Chapter Fourteen:

When Luke woke the next day, it was to find Mara nudging him to awareness. Luke started once he really felt the touch to his shoulder.

"Hunh? What?" Luke asked groggily.

Mara frowned slightly. "Are you feeling alright?" she asked, indicating the chrono. "You never sleep so late."

Luke frowned blearily at the chrono, and abruptly came to full alertness when he realized it was an hour after high noon. "I've been asleep all morning?"

Mara nodded her head. "You're not sick are you?"

Luke shook his head, rising and stretching tired muscles. "No, I just... couldn't get to sleep last night." At her expression, he hastened to assure her. "It wasn't your fault; I was just thinking is all."

Mara nodded her acceptance, rising. "Well, get dressed and come downstairs. Afkin just commed to tell us that he's on his way over to see us."

Luke rubbed at his eyes, yawning. "Alright, I'll be down shortly."

He watched Mara depart, and then laid back to stretch deeply, feeling his body continue to rouse from his slumber. Taking a deep, cleansing breath, Luke stood and gathered his things for a shower. The hot water felt so good, and he allowed himself a moment to simply stand beneath the flow. However, upon the reminder that he was pressed for time, Luke finished up and stepped out.

If feels good to be clean, Luke thought. He dressed and then combed his hair out, viewing himself in the mirror. Upon eye contact with himself, Luke remembered his decision from last night, and realized his promise to talk with Mara would have to wait.

His spirits drooped: Luke hadn't intended to sleep in...

Luke heard faint voices when Afkin arrived and Mara greeted him, so Luke bridled his emotions and then hurried to get down there. Mara and Afkin were shaking hands when he appeared, and Afkin smiled upon catching sight of Luke over Mara's shoulder.

"Ah, Jedi Skywalker, it's good to see you." Afkin greeted Luke, offering the man his hand after Mara released it. Luke saw another pair of Kestans near the door, and wondered at their presence.

Luke took the offered limb with a smile. "Leader Afkin, I do hope we've been abiding properly by the rules here."

Afkin ruffled his wings. "You two have done more than alright. I am impressed, I must say, by how resilient you have proven to be. I cannot wait to see how you do on the long trek to come." He indicated the sofa now, and Mara and Luke sat down while Afkin took a chair opposite them. "But before we continue, I am curious how you have viewed your stay with us?"

Luke was honest. "I have actually enjoyed it, Sir. I would visit again in the future, were it permitted."

Mara nodded her agreement. "It's been nice to experience a new culture, and to be welcomed... mostly."

Afkin tilted his head. "Mostly?"

Mara hesitated, not wanting to be rude...

"Jedi Jade, if there is a problem, I would like to know of it," Afkin said firmly, yet kindly. "We are your hosts, and as such your wellbeing is our responsibility."

Mara glanced to Luke, who tilted his head a bit in encouragement. It would be good for Mara to get this off her chest. She sighed, turning to look the Kestan in the eye. "Honestly, Shiva doesn't seem happy that we're here at all; let alone participating in the Wasaka Games."

"Ah yes, Shiva," Afkin said knowingly. "That firebrand has always been hot-headed. I am sorry she has been a source of trouble for you, but I can assure you that your presence here is completely valid. Shiva may simply feel threatened by you because you are a new threat to her being the top athlete. She has worked for many years to be so, and now there is a new factor she hadn't ever counted on."

Mara looked down, now feeling a little bad for how she'd acted in regards to Shiva. Perhaps the two of them had more in common than she wanted to admit. Mara snorted to herself, lightly amused. Maybe it was because they were so similar that the two of them had butted heads.

"Thank you for telling me about Shiva," Afkin told Mara, making a note on his datapad. "I will speak with her."

Mara hesitated. "I didn't want to get her in trouble; I just thought you should know."

Afkin held up a clawed hand. "Fear not, Jedi Jade. She will be spoken to, as is correct, but she will not be punished. She has not done anything to our knowledge to compromise the Games, so a punishment is not needed."

Mara firmed her lips, keeping her theory of the stern event to herself. "Alright."

Afkin seemed to take that as the end to that line of conversation, and moved on. "Now, I must speak to you in regards to the trek."

Both Luke and Mara straightened, their attention fixated on the Kestan elder.

"First, a touch of history." Afkin showed them an image of a group of Kestans. "These are some of our ancestors, particularly from my family. But the way they lived was true survival from day to day. Our society was once a base, uncivilized people." Afkin shuddered. "We were like animals, and it disgusts us. However, our people did have a sense of honor, and they really did try to be civil, in their own way."

Afkin withdrew the holo, eyeing the humans. "The trek is in memory of how our ancestors lived before they began to learn things that would eventually lead Kestan society to what it is today." He actually smiled fondly. "Our ancestors paved the way for us with their blood and sweat. Don't think we are ungrateful just because we prefer not to remember how we used to be."

Afkin looked down briefly. "We Kestans began the Games in honor of our ancestors, and they are played annually, with contestants vying for a spot in them. Each event is to remember things our forebears had to endure. This allows us to remember what we don't want to return to, and so it helps keep us in line.

"Thus Kestans take the Wasaka Games very seriously. However, the endurance portion is the most strenuous of the events, and it is also where and when most of us feel closest to our ancestors." Afkin paused with his eyes closed as if in remembrance. "I participated one year in the Games, and I must say that for the athletes, the trek is where one truly learns to love and appreciate our forbearers."

Luke and Mara didn't interrupt, not wanting to ruin an obviously important moment for the Kestan. Eventually Afkin returned to the present and continued. "I do not expect such a thing from non-Kestans, but I do hope you are taking this event seriously none the less."

Luke lifted a peaceful hand. "I assure you we would never intentionally disgrace this event, Leader Afkin. We are honored to even be here, to be honest."

Afkin smiled gently. "That is good to hear, and I thank you for that. Now." He turned business again, and Luke settled back into the couch. "I must warn you of a danger you and the other athletes will face out in the wilderness."

Mara and Luke exchanged a glance. This was the first time they'd been given advance notice on what they would face.

"We're listening," Mara said politely, returning her gaze to the Kestan. Luke did likewise when Afkin began to speak once more.

"There are creatures in our wilderness— in the untamed areas of our planet, which are vast— that pose a true threat to any who cross them." Afkin once more ruffled his wings, leaning forward to convey how serious he was. "There are things called golems that... infest the wilderness, and they are vile things. They are also utterly dangerous. They would sooner tear you apart than allow you to get anywhere near them."

Mara frowned. "If it's so dangerous, why go out there?"

"We will not live in fear, Jedi Jade," Afkin said warmly. "We are the masters of this world, not some lumbering beasts."

Luke felt something stir in him, and he shifted. "Leader Afkin, are these things animals?"

Afkin looked to Luke. "In a way, yes. But we are not entirely certain what they are, since we can never get close enough to a living one to study them. We kill them on sight because if we don't, we firmly believe they will kill us. But when we do, we find it impossible to determine much of anything about them."

Luke held back a frown. "Are they sentient then?"

Afkin snorted disdainfully. "Certainly not. How could something so... abominable be anything more than non-sentient?"

Luke thought about how Afkin had just given an account of how his own people had once been like that, but he was careful to keep his face neutral. Clearly the Kestans were a stubborn and opinionated people in certain things. As for Luke, he refused to believe an animal could inherently be evil as Afkin was implying. "I wonder if your ancestors had any knowledge of the golems?"

Afkin sighed, softening. "They did have some, but alas that history has been lost to us. We know they dealt with the golems, but nothing more than that."

Luke nodded, intrigued by the creatures. He felt Mara's eyes on him, and her curiosity, but Luke didn't get a chance to explain himself because Afkin went on.

"Now, I have brought along your packs." He made a motion with a hand and the pair of Kestans by the door moved forward. "You will be allowed only these packs and what they contain."

The packs were hand to Luke and Mara, who accepted them with thanks. They perused the contents curiously, with Afkin waiting patiently for them to finish. When they once again looked to him, Afkin spoke.

"These contain a few necessities, including a flask of water and enough food to last you three days, as would have been customary long ago. Each hunt would only last you so long, after all," Afkin said pointedly, and Luke nodded knowingly.

"I understand that, Sir. I spent time in a place where we lived off the food we could find or grow."

Afkin offered a surprised look. "Really? Well then, you should fare well this week."

Luke inclined his head respectfully. "Thank you. I hope so too."

Afkin hummed to himself, and then returned to his speech. "After your food runs out, you will be on your own for everything you need. Since you are not from our planet, we have included a list of plants that are either poisonous, edible or used for medicinal purposes, complete with their holos. Do keep in mind that they affect us as Kestans, but we did ask human doctors to check them, and so far nothing has shown to be different."

Luke and Mara nodded their understanding.

"You will be picked up not by Kehoe this time," Afkin said, "but by the one who will ferry you out to the starting point." He handed them a datachip. "Here is the map of the trek, and you will be permitted to keep a flimsi map, but all electronics are banned from the trek. We wish to keep the experience as authentic as possible."

Luke was getting flashbacks to Trichi now, though he sensed the first stirrings of misgivings in Mara. Offering his hand to her, Luke squeezed encouragingly when she accepted it.

Afkin cleared his throat and stood. "The driver will be here in one hour, which gives you enough time to eat a full meal and get dressed. The flight to the trek area will take half the day, I'm afraid, so you will leave this afternoon. The event begins as soon as you are dropped off. Each team will be traversing the same area, but will be dropped off in different places to begin."

Luke was surprised that they would be leaving so soon. "I thought we had a day to rest?"

Afkin nodded. "Part of that day will be in your transport."

Luke kept his face neutral, but inside he was unhappy. He'd been hoping to have alone time with Mara so they could talk. It looked like that wouldn't happen now. And with only an hour left to them, Luke didn't want to begin an explanation only to be interrupted partway through. He wanted to do it the way Mara had: in complete privacy with nobody around to eavesdrop on, or rush them.

Afkin made his way to the door, the Jedi following to see him out. "I wish you both the best in the trek. You will have ten days time to complete the trek. After that, if you haven't finished, you will be considered to have failed. It is this way for each team," he added to assure them, "so don't think you're being singled out."

Mara offered a farewell wave. "Thank you Leader Afkin. We will do our best."

"I know you will." Afkin dipped his head to them both and indicated to the other Kestans that they should follow him outside. "I will see you again after the trek. Good day."

And then he was gone, with his aids closing the door behind their departure. That left Luke and Mara standing where they'd been left, though Luke's heart was heavy. Noticing his demeanor, Mara frowned worriedly.

"Luke, are you alright?" Mara asked, touching his arm gingerly.

Luke tried to smile, but couldn't bring himself to do it. "I'll live. I just... I think I'm still tired."

He knew how lame his excuse sounded, but he didn't want to explain further just yet. Looking to the chrono, Luke backed up. "We need to get ready. I'll make us something to eat."

Luke felt Mara's eyes follow him, as did her concern, but he was determined to hold out. Squaring his shoulders, Luke pushed away his mood and focused on the task at hand. He would find a way to talk with Mara... just not today.