The Jedi Adventure
--sparkvallen
Lucasfilm owns everyone but the original characters who are based on people I know!
Chapter Four
As dawn came once again on the jungle moon, Luke sat in an early morning meeting with the Jedi Knights and Masters who were the lifeblood of keeping the academy in operation. They also handled the growing responsibilities of Jedi across the galaxy since it was impossible for Luke to be both a figurehead for the Jedi Order and to be everywhere at once in disputes.
"They're performing even better than we'd expected," Kam reported as he scanned the individual reports of the training groups. "Their connection to the Force is pretty incredible."
The Knights murmured in agreement.
"The only thing that hinders them," Corran said, "is the fact that they miss their old lives. Our generation of Jedi understands this best since we didn't grow up as Jedi like the old order did. We came into this as adults with responsibilities and commitments."
"And attachments," Tionne said quietly. The silvery humanoid blinked at Corran Horn.
"And attachments," he allowed. "To expect them not to miss their families and what used to be familiar is folly though. Why haven't the families been brought into the known galaxy?"
Eyes, human or otherwise, turned to Luke for an answer. He waited for silence before explaining.
"There are problems on the fringe of the Outer Rim as you enter Unknown space," he admitted to his trusted knights. His voice was heavy with concern. "Reports that I've seen suggest hostility on the border… which makes it impossible to send the necessary shuttles through."
"Are you going to tell the trainees this?" Kam asked.
"It is not in the Jedi way to hide the truth," was Luke's reply.
"They're not going to be happy about this," Corran predicted. "They're not happy as it is, being away from those they love."
"Are you, Corran?" Kam shot back.
The former CorSec-turned-Jedi gave his colleague a wry smile. "My lifemate isn't across the galaxy and trapped on a backwater planet."
"Enough. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it, everyone. For now, we guide them and we continue to monitor the situation. When we can bring the families, we will."
While the meeting wound down, the Jedi trainees began their morning routines. Some took breakfast before others while some students started off the day in meditation or a physical workout. Outside the Grand Audience Chamber, Z'Trooper was crouched before the Academy's droid, R2-D2.
"Now… I'm good with computers back home. I'm sure if I just—"
"Beeeeeeeep!"
Z'Trooper, leaned back and smiled, chagrined. "Well, you didn't have to make that much of a fuss over it!"
The R2 unit replied by extending its stun arm and zapping the Human for his meddling.
"Hey! Alright, alright! Your programming is a bit different than what I'm used to!" he conceded, wary of another zap.
R2-D2 responded with the electronic equivalent of the raspberries.
"What the hell are you two doing?"
Z'Trooper turned where he sat and flashed a grin at Ebony. She stood over him with her hands on her hips, her expression dancing between annoyance and amusement as the droid hovered over her friend.
"R2 and I were just going over the finer points of droid programming," he offered.
This earned another incredulous string of beeps and whistles from the droid. It turned and sped down the corridor as Z'Trooper came to his feet.
"Evidently," Ebony said dryly.
"So what brings you up here this early?"
Her expression soured further. "I'm here to speak with Luke."
"Master Sky—" he started to say before Ebony's glare shut him up. "Why?"
Ebony sighed. "This isn't working out. I want to head home," she admitted.
Z'Trooper stared at her, stunned. He wasn't even sure how to respond at first, so he continued to look at his long-time friend. Like the others, Z'Trooper was more than eager and willing to be on Yavin IV. To become a Jedi. To not want this path…
"Excuse me? Are you serious?"
"Yes, Z'Trooper. I'm serious."
"This is the opportunity of a lifetime. Do you not see that?" he argued.
"Your opportunity. Spark's opportunity. Not mine." Her very posture spoke the defiance and frustration she felt.
He whistled. "You're not kidding…"
"No. I'm not."
"What could convince you to stay, Ebony? How can I convince you?" he asked.
Ebony narrowed her eyes. "Do you realize that they lied to us? They said our families would be joining us here or at least on a nearby world. Are they here? No. It's been weeks and nothing's happened."
Z'Trooper shook his head. "But in the meantime, you've trained to be one of the best, Ebony. One of the best! Surely that has to count for something."
"Not when they are teaching me about worlds that I have no interest in, assuming I'll go save the universe when I don't care about it out here. I just want to go back to my family," she snapped.
The massive doors of the Grand Audience Chamber opened. Z'Trooper held off on a reply as it was clear that Luke was about to intercede. The Jedi Master stepped into their personal space and gave Ebony a serious look.
"Anger leads to the Darkside. I would advise you to take a calming breath as you know how to do," he said.
Ebony almost retorted about his Jedi virtues before catching herself and simply doing as he suggested. She could feel her anger so close to being out of control. Breathing in for the four-count and holding it the same amount of time before exhaling brought her back into a better focus. Though she remained no less frustrated about the situation.
"Now. What is the problem?" Luke asked.
Z'Trooper made a curt bow and hurried off in search of the R2 unit. Ebony stared at his back, watching him go before looking back to her instructor.
"I wish to know why our families are not here. Or at least why nothing has been spoken of that promise," Ebony said in a more even tone of voice.
Skywalker hadn't intended on that very question coming to a head so immediately. Corran was indeed right that this was a fiery issue for the trainees. Having been without family ties for much of his life, Luke had trouble relating to that.
"Let's walk," he suggested, taking off at a stride that implied Ebony was to follow. As she did, he continued speaking. "There are reports of border skirmishes on what is the route toward the Unknown Regions. Where your planet and system reside. Because of these problems, it's not possible for us to take shuttles through that area of space at the present time."
She blanched, thinking immediately of friends, family and those she held dear. "Close to my home?"
"No… your system is far beyond the border when you consult a holomap," Luke said. "Still, it's enough of a problem that we can't take our shuttles through."
Ebony rubbed on her forehead, pushing the Force through her to fight off a headache that threatened to overtake her. "And you were going to tell us this… when?"
There was no mistaking the venom in her tone. "We were just discussing this in a staff meeting this morning, Ebony. When the time was right, is what I'd told the Knights. Your being right there with the question on your mind was the right timing apparently."
"Why aren't you doing anything about this dispute?" was the next question.
Luke cocked his head sideways, wondering if the you meant Skywalker personally or as though Ebony was separating herself in words from the Academy and you implied everyone else.
"The Jedi have not been called into the situation. We're monitoring it but we do not rush headlong into disputes that could be handled through individuals' means. However… you are all at a point in your training where the instructors and I were considering several of you for small missions. If the factions involved in the dispute she ask for Jedi mediation, you would be considered for this."
She knew that the other trainees – such as Spark or Falco or even Z'Trooper – would have drooled at such a hint. Ebony was unimpressed. It was clear by her expression and stance.
"I just want to go home," she said quietly.
Skywalker stopped walking and turned to stare at her, nearly staring through Ebony. "Of all the trainees who've come here, you are among the most gifted! Even aside from that, do you not understand that we have no way to get a shuttle through? If we can't get it to your family, Ebony, we can't get you through either."
She sensed that she was pushing the Jedi Master from his serene state and that surprised her. "What are you not telling me? Us?"
Luke half-smiled. "That you're the most Force potent people I've ever met?"
Ebony snickered. "Sure…"
"I do not joke, Ebony. Now. There is nothing that can be done for the situation at present. Will you at least stick to your studies for now?"
She sighed. "It seems that I have no choice in the matter, Master."
Master Skywalker himself informed the trainees of the development rather than have it travel as a rumor around the Academy. For the day, everyone's mood seemed somber. Instead of the planned "Force hide-and-seek" exercise, the Jedi spent the day in quiet meditation.
As the trainees skills progressed to the point where their Force use came natural, Skywalker decided to move them into the final phases of physical training: the lightsaber. For now, they would use training blades, set on a low setting. To be struck by such a lightsaber would sting but it would not maim.
Everyone's eyes were wide with awe as they stood out on the landing pad in the mid-day sunshine. In their hands, they gripped the smooth handle of their training saber as they faced Kam.
"You've been working with the dowels long enough to know the basics of lightsaber stances and movements," he said. "The difference with the lightsaber is simply that its weight tricks you."
Snapping his lightsaber to life, eyes fixed on the glowing blade.
"It's light, see," Kam said, as he waved the lightsaber about slowly. "Unlike the dowel, there's no weight to this besides the hilt itself. And I kid you not when I say it takes getting used to."
"Apprentice Spark… the Jedi most likely to behead herself in battle with the lightsaber…" Spark murmured.
Sapharin glanced up at her friend and snickered, barely stifling giggles at the self-deprecating comment.
"Anyone care to volunteer to demonstrate for the group?"
"Oooh! Me! Me!"
Heads turned to look at Falco who was practically bouncing up and down for the opportunity.
"Very well then, step forward," Kam said patiently.
Falco's smile was as wide as could be as he approached Kam and held the lightsaber hilt carefully in both hands. Everyone else took a cautionary step back – perhaps they would have regardless who the first time saber wielder was. Perhaps it was just because it was Falco and he was renowned for his clumsiness around the academy.
Kam and Falco bowed from the neck to one another and then the apprentice took his cue to ignite the blue blade. The Force crackled with energy between the two demonstrators and out to the watching trainees.
"The lightsaber is no ordinary tool or weapon," Kam said as he led Falco through a few basic moves. "This is a part of the Force… an extension of you."
Quicker than lightning, Kam took the offensive. His lightsaber flashed and crashed against Falco's repeatedly as the apprentice quickly drew on the Force to instinctively react. Later, Falco would admit that he had no idea what he was doing – he only knew he didn't want to get hit by the saber blade. And just as rapidly, Kam backed away, a smile crossing his lips.
"Very good. Your instincts serve you well, Falco."
"Uh… thanks, I think? Warn me next time, maybe?" he replied.
"Not a chance," Kam said with a wink.
Falco returned to his place among the trainees. Z'Trooper clapped him on the back for his considerable swordwork. With that, the students were paired off to practice as the Jedi Knight strolled among them to offer tips and corrections to their footwork and how they handled the lightsaber.
It became immediately clear to Spark that this – like telekinesis – was going to be one of her weaker points. Her partner, Ebony, excelled and seldom left an opening for Spark to attack with. And defensively… Ebony scored a sting on her friend time and time again. Across the landing pad, Sapharin was discovering similarly that for all she wanted to be a great warrior, she didn't have the physical skills either. Joni seemed to float along the Force, being nigh impossible to strike even blade-to-blade.
As Kam passed by Sapharin, he whispered to her intuitively, "Reach into the Force and link your mind to the other students'. I think you have a rare and undeveloped gift…"
Saph looked at him blankly, in surprise. She nodded and centered herself once more before reaching out as they'd been trained. Sapharin could quickly feel each person's energy levels, their ability and how fatigued they were physically or otherwise. With sudden understanding, she manipulated the Force that connected each trainee to the next, establishing a clearer line of communication and energy in the group thereby strengthening everyone.
"I thought so," Kam said quietly. "You bear the natural skills for a battle meditation… this is a truly rare ability that you possess, Sapharin. One that allows you to enhance a group's abilities as you've just shown."
"Keep it up!" Spark yelled jokingly as she continued to spar with Ebony. "I need all the help I can get!"