CHAPTER 18 - THE FIRST PADAWAN
As they exited the base headquarters, Luke frowned at his new Padawan's discordant attitude. Naluma Fau, kit bag and rifle slung across her back, strutted ahead of the Jedi Master.
Halfway down the road bisecting the base headquarters, Luke yelled, "Stop."
Naluma increased her gait and adjusted the rifle slung across her back. She glanced back and huffed.
Luke cast a Force-wall in front of her. Fau froze as if sensing it the moment it had happened. The birds in the nearby trees stopped chirping.
"I said 'Stop,' Padawan."
Naluma whipped around and shot laser bolts at him with her eyes, her fists clenched.
Skywalker put his hands on his hips and planted his legs apart.
Fau dropped her kit bag. "My rank is specialist."
"And mine is master," Luke said in a hushed tone.
"Which means you have no authority over me," she said, her voice rising an octave.
Luke grinned at her and shook his head. His eyes softened, contradicting his words. "I do. In the Fleet, I'm also known as 'Commander Skywalker.' Commanders outrank specialists, last I checked."
Naluma snapped to attention and saluted. "Sir. Commander Skywalker, sir. I'm sorry … I … uh … didn't know." She straightened even further. "Reporting for duty."
Luke halved the distance between them. "As you were, Padawan."
She slumped but maintained her distance. "Where are we headed?"
"To my shuttle for the time being."
"I'm not leaving the planet with you." She pulled her shoulders back and extended her neck.
Luke smiled at her again as he soothed, "I didn't say we were, at least not for a while."
"Well, what do you want with me?"
He sighed. "You really don't know?"
"I can jump to a lot of conclusions, Commander." Naluma narrowed her eyes.
Luke took another step closer. "The Senate sent me to advise the military on Jedi and Sith tactics. Then I run into you—already having full command of levitation skills. I knew at once that you were to be my first Padawan."
"Your first what?"
"Padawan … apprentice."
She crossed her arms over her chest. "Well, I know all about apprenticeships … what if I respectfully decline—sir?"
"Well, I could order you. But I'd rather not." Luke surveilled the area. "Hey, is there a place around here we can talk?"
"Base watering hole is a click over there." She pointed with her rifle, tilting her head.
Luke gestured with his head toward the direction she pointed. "Come on."
The bar was nothing more than a recycled command tent discernable by its tattered flaps and the rips in the olive green corners of the canvas. Mud, blood, and several unnameable stains splotched the outside like the Ebenn Q3 Baobab painting hanging in Dr. Sindain's office.
Luke's eyes watered from the reek of the sooty death-sticks as they wandered in under a flap. The stench of stale Transdoshian ale brought memories of celebrating with his friends—memories he'd rather forget. His stomach churned like a three-gee turn in the Falcon.
No, not now. He took a few deep breaths while steadying himself against the bar. He closed his eyes for a moment and inhaled deeply, counting slowly as he exhaled.
When Naluma snagged a table near the flapping back entrance, Luke thanked the Force and hoped some fresh air would waft their way.
A Nautolan wearing olive drab trousers and a grimy tan apron approached their table. Burk, the proprietor of the base bar, checked them over with his black bulbous eyes. His rubbery skin with green-gold scales glistened in the sunlight. Even the protracted tentacles draping from his head and spilling down his shoulder shimmered as if wet. It was certainly humid enough.
"Welcome to Burk's." The alien pulled a tentacle over his chest, which twitched and jiggled. He held his arms out in a welcome. "You both look like you could use a drink. Ale or whiskey?"
"Water, please." Luke shuddered at the thought of what he did to Wedge the last time he drank.
Naluma yelled back at the owner, "Make mine a water, too, Burk."
Luke grimaced. Man, she's loud. Definitely not a princess. Need to add etiquette and protocol to her lessons. Wonder if Leia would loan me Threepio for a few weeks.
Burk grimaced. "I'm charging you for the glasses."
Luke handed some credits to the host, clinking them into his enormous hand. "Make it your freshest water in clean glasses, Burk."
The proprietor smiled at the generous payment.
As the Nautolan returned to the bar, Luke asked, "Now where were we?"
"You were going to tell me how you as a commander could pull rank on a general and have me transferred to your unit to become a Pad—an apprentice, or whatever you call it." Naluma scrunched her brows together, wrinkling her forehead.
"You weren't transferred. You were discharged."
"Discharged?"
"The Jedi Order is not an official part of the military, even if I am." Luke scrutinized his new Padawan during the intervening silence.
She stared at a distant table for a moment before returning her attention to him. "So what does being your Pada—apprentice entail?" She crossed her arms again, her eyes as unyielding as amaralite. "I've been an apprentice before, and I didn't enjoy it."
When Burk brought their glasses of water, Luke took his and leaned back on the camp chair. He eyed the bartender until he left. "Well, your military record shows you have already completed much of the physical training. As a Padawan, you will develop your skills to a greater extent than even you can imagine." He grinned at her. "And, you'll be using your skills to protect the weak, to make a difference in the galaxy."
She rubbed her forehead and squinted.
"See that glass on the empty table over there? You have figured out how to grab it in the heat of battle, but you don't have the control to grab it when you are calm yet." He wiggled his fingers toward the opposite corner, causing a crate to crash to the floor to distract the other patrons. Then he drew the glass toward their table with the Force.
She tried to grab it, but it floated straight to Luke.
"The Force is around us and is ready to use when we are at peace and calm. It is our ally in bringing peace to the galaxy."
Crossing her arms and leaning back in her seat, Naluma glowered at him. "Ha! You'll never bring peace to the galaxy. It's a lofty goal, but I'll believe it when I see it."
She flicked her hand toward the rest of the patrons. "Life-forms are all selfish—it's part of our survival instinct. We will do whatever we can to get whatever we want—including kill."
"You're wrong." He paused for a moment. "You're a natural. You have courage and strength and a strong mind. Without these, you will never succeed. But you also need the Force."
Naluma dropped her hands to the table and drummed a fork on the rigid surface. "All right, what if I do this? What's the cost?" She sneered. "There's always a cost."
"Well, just like in the military, you'll have to obey orders." He raised his eyebrows and shot her a grin. "But unlike the military, I will more often ask you to do things than order you to."
She rubbed her forehead with one hand and blocked an ear with her other hand.
"Neutrality is our calling, and attachment is forbidden. Hey, you okay?"
"Not sure. So noisy in here, I'm getting a headache."
Luke scanned the tent. Guests occupied five tables, all holding muted conversations. "It's pretty quiet in here. Do you have hearing sensitivity?"
"No, in fact I have some tinnitus from explosives. Can't you hear those voices?" She pulled her lips back. "I can't believe what Burk just said about me."
"He didn't say anything."
"He just told me what he wanted to do with me. Not a great pickup line."
Luke peered at her. "When did this start?"
"When we walked in."
"Never happened before?"
She shook her head.
"Naluma, when you grabbed the lightsaber today, was that the first time you had ever done that?"
"I think so. Maybe one other time a few years ago ... but what does that have to do with this? "
"Everything. The Force is strong with you. After you used it today, seems like you unlocked more than levitation. You're not hearing conversations—you're hearing thoughts."
"Can you make it stop?" She tossed her head from side to side. "I don't want this."
"I can't take it away from you, but I can teach you how to control it."
She squinted her eyes. "Just make it stop."
Luke reached out and grabbed her hands from her head. A tingle passed through their fingertips. He almost pulled back. I can't deal with this now. Please, not now.
"Is this ..." Naluma motioned to his holding her hands. "Really necessary?"
Luke nodded, closing his eyes in response.
She smiled in relief.
"What did you do?"
"Placed a temporary shield on you. It'll hold as long as we are near each other. I need to teach you how to do this yourself, but it would be easier if we were sequestered."
He tilted his head and raised his eyebrows. "So, what do you say? Are you ready to fulfill your destiny to become a Jedi Knight, or will you turn your back on it and suffer from these side-effects the rest of your life?"
"When you put it like that, I don't have a choice, do I?"
"There is always a choice, and it is yours to make—not mine. You have been honorably discharged from the military. You could exile yourself, and this wouldn't bother you much."
"I don't think I could live that life."
"Well, then, you have a far greater talent that just needs training."
Naluma stared at her lap, contemplating her decision. "I guess I would be a fool to have a talent and not develop it." With hesitation, she extended her hand to him.
"I will be your Padawan, Master Skywalker."
As she clutched his hand and spoke those seven words, a jolt passed through them. Luke perceived the ethereal threads of the Force clicking into place and joining them together.