-An Elegant Weapon-
It's a step that all Jedi students must take. The time has come for Ben to build his lightsaber. But when it is complete, an incredible thing happens that only one Jedi in the entire history of the Order has done. Can they expect as much from Ben as this legendary Jedi Master?
I'd been back at the Academy for about month when the next step in my training came to me. At this time, I had just added a new routine to my morning run. After I had finished, I would go into meditation for an hour. Incredible. No matter how tired you are, after just an hour in meditation, you feel as if you've had a full night's sleep...Wait, who's here? Only one person could have this much power radiating from them. "Good morning, Master Skywalker." I opened my eyes to see him standing in the doorway.
"Good morning, Ben. I have your next challenge."
"Great. What is it?"
"I have to admit that for a while, I had my reservations about this. Because of your still recent brush with the Dark Side. But now I'm convinced that you are truly at peace. You're ready to carry with you the ultimate symbol of a Jedi Knight."
My mouth dropped open when I figured out what he meant. "You mean...making my lightsaber?"
"Yes. Many students don't come to this step for a couple of years, but I'm making an exception with you. After class this morning, I'll sit down with you and explain the mechanics of building a lightsaber. The most important thing you need is patience. It will take time to build."
"I understand, Master. Thank you."
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After showering, I sprinted down to class and sat with my friends. "You guys aren't going to believe what just happened!"
Ryndell asked, "What?"
"I was in my room meditating when Master Skywalker came in and gave me my next challenge!" I looked around to make sure no one else was listening in. I wanted to keep this secret until I had finished building it. "He's going to teach me to build a lightsaber!"
Shocked, Guild blurted out, "What? Already? We haven't even been training for half a year!"
"I don't know, he just said that he believed that I was ready for it. He's going to teach me how after class today."
Guild came back with, "How long do you think it'll be before you have one built?"
"It's tough to say. Possibly anywhere from a week to a month or more."
While laughing, Ryndell said, "Just try not to lose too many fingers building it!"
Tallah and Guild joined in the laughing, and I grinned. "Funny..."
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After class was over and all of the other students had filed out of the room, Master Skywalker sat down with me and discussed what I would need to build my lightsaber. "The first thing you will need is a suitable power source to store the energy. It must also be able to fit into a metal tube. And the most important thing that you must do is get a focusing jewel. This will determine what color the blade will be. Some will search the jungle for their jewel. And there are a select few that will make their own."
It was difficult for me to take it all in as Master Skywalker explained it all to me. I wasn't mechanically challenged by any means, but I had my limits. And I was pretty sure that the mechanics of lightsabers were well past that limit. But I refused to allow that to slow me down. I was determined to understand it all and build it without having him standing over my shoulder every step of the way.
"Aside from these things, which are the necessities to complete the lightsaber, many Jedi decide on extras to fit their own needs. Like adding a mechanism that will lock the blade on even if dropped to the ground. Some will even add a second jewel that will allow them to extend the blade to twice its length. But I'll warn you right now that that is an extremely difficult thing to do. But it's your decision. Do you think that you can handle this, Ben?"
"I'll try—no! I mean...Yes, Master. I'll do it."
Master Skywalker smiled and said, "I'll give you a start by giving you a power source. Do you know where you want to start looking for your jewel?"
"Actually...I'd like to make my jewel."
"Ben...are you aware of what it takes to make your jewel? It takes two days of straight meditation and concentration to give the jewel the perfect heated environment. Not hot enough and the jewel will not shape correctly. Too hot and the jewel will melt. In that two days, you must remain in complete concentration. No food, no water, no sleep, nothing. It would probably be the most difficult two days you would ever have in your training here."
"But when complete, I'll have a lightsaber that is truly mine."
"I can't argue that point...but are you positive that this is what you want to do?"
"Yes, Master."
"Very well. You'll be excused from class tomorrow morning and the next morning. I don't want you to start right away. Before you do this, I want you to eat a lot today, drink plenty of water, and be well rested before you start."
"I understand, Master. I'll let my friends know to not look for me the next couple of days."
"That would be a good idea. If this is truly what you want to do, then my advice to you would be to relax as much as you can today."
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The next two days for me were a blur. The best way that I could describe the fatigue would be like being constantly punched and just having to stand there taking it. With defending yourself not even an option.
Throughout the two days, I constantly heard voices in my mind saying things like, "You did enough. Give up now."
"Come on, sleep for a while. What'll it hurt?"
"Stop to eat something. You probably don't really have to go two days straight without stopping."
"Give up now. You made a great effort, but you can't do this. Master Skywalker will be proud of you for trying. Many students just find their jewels. There's no shame in it."
But I knew that these voices were just my pain and fatigue talking. I refused to listen to them. When my two days were over, something in my mind told me that my work was complete. I slowly opened my eyes, but for several minutes, could barely see because of going for so long without using them.
I opened the door to the furnace in front of me and smiled at what I saw. I picked up the two jewels that were sitting side by side. I gripped them tightly, feeling their smoothness and surprised at how cool they were, when they should've been hot.
With my eyes not open much more than slits and with a weak smile on my face, I made my way to the Throne Room, where I knew Master Skywalker would be. The walk was difficult and I felt weak with each step, but I needed to show my work to him.
As I walked through the Throne Room, Master Skywalker turned around and smiled as he saw me approaching. "Hello Ben. Welcome back to the world of the living. Was your work a success?"
I smiled a little more and held up my fist. As I opened my hand, I said, "You tell me."
Master Skywalker smiled even more when he looked down at the jewel I carried in my hand. Two jewels without a spot of color to them. "May I see them closer?"
I hesitated at first. I really didn't want them to leave my hand. Or anything to happen to them. But I knew I could trust him, so I dropped them into his outstretched hand.
He looked them over, checking for smoothness and any flaws in the jewels, like cracks or bubbles, Anything major like that and the jewel would not work. I held my breath and my heart paused in my chest as Master Skywalker looked back up at me to give his critique. "You did just fine, Ben. These will make fine focusing jewels for your lightsaber."
I breathed easier after that. "I'm relieved. Thank you, Master."
"You're welcome." Master Skywalker began to look me up and down at that point. "Considering all of the extra work that you do, I don't think it'll harm anything if you miss one more class. Why don't you go get some sleep?"
"I'd like that. Thank you, Master."
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There was never a time in my life when a bed felt so comfortable. Or a time when I fell asleep so quickly. The instant I closed my eyes, I was out cold. Until I was woken up by a knocking on my door. I opened my eyes and sat up. As I took a deep breath and rubbed my eyes, I noticed how refreshed I felt. The knocking at my door repeated and this time, I got up to open my door. I wasn't surprised to see my friends standing there.
In his usual fashion, Guild said, "Ben! Long time, no see!"
"Hi guys. So, what've I missed while under meditation?"
Ryndell said, "Well, you've turned into a pretty big celebrity around here. All of the students are talking about you. Even some of the past students and other Jedi Masters have come back to see you."
"Me? What for?"
Tallah said, "From what I've heard, Master Skywalker and some of the other Jedi Masters have been feeling tremors through the Force. As if something monumental is about to happen. They believe that you have something to do with it."
"How?"
Tallah responded, "I don't know. But neither do they."
Guild said, "But it looks like they're going to be expecting some great things from you."
"Well then, I'll do my best to not disappoint them."
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Starting that day, I had a lot of meetings with the other Jedi Masters of the galaxy: Kyp Durron, Cilghal, Streen, Mara Jade-Skywalker. They all seemed so astonished by me, but I really didn't get it.
The meetings were usually just conversations. They would ask me for my thoughts on certain aspects of the Force or about my past experiences in life. But there were others things they had me do that were a bit more interesting. Master Jade-Skywalker spent a lot of her time with me giving me tests to do through the Force. Master Durron seemed very interested in discussing my brush with the Dark Side, which made sense considering his own brush with it. Master Cilghal wanted to run some medical tests on me to test for any biological differences between me and the other human students. I was a little nervous about that test, but as it turned out, there wasn't.
In between all of these things, I was trying to put my lightsaber together. It seemed that the closer I got to completion, the more frequently I was being called for. I really didn't mind it too much. It was just that it was slowing my work on my lightsaber.
After two long weeks, my patience was finally starting to pay off. My next step was inserting my focusing jewels so that they would be wired to the power source. This was such a difficult and exact step, that it took slow and careful hands, plus some careful use of the Force to assist in things that were too small to be done with hands.
Easy...Don't...rush yourself...Take the time...to do it...correctly...Almost got it...almost...almost...Yes! Got it!
With the focusing jewels wired to the power source, I took the other half of the metal cylinder and screwed it in tightly to the other half. I picked up the lightsaber and held it in my right hand for a while before I placed my left hand onto the hilt. I placed my thumb over the switch, but couldn't bring myself to ignite it. What if it doesn't work right? Then the past two weeks will have been for nothing.
After a deep breath, I pushed the switch and heard my lightsaber's first snap-hiss. I felt the hilt vibrating in my hands. The bright light shining off of the blade...It wasn't until that moment that I noticed the peculiarity of my lightsaber to others. What the hell...I've never heard of anything like this before. Is there something wrong with my lightsaber? I extinguished the blade and ran out to see Master Skywalker.
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Master Skywalker was in his own quarters when I managed to find him. "Master, I have something that I need to show you."
"What is it?"
"Well, it's about my lightsaber."
"Is it finished?"
"I think so, but when I ignited it, I noticed something strange. I'm sure I did everything correctly, but I'd like your help."
"I'll help in any way that I can. What's the problem with it?"
"It's the blade. It's...well...white."
"Well, the core of all lightsaber blades are white, Ben."
"Yes, I know Master. But that's not exactly what I was talking about. Look." I brought my lightsaber up and ignited it. The pure white blade came to life and its quiet hum was the only sound in the room for a few moments. I stood there looking at the blade before I looked back to Master Skywalker. "I've never heard of a white blade before, Master. Have you?"
He just stood there looking at the blade in, what looked to me like quiet awe. That began to worry me, because I knew that after a life like his, it would take something huge to shake him up this much. "Uh...Master?"
While still looking at the blade, Master Skywalker whispered, "Perfection."
"I'm sorry, Master...perfection?"
Master Skywalker finally looked at me and said, "Ben, are you aware of what it requires for a pure white lightsaber?" After I shook my head, he continued. "A perfect focusing jewel. No flaws of any kind and perfect geometrical shapes. And no jewel made from nature can create one. It must be done with the Force, as you did. When I studied the jewels you made, I was so busy making sure that there were no major flaws that I missed that there were no flaws at all."
"So...there's nothing wrong with my lightsaber?"
"No, Ben. In fact, next to your lightsaber, there's something wrong with all of ours."
I stumbled to try and respond to a compliment like that, but all that came out was, "Uh...Thank...Thank you, Master."
"I'd like to speak with the other Jedi Masters for a while. Go spend some time with your friends. I know you haven't had much of a chance to see them lately. We'll call you when we're ready."
"Understood, Master." I extinguished my lightsaber and clipped it to my belt for the first time. After I left, I went out in search of my friends. I think they'll be pretty interested in hearing this.
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As we all walked along the hallways in the Academy, I noticed that all of the students were still awed at being around me. It was strange to have people make paths for me to go through. And they always seemed to be whispering to each other about me. Some were noticing the lightsaber I now had on my belt, and pointing it out to others.
Ryndell excitedly said, "Master Skywalker actually called your lightsaber perfect?"
"Yeah. I really don't understand all of what's going on. Even if my lightsaber is rare, I don't see the big deal with a white blade." I looked around at everyone in the hallway who were all staring at me. Quietly, I said, "I wish everyone would quit looking at me like I'm some kind of zoo exhibit."
Tallah said, "Well, you've given them a lot of reason to. A lot of rumors are going around about you. Some of them are saying that you're going to start teaching our classes. A few are even saying that you're teaching the Jedi Masters."
"What?? That's crazy! How do these things get started? Just because I made my lightsaber early?"
Guild shrugged his shoulders and said, "I guess...hey, do you think we could see it?"
Immediately, one of the younger students in my class spoke up. "Yeah, ignite it! We want to see it!" Soon, I had a large group of students in a full circle around me, all talking at once that they wanted to see my lightsaber.
I was considering it when Master Streen broke through the circle and said, "Ben, we're ready to speak with you. Come with me." Everyone began to groan disappointedly, but Master Streen spoke above it. "You will all have a chance to understand, but after we speak with him first. Remember, patience. Use the Force."
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I stood in the Throne Room, before the first six Jedi Masters of the New Order, who were all staring at me. Masters Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker, Master Kyp Durron, Master Streen, Master Cilghal, and Master Tionne.
Master Kyp Durron spoke first. "Ben, Master Skywalker has told us of what you accomplished with your lightsaber. Through further research with the Jedi Holocron, we believe that we have unraveled this mystery. Could you please ignite it now?"
I nodded my head and pulled the lightsaber free and held it in my hand. I pointed it away from myself and ignited the blade. "I'm sorry, but I don't understand why this is being considered such a big deal. I mean, just because I did something that's kind of rare—"
Master Mara Jade Skywalker interrupted with, "Rare? Rare, Ben? In the thousands of years of the Jedi, there has only been one other Jedi who carried a white-bladed lightsaber. That's far from just rare."
"And who was that?" I asked after extinguishing my lightsaber and clipping it back onto my belt.
All of the Jedi Masters looked to Master Tionne, who stood up. Being the authority on the old Jedi, she was the one to tell the tale. "His name was Sacul Egroeg. And very little is really known about this legendary Jedi Master. It was during the time of the wars between the first of the Jedi and Dark Jedi. As the legend goes, the Jedi were in danger of losing when this mysterious man seemed to appear from nowhere. The Force was so strong with him that the Jedi could almost see it ripple around him as he moved. He quickly became in charge of the war. It was said that through his use of the Force and his powerful arms, he created whole new worlds for us to live on. And with his loving heart, created life to live on those worlds. He became the Master of the Jedi and the first to have the title of 'Jedi Master.' Many who saw his power believed that he didn't just use the Force. He embodied it. That he was an extension of its will. Like an arm."
"What happened to him?"
Master Tionne continued the story. "The war was finally coming to an end. Even after a hundred years, Master Sacul lost none of his power. His dark hair had gone white and his face wrinkled, but he remained as strong and powerful as ever. Victory had finally come into sight for the Jedi. As a last result, many of the Dark Jedi gathered together in space outside of Geonosis and began to create dark energy. Pure concentrated darkness. If released, it would destroy the Jedi Order. Master Sacul looked up at them and their dark energy. With a lift of his hand and a shove of his powerful arm, the energy went reeling into space. But he knew that it would return, so he used the Force and became pure light and flew out into space after the dark light. When the two lights collided, he absorbed all of its power and drew it back onto itself. It created an explosion and wiped out all of the Dark Jedi in the Dark Side matter. He forced those who remained into the Unknown Regions and ended the war.
"The legend also says that the incredible explosion he made, created another planet. One that became very important to the galaxy. A place where many monumental moments of the Force occurred. Tatooine."
That makes sense. Tatooine was where Anakin Skywalker was conceived by the Force, where he took his first steps to the Dark Side after his mother died, where Luke Skywalker lived most of his life, where Obi-Wan Kenobi hid from Darth Vader, and where Luke Skywalker became determined to be a Jedi. And who knows what else will happen there? "And what happened to Master Sacul?"
Master Tionne shrugged and said, "After the explosion, he disappeared. No trace of him was ever found. Many believed that he was delivered here by the Force and once his work was complete, he returned back to the heavens." She sat back down after that, without another word.
"That's a fascinating story, but what does this have to do with me?"
Master Skywalker spoke up for the first time. "We're getting to that. Because of his intimate connection to the Force, Master Sacul was considered, 'The Arm of the Force.' After he was gone, the Jedi passed down a legend that some day, the Dark Jedi would come back with another army. And that the Force would give us a second arm. If this legend is true, we believe that your lightsaber is the symbol. Ben...you are the second arm of the Force."
Master Cilghal spoke up. "Destined to one day, be the saving grace of the Jedi."
Master Streen concluded everything by saying, "Wear your lightsaber proudly, Ben. We don't know when, but someday you will be very vital to the survival of our way of life. When you're ready, very few will ever be able to stand against you."
"Whoa...I mean...Thank you, Masters."
All of the Jedi Masters quietly laughed and Master Skywalker dismissed me with, "May the Force be with you, Ben."
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As I retold the legend of Master Sacul to my friends, they kept getting more and more interested in the story. Their jaws almost hit the table when I told them how I was connected to the story.
Tallah struggled with her words, "So...you're like an extension of the Force?"
Ryndell piped up with, "Like a prophet?"
"Well...I guess that's a way of putting it. According to Master Skywalker, I'm 'the Second Arm of the Force,' or whatever that means."
Guild asked, "Just because of your white-bladed lightsaber?"
"Well, I don't think it was because of my lightsaber. It was just the symbol, because Master Sacul was the only other Jedi to have one."
Guild responded to that with, "Do you think you can show me how you built one with a white blade?"
"You know I can't do that, Guild. Master Skywalker made me promise to never teach the things he teaches me to other students. And more importantly, students aren't supposed to have a lightsaber until Master Skywalker tells them they're ready for it."
Defensively, he said, "I didn't say that I was going to build it. But I'd like to know for when I am ready."
A part of me wanted to show Guild what it was that I did, but something just seemed wrong about that. And I had to remain skeptical that Guild would have knowledge of building a lightsaber and not use it. "Be that as it may Guild, I just don't think that it would be a very good idea."
All of a sudden Guild blew up in anger. "Oh, so you just want to make sure that no student in the Academy ever rises to your level, huh?"
"What? No, Guild—"
"Fine! See you around!" He got up from his chair and walked away.
"Guild, wait! What's wrong?" But Guild just ignored me as he walked away. I sat there watching him leave, with no clue what the problem was. I looked over at Tallah and Ryndell, hoping they'd have an answer. "What's wrong with Guild?"
Tallah answered, "We're not really sure. He's been like that for a few days now."
Ryndell said, "I guess he's a bit jealous at how quickly you're rising up in the Academy."
Tallah said, "It's more than that, Ryndell. I'm sure that he thinks that you're going to be leaving the Academy soon as a full Jedi Knight and forget about all of us back here. But I'm sensing something else, too. Something even bigger, but I can't tell what that is."
Tallah's a lot better at sensing the emotions of people than I am. If she can't sense it, there's not much chance of me being able to. "I guess I'll just have to give him a little time to cool off."
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As I stood in blackness, I kept myself alert. My eyes were covered, but through my blindness, I allowed the Force to guide my body. Trusting that it knew best what my next move should be. Shortly after, I blocked two more blaster shots with my new lightsaber.
"Good, Ben. Reach out to the Force...Clear your mind."
Through the Force, I felt the remote buzzing around in front of me. All of a sudden, a quick shot of pain hit me in the back. More out of surprise than pain, I yelped out and fell forward onto a knee. I pulled the helmet off my head that blocked my vision and turned my head around to see a second remote behind me. I turned my head back around to Master Skywalker who was sitting on a large rock with his arms folded. "You're doing well, Ben. But you're still having trouble with being aware of all your surroundings. You cannot put everything into the main objective you're given. If you had been aware, you would've felt the second remote on your back."
Letting out a frustrated sigh, I said, "Yes, I know Master Skywalker. I don't understand why I can't get this yet!"
"Patience, Ben. Remember, although you have a lightsaber now, you're still a new student. Most others in your class won't be ready for this for another half year. Though for some, maybe a few months."
"Like who?"
Master Skywalker grinned and said, "That's still confidential. Even they aren't aware yet. That's enough for now."
"Yes, Master." I extinguished my lightsaber and clipped it back to my belt as Master Skywalker got up and walked back into the Academy.
I followed after him, but was stopped by Tallah, who met me at the door. "Ben, can I talk to you? It's important."
Using my hand to wipe the sweat away from my face, I nodded and said, "Okay. Is out here fine?"
"Yes. As long as it's in private." We both went and sat down on a large boulder near the entrance to the Academy. "What do you want to talk about?"
"Something that we should've talked about a while ago. About what happened...or, almost happened on the way to Dagobah two months ago."
"Oh..." I've been dreading this conversation. "What about it?" Actually, I had a pretty good idea what was coming, but this wasn't exactly an easy topic for me.
"Well, whether it meant something or not, I don't know. Maybe it was just your frustration and my trying to comfort you. Whichever it is, I don't think that we should start anything."
I felt my head begin to pound and a dull pain in my stomach. It was a while before I was able to bring myself to nod. "Right."
"I mean, we're training to be Jedi. I know that I have a while before I become a Jedi Knight, but you...you have your lightsaber already. If we start something, for all we know, next week you may be sent out on your first mission and end up getting killed. Then what would that week really mean?"
The happiest week of my life is what it would mean. I wanted to say this, but the words wouldn't come out of my mouth. The courage to say it, just wasn't in me. I just simply looked down and nodded again. "I understand."
Tallah sat there for a minute before she got up. "I still want to be your friend."
I looked up at her and smiled as much as I could. "Yeah. Me too."
Tallah turned around and went back into the Academy. I just sat there and watched her leave. There was so much that I wanted to tell her. I wanted to jump up and go after her, but I couldn't. She's obviously not interested. Just try and forget about it.
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I stepped into the Throne Room late that very night. As I reached the podium, there it was. The Jedi Holocron. Well, Master Skywalker did say that it would be here for any students who need it. I need it now.
I picked up the small pale blue cube and held it in my hand. It seemed to react to my touch. Let me see, what was his name? "Jedi Master Roshko Grimbete?" After I spoke his name, the familiar hiss and steam returned, as it had the last time. I saw the old Jedi Master again.
"I am Master Roshko. What services do you require?"
"Hello. I'm a padawan who has questions that you can answer. I'd like to know more about Master Sacul. I've only heard legends passed down through the years. I'd like to hear from someone who was there. To sort out the exaggerations from reality."
"The Jedi never exaggerate about anything, padawan. We always cling to the truth. Though sometimes through our own point of view. Anything about Master Sacul that the Jedi pass down is the truth."
"I'm sorry, Master Roshko. I didn't mean any offense. Tell me, what was he like?"
"A born leader. He had such a powerful presence, that his aura made all Jedi feel safe when he was around them. Before each battle with the Dark Jedi, just knowing that he was there made us all feel invincible; that together we would not fail. He wasn't just a Jedi Master. He was the Jedi Master. The Arm of the Force."
"Were there ever any holos of him?"
"The only one there ever was, was shortly before the final battle on Geonosis. Would you like to see it?"
"Yes, I would." The hologram of Master Roshko faded away, and in a moment a new holo came up of a man with white hair and a fairly long beard, also white. Master Roshko is right. He does seem to have a very powerful aura. Even in a picture.
It was at this moment that I noticed something and took an even closer look at the holo. No. It's not possible! But...it is. He's older here, but without the wrinkles and with dark hair this is...
So many things began to make sense to me, as I remembered all the clues that I should've picked up on...
"He seemed to have come from nowhere..."
"He created whole new worlds for us to live on..."
"An embodiment of the Force..."
Of course! I should've picked up on the fact that when they said he seemed to have come from nowhere, that he came from my world. That's the same way that I got here. And what other person could make as much sense being, 'The Arm of the Force?' But his name is Master Sacul Egroeg...Oh, god...which is backwards for George Lucas. Is this how he was able to create such a living world through his movies? Because he was actually here? Or did his coming here create this galaxy?
But why me? Why was I sent? It finally clicked, when I remembered the last thing I was told about the legend of Master Sacul. So it's true. It's really true. I was brought here to save the Jedi, just as he was. That's my destiny in this world. I am the Second Arm of the Force.
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Come on! Bring it on, I'm not tired yet! Give me the best you have! It was the next morning and Master Skywalker had me training on a remote again with a pilot helmet's blast shield over my eyes. I was still not ready for the 'rapid-fire' option yet. But I was getting much better on it.
"Good, Ben! You're picking up on this very well."
It's easy to get motivated when you learn that you're 'the Second Arm!' In between deflecting bolts, I responded with, "Thank you, Master." Suddenly, I noticed that the remote didn't shoot its next bolt when it should have. Huh? What's going—
Before I even had a chance to think I whipped my lightsaber over my head, parallel to my back and felt it deflect a bolt. Yes! I did it! I extinguished my lightsaber and pulled the helmet off and I looked over to Master Skywalker who smiled as if a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders. "Good, Ben. Good! You're finally learning to split your alertness to your whole surroundings. Only..." Master Skywalker motioned for me to turn around.
When I did, I saw three pieces of what used to be a remote, lying on the ground. "Oops. I guess I accidentally deflected the bolt back at the remote. I'm sorry, Master."
"Don't be. It's a difficult thing to do. Plus, it allows me to give you your next challenge in your training."
"What's that?"
"Repairing a remote."
"Oh." I laughed a little and said, "I understand, Master."
"I'll show you how after the evening meal." Master Skywalker started walking back into the Academy after that.
"Yes, Master." As I began to walk in, I was met in the doorway once again. This time, not by Tallah. "Hi, Guild."
Guild looked a little sickly. Like he hadn't been sleeping very well or eating very much. "Hi, Ben. Look, about what happened a few days ago, I'm...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that."
"It's all right, Guild. I probably haven't been much of a friend the past few weeks. It's been a while since all four of us have done anything."
"You've been kept pretty busy. I guess I was...just, you know...a little...jealous."
"Well, it's almost time to eat, and I'm pretty hungry. How about we go get Tallah and Ryndell, then get some food?"
Guild seemed to brighten up for the first time and said, "Yeah. Okay."
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That night after dinner, I was sitting at my desk in my room with the pieces of the remote that I blew up that afternoon. I'm really not a mechanic. But hell, I built a lightsaber! This shouldn't be too difficult. As I got the final piece into place, I put the casing back on. Okay! I think I got it.
To test it out, I turned it on and toss it into the air. It went high up into the air...and then without hesitation fell right back down to the floor. I just stood there for a few beats staring at it on the floor. Okay...maybe I don't got it. I walked over to the remote and Bent over to pick it up. I put it back on my desk. I'm going to sleep. I'll work on it some more tomorrow after my run and meditation.
I laid down onto my bed and closed my eyes. The Second Arm of the Force...it's nice to finally know why it is that I'm here. That just leaves the questions of how I got here? And who it was that sent me? But in time, I think I'll figure it all out. I just need to remember to have patience.
TO BE CONTINUED.
Coming up next is...The Greatest of Gifts.