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Ch. 13: A New Path
Airiana studied the padawan's wound carefully. It wasn't anything serious, just a minor burn from his opponent's lightsaber being turned up a bit too high. Placing her hand so that it hovered just above her patient's arm, she closed her eyes and concentrated on guiding the Force to heal the wound. She imagined tiny threads of light moving into the cells, then the nucleus, turning on genes that would initiate cell division and speed up the healing process. After a few minutes she withdrew and allowed the cells to continue dividing at there natural pace. When she looked down at the boy's arm, all she saw was a red mark that looked like a strangely shaped sunburn.
"Am I finished?" asked the padawan with an anxious look on his face.
"I'm just going to put some bacta on it and bandage it up a bit then you're free to go. But," she continued as she began applying the bacta, "I don't want to see you down here again because you didn't take care of it, so I'm going to give you some extra bacta and bandages. Clean it at morning and night, put a new bandage on it, and it should be back to normal within a day or two."
"Yes, Master."
"And from now on, make sure you and your opponent have your lightsabers turned down to the correct setting. Or next time I'll be informing your masters."
"Yes, Master. I will," and he left the room.
"You did very well, Knight Peredhil."
Airiana turned and saw the head of the healer's wing, Master Nessa Cis standing at the doorway. She was a humanoid species, an inch or two shorter than Airiana with long, honey hair that she wore in braid, clear blue eyes, and rose-colored skin. She was a very wise healer who understood the importance of being caring and thoughtful to the patients, but who could also be quite forceful, detached, and intimidating when she had to be. Airiana loved working with her and was very grateful for allowing her to become a 'padawan' healer, as Master Cis liked to call her, almost a month ago.
"Thank-you, Master Cis," Airiana replied as she prepared the examination room for the next patient.
Master Cis continued watching her for a few moments before going on, "How long have you been studying with us now, Airiana?"
"About a month, I think. Why do you ask?"
"You have learned quite a lot this last month, much more than I thought you would."
"Thank-you," Airiana said a little uncertainly.
"The fact is, Airiana, that you are a fast learner. Healing seems to come naturally to you and I would like you consider becoming one full-time. I have already spoken with the Council and they have agreed to your studying to become a healer if you so choose."
"Master, I don't know what to say…"
"You don't need to make any decisions now. It's a big choice to make and you should meditate on it fully before coming to a decision. Take as much time as you need and let the Force guide you."
The next morning Airiana was sitting with Master Yoda in their usual meditation room and had just finished going over her last vision. After a month, they still had no clues as to what her nightmares really were and Airiana was getting anxious; it was time they moved on to plan B.
"Master, how much longer are we going to continue this?"
"Hmm, perhaps time it is to move on to the next step. Set up a vigil tonight, I will. Then, perhaps, we will uncover the mystery surrounding your nightmares."
"I hope so, Master."
"As do I," and he began getting up to leave. But seeing that Airiana wasn't getting up as well, Yoda asked if there was something more she wished to speak about.
"Yesterday Master Cis asked me if I would like to study to become a healer. She said the council had already approved of it. Why did the council approve? Isn't it a little late for me to become a healer?"
"Young you are yet and recommended you highly, Master Cis did. Never the opportunity had you to become a healer; only the basics, could I ever teach. Very dedicated are you and natural healing comes to you. Why should you not have the opportunity to become a healer if so wish you? Hmm?"
Airiana spent the rest of the morning in meditation, trying to decide what the will of the Force was. She really enjoyed working in the healer's wing. She had always loved biology in school back on Earth and if she had continued living there she had no doubt she would have done something biology-related. And here, in this time, she could do so much more than she could've ever dreamed of doing on Earth. Master Yoda was right when he said he could only ever teach her the basics and she had learned them fairly early on in her training. But the skill and concentration required to heal someone else like she had been doing was so much different. She loved the feeling of the Force flow through her and be materialized into something that could be used to heal. She truly did want to learn more, but she wasn't sure if that's where the Force was leading her.
After all, Airiana still enjoyed having her lightsaber in her hand and feeling the lightness of it as she worked through katas and other saber techniques that she had learned; it still felt right. And, she had to admit, she was getting a bit of cabin fever. She was ready to leave the Temple and do what she could to help the Republic on the battlefield, especially when she saw injured Knights and Masters come into the healer's wing; she just couldn't help feeling like she should be out there with her fellow Jedi…that she'd be able to do more out there than here at the Temple.
The rest of the afternoon passed away quickly and soon the skyline outside Airiana's window had darkened and the red and white lights of traffic, the flashing ads, and the glow of offices and apartments dotted the view. It was already quite late and she had already read two chapters of David Copperfield when Master Yoda finally arrived at her apartment.
She showed him in and they walked in silence to her bedroom, Airiana already quite tired and Master Yoda concentrating on the task at hand. Earlier in the evening, Airiana had moved a chair to her bedside for her master and he know climbed up on it as Airiana crawled under her covers.
"Ready are you to form the bond?"
"Yes, Master," Airiana answered with a yawn.
Airiana closed her eyes and allowed her master's presence to fill her mind and form a temporary bond. It was comforting to know that her former master was there watching over her and she realized how much she missed being his padawan. She didn't have much more time to contemplate this thought, however, because she felt a light suggestion to sleep and she willfully obeyed.
It wasn't long until Airiana started dreaming, but this time she was dreaming of Earth; movies she had seen mixed with a distorted reality and while singing "Whistle While You Work" from Snow White she was walking down the yellow brick road with Gandalf.
Catching a glimpse out of the corner of her eye, Airiana turned from Gandalf to see Sauron's ring hovering only a few feet away from her, calling to her and pulling her closer. She stretched out her hand as if to grab it, but it kept moving away from her, so that it was always just out of her reach.
Airiana began running after it and everything around her became a dark void as she focused solely on the ring. She ran faster and faster and soon, instead of running, she was falling downward. The ring was still in front of her and she kept her arm out to grab it as soon as she caught up with it.
A dark dread slowly crept up on her as she realized that sooner or later she would reach the bottom of the deep hole. Only too soon did her realizations become materialized; she could now see the bottom of the pit. It was black just like everything around her, but, unlike everything around her, it had a concrete appearance; one that was unyielding and unforgiving.
But the ring was getting closer. Just a little farther…she could feel the tips of her fingers graze its smooth surface…only a little farther and – yes! She had it!
But she was still falling and much faster than she was before, she realized with painful clarity. She could see the ground more clearly and she knew there was no way to stop herself from hitting it. Tightly shutting her eyes and holding on to the ring with both hands she prepared herself for the impact.
Airiana landed with a heavy thud that sounded like an explosion going off. A second or two later she opened her eyes. She was lying on the ground and could see feet running up and downhill. Another explosion went off somewhere behind her and she was showered with sand and dirt. Standing up, lightsaber in hand, she winced as she felt a large bruise on the side she had fallen on. She didn't have much time to get over it because no sooner had she stood up and she had to defend herself from incoming blaster bolts, easily getting lost in the confusion of the battle, which raged on much like it had before.
Eventually the fighting came to halt and the remaining Jedi were forced into a circle in the middle of the stadium. Dooku offered to let them live as before, and as before, Master Windu had refused. Once again Master Yoda came just in time with the clone troopers. The ships landed around the survivors and Airiana climbed into the closest one. They were just taking off when fighter jets started streaming into the stadium from above, raining shots on the ill-prepared and bulky carriers.
Airiana looked out the open side of the ship to see Master Yoda's ship directly opposite hers. Their eyes locked on to one another and just as they did one of the fighters hit their target and she no longer saw Master Yoda or the ship – only a ball of flame.