A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.Lao-Tsu


Prologue

Master Vrook looked at Master Dara. "Has she spoken to anyone yet?"

Master Dara looked up from her datapad with a frown. "The girl? No, she just sits on the courtyard wall and stares. She has sat there for two days now without a word to anyone. Perhaps she is not yet old enough to talk? She had been with the Mandalorians for some time. It is possible that because of this, she has never learned to talk."

Master Vrook sighed and shook his head. "No, even the smallest child can make a noise. This child does not make sound. I sense in her great sorrow, fear, confusion...it is trauma I believe that causes her silence. She has the potential for great power with proper training. But her training can't begin until she begins to speak.

"It is her first lesson as a Jedi. She must learn that she cannot change the past. Dwelling on it leads to the dark side. You must learn to accept it and move on."


A little girl about six years old sat on the wall in the bright courtyard. Her light brown hair was cut raggedly to her chin, as if someone had chopped it off with a vibroblade. A small boy with black hair approached her with a cookie in hand.

He looked at her questioningly. "You've been sitting out here a long time." Her green eyes simply looked mournfully back at him.

"I'm Malak," he said offering his hand out to her. She stared at it without making any attempt to shake it.

Malak dropped his hand and looked at her. "Why is your hair cut like that? It looks like a Kath Hound's been chewing on it." She fixed him with an icy stare that could have frozen an entire ocean. However, it did not seem to faze him.

"Are you hungry? You can have some of my cookie if you want."

She looked up questioningly at him. Her mouth opened but no sound came out. She shut it and swallowed and tried again. This time a faint whisper followed, "What's a cookie?"

He laughed at her and held up his chocolate studded cookie. "This is, of course. You've never had a cookie?"

"No, they never gave me one."

"Who's 'they'?"

A look of pure hatred mixed with intense fear came into her eyes. "I-I don't want to talk about them."

"Okay. What's your name anyway?"

"Revan."

"We can be friends if you want Revan," he offered generously.

She smiled at him. "I'd like to be friends...Malak."

He grabbed her small hand in his sticky-chocolate covered hand. "They have more cookies in the mess hall. Come on." They ran off together, hand-in-hand towards the mess hall and for the first time, Revan felt a glimmer of hope inside.


Unbeknownst to the children, two figures had been observing them from the shadows. Master Dara turned to look at Master Vrook.

"This is a perfect example of what I've been telling you for years."

Master Vrook feigned ignorance. "Oh? And what is that?"

"Emotions are not tools of the Dark Side. Without emotion, Revan would still be sitting by herself on that wall. Yes, emotions and passion, in some cases, may lead a Jedi down the Dark Path, but it brings just as many back to the light."

"They are young. It changes as they grow older," and with that, Master Vrook turned and walked away.

Master Dara stared after him. "One day you'll see. Emotion will save someone," she said to the wind. Then she too, walked away, leaving the courtyard empty.


This is the prequel to Destiny's Challenges. I'm looking for a Beta Reader cuurently, so e-mail me if interested. Also, please e-mail me about any typos you might find. Characters, events, etc. are the property of LucasArts.