Yavin IV: Year 5

My master and I chased the Jedi cruiser for what seemed like hours before it ended up running for a small moon in the Yavin system.
Having already taken several blasts from our cannons, the Jedi's ship wasn't going to make it very much further. We figured the Jedi was racing for the moon in order to crash land in a livable environment, instead of exploding in deep space.
We followed the smoke trail that started at the edge of the moon's atmosphere and landed near the crash site.

By the time we reached the wrecked ship on foot, the Jedi was gone.
"When we find him, I want you to take him out.", Master Klo'ek told me.
I felt proud that my master thought I was good enough to take on a full fledged Jedi, already.
I had only celebrated my 13th birthday a week earlier.

In the entire universe, 13 means you're an adult. You're old enough to be responsible for your actions. You can be a King or Queen. You can vote. You can marry. You can take on a Jedi Knight
But, back in the U.S., on Earth, becoming 13 means the beginning of your teenage years, and you're still considered a child. You still don't have any legal abilities or rights.
That's the American government, for you.

We trudged through the lush jungle, using the Force to track the wayward Jedi, but we never seemed to get any closer to him. There seemed to be too much interferece clouding the dark side of the Force to get a good feel for him.

The sun had set much faster than we had hoped and we couldn't make it back to the ship before the night set in, fully.
It was too dangerous to use our lightsabers as a light source for fear of being seen by the lost Jedi, or any other hungry creature in these woods, for that matter.
Our experience on Dagobah taught us to never underestimate the wild.

We found a small cave and decided to make our way inside.
Once inside we did use our lightsabers as flashlights; the cave would block anyone from seeing the glow of the blades from outside.
We found a large open area to camp in for the night and laid down our gear.
Master Klo'ek sent me back outside to gather some wood.

Acquiring the wood was not a problem, there were loads of fallen dead wood all over the ground.
I brought several arms full of wood back and stacked it while Master Klo'ek lit some of it on fire using it his lightsaber and then tossed it into his bag.
After I had enough wood, I sat down and leaned against a large rock to open a bag of food rations.

Biting into the first piece, I heard an ear splitting shreak.
I was on my feet, my blade ignited in the blink of an eye, using the Force in order to speed my movement. Master Klo'ek dove for his bag to retrieve his light saber.
He should have sensed it before me. He was getting slower with the Force, almost by the day.

Just as Master Klo'ek reached his bag, I swung my saber in his direction.
His instincts must have thought that I was attacking him; he ignited his blade while it was still in his bag, slicing his gear in half.
Our blades crossed, preventing me from killing the Mynock that was on it's way to feast on him.
The Mynock attached itself to Master Klo'ek's right cheek as I brought my blade back and re-swung, killing the bat-like beast and missing my master's face by a fraction of an inch.
I was very proficient with a saber, already. I would have been considered a 'Master' with lightsabers, if my master would've acknowledged it.
The beast fell to the ground, sliced in half, motionless.
I stood and deactivated my blade, feeling smug about myself.
After all, I was my master's savior.
Too bad he didn't see it that way.

"What the hell do you think you were doing!", he grabbed my shoulder, pinching the muscle at the base of my neck and sending pain down my arm. Finally he pushed me to the ground as he stood up.
"But, Master...", I stuttered, massaging my shoulder.
"I had the situation under control! You stopped me from defending myself!", his voice boomed in the cave.
"But, you weren't..", I try to add my side of the story.
"Get me something to wrap this bite up with", he changed the subject, too ashamed to admit his unpreparedness.
I turned and got the medical supplies to tend to his wounds.

The following morning we woke up to blaster pistols and lightsabers whiring just outside the cave entrance.
I was sent out to the cave's mouth to investigate.
What I saw was amazing.

Jedi students were in a small clearing, facing off against several floating balls that randomly shot laser blasts at them. Their movements were almost fluid, like a perfectly choreagraphed dance.
One kid was able to redirect a blast; do a perfect backflip, and deflect another laser blast.
They were alot better than I was; and alot younger.
Why hadn't my master taught me to fight like that? Didn't he think I was capable enough to do the things that these children were doing?
I sat there for, what seemed like, ten minutes before Master Klo'ek came up behind me.
"Why don't you teach me to be like them?", my question squeaks from my congested voice box.
"I don't need to teach you how to dance. I need to teach you how to control.", his response was cold and unfeeling.

Master Klo'ek decided it was best that we stay hidden by clouding our presence from the Jedi until they left.
The sun was high before the Jedi ended their training excersizes, and I soaked in every little bit. I could have watched them for days.
I learned their styles, their stances, their dedication.

I also learned to hate them.