Herding Nexu
By Andrew J Talon
10 ABY, Yavin IV
Luke hummed as his senses picked up a strong Force presence moving towards them. He opened his eyes as he ended his meditation, rising to his feet and heading out.
Rotta and Mara were doing deflection training in the yard outside the temple, while Ahsoka and Ezra sparred. Aphra was off doing some research on their growing Jedi Library. Sabine was cleaning her guns, and looked up at Luke as he passed by.
"Expecting trouble?" Sabine asked. Luke shook his head, as a light courier starship flew down through the clouds.
"No... But it is an unusual presence," Luke admitted. He headed to the hanger, after waving Ezra and Ahsoka and sending the message to keep practicing.
He and Sabine made it to the hanger bay, as the courier touched down. The hatch opened, and a young, pretty woman in standard spacer gear walked down the gangway. She beamed and held out her hand.
"Master Skywalker? I'm Jan Orrs, New Republic Agent."
Luke shook her hand. Sabine smiled in recognition.
"Oh yeah! You helped with the attack on Scariff, and the destruction of the Arc Hammer!"
"As for the first? Yeah. As for the second? Still classified," Orrs said, and winked, "but yeah. My partner, Kyle Katarn, has a problem, Master Skywalker."
"He's very strong in the Force," Luke observed, "incredibly strong."
Jan nodded.
"Yeah... Apparently his dad was a Jedi. We tracked down an Inquisitor named Jerec to Ruusan. That was a kriffing nightmare."
As if by teleporter, Doctor Aphra popped up in the hanger bay with a grin.
"Ruusan?! You've been to Ruusan?! Incredible! Did you find the Valley of the Jedi?!"
"Jedi AND Sith, but yeah," Orrs said, and Aphra practically squealed in excitement, "Kyle grabbed some holocrons and built himself a lightsaber, and somehow, he was able to beat a former Jedi who had gone dark."
"That's very impressive," Luke said, "we'd be glad to take him as part of our Order, if he'd like to join."
Orrs' smile became a bit crooked.
"Yeah... He really needs instruction... Come on."
She led Luke, Sabine, and Aphra up into the ship. They passed a droid who was snickering to himself. They entered the rec room... And Jan pointed up.
There he was: A messy haired, bearded man in old Jedi garb... Stuck to the bulkhead.
"Uh, yeah, hey Master Skywalker," Kyle said, "that's what I call you, right?"
"Luke is fine too," Luke said. Aphra tilted her head and asked the question on everyone's mind:
"How did you get up there?"
Kyle shrugged.
"There's this Force ability I learned from a holocron? That's like Lightning, but not Darkside... And... I can't stop doing it."
"So," Luke began, doing his best to keep his voice compassionate and not burst into laughter, "you're stuck... Thanks to static cling?"
"Pretty much," Kyle said. "So... Little help? Without laughing?"
"I promise," Luke said.
"I don't," Sabine said, before she burst into gales of laughter.
"How much are you going to pay me?" Aphra asked seriously.
Jan snickered.
"Looks like you found where you belong after all, Kyle."
Kyle rolled his eyes.
Because Kyle Katarn had to be here. He absolutely had to be.