Later that Wednesday afternoon, the initiates slowly worked their way back to the retreat house. The boys were eager to go to their rooms and freshen up after playing basketball in the gym.
As Molly descended the stairs to the lower level that housed the recreation room and the bedrooms, she turned her head and noticed Madison sitting on one of the couches.
"Are you okay?" she asked Madison.
"I'm fine. But Knight Rachel said I shouldn't do any more activities today," Madison replied.
"That stinks."
"I know. Well, just make sure you do well tonight. We can't let the boys do better than us."
Molly nodded and walked away.
As Sarah made her way down the stairs, she heard a voice from behind her.
"Sarah?"
As Sarah turned around, she froze as she saw Madison.
"It's okay. I just want to talk to you," Madison said.
Sarah was surprised to sense the sincerity of Madison's statement. She nodded and walked over to Madison.
"Umm, thanks for trying to help me before. I wasn't expecting that from you."
Sarah blinked her eyes before she answered, "Somebody had to."
"Why, Sarah? After what happened last week, it wouldn't have surprised me if you ignored me instead."
The determined look on Sarah's face surprised Madison. What was she about to say?
"I know how to swim. I didn't know if you did or not. I wasn't going to let anything bad happen to you. And if you accidentally pulled me in with you, I'd be able to swim and try helping you out of the water."
"I'm glad you tried."
Sarah cracked a slight smile. "Thanks," she replied before she headed back upstairs for a snack. Madison's civility pleased her, but she wasn't sure if she was ready to call Madison a friend quite yet.
After a pizza dinner, the initiates had more free time until it was dark out. As they reassembled in the living room, Master Cara was the only adult present.
"Where's everyone else?" Molly asked.
"They're making sure everything is ready for our final activity," Master Cara replied.
A moment later, Cara's commlink chirped. A holographic image of the Grand Master hovered above her right arm.
"I have an associate of yours captured. You have an hour to find and rescue her. Otherwise, it's no more teacher for you." he said. Before the transmission ended, everyone noticed Madame Andrews' wrists bound together.
"Is he really going to hurt her?" David asked. The transmission clearly confused him and the rest of the initiates.
"Not at all. He's just letting you know it's time to start your full group activity. It's a mock rescue mission," Master Cara replied. She then handed the initiates belt clips. They were surprised when they each received a training saber as well.
"You heard him. You have an hour to search the grounds for both him and Madame Andrews. But be warned: He's set to duel you if you want to rescue her. So, go outside and wait for me there."
As everyone left, Master Cara asked Madison to wait.
"Yes, master?" Madison asked curiously.
"I know you can't participate tonight, but since we can't leave you alone, I had an idea. How would you like to be my helper?"
"What do I do?"
"We stay together and just walk around to make sure nobody goes out-of-bounds or does anything they shouldn't. If you see anything suspicious, just tell me quietly."
Madison smiled. "I can really do that?"
"I don't think a slow walk will be bad for you. Oh, and here. Even though you shouldn't need it – and probably shouldn't use it – you can have a training saber as well."
"Thanks, master!" Madison replied excitedly.
As the pair left the retreat house, Master Cara said, "Okay, go ahead and begin your mission. May the Force be with you."
The initiates were surprised that Master Cara didn't follow them behind the chapel.
"What are we going to do?" Brian asked.
"We should stick together so we don't get lost," Will replied.
"If we do that, he could defeat us all pretty easy," David said.
Molly pulled out her map from the previous activities. "Guys, you should go around the edges here and then come back in like this. That way, you can be lookouts and tell us if you find anything. Sarah and I will check the barn and the lean-to to make sure they aren't hiding. Then we'll help you check the middle space," she told her classmates.
"Do we have time?" Sarah asked.
"Sure we do, we just have to go quickly, but carefully. Try not to make too much noise. Sarah's dad is probably going try to sneak up on us if we're not looking. So watch your backs."
The group, satisfied with the plan, quickly scattered.
Elsewhere, Master Cara and Madison casually strolled the grounds. On occasion, they watched an initiate run by or sneak past them as if they were trying to avoid the pair.
"Are we supposed to ignore them like that? And are they supposed to ignore us?" Madison whispered.
"We just observe unless they do something wrong. Then we act," Master Cara whispered back.
Madison nodded.
Elsewhere, Madame Andrews and the Grand Master hid at the bottom of a rolling hill. Both were surprised the initiates ignored the area. It was part of the in-bounds area. But the steep drop-off was probably more intimidating in the darkness. On a clear day, one could see well over 40 miles [64 km] from the highest point of the hills.
"Are we moving again?" Madame Andrews asked.
"Yeah. Time to go to yet another spot the initiates probably won't bother to check," the Grand Master replied.
"For a Jedi, you have an evil mind."
"Strategic. It's a strategic mind. Darth Stinger doesn't stay in one place to make it easy to find her. We should do the same."
The pair carefully Force-leaped over a fence and sneaked around the rear of the retreat house. Convinced the coast was clear, they stealthily made their way to the gym barn, entered it, and hid in the rear storage area.
The initiates met behind the chapel again. Their search to that point proved fruitless.
"How come we can find them?" David asked.
Molly closed her eyes. "They're probably moving around," she finally replied.
"We don't have much time left," Sarah said as she checked her watch.
"We better get going. He could be waiting to get us right now!" Brian said.
"Shh, wait a minute" Sarah whispered. "I thought I heard something."
After a moment, Sarah added, "I heard it again."
"I didn't hear anything," Molly stated.
"Maybe she only thought she heard something," Will said.
"C'mon. Let's go," Sarah stated with noticeable determination.
"Wait, let the boys go on either side of us and ahead of us. That way, they can sneak in if you're right," Molly suggested.
Sarah nodded.
As they approached the gym barn, the group split up. Sarah and David chose to carefully enter the barn. Molly, Brian, and Will decided to remain outside and check the perimeter. Sarah put her finger to her lips as the pair crept into the darkened gym. Dim light flowed through the north windows, but the pair chose to stay close to the opposite wall to avoid casting too many shadows.
As they reached the opposite wall, the sound of a door opening took them off guard and nearly startled the pair.
"It's about time someone found me. I was starting to think I hid too well," the Grand Master stated. He held Madame Andrews next to her. Sarah noticed she was handcuffed.
"I don't suppose you'll hand her over now?" David asked.
"It doesn't work that way. If you want her, come rescue her." the Grand Master replied as he ignited his training saber.
David gulped. It was one thing to find a captive. But engaging the best Jedi of the order in a duel would undoubtedly be a losing proposition.
Sarah gritted her teeth as she unhooked her training saber and ignited it.
"He can't take both of us together," she said. She made up her mind that if the group was gong to lose the task, they'd lose with a valiant effort.
David swung at his foe. However, the Grand Master easily parried the strikes with a one-handed Makashi move. Sarah nearly landed a blow to her father's left hand. After a quick step backward, he reached his left hand out and picked Sarah up with the Force. He was set to Force-push her away, but realized it might hurt if she landed awkwardly on any of her head-tails. As he blocked another strike from David, he flicked his left fingers briefly. Sarah felt herself pushed backwards, but she fell slowly enough for her to land safely on her hands and knees.
As David continued to jab and swing at the Grand Master, it looked as if he'd never hold the upper hand. It wasn't until the Grand Master heard noise behind him that he turned his head around.
Brian and Will had a hold of Madame Andrews and Molly's own training saber was pointed up near the Grand Master's nose.
The Grand Master turned back around to see Sarah and David ready to renew their spar. However, with the exercise pretty much over, the Grand Master gestured. The initiates, recognizing the sign to end the spar, all extinguished their lightsabers.
"Very good. And I see you had three minutes and 17 seconds to spare," he told the class. He then removed the handcuffs from Madame Andrews. At this point, Master Cara and Madison entered the barn and turned on the lights.
"So, did we pass?" Molly asked.
"This wasn't a pass/fail exercise, initiate. None of our activities were," Madame Andrews replied.
"Why did we do them, then?"
"This was our way to see how well you worked on you own or in various groups. We've observed your activity and behavior, but you weren't graded on the outcomes. Instead, we've recorded notes for when the time comes for you to become padawans."
"Master Cara, did everyone do what they were supposed to outside?" the Grand Master asked.
Master Cara looked at Madison who smiled and nodded her head yes.
"They did, Master."
"Very good. Alright class, you did a good job tonight. After we return to the retreat house and put our gear away, you have an hour of free time to write your notes or have snacks – but no sugary beverages tonight. I don't need you bouncing off the walls until four in the morning."
The group chuckled before leaving the barn gym.
Sarah sighed. She finished four of her five notes to her classmates. The last one left her stumped. Finally, she sighed and started writing.
Madison,
I'm glad you feel better tonight. I wish you had been with Molly & me. The boys probably think they're better than us. But we know better. MTFBWY*.
Sarah
Sarah folded the note up and dropped it into Madison's bag. She also noticed bags for her teacher, father, and Master Cara. She didn't know if she was supposed to leave messages for them, but she could decide that after she went upstairs to get something to drink.
The next morning, the group finished their last breakfast of the retreat. After everyone helped clean up the retreat house one last time, it was time to gather for final instructions.
"We're almost done, aside from a couple of items. First, you'll have time to get your mail bags and find a place to read your messages alone. After you do that, check your rooms one last time to make sure you have everything. The monks who graciously let us have our retreat here will get to keep anything you leave behind," Master Cara told everyone.
All the initiates went to the lower level to retrieve their bags. One by one, they scattered between the split levels to read their bag's contents.
As Sarah read her notes, the boys didn't say much aside from some generic compliments for her work the past few days. She was also surprised to receive an encouraging note from Madame Andrews. As she opened the next one, she read:
Sarah,
I wish we got to do more together this week. I don't know why they split us up except for the boys against the girls.
We really make a good team together. I'm still surprised you helped Madison after what she said last week. But I guess Jedi are supposed to help anyone in trouble, huh?
I hope you had fun.
Molly.
Sarah smiled after reading her best friend's note. She pulled out the penultimate note and began to read again:
Sarah,
I'm still in shock over what happened. I might have drowned if it wasn't for you. I know you didn't pull me out, but you still tried. I guess I should say "thank you" here.
You were really brave last night in the final activity, too. It had to be weird having to duel your dad like that.
I'm not sure what else to say. Bye for now.
Madison.
Sarah was shocked. She didn't expect to hear anything quite so positive from the same person with whom she had fought just seven days ago. The fact she had one last note surprised her. Which of the adults wrote her a note, too? She carefully opened it and recognized the handwriting almost instantly.
Sarah:
You're growing up so much, now. In some ways it scares me because you're not the little girl I held 10½ years ago. But at the same time, I'm impressed to see you maturing so much for your age. I can only hope you are paired with a master who continues to bring out your positive traits as a padawan.
Your compassion for your classmates … all your classmates … surprised and impressed me. Who would have thought you'd be trying to rescue the same classmate you fought with not all that long ago? That really says a lot about your character, Sarah. Your leadership last night was impressive. I had to stop myself at the end and remind myself you were an initiate and not a foe when I was set to Force-push you away. That and the fact I couldn't hurt my princess. :-)
Your mother and I always talk about what kind of Jedi you'll be when you're older. Now, I can tell her you will be one of which we can be proud.
Love you,
Your father
Sarah folded her father's note back up and placed all of her notes back into her bag.
After a number of group photos outside the retreat house and a traditional stop at Arch Burgers for lunch, the group returned to the Jedi Order.
"Madison, are you okay?" her mother asked with noticeable concern in her voice.
Madison shrugged her shoulders as she answered, "I'm fine, mom."
"I was worried you might get sick or something."
"Everyone made sure I was okay. I even got to help Master Cara last night. But, if it wasn't for Sarah, I might not have been able to help her."
Madison's mother turned to face Sarah. "Is that true? Did you really help her?" she asked in disbelief.
Sarah's father observed the conversation. He wanted to interject and answer the question. However, it was time Sarah learned to handle these questions on her own.
Sarah nodded and was about to say something before Madison interrupted.
"She tried to pull me out of the water before the adults got us. She wasn't going to let me fall in all the way."
Madison's mother blinked her eyes before telling Sarah, "Thanks for helping her. What a difference a week makes, huh?"
"Everyone worked well together the past few days," the Grand Master added.
"We better get home so your dad knows your okay."
Madison nodded and said good-bye to her classmates.
As Sarah and her father returned home, Ahsoka stood in the front room waiting for them.
"Mom!" Sarah called up as she ran up to Ahsoka and hugged her.
"How was your retreat?" Ahsoka asked.
"Fine. We did different stuff together."
"I hope you had fun and learned from your time away."
Sarah nodded. "I had to help Madison, too."
Ahsoka's eyes widened and the tips of her head-tails twitched. "Oh? What happened?" she asked suspiciously.
"She fell in a hole in the dock. I tried to pull her out of the water."
Ahsoka was flabbergasted. Madison had always clashed with Sarah over the past five-plus years.
"Why did you do it?" Ahsoka asked.
"Someone had to," Sarah insisted.
"I'm impressed. Go put your stuff away upstairs and put your dirty laundry in the hamper."
As Sarah left, Ahsoka turned to face her husband.
"How did it go?" she asked.
"The class worked real well together. Better than expected, actually. So, did you miss me?"
"Of course." Ahsoka realized what he was hinting and added, "Not as much as last time, fortunately."
"You kept busy with your repairs, huh?"
"That and I was asked to sub again yesterday. That kept me pretty busy."
"How are the repairs going?"
"I've almost got everything replaced. I talked to the guys and manufacturing. We agreed on a new design for the wings, so once I get paid next week, we can get started on that. It won't be long now."
"Wow, that's great news. Did you end up needing your body pillow?"
Ahsoka's head-tail stripes darkened slightly. "I think I hugged it closer than I normally hug you," she finally admitted.
"That's fine. I'm just glad you didn't have any bad dreams while I was gone."
"Me, too," Ahsoka replied as she hugged her husband tighter. ▄
Footnotes:
* This is short for "may the Force be with you."
