CHAPTER FIVE
For nearly a full minute, all Aro-Ken could do was stare in the direction Del-Mon had left in. He was stunned. How could the Jedi Master do this to him? His last chance was gone. How was he to be chosen when he was in the Agricultural Corpse?
He refused to cry. He was way too old to do something like that. Finally, he spun around on his heel and dejectedly trudged down the twisting hallways.
He took his time, looking around and remembering everything that he'd done in his time in the Temple.
The pool, where Mannakri would beat them all at swimming races, and he and Wolden would jump from the tallest diving platforms next to each other.
The training room, where Ada-Rin had beaten him time and time again with her much-envied lightsaber skills.
He saw the hallway that Erdan's dormitory was in, and could remember walking with his brother down the corridor several times, or coming to comfort him when he felt his brother's distress after waking up from a nightmare.
After nearly an hour, Aro-Ken found himself back at his own dormitory. Fighting the tears that stung at his eyes, he opened the door and went inside.
He walked around his room slowly, grabbing his belongings and tossing them into a bag. As he picked up his lightsaber from a small table, he sensed someone at the door.
He turned, and saw Ada-Rin standing there.
"What took you so long? I've been standing here for about ten minutes," she said.
"Sorry," Aro-Ken said.
There was a moment of awkward silence before Ada-Rin spoke again. "Um… When do you leave?" she asked.
"A few hours," he replied.
"Um… Where is it that you're going again? Just incase I'm in the system sometime," Ada-Rin said.
"Taylon," he replied.
"Aro-Ken, I… I wanted to say good-bye to you… Incase I don't see you again before you leave," Ada-Rin said.
"Bye," he said.
"Bye," said Ada-Rin.
There was more silence. Aro-Ken could feel tears sting his eyes again as he looked at his friend, and he quickly turned away, hoping she hadn't noticed.
"Aro-Ken… I'll miss you," Ada-Rin said.
"I'll miss you too," Aro-Ken said, slightly choked up.
"Before you left, I… I wanted to give you this," said Ada-Rin.
Aro-Ken slowly turned around, and saw she was holding a chain in her hand. On it was an old golden ring that he had found and given to her a few years ago.
The boy took it and put it around his neck.
"Thank you," he said.
"Yeah," Ada-Rin said.
After another silent moment, Ada-Rin suddenly put her arms around his shoulders and hugged him.
Aro-Ken swallowed his tears, and wrapped one arm around her.
"I'm so sorry," he said.
"Me too," Ada-Rin said.
He felt her hot tears as they fell onto his neck, and he finally allowed a single tear to drip down his cheek.
* * *
About an hour later, Aro-Ken numbly walked down the hallway. His bag was over his shoulder, and he was heading to the landing pad.
He stood up straight, and refused to look back. He was calm, refusing to let himself overreact.
Aro-Ken was completely alone. He'd said good-bye to Erdan, Wolden, and Mannakri separately, all of them equally disturbed by his leaving.
He was sad and off his guard, completely unaware.
It was the perfect opportunity that the Shadowraith had been waiting for.
* * *
Aro-Ken suddenly felt cold.
He froze and remained perfectly still. He could sense something behind him, something evil. He had sensed it earlier after his last lightsaber bout, and when he had been looking for Del-Mon.
He chanced a quick glance over his shoulder. He thought he saw something, but he couldn't be sure. It looked like a black cloak or a shadow that flickered and disappeared.
Aro-Ken went slightly faster, going at a jog. He sensed the shadow pursuing him. Slowly, he began to unzip his bag, prepared to grab his lightsaber incase he needed to fight.
The cold feeling was not only physical, but mental as well. Aro-Ken could sense the shadow coming closer. He heard a voice in the back of his head begin to whisper.
"Come to the Dark Side. Become a shadow. Join the wraiths," it said. The voice was low and calm, and had a rasping tone. It was a voice that suggested pure evil.
Aro-Ken took off at a run. He knew he was being pursued, but heard no footfalls behind him. It was as though whatever was chasing him was flying.
At this time of day, almost all the other students were in their classes being instructed by the Masters. There was no one around to watch as Aro- Ken's pursuer closed in on him.
"There is no escape," breathed the voice.
Aro-Ken ran harder, going as fast as he could. He was nearly to the hangar, just a few more corridors. He wasn't sure, but he thought he could feel cold breath on the back of his neck.
He took a quick shortcut that he new, darting into the cafeteria, which was empty at this time of day. Aro-Ken weaved in and out of the many tables, occasionally knocking over a chair behind him.
Once in a while he'd jump onto one of the longer tables and run along atop it. Aro-Ken ducked or dove under some of the smaller ones that he found under his path, and would scramble back on his feet and keep running.
He opened up the door, stepped out, and quickly hit the controls to make it close. He jammed it, and took a few steps back, getting his breath back.
Suddenly, blue and yellow sparks began to crackle and jump around the keypad. Aro-Ken's eyes grew wide as he watched. The keypad abruptly exploded, and the door shot open.
Aro-Ken didn't stand there any longer, and took off running again. Left, right, right, left, left, right, and down a quick flight of stairs he frantically ran, not daring to look behind him.
He darted to the left and jumped over another flight of stairs, completely clearing it. He hit the ground running, going straight down the hallway.
"I'm almost there, I'm almost there," Aro-Ken thought.
He was beginning to tire. His bag felt heavy, and his muscles were starting to burn.
Aro-Ken darted around the corner, and spotted the hangar door. He put on a burst of speed, using the last of his strength. His fingers flew over the keypad as he entered the code.
As he did, he could sense the shadow coming closer. He hair on the back of his neck stood up.
Just as he hit the last button, he felt a hand grasp his arm. He looked down. It was black and ice-cold, and connected to an arm covered by a wispy black cloak.
Aro-Ken darted through the door, and wrenched his arm free.
Instantly, the cold feeling was gone. He looked around. He saw no trace of black. He felt normal, except for the fact that he was out of breath.
He remembered the ship was called Coruscant's Pride. When he'd heard the name, Aro-Ken had been expecting a sleek, fast transport ship, not the old boxy cargo freighter that he found before him. A few Jedi Masters were assembled near the landing ramp, as well as some of the crew and the captain.
He suddenly noticed that all eyes in the room had turned to him.
"Aro-Ken. You're late," said Mace Windu from where he had been speaking to the captain.
Aro-Ken took a few deep breaths before saying, "Sorry… I was a little… Sidetracked."
Mace gave him a stern look. "All right. Get on board. The captain has been waiting for you," he said.
Aro-Ken's eyebrows rose. Just like that? He had to leave just like that?
"Come on, Kid, I don't have all day. I've got a schedule to keep," grumbled the captain.
Taking a last look back at the Temple, he walked up the boarding ramp, each step feeling like he had durasteel feet.
Tears still stung his eyes. Aro-Ken swallowed, trying to find his calm center and push the sadness from his mind.
But he could not.
For nearly a full minute, all Aro-Ken could do was stare in the direction Del-Mon had left in. He was stunned. How could the Jedi Master do this to him? His last chance was gone. How was he to be chosen when he was in the Agricultural Corpse?
He refused to cry. He was way too old to do something like that. Finally, he spun around on his heel and dejectedly trudged down the twisting hallways.
He took his time, looking around and remembering everything that he'd done in his time in the Temple.
The pool, where Mannakri would beat them all at swimming races, and he and Wolden would jump from the tallest diving platforms next to each other.
The training room, where Ada-Rin had beaten him time and time again with her much-envied lightsaber skills.
He saw the hallway that Erdan's dormitory was in, and could remember walking with his brother down the corridor several times, or coming to comfort him when he felt his brother's distress after waking up from a nightmare.
After nearly an hour, Aro-Ken found himself back at his own dormitory. Fighting the tears that stung at his eyes, he opened the door and went inside.
He walked around his room slowly, grabbing his belongings and tossing them into a bag. As he picked up his lightsaber from a small table, he sensed someone at the door.
He turned, and saw Ada-Rin standing there.
"What took you so long? I've been standing here for about ten minutes," she said.
"Sorry," Aro-Ken said.
There was a moment of awkward silence before Ada-Rin spoke again. "Um… When do you leave?" she asked.
"A few hours," he replied.
"Um… Where is it that you're going again? Just incase I'm in the system sometime," Ada-Rin said.
"Taylon," he replied.
"Aro-Ken, I… I wanted to say good-bye to you… Incase I don't see you again before you leave," Ada-Rin said.
"Bye," he said.
"Bye," said Ada-Rin.
There was more silence. Aro-Ken could feel tears sting his eyes again as he looked at his friend, and he quickly turned away, hoping she hadn't noticed.
"Aro-Ken… I'll miss you," Ada-Rin said.
"I'll miss you too," Aro-Ken said, slightly choked up.
"Before you left, I… I wanted to give you this," said Ada-Rin.
Aro-Ken slowly turned around, and saw she was holding a chain in her hand. On it was an old golden ring that he had found and given to her a few years ago.
The boy took it and put it around his neck.
"Thank you," he said.
"Yeah," Ada-Rin said.
After another silent moment, Ada-Rin suddenly put her arms around his shoulders and hugged him.
Aro-Ken swallowed his tears, and wrapped one arm around her.
"I'm so sorry," he said.
"Me too," Ada-Rin said.
He felt her hot tears as they fell onto his neck, and he finally allowed a single tear to drip down his cheek.
* * *
About an hour later, Aro-Ken numbly walked down the hallway. His bag was over his shoulder, and he was heading to the landing pad.
He stood up straight, and refused to look back. He was calm, refusing to let himself overreact.
Aro-Ken was completely alone. He'd said good-bye to Erdan, Wolden, and Mannakri separately, all of them equally disturbed by his leaving.
He was sad and off his guard, completely unaware.
It was the perfect opportunity that the Shadowraith had been waiting for.
* * *
Aro-Ken suddenly felt cold.
He froze and remained perfectly still. He could sense something behind him, something evil. He had sensed it earlier after his last lightsaber bout, and when he had been looking for Del-Mon.
He chanced a quick glance over his shoulder. He thought he saw something, but he couldn't be sure. It looked like a black cloak or a shadow that flickered and disappeared.
Aro-Ken went slightly faster, going at a jog. He sensed the shadow pursuing him. Slowly, he began to unzip his bag, prepared to grab his lightsaber incase he needed to fight.
The cold feeling was not only physical, but mental as well. Aro-Ken could sense the shadow coming closer. He heard a voice in the back of his head begin to whisper.
"Come to the Dark Side. Become a shadow. Join the wraiths," it said. The voice was low and calm, and had a rasping tone. It was a voice that suggested pure evil.
Aro-Ken took off at a run. He knew he was being pursued, but heard no footfalls behind him. It was as though whatever was chasing him was flying.
At this time of day, almost all the other students were in their classes being instructed by the Masters. There was no one around to watch as Aro- Ken's pursuer closed in on him.
"There is no escape," breathed the voice.
Aro-Ken ran harder, going as fast as he could. He was nearly to the hangar, just a few more corridors. He wasn't sure, but he thought he could feel cold breath on the back of his neck.
He took a quick shortcut that he new, darting into the cafeteria, which was empty at this time of day. Aro-Ken weaved in and out of the many tables, occasionally knocking over a chair behind him.
Once in a while he'd jump onto one of the longer tables and run along atop it. Aro-Ken ducked or dove under some of the smaller ones that he found under his path, and would scramble back on his feet and keep running.
He opened up the door, stepped out, and quickly hit the controls to make it close. He jammed it, and took a few steps back, getting his breath back.
Suddenly, blue and yellow sparks began to crackle and jump around the keypad. Aro-Ken's eyes grew wide as he watched. The keypad abruptly exploded, and the door shot open.
Aro-Ken didn't stand there any longer, and took off running again. Left, right, right, left, left, right, and down a quick flight of stairs he frantically ran, not daring to look behind him.
He darted to the left and jumped over another flight of stairs, completely clearing it. He hit the ground running, going straight down the hallway.
"I'm almost there, I'm almost there," Aro-Ken thought.
He was beginning to tire. His bag felt heavy, and his muscles were starting to burn.
Aro-Ken darted around the corner, and spotted the hangar door. He put on a burst of speed, using the last of his strength. His fingers flew over the keypad as he entered the code.
As he did, he could sense the shadow coming closer. He hair on the back of his neck stood up.
Just as he hit the last button, he felt a hand grasp his arm. He looked down. It was black and ice-cold, and connected to an arm covered by a wispy black cloak.
Aro-Ken darted through the door, and wrenched his arm free.
Instantly, the cold feeling was gone. He looked around. He saw no trace of black. He felt normal, except for the fact that he was out of breath.
He remembered the ship was called Coruscant's Pride. When he'd heard the name, Aro-Ken had been expecting a sleek, fast transport ship, not the old boxy cargo freighter that he found before him. A few Jedi Masters were assembled near the landing ramp, as well as some of the crew and the captain.
He suddenly noticed that all eyes in the room had turned to him.
"Aro-Ken. You're late," said Mace Windu from where he had been speaking to the captain.
Aro-Ken took a few deep breaths before saying, "Sorry… I was a little… Sidetracked."
Mace gave him a stern look. "All right. Get on board. The captain has been waiting for you," he said.
Aro-Ken's eyebrows rose. Just like that? He had to leave just like that?
"Come on, Kid, I don't have all day. I've got a schedule to keep," grumbled the captain.
Taking a last look back at the Temple, he walked up the boarding ramp, each step feeling like he had durasteel feet.
Tears still stung his eyes. Aro-Ken swallowed, trying to find his calm center and push the sadness from his mind.
But he could not.