Several days later, Jun followed me to my solo practice session.
"I want to watch you practice."
"Okay."
I activated a training droid. These were relatively new- well, new to us. They were restored droidekas that had been found in an underground warehouse. Their traditional blasters now only shot sting bolts, much like the remotes, and would not start shooting until you were in position.
Luke wanted me to become faster, and the rapid fire speed of the droideka would (in theory) do the trick.
I got in position and readied myself. I was too confident, and was easily overpowered by the speed and precision.
My right hand and left leg were numb, and Jun was laughing at me.
I scowled and started again, but was quickly shut back down.
"Care for some help?"
"You offering?"
"Yep!"
"Then please, help me."
Jun stood behind me and adjusted my posture, head placement, and foot angles.
"Since you're working on deflections, try to start spinning the blade before you take your final pose. Start it with your hand, so you aren't starting from no momentum at all."
Before I Jun stepped away, I looped my finger around the hilt and started it in a spin. This time, I was able to fight longer without faltering.
"Better."
"Thanks."
"What time are we supposed to be in class?"
"Not for another hour."
"Okay."
"Would you like a turn?" I asked.
Jun activated his training saber and took my place on the floor.
Expertly, he blocked every shot and was perfectly in tune with...well, everything. I couldn't believe my eyes.
For at least twenty minutes, Jun dodged, deflected, and sidestepped incoming attacks. His speed did not falter. His balance did not weaken. He even gained ground toward the droid.
I managed to stop him before he destroyed it.
"Sorry. Habit," he said.
"One thing you'll learn is that every target we have does not have to die. Actually, Luke prefers them alive, but we have to protect ourselves, and he knows that."
"My targets were never allowed to live. If they wanted the target dead, that is why I was deployed."
I didn't even know how to respond to that- comforting or otherwise, but I needed to try.
"You've seen and done horrible things. You don't have to do that anymore. Luke won't send you out to murder. Only bring in. If you have to kill in order to defend your life, then by all means, don't hesitate. But, he will not force you. You will never have to kill again for the pleasure of anybody. I promise."
Jun seemed to relax slightly.
"Will you please show me how to make a proper pose again?"
Jun adjusted my limbs and posture once again.
This time I held out much longer, with Jun giving me orders of how to improve my advantage on the droid.
I managed to hold my ground for ten minutes before I got stung on my leg and hand.
"Better."
I looked at the clock on the wall.
"We had better go."
"Okay."
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I washed my face and cooled off by the time we arrived in the classroom.
C-3PO was writing some spelling words on the board for me and Ben, and Jun was looking at them horrified.
C-3PO saw his look of horror and rushed to reassure him.
"Those aren't for you, Master Jun. Those are for Ben and Asenath. I'll help you with yours in a minute."
Luke came in and took over.
We covered the spelling words, we read a little, covered some Galactic History, and even some Science before he decided that we had done enough.
I walked over to the next room where 3PO and Jun were working on some Basic phrases.
"How are you today?" C-3PO said.
"How you today?"
"No, 'How ARE you today?'"
"How er you today?"
"Are," 3PO corrected.
"Ah."
"Ah-er," I encouraged.
"Are."
"Wonderful!" I said.
"How did you help him?" 3PO asked.
"I think it helped that he could see lips form the words. He can understand Basic. Just has never spoken a full sentence of it."
"Are you going to help?"
"Yes."
I turned to Jun.
"Will you help me fight better if I help you with the school work?"
Jun looked me over as if this were some sort of trick.
"Yes."
"You mean 'Yes'."
"Yes," he said in basic.
"Good. Now, let's see what else we've got here," I said.
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A few days later, Luke was observing all of us fighting.
Ben had the first turn, and he was able to hold his ground very well against the droideka, lasting fifteen minutes.
Jun lasted twenty-five minutes, and once feeling came back to his hand, he began stripping off his belt and tunic.
Luke walked up to him and gently toughed his shoulder.
"Jun, I'm not going to hurt you. That was very good. I'm impressed."
"I failed."
"No, you defended yourself. That is what we are working on here."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Jun relaxed and then realized I had been telling the truth.
Luke was a good man and he would never have to kill again.
"Thank you," Jun said in basic to me.
"You're welcome," I said.
At the time, I assumed that he was thanking me for telling the truth; however, he told me when we were older, that he was thanking me for taking him away from his masters.
Luke had me face the droid next, and much to his surprise, I managed to match Ben's time.
"Asenath, that is much improved. What did you do?"
"Jun helped me."
"Jun?"
"We've made a pact. He will help me with combat skills, and I will help him work on reading, writing, and school."
Luke seemed to think hard.
"Okay. That's enough for today, kids."