Burning Shadows
Chapter 4
Yumikaya slept for most the night and the majority of the next morning.
After waking up slowly, Kalina sat next to Yumikaya and hugged her gently.
" We are almost home Yumi. Soon you'll be back with your family after all these years." Kalina smiled as Yumikaya looked like she was going to cry.
" I'm nervous Kalina. What if they don't like me? " Yumikaya almost burst into tears as Kalina hugged her tightly.
" They will love you. Don't be silly. If they didn't love you or want you do you really think i would have spent ten years searching for you? " Kalina smiled as Yumikaya shook her head.
" I'm just not used to affection. I haven't had so much as a hug until you showed up. I'm just nervous. " Yumikaya leant against Kalina for a while before Master Orgus walked towards them.
" Alright little one, Ready for some more training? " Master Orgus patted Yumikaya's head gently as Yumikaya smiled happily.
" Yes Master. What am i learning today? " Yumikaya looked hopefully at Master Orgus.
" Well your Shii-Cho still needs work but its coming along so if you do a few hours training with Shii-Cho, I will teach you Form Two. It is known as Makashi. " Master Orgus smiled before walking to the training room with Yumikaya and handing her the shielded helmet, After telling her to do her best to remain focused, Master Orgus activated the Remote training droids.
Yumikaya managed to block almost all of the blaster bolts but she was still thinking of her family and became unfocused. After taking several blaster bolts to her chest and legs, Yumikaya tripped and fell backwards. As she hit the floor, Master Orgus disabled the training droids.
" You were not concentrating Yumikaya. What is distracting you? " Master Orgus helped her up slowly.
" I'm sorry Master. I was thinking about my family...mostly whether or not they'll love me the way Kalina says they will. " Yumikaya looked up at Master Orgus sadly.
Master Orgus smiled before speaking softly. " I have known your parents for a long time Yumikaya. They are the most compassionate and gentle people i know. Even though your mother was Sith, She has become a very wonderful woman over these long years. I imagine that they are very eager to see you, Especially your mother. They will love you like no other can. You will see. Now clear your mind and get back to training. You still have a long way to go before you are ready. "
Yumikaya nodded before putting the helmet back on and activating her training sabre. This time, Yumikaya concentrated entirely on her feelings, letting her emotions flow through her and opening herself completely to the force. As the droids began firing, Master Orgus stood in awe as Yumikaya moved swiftly and gracefully, managing to block every blaster bolt and ricochet it back at the droids. After the last droid fell to the floor after being hit by a blaster bolt, Master Orgus stepped forward and placed a hand on Yumikaya's shoulder.
" As amazing as that was young one, I must warn you. Opening yourself to the force as much as you did can be risky. If your emotions are unstable or you have anger in your heart, It will lead you to the dark side. That being said, I would be a fool to tell you not to use it. I haven't felt a force connection that strong for a very very long time. Well done. Now go and get some rest. We will continue later. " Master Orgus smiled as Yumikaya handed him the helmet and practice sabre before leaving and walking to her room to sleep. Yumikaya felt drained but not entirely tired. Nonetheless she decided to sleep for a few hours to recover her energy.
Yumikaya stirred in her sleep as her dreams were filled with pain and death. Yumikaya was walking through the empty, quiet ship but almost screamed as she entered the mess hall. The bodies of the crew were lying around the room but as she looked for some sign of life, She saw something that did make her scream. Kalina's lifeless body was tied to a table that had been stood onto its end and a small sign hung around her neck. The sign simply read : Death is the only true freedom.
As tears started to fall down her cheeks, A bright red light lit up behind her. As Yumikaya turned and looked into the eyes of the one behind her, She awoke suddenly to Kalina holding her tightly. Before she could speak, Several chairs , cups and various other objects could be heard slamming into the floor in the mess hall.
" Are you ok Yumi? I heard you scream and came to see if you were ok but you wouldn't wake up. What..." Kalina turned swiftly to face the door as Master Orgus walked in.
" I felt you reach out with the force little one. Are you alright? " Master Orgus placed a hand on Yumikaya's shoulder as she burst into tears.
" It was horrible Master...everyone was dead and Kalina was tied to a table with a sign around her neck...I went to see if she was alive and there was a bright red light and i turned around to see what it was but there was a tall man there with a bright red lightsabre...that's when I woke up..." Yumikaya pulled her knees up to her chest as Kalina held her again tightly.
Master Orgus spoke softly as he knelt in front of her. " What did this man look like? "
Yumikaya took a deep breathe before speaking. " He was tall. He had black armour on with a long cape and his lightsabre was red but the hilt had two small bladed claws on the side. His eyes were deep red and he had no hair. He had a black re-breather on and looked like he hadn't slept in about a hundred years. "
Master Orgus stood and thought silently for a moment before speaking. " That does sound familiar. What did the sign say? "
Yumikaya was crying heavily but again managed to speak. " It...It said that the only true freedom is death. "
Master Orgus looked alarmingly at Kalina as she looked at him with deep concern in her eyes. As Kalina went back to comforting Yumikaya, Master Orgus went back to his room to contact the Jedi Council. When the holo was answered, Master Satele Shan was the first to speak. " Is there something you need to discuss Master Orgus? "
" Indeed there is. A few moments ago i felt a disturbance in the force on this ship. When i went to investigate i found the young girl i have been teaching. She spoke of a dream that involved a Sith Lord named Darth Malgus. She said that in her dream Malgus killed everyone aboard and left a sign attached to the body of her guardian Kalina. The sign said that death is the only true freedom. " Master Orgus spoke quickly but calmly before the council members looked to each other.
Master Satele spoke calmly and coolly but with concern in her voice. " Most troubling. Are you certain it was Malgus? "
" There can be no mistake Master Satele. My young pupil described his lightsabre perfectly. Besides that, do you know any other Sith that wears black armour with a cape and matching re-breather? " Master Orgus looked sternly at the holo as Master Satele spoke again.
" Indeed not. But to describe his lightsabre so perfectly...Are you absolutely certain it was a mere dream? " Master Satele sounded more concerned this time but retained her calm composure.
" No. There is no way i can personally be certain that it was just a dream. I may know more when she returns to her parents but until then we have nothing to go on. " Master Orgus was hoping that Master Satele had a plan but the thought slipped from his mind as she spoke.
" This is most disturbing. A force sensitive girl has a dream about a Sith Lord before she has finished her instruction. I will speak more about this to the other council members. But what do you mean her parents? Where are they if not on the ship? " Master Satele was very curious to the fact that Yumikaya's parents were not aboard.
" They await her on Ilum. Up until i met her and she mentioned them i thought she was just a slave from Nar Shadaa. Her force sensitivity is stronger than any Jedi or Sith I have ever met and i would guess that it comes from her parents. Her parents are the two force users known as Tazokhan and Zanira. " Master Orgus was surprised by Master Satele's reaction. Master Satele stood suddenly and leant forward.
" Zanira and Tazokhan? I thought they died years ago...This young girl must have exceptional force capability. " Master Satele thought for a moment as Master Orgus described Yumikaya's force sensitivity to the council.
When he was done, Master Satele spoke again. " Quite intriguing. This young girl would make a fine Jedi. However i doubt her parents will allow her to commit to the order after they both left allegiance behind. Master Orgus you are to stay with her until she has fully completed her training. No matter how long it takes you will help instruct her and report her progress to the council on a monthly basis. Good luck. " The holo ended as Master Orgus bowed slightly before returning to Yumikaya.
When he entered her room he noticed that not only was Yumikaya calm, but she was also meditating with two small books floating around her. Kalina spoke softly as Yumikaya remained still. " Good girl. Remember clear your mind and focus on the force. Your parents will be extremely surprised when they see you and your lovely lightsabre sweetheart. Keep meditating. I need to talk to Master Orgus. " Yumikaya remained in her meditative state as Kalina stood and walked to the door.
" What did the council say? " Kalina spoke but her eyes glued to Yumikaya.
" They have given me orders to remain with Yumikaya and help in her teaching. Until her training is complete. Other than that they did not have much to say about her dream. They will more than likely make a decision when they have more information. " Master Orgus spoke softly and sat in front of Yumikaya when he was finished. He sat quietly and watched her meditate as the two books continued to float around her gracefully.
After a few minutes, Master Orgus spoke softly. " Good. But you can do more. Focus on the force. There is a technique we use when our eyes fail us. Concentrate on the force and let it be your eyes. See the force around you and let it show you what is there. " Yumikaya nodded silently before letting the books fall to the floor and focusing on her sight. After a several minutes that felt like hours, Yumikaya spoke softly.
" My vision is blurry but i see you in-front of me Master. I see Kalina at the door but past that is darkness. I can see the objects around me in the room. My bed, books on the floor...Wait...I...I can feel something..." Yumikaya fell silent as a small rattling sound came from a cupboard above her bed. After a few moments, The doors on the cupboard burst open and Yumikaya's lightsabre floated down and stopped in-front of her. It remained perfectly still and floated slowly.
Yumikaya spoke again softly. " I can feel my lightsabre and I can see it in front of me. It's like it's calling to me. Telling me to take hold and not let go..."
Master Orgus smiled. " Your lightsabre is very unique Yumikaya. The crystal is bonded to you through the force. You will be-able to feel the presence of the crystal when it is near you and it will react to you. You wont need your eyes to pull your lightsabre to you. You will feel it through the force and you will learn to focus on it strongly enough that it will find you. Now grasp your lightsabre. "
Yumikaya nodded and placed her hand around the hilt gently. Her senses tingled, As if she was holding something warm. She felt her lightsabre almost vibrate in her hand as she activated it and the sound and feel of the lightsabre activating sent a shiver through her. Yumikaya spoke softly again but this time her voice was slightly shaky. " It..It's like I'm holding a warm drink. Just holding my blade while I'm focused on my sight is making my senses tingle. Is this normal Master Orgus? "
Master Orgus smiled slightly but shook his head. " Not quite little one. The connection you have with your lightsabre is very very special and very unique. That lightsabre is more than a weapon or tool. Because of your connection it has become a part of yourself. An extension of who you are. Whatever is in your heart be it light or dark, Your lightsabre will reflect who you are inside. This lightsabre is remarkably special. Much like the young girl who created it. Always take care of your lightsabre and it will take care of you. "
Yumikaya opened her eyes slowly and looked in awe at the deep ice blue bladed and intricate hilt of her lightsabre. " Even now it feels so tingly. I don't really know how to describe it. "
Master Orgus smiled. " You do not have to describe it. I know the feeling quite well. Now we should do some more training but i think you have had enough training blades. Its time to practice with your lightsabre. The more you train with it, The more you will trust it and you will become more and more connected to it. Come now. To our training room. "
Yumikaya smiled and deactivated her lightsabre before following Master Orgus excitedly. After walking into the training room and putting on the shielded helmet, Master Orgus told her to lower her lightsabre's power down to the lowest setting. Still enough power to deflect blaster bolts but not enough to cause any serious injuries if Yumikaya accidentally hit herself. After a few moments, Yumikaya said she was ready and Master Orgus activated the Remote Training Droids.
Yumikaya gracefully and quickly deflected the blaster bolts. The sound of her lightsabre was indescribable. The sound was as unique as the lightsabre itself. As Yumikaya swung it to deflect the bolts, The lightsabre left a slight light trail behind it as it moved through the air. Master Orgus stood in amazement at the beauty of what he was witnessing. After the droids had all fallen to the floor with small blaster bolt marks on them, Master Orgus spoke in a tone of voice that said how amazing Yumikaya's connection to her lightsabre really was.
" That was a very impressive display to witness young one. Quite remarkable indeed. I think you have quite a fair understanding and grip on Shii-Cho. After your piloting lesson today I will start teaching you Form Two : Makashi. Now go to the hangar. Captain Larkan wants to see you. " Yumikaya nodded happily before deactivating her lightsabre and leaving. After handing her lightsabre to Kalina, Yumikaya ran happily to the hangar. When she entered, She saw Larkan and some engineers standing next to a large blanket that was covering something. Yumikaya ran over to ask what it was.
" You guys got a secret or something under there? What is it? " Yumikaya looked puzzled as Larkan smiled and pulled the blanket away.
" We got it running and made some modifications. Hope you like it. " Larkan smiled as Yumikaya screamed happily. In-front of her was a modified Flash-Fire scout ship decorated with a design that matched the colour of her lightsabre blade and covered the full length of the ship. The design was intricately detailed swirls and the side of the cockpit there was some small writing. It said " Baby Bird ". Yumikaya turned to Larkan. " Whats the Baby Bird thing for? "
Larkan chuckled softly. " Well me and the boys were thinking of a nickname for you and then we heard from Kalina about the colour of your lightsabre. We were either gonna call you Blue Bird to match the colour of your lightsabre or Baby bird. Considering we are all feeling like fathers with you around kiddo we thought that Baby Bird was more fitting. So we painted the ship blue to match the colour of your lightsabre instead of calling you Blue Bird. "
Yumikaya smiled happily and ran over to give Larkan a hug. After saying thank you to everyone and giving all the engineers a hug, Yumikaya climbed into to the cockpit of her ship and adjusted the seat to suit her. It was a very comfortable pilots chair and she found it was easily adjusted. After adjusting the seat, Yumikaya climbed out to take a look at the rather obvious modifications.
Heavy laser cannons, Ion missile launchers on the top of the wings and Proton torpedo launchers on the underside of the wings. The cockpit had been modified so that it was large enough that Yumikaya could fit as she got bigger but had an adjustable pilots chair so that everything could be kept within her reach. The engines were modified Czerka K-57B engines with a small but reasonably capable hyper-drive built in. The ship had reinforced Durasteel hull plating and a modified star-ship shield. The fighter was fitted with a distress beacon and backup power supply so the cockpit would have life support in-case the ship was stranded in space.
Yumikaya leant against the wing of her new star-fighter as Larkan smiled happily. " It took some fixing but we got her flying. She's all yours baby bird. But you ain't flying her yet. You still got studying to do. Now get your butt to my office and study some more holo-discs. I've organised them by category on a set of shelves next to the holodesk so get to it. I want you to study at-least three discs. Hop to it kiddo. When your ready to fly i wont be taking it easy on ya. " Larkan patted Yumikaya's head playfully as she walked past him and left the hangar to study the Holo-discs.
Yumikaya spent the entire day studying holo-discs and ended up fully studying five discs. After finishing the fifth holo-disc which detailed Flash-Fire manuevers and handling capabilities, Yumikaya went to bed. Yumikaya slept all night and when she woke up, Larkan got her to study three more discs. It felt like all she did was study but she knew that it would be worth it when she got to fly her Flash-Fire. After finishing the three discs that Larkan gave her to study, Yumikaya sat and watched the engineers work on the other fighters in the hangar. After fixing one, It made sense to fix them all.
Yumikaya spent most of the afternoon helping the engineers. She used the force to pass them tools and small parts that they asked for. After a few hours, Kalina called to her and told her it was time to have something to eat and get ready for bed. After a hot meal and a sonic shower, Yumikaya went to bed and slept for the night.
Starting to train with her lightsabre and learning to fly the new star-fighter given to her, Can Yumikaya forget the strange dream or will it distract her?
Read on to find out!
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