Chapter 2
The Padawan Learner
10 years later
Screams echoed in the distance. Screams of pain and death. He covered his ears, trying to make it stop. The voice of his mother screamed no. Dal shot upright in his bed, gasping as he did. He sat there for a few moments, catching his breath. He exhaled as he rubbed his eyes. AB-7 was standing in the middle of the room. He made some concerned beeping sounds.
"Yeah, I'm fine, AB.", said Dal. Dal got up from his bed and pulled his black pants and his grey shirt from the drawer beside it. He put them on and then grabbed the black leather jacket that was hanging from the wall. Just as he put it on, a knock came from the door.
"Come in.", he called. Danalar Kanti entered the room.
"Ah, Good Morning Master Kanti.", Dal said.
"Dal, are you alright? You seem troubled", said Master Kanti.
Dal straightened up his jacket. "I do?", he asked.
"Did you have that same dream of your parents again?", Master Kanti asked. Dal's facial expression changed. His smile turned to a frown.
"I did. I don't understand why I keep having it. Not matter what I do, it just won't stop. I don't know what else to do master.", said Dal.
"It's ok, Dal. We'll figure it out. I promise.", said Master Kanti. Dal looked at her. The smile had returned to his face. "Now, come on. We have been assigned a mission.".
Master Kanti walked out the door. Dal followed close behind.
"Come on, AB.", Dal said. AB-7 followed along as they walked along the passageway.
"What's our mission, Master?", Dal asked. "We are to be accompanied by a squad of clone troopers of the 2103rd to meet up with Master Skywalker and his fleet.", Master Kanti said. Dal looked at his master, taken aback by the mission details.
"Skywalker?", he asked. "As in, Anakin Skywalker?". Master Kanti raised her eyebrow.
"Why are you so intrigued by this my young Padawan?", Master Kanti asked.
"I've heard the stories. Is it true that he is the chosen one? That he will bring balance to the force?", Dal asked. Master Kanti was silent for a moment. Her mind in thought.
"We are not sure.", she answered. "Right now, we must focus on the task at hand."
They made their way through the maze like hallways of the temple. Eventually, they reached the hanger. Troopers were working in their assigned stations, saluting them as they walked by. They got to the landing platform that their ship was located on. A trooper wearing red and white armor was standing by the opened hatch of the ship.
"General Kanti, the ship has been prepped and the boys are ready to go.", the trooper said.
"Excellent, James.", she said. "Lets leave at once. Time is of the essence."
James led the way into the ship. Master Kanti, Dal, and AB-7 followed.
"Look alive, gentlemen!", James yelled.
The troopers stood up and saluted them as they entered. Dal sat down on the seat that was near the weapons holder.
"So, what are your names?", Dal asked the troopers.
"I'm Bravo.", said one of them. "This is Grayson and Rainmaker." Dal looked at Rainmaker with a confused look.
"Why do they call you Rainmaker?", he asked.
"Cause when I shoot, I make it rain on those clanckers.", the trooper said. Dal chuckled.
"I'm Dal Randis.", he said. "But you can just call me Dal.". He looked in the cockpit of the ship.
"That goes for you too, James!", he yelled. "Yes, sir. I-I mean Dal.", James said.
The ship took off from the platform. The engines roaring. Dal and the troopers could feel the ship rattling. They got higher and higher until they were amongst the stars in space. Dal looked out the window, watching the planet of Coruscant get smaller as they moved further away.
"Set the coordinates to Master Skywalker's fleet and jump to hyperspace", Master Kanti said.
"Yes, general", said James.
Dal watched as the ship jumped into hyperspace, going through a blur of blue. He pulled the necklace that his mother gave him out of his pocket.
"Here I go mother.", he said under his breath.