Chapter 2
"Help us!"
"Help us!"
"Help us!"
The image of dozens of innocent beings falling to their death into a huge, fiery crater surged through Padawan Zafii's mind. Her eyes darted in all directions even though her eyelids were closed.
"Zafii," a familiar voice called out. "Zafii!"
A hand was touching her shoulder as she began to wake up, already aboard a transport in the middle of space.
"Master Tine," she mumbled with a grimace on her face.
Zafii was lying down on an uncomfortable cot in the small medical bay aboard the ship. She had a splitting headache and the side of her forehead had a black bruise on it that was only becoming darker by the minute.
"You gave us quite a scare back there," Master Tine said.
Master Tine was a blue Twi'lek and a respected Jedi Knight. His clothes were similar to his padawan's; white tunic and a brown, loose fitting cloak.
"We should have listened to you sooner. For you to feel that within the Force when I did not, it shows how much you have grown." Master Tine added.
Zafii attempted to sit up, but this only made the pain her head that much worse.
"The Force," she cried out in pain, grasping as the side of her head, feeling the nasty lump that was growing for the first time.
She noticed that she was not wearing her own cloak and that her tunic had been seared in several spots from the bursting fragments of lava.
"Sit down," Master Tine jumped over to try to lay her back down on the bed. "You need to rest."
Zafii shook her head and regretted doing it immediately, "I… we need to see to the refugee's. They must be in a terrible shock. They will need council."
"Those who are aboard are fine and being tended to," Master Tine interjected, now forcefully laying her back to the bed. "Your concern is to rest. We will be on Corellia soon enough and then we'll see about letting you resume your duties."
Zafii laid back, using the Force to begin to block out the pain of her injuries, "Yes, Master."
It was not in Zafii's nature to argue with her Master or anyone else for that matter. She took her Jedi training as seriously as any padawan and much more than some Knights.
"Help us!"
"Help us!"
"Help us!"
Zafii opened her eyes quickly after starting her Force meditation after seeing the destruction in her head once again. Perhaps, she thought, she would just let the medical droids tend to her for now.
Kyn and his mother walked around the spaceport in Coronet, the capital of Corellia.
"These prices are ridiculous," Kyn muttered.
"Gouging refugees. Most people don't know their way around spaceports," Rayna commented. She pointed to a doorway by a seedy bar. "We're going that way."
"We're going to the city?"
"Yes. I can buy twice the supplies we need for half the costs. Too bad we aren't going to be here longer or I would take you kids to Treasureship Row," she said as she led him to the doorway.
"What's that?"
"Trade center, marketplace," she explained as they walked through the doorway and into the city of Coronet. Rayna led her son down the unfamiliar streets. Kyn watched in awe as several alien species walked by. He hadn't seen many aliens on Ennth. He had learned about many cultures at school, but to see them face to face was something else entirely.
"The tall ones are Selonians. Only the sterile females travel about. The short ones are Drall," Rayna explained as she led Kyn down a side street.
"Mom, have you been here before?" he asked.
"Yes, years before you were born," she explained, "It's actually where I met that Jedi."
Kyn nodded. He followed him mother in silence as she approached a merchant's shop. It was small. A wirily man stood behind the counter. He was bald and had a black goatee. He gave his mother a dubious look as she approached. He followed her inside and listened quietly as she negotiated for supplies. He was surprised at how tenacious she acted. He'd never imagined his mother like that before.
"Take these, Kyn," she said as she concluded her business, handing him several boxes, "We have what we need."
"Already?" he asked as they walked out of the shop.
Rayna chuckled, "Yes, son, already. Give me some credit."
"Sorry," Kyn mumbled, blushing. He followed Rayna back through the streets. Corellia was teaming with life. Everywhere men, women and children of all species were walking around. He saw stands on the sides of the streets selling various types of goods and services.
Rayna chuckled as a female Twi'lik ran into Kyn. She ran her hand down the boy's arm as she apologized. One look from Rayna sent her off.
"Mom!" Kyn sputtered, face red.
Rayna just shook her head. She led Kyn back to the hanger. He spotted the rest of their family wandering outside the ship, stretching their legs before stopping at the lush world of Naboo. Several of the refugees opted to stay on Corellia. Kyn imaged even more would stay on Naboo. After seeing holos of the planet, Kyn was tempted to stay there, himself. After a brief stop on Naboo, the refugees were headed to the agricultural world of Ruan. It sounded boring to Kyn. Luckily, they would only be there for an afternoon before departing to Coruscant.
Kyn and Rayna took the supplies over to their family. Rayna mentioned that they should have enough to last the rest of the trip. Kyn was slightly disappointed. He wanted to explore Naboo some, but Rayna had explained that Corellia was the best location to get the most for their money. In addition to supplies, Rayna had found a small hostel just outside the spaceport to rent for a few hours, allowing everyone to get in a quick sonic shower.
A shrill whistle sounded from the inside of the ship signaling twenty minutes until departure. Kyn and Cole gathered the supplies to take inside the ship. There would now be room on the ship now for the family to share one cabin.
"Is that Kyra?" Kyn asked, motioning with his head as his hands were full.
Kyra was talking to the Jedi whom was first on the scene of the tragedy. It had been a few days since the happenings on Ennth but she still looked as though she had been side-swiped by a military tank.
Kyn set down the supplies and looked to his brother.
"I'll get this, you go get her," Cole said.
Kyn lightly jogged over to Kyra and the Jedi.
"Kyra, what are you doing here by yourself?" Kyn asked, interrupting the conversation.
"Oh Kyn, I'm not here by myself; I'm here with Zafii." Kyra said, as if this was confirmation enough and that he could leave her be now.
"I'm sure she has a lot of work to do, you don't need to be bothering her. You were supposed to stay with Dad." Kyn admonished.
Kyra's bright, happy face began to sour.
"It's no problem, in fact I am doing my job by talking to her and everyone else for that matter. Sometimes just asking questions and gaining some understanding can be very stress relieving." Zafii chimed in. "Although you shouldn't run off from your guardians, young one."
"I know," Kyra hung her head low, ashamed. "But you were so neat the other day. I've never seen a girl do things like that. I wish I could be a Jedi too."
"Well, thank you." Zafii replied, with no hint of a blush though. "It's always nice to have admirers, I suppose."
Kyn smiled at Zafii and for the first time made eye contact with the Padawan. The seconds of silence felt awkward, at least to Kyn. He was almost positive that Zafii didn't notice it though.
"It seems we should be getting back aboard, unless you want to stay on Corellia." Zafii reminded them both.
Kyra shook her head and scrunched her face as if something stank nearby, "No thanks!"
Zafii genuinely smiled at the young girl. The smile made all of the cuts and bruises around her otherwise attractive face seem to fade into nonexistence. Kyn could feel his heart skip several beats and for the first time in years, he felt butterflies in the pit of his stomach.
"We'll talk more later," Zafii promised Kyra. "We have a way to go yet."
With that Zafii parted ways with them, presumably to go back and meet with her master or to meditate. Kyra initiated contact with Kyn by reaching out and holding his hand.
"Come on, we are going to get left behind. Didn't you listen to her to?" Kyra asked.
Kyn scratched the back of his head as he came back to his senses. He gripped Kyra's hand tightly as they climbed aboard the ship to go find the rest of their family.
"Yeah, Kyra. I listened."
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