad or crying like a baby." Kato observed. "Now I feel a bit a sadness and hope."
"Jedi control their emotions and I like to feel them slowly at times. It lasts longer and it is something I cannot describe." Sara replied. "Thank you for keeping this safe."
"You are welcome and now I will hear the rest of your story." Kato demanded. "You were telling me about Perig?" Sara blushed as they returned to the common room. Again her story took the rest of the day. Kazumi hosted to their needs and listen as intensely as Kato did. It was during the evening meal that her story finally lead her to coming to Japan.
"So that is most of what I have done." Sara finished. "Kazumi this meal is wonderful."
"I thank you. I have had a good teacher." Kazumi replied.
"Your mother taught her, or is it programmed her." Kato added. "I guess it was more of both."
"I have to ask..." Sara started then Kato burst into laughter.
"No you don't and yes people do not understand." Kato admitted. "I raised my children and I lost them all. Now I enjoy just the now. Maybe in time I will want to start again, but for now I have Kazumi and she has me. That is enough." Sara wanted to know if he loved her even as she was a droid. She felt that he did and she felt that he believed that she loved him. That was enough to stop the awkward questions. Sara gave them both a hug and sent understanding to Kato. This shocked him a bit and letting him feel her feelings of acceptance relaxed him in spirit. Sara felt a strain lift from him. This made her smile and appreciate Kazumi even more.