CHAPTER 107 - DECISIONS, DECISIONS
Once they had reached the medbay, Zeke disinfected Naluma's wound. He then applied a local anesthetic and stitched up the laceration. Ben stood in the doorway and watched with widened eyes.
Meanwhile, Luke found medical-grade plastic to wrap around the cybernetic stump.
Zeke moved to Luke and looked at the wrapping job. "Master Luke, everything all right?"
"Yeah, just need to keep the stump dry right now. Can you tape it for me?"
"Sure." The young man grabbed the roll of waterproof tape and secured the plastic shield to his wrist.
'Luma? Luke closed his eyes and inhaled. Pain meds?
She grabbed the bottle of pain killers from the shelf.
He shook his head. Not those.
Naluma headed to the secured cabinet with the restricted meds, unlocked it with the Force, and handed him a small packet of two blue capsules. "I'm so sorry."
He gulped them without water to dull the pain in his groin. "I forgive you." When Luke could breathe a little easier, he said to Ben, "Well, let's check out chapel. Probably not as exciting as a saber duel, but just as important in learning the ways of the Force."
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At the chapel, Luke introduced Ben to Lor San Tekka.
The older gentleman smiled at the boy. "Ben, I'm delighted to meet you. I've known your mother since she was a little girl. Quite a favorite she was of mine in the temple. Welcome."
You're older than I expected. Thought you'd be more robust, considering your supposed to be this renowned explorer of the galaxy. He masked his true feelings and responded with a slight bow of respect. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Lor San Tekka. My mother often speaks fondly of you."
After the youth took a seat with the rest of the Padawan, Luke said, "Ben, I'll meet you in the dining hall for lunch." He exited through the back door without waiting for a response.
Ben glared at the faces staring at him. What are you guys looking at? He fidgeted in his seat and pointedly ignored them.
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After lunch, Luke escorted Ben to a class on intelligence gathering. They stood at the back of the room for a few minutes as Jedi Kalder Flo'et lectured on blending in with a crowd.
After a few minutes in that room, they moved to the Advanced Field Medicine class that Jedi Fau taught. They peered into a sunken amphitheater of students at desks focusing down on their teacher. Naluma clicked the remote in her hand, and another slide projected behind her. The Padawan recoiled in their seats at the bloody arm severed at the elbow, white bone sticking out.
As Luke entered with Ben, Zeke asked, "So, Jedi Fau, how did Master Skywalker lose his hand the first time?"
Naluma shook her head as she said, "I have no idea. Why don't you ask him yourself, Zeke?" She nodded to the back.
Ben grabbed a seat in the back of the room as Luke moved to the front. "It was during my Jedi trials. I lost my hand and my lightsaber in a duel. Almost lost my life."
Ben raised his hand and asked, "Who were you fighting?"
"Vader," Luke mumbled, reliving the final moments of their duel.
"So, Vader cut your hand off in battle?" Ben asked. "Just like he lost his."
Luke's mouth dropped for a moment. "Yes, but unlike Vader, I only have the cybernetic hand. Both of Darth Vader's legs and both of his hands were cybernetic. A regulator controlled his breathing, and the lava burns he received during the Battle of Mustafar tortured him."
Another Padawan raised his hand. "So what's going to happen now to your hand?"
"I've contacted Zaxyn. The med center is already manufacturing another hand for me. I'll head there next week to have the new one installed."
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The hour turned, and the class dismissed. Naluma cleaned up the supplies and headed to the mock Situation Room. She had forgotten Luke was going to take the class.
Luke and Ben followed her. After she started the class, the conversation quickly turned from battlefield tactics with small squads to analyzing the fight from earlier today.
They started by breaking down each part of the fight—each move, each reaction. Padawan Geryl asked, "So, what was the most surprising move you had to counter?"
Naluma thought through the fight before deciding. "When he kissed me. I was not expecting that, and I think I overreacted."
Luke winced a bit, remembering the initial pain. "Yeah, I wasn't expecting that reaction either. I would definitely add that move into our strategy for duels, but I would not recommend practicing it on live people."
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At the end of the class, as they traveled back to his study, Luke asked Ben, "So what do you think?"
Ben said with enthusiasm, "I loved the lightsaber fight. Field medicine was good, and so was strategy. I could do without chapel, though. That was boring." The boy rolled his eyes and poked his finger in his mouth like he was gagging. "When would I be able to have my own lightsaber?"
"As soon as you create it. What do you know about electronics, Ben?"
"Nothing," he said with dejection. "I'm not good at any of that stuff."
"How about your school work?"
"I haven't been in school for a few years. Threepio's been teaching me at home."
"Why's that?"
"They asked me not to return," Ben said with a dark cloud obscuring his Force-signature. "They had it in for me."
"Ben, I know educators. They aren't out to get you. They sacrifice their lives so that you can become the best person you can be. They could be making a ton more credits doing something else with their lives than teach rambunctious younglings."
"Well, then why would they kick me out?" Ben asked as his anger swelled. The boy scuffed his shoes on the hardwood floor of the study.
"Why don't you tell me?"
When Ben glared at him in response, Luke made a mental note to ask Leia about this the next time they spoke. "Ben, you will have to take regular subjects here as well. And you won't be allowed to use your anger on anyone, in any circumstance. Do you think you can handle that?"
Ben sucked in his breath for a long moment. "Yeah, I think I can. Okay, Master Skywalker, I will be a Jedi."
"Good. I'm glad you made that choice. Let's get you some uniforms and a bunk in the dorms."
"Yes, Master Skywalker," Ben said as he followed Luke down the corridor.
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After retrieving uniforms and bedding from the quartermaster's office in the basement, Luke escorted Ben to the boys' dormitory. The other young Padawan were tidying up before heading downstairs for some rest and relaxation.
Luke introduced Ben to Zeke. "Ben, Padawan Zeke Leer is the boys' prefect. You met him earlier today at the lightsaber demo. He is in charge of this dormitory, and you must obey whatever he tells you to do. Zeke, this is our new Padawan, Ben Solo."
As the prefect extended his hand, Ben glared back and crossed his arms. Zeke forced a stiff smile and said, "Welcome, Ben. Grab a bunk and store your gear in that gear locker. Then come downstairs to the common room, and I'll introduce you around."
Ben grunted before choosing an empty upper bunk as far away from the prefect's bunk as possible.
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Did you know …
● A prefect is an older student placed in charge of younger students to keep them in line.
● The Return of the Jedi novelization reveals the information about Vader being in constant pain. Some believe that the Emperor kept him that way on purpose in order to control him.
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Tell me what you think …
● Why was Ben asked to leave school?
● Do you think Ben is academically challenged or lazy or both? Why?
● How does Ben reveal his attitude in this chapter?