Disclaimer:
George Lucas = owner of Star Wars
Me = Bored teenager with way too much time on my hands.
See the difference? 'Nuff said.
AN: I added TWO MORE chapters since I haven't updated for so long! You people are so lucky!
*****
CHAPTER NINE
Aro-Ken had grown stronger since Mattan had found him the previous day. He could now walk, with a slight limp, in his cabin. The blaster wound in his side was healing nicely, and so was the gash on his skull. He had to admit, for such primitive medicines the three medics were using, they were doing the trick.
He had been outside a few times, and saw that the village wasn't very big. There were probably about thirty families living in small, simple houses made of logs. There was a large forest off to one side of the village, a river on the other, and the rest was large, grassy plains and gently rolling hills.
Mattan still came to visit Aro-Ken often, answering any question Aro-Ken had about Jadda. Aro-Ken, in turn, told Mattan anything he wanted to know about Jedis.
He had shown Mattan how his lightsaber worked, demonstrated his powers, and told him how he was trained. The young boy had been entranced as he watched with fascination, asking about everything he wanted to know and, to his happiness, he usually got a good answer.
Mattan had never been off Jadda except for the brief period of time that he had lived on Crixxin, during which he was too young to remember much.
Mattan's mother, Dahna, was very elusive when Aro-Ken questioned her about her son. She would give him reluctant answers, or ones that he could not make any sense out of.
Aro-Ken had awakened the morning after he had first met Mattan to find a pair of soft brown eyes hovering just a few inches from his face.
"Aah!" he cried, jumping in surprise.
"Do you like him?" he heard a voice ask.
"What is this thing, Mattan?" he asked the boy, who was calmly sitting next to the bed.
The animal was small and furry. It had wide, pointed ears and a slim muzzle. It was lying on his chest, and now began to sniff him.
"It's a foxxin. I caught him outside for you. He'll keep you company," Mattan said, obviously proud of himself.
"How did you catch it?" Aro-Ken asked. He had heard of foxxins before. People said they were very difficult to catch.
"I followed him for a while, and he didn't know I was there. And then I knew where he would go, so I hid and waited, and then I put my shirt over him. He was really struggling and kicking, so I told him it was OK and I wouldn't hurt him, and then he was good," Mattan explained, swelling with pride.
Aro-Ken was now intrigued. "How did you know where it would go?" he asked the boy.
"I just knew it in my head. Like you said you can see things before they happen and know where something is going. I did that. And then I didn't tell him it was OK. I said it with my mind. I thought it, and he heard me, I guess," Mattan said.
Aro-Ken nodded, not really sure what to say next.
"Can you tell me about what happened on Crixxin some more?" Mattan asked.
"Sure," Aro-Ken said.
He sat with Mattan for the next hour, retelling his tale of everything that had happened since the first time he'd set foot on the Crixxin soil.
"What was Crixxin like before all the wars?" Mattan asked.
Aro-Ken proceeded to tell of this. He told Mattan what he knew of the splendorous architecture, the flourishing, prosperous cities, the beautiful wilderness, and peaceful, tranquil countryside farms.
Finally, as she always seemed to do, Dahna came in after a while and called Mattan to dinner. He left reluctantly, and Aro-Ken caught the same smile that Dahna always gave him.
In his time on Jadda, Aro-Ken had made several attempts to talk to Dahna about her son. About how mature he was, how intelligent he was for his age, and, what Aro-Ken had really wanted to know, who was his father? But usually she would smile and change the subject.
During one conversation, they got into great detail about Mattan's abilities.
"Dahna, your son is a very. unique boy," Aro-Ken had started off with.
Dahna had given him one of the all-too-familiar smiles. "Yes, I know. He is very special."
"I believe he can see things before they happen. He has very quick reflexes," Aro-Ken commented.
"Yes," Dahna simply said.
"How long have you seen his abilities?" asked Aro-Ken.
"Since he was born. If I lost something, he always knew where it was. There was a time that a herd of banthas was stampeding towards the village. He knew before they arrived. He alerted everyone before they were in range of sight. Even before we could hear them. We were able to drive them away and change their course before they reached the village with his warning," Dahna said, obviously proud of her son.
"Did anybody else in your family have powers like his? Your parents, siblings?" asked Aro-Ken.
"No. Nobody," Dahna replied.
"Tell me, who was his father?"
Dahna froze for a moment. "I. I don't remember his name. I have to leave," she said, rising and walking away.
As he ate his dinner, Aro-Ken fed some of it to the foxxin, which had proceeded to licking his face constantly. Aro-Ken found if he put it on the ground, it got jumpy and anxious, and would always find a way to clamber back into his lap.
As he stroked it gently, his thoughts once again wandered to the boy.
After their conversation that day, he suddenly knew what it was he had sensed. The Force. He could have smacked himself for not realizing it sooner. He supposed Del-Mon had been right when he said that Aro-Ken had to work on his connection to the living Force. Why had it taken him so long? He had no idea what he was to do with this information, but he supposed there would be time to do something later.
He managed to focus his thoughts on his mission. Where was Del-Mon? Was he even alive? Aro-Ken was pretty sure he would feel something if his master was deceased, they had been traveling with each other for the better part of three years.
No. He had to be alive. And Aro-Ken knew he had to find him.
When the three healers came in to check up on him, they all agreed he would be well the next day.
He lay awake late that night, scratching the sleeping foxxin's head, contemplating his situation carefully. He was injured, but healing rapidly, on a small moon with no apparent way off. The mission he was to accomplish was impossible to do from his current location, and the planet he had to get to was war-torn and hostile. He had no idea if his master was dead or alive, or captive if he was alive. He had to admit, his predicament was very grim.
Sighing dismally, he looked out the window. He saw the orb that was Crixxin. It was green, blue, and brown in some places.
He just looked at it, his head a whirlwind of thoughts, until he finally fell into a dreamless sleep.
Aro-Ken arose the next day to the familiar sound of the three women coming in with their herbs and clean bandages for his wounds.
He could hear them speaking of an unusual subject. More had been found dead, all in the same place, just an hour ago.
Instantly, Aro-Ken sat up and looked at them. "How many were found?" he asked.
"Ten, I believe," answered Wyla.
"How did they get here?" Aro-Ken asked.
"They were left at the Dead Site by a large transport, just like you were," answered Lani.
"I must see the Dead Site. How often does the transport leave people here?" he asked.
"Every day. Sometimes there are two or three that come in a day," said Wyla.
"Can you take me to the Dead Site?" he hopefully asked.
The three healers looked at each other. "Yes, I think so," Rida said.
"Good. I have a plan."
Aro-Ken wasted no time. As soon as they were done, he was outside in the middle of the village square, all the people of the village gathered around him.
"People of Wellmir, I am Aro-Ken Rumos. I'm a Jedi, and I think I can help you get off this moon and back to Crixxin if you are willing to do as I say. Will you hear me out?" he asked, speaking loudly and calmly.
"Why should we believe you? Why should we trust you?" a voice shouted. It was followed by a murmur of agreement.
Aro-Ken looked down at the large rock he was standing on. He focused on it, using almost every ounce of strength he had to pull it with the Force.
He closed his eyes as he concentrated, shutting the crowd of villagers out of his mind. A few beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.
He suddenly felt the boulder jerk, freeing itself from the soil. It began to rise, going up until it was above the heads of the surrounding people. From the gasps of shock and amazement he heard, Aro-Ken knew he had proved himself to them.
He opened his eyes and looked down. "Is this proof enough?" he asked, hiding the effort it took to keep the stone suspended in the air.
There was a unanimous agreement in the crowd.
Slowly, Aro-Ken allowed the stone to come down and nestle itself in the hole it had began in.
"Now please, listen to me. I was sent on a diplomatic mission to try and stop the conflict on Crixxin, but something happened and I wound up here. I need to get back to the planet and complete my mission. How many of you know of what has been happening on your planet?" Aro-Ken asked.
Most all of the villagers' hands went up.
"Then you wish to stop it as much as I do, I'm sure," said Aro-Ken.
There was a murmur of agreement.
"Good. Now listen. This will only work if everyone cooperates. When the next transport comes, myself and some others will be waiting for it. As soon as the hatch opens, we shall board the transport, by force if we must. Tell me, how large is this transport that comes?" he asked.
A voice called out, "Very large!"
"Is it large enough to hold everyone from this village?" Aro-Ken asked.
"No, I'd say half of us could get on at once," replied whoever had called out.
"All right. Those that aren't coming on the first trip will be picked up later, I promise. What weapons do you have here?" Aro-Ken asked.
"Spears," replied someone in the crowd.
"That's all?" Aro-Ken asked, hoping it wasn't.
No one answered.
"We'll have to work with that. I'll need the four best spearsmen you have to take the ship. Once the transport is ours, those who are coming back to Crixxin can board. I'll leave it up to all of you to decide who will come with me on the first trip. Now, would those four spearsmen please come forward?"
There was a short dispute, but finally four large men stepped out of the crowd.
"Good. We'll need to go soon. Hurry and pick who will come. Those that remain here, I promise I will send another transport back for you. Hurry, we don't know how much time we have to prepare," said Aro-Ken. He suddenly saw Mattan's eyes in the crowd, looking at him with admiration and hope. Looking at the young boy, he said to the whole crowd, "May the Force be with you."
*****
So what did you think? Please review! Flames, like, no-like, I don't care! I'll read anything! I'm a review freak, I live for reviews!
George Lucas = owner of Star Wars
Me = Bored teenager with way too much time on my hands.
See the difference? 'Nuff said.
AN: I added TWO MORE chapters since I haven't updated for so long! You people are so lucky!
*****
CHAPTER NINE
Aro-Ken had grown stronger since Mattan had found him the previous day. He could now walk, with a slight limp, in his cabin. The blaster wound in his side was healing nicely, and so was the gash on his skull. He had to admit, for such primitive medicines the three medics were using, they were doing the trick.
He had been outside a few times, and saw that the village wasn't very big. There were probably about thirty families living in small, simple houses made of logs. There was a large forest off to one side of the village, a river on the other, and the rest was large, grassy plains and gently rolling hills.
Mattan still came to visit Aro-Ken often, answering any question Aro-Ken had about Jadda. Aro-Ken, in turn, told Mattan anything he wanted to know about Jedis.
He had shown Mattan how his lightsaber worked, demonstrated his powers, and told him how he was trained. The young boy had been entranced as he watched with fascination, asking about everything he wanted to know and, to his happiness, he usually got a good answer.
Mattan had never been off Jadda except for the brief period of time that he had lived on Crixxin, during which he was too young to remember much.
Mattan's mother, Dahna, was very elusive when Aro-Ken questioned her about her son. She would give him reluctant answers, or ones that he could not make any sense out of.
Aro-Ken had awakened the morning after he had first met Mattan to find a pair of soft brown eyes hovering just a few inches from his face.
"Aah!" he cried, jumping in surprise.
"Do you like him?" he heard a voice ask.
"What is this thing, Mattan?" he asked the boy, who was calmly sitting next to the bed.
The animal was small and furry. It had wide, pointed ears and a slim muzzle. It was lying on his chest, and now began to sniff him.
"It's a foxxin. I caught him outside for you. He'll keep you company," Mattan said, obviously proud of himself.
"How did you catch it?" Aro-Ken asked. He had heard of foxxins before. People said they were very difficult to catch.
"I followed him for a while, and he didn't know I was there. And then I knew where he would go, so I hid and waited, and then I put my shirt over him. He was really struggling and kicking, so I told him it was OK and I wouldn't hurt him, and then he was good," Mattan explained, swelling with pride.
Aro-Ken was now intrigued. "How did you know where it would go?" he asked the boy.
"I just knew it in my head. Like you said you can see things before they happen and know where something is going. I did that. And then I didn't tell him it was OK. I said it with my mind. I thought it, and he heard me, I guess," Mattan said.
Aro-Ken nodded, not really sure what to say next.
"Can you tell me about what happened on Crixxin some more?" Mattan asked.
"Sure," Aro-Ken said.
He sat with Mattan for the next hour, retelling his tale of everything that had happened since the first time he'd set foot on the Crixxin soil.
"What was Crixxin like before all the wars?" Mattan asked.
Aro-Ken proceeded to tell of this. He told Mattan what he knew of the splendorous architecture, the flourishing, prosperous cities, the beautiful wilderness, and peaceful, tranquil countryside farms.
Finally, as she always seemed to do, Dahna came in after a while and called Mattan to dinner. He left reluctantly, and Aro-Ken caught the same smile that Dahna always gave him.
In his time on Jadda, Aro-Ken had made several attempts to talk to Dahna about her son. About how mature he was, how intelligent he was for his age, and, what Aro-Ken had really wanted to know, who was his father? But usually she would smile and change the subject.
During one conversation, they got into great detail about Mattan's abilities.
"Dahna, your son is a very. unique boy," Aro-Ken had started off with.
Dahna had given him one of the all-too-familiar smiles. "Yes, I know. He is very special."
"I believe he can see things before they happen. He has very quick reflexes," Aro-Ken commented.
"Yes," Dahna simply said.
"How long have you seen his abilities?" asked Aro-Ken.
"Since he was born. If I lost something, he always knew where it was. There was a time that a herd of banthas was stampeding towards the village. He knew before they arrived. He alerted everyone before they were in range of sight. Even before we could hear them. We were able to drive them away and change their course before they reached the village with his warning," Dahna said, obviously proud of her son.
"Did anybody else in your family have powers like his? Your parents, siblings?" asked Aro-Ken.
"No. Nobody," Dahna replied.
"Tell me, who was his father?"
Dahna froze for a moment. "I. I don't remember his name. I have to leave," she said, rising and walking away.
As he ate his dinner, Aro-Ken fed some of it to the foxxin, which had proceeded to licking his face constantly. Aro-Ken found if he put it on the ground, it got jumpy and anxious, and would always find a way to clamber back into his lap.
As he stroked it gently, his thoughts once again wandered to the boy.
After their conversation that day, he suddenly knew what it was he had sensed. The Force. He could have smacked himself for not realizing it sooner. He supposed Del-Mon had been right when he said that Aro-Ken had to work on his connection to the living Force. Why had it taken him so long? He had no idea what he was to do with this information, but he supposed there would be time to do something later.
He managed to focus his thoughts on his mission. Where was Del-Mon? Was he even alive? Aro-Ken was pretty sure he would feel something if his master was deceased, they had been traveling with each other for the better part of three years.
No. He had to be alive. And Aro-Ken knew he had to find him.
When the three healers came in to check up on him, they all agreed he would be well the next day.
He lay awake late that night, scratching the sleeping foxxin's head, contemplating his situation carefully. He was injured, but healing rapidly, on a small moon with no apparent way off. The mission he was to accomplish was impossible to do from his current location, and the planet he had to get to was war-torn and hostile. He had no idea if his master was dead or alive, or captive if he was alive. He had to admit, his predicament was very grim.
Sighing dismally, he looked out the window. He saw the orb that was Crixxin. It was green, blue, and brown in some places.
He just looked at it, his head a whirlwind of thoughts, until he finally fell into a dreamless sleep.
Aro-Ken arose the next day to the familiar sound of the three women coming in with their herbs and clean bandages for his wounds.
He could hear them speaking of an unusual subject. More had been found dead, all in the same place, just an hour ago.
Instantly, Aro-Ken sat up and looked at them. "How many were found?" he asked.
"Ten, I believe," answered Wyla.
"How did they get here?" Aro-Ken asked.
"They were left at the Dead Site by a large transport, just like you were," answered Lani.
"I must see the Dead Site. How often does the transport leave people here?" he asked.
"Every day. Sometimes there are two or three that come in a day," said Wyla.
"Can you take me to the Dead Site?" he hopefully asked.
The three healers looked at each other. "Yes, I think so," Rida said.
"Good. I have a plan."
Aro-Ken wasted no time. As soon as they were done, he was outside in the middle of the village square, all the people of the village gathered around him.
"People of Wellmir, I am Aro-Ken Rumos. I'm a Jedi, and I think I can help you get off this moon and back to Crixxin if you are willing to do as I say. Will you hear me out?" he asked, speaking loudly and calmly.
"Why should we believe you? Why should we trust you?" a voice shouted. It was followed by a murmur of agreement.
Aro-Ken looked down at the large rock he was standing on. He focused on it, using almost every ounce of strength he had to pull it with the Force.
He closed his eyes as he concentrated, shutting the crowd of villagers out of his mind. A few beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.
He suddenly felt the boulder jerk, freeing itself from the soil. It began to rise, going up until it was above the heads of the surrounding people. From the gasps of shock and amazement he heard, Aro-Ken knew he had proved himself to them.
He opened his eyes and looked down. "Is this proof enough?" he asked, hiding the effort it took to keep the stone suspended in the air.
There was a unanimous agreement in the crowd.
Slowly, Aro-Ken allowed the stone to come down and nestle itself in the hole it had began in.
"Now please, listen to me. I was sent on a diplomatic mission to try and stop the conflict on Crixxin, but something happened and I wound up here. I need to get back to the planet and complete my mission. How many of you know of what has been happening on your planet?" Aro-Ken asked.
Most all of the villagers' hands went up.
"Then you wish to stop it as much as I do, I'm sure," said Aro-Ken.
There was a murmur of agreement.
"Good. Now listen. This will only work if everyone cooperates. When the next transport comes, myself and some others will be waiting for it. As soon as the hatch opens, we shall board the transport, by force if we must. Tell me, how large is this transport that comes?" he asked.
A voice called out, "Very large!"
"Is it large enough to hold everyone from this village?" Aro-Ken asked.
"No, I'd say half of us could get on at once," replied whoever had called out.
"All right. Those that aren't coming on the first trip will be picked up later, I promise. What weapons do you have here?" Aro-Ken asked.
"Spears," replied someone in the crowd.
"That's all?" Aro-Ken asked, hoping it wasn't.
No one answered.
"We'll have to work with that. I'll need the four best spearsmen you have to take the ship. Once the transport is ours, those who are coming back to Crixxin can board. I'll leave it up to all of you to decide who will come with me on the first trip. Now, would those four spearsmen please come forward?"
There was a short dispute, but finally four large men stepped out of the crowd.
"Good. We'll need to go soon. Hurry and pick who will come. Those that remain here, I promise I will send another transport back for you. Hurry, we don't know how much time we have to prepare," said Aro-Ken. He suddenly saw Mattan's eyes in the crowd, looking at him with admiration and hope. Looking at the young boy, he said to the whole crowd, "May the Force be with you."
*****
So what did you think? Please review! Flames, like, no-like, I don't care! I'll read anything! I'm a review freak, I live for reviews!