6
26ABY
'Wielding a lightsaber is a dangerous task. It is a powerful weapon when used correctly but will slice your arm off when used wrongly.' Master Skywalker walked up the line of students. I stood nervously at the end, trying to blend in with everybody else. Being the new kid was always hard, but especially so when I didn't feel like I had the kind of gifts that Master Skywalker spoke about. I had been sent here by the Chaako City Orphanage in Chaaktil, though it seemed to me that they just wanted rid of me after all the years I'd spent there. Master Skywalker insisted that I was a force-sensitive but I'd never noticed it before. 'I want you to use your lightsabers to duel with one another. One of you will take the role of offence and the other defence. Off you go.' As everyone paired off I found myself alone in the middle of the room. I sighed, clutching my weapon in my hands nervously. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed another student by himself in the corner, expertly swinging and spinning his lightsaber. Intrigued, I walked over to him. 'Hey, can we partner up?' I asked shyly. 'I work by myself.' He responded, continuing to swing his weapon around without even turning to look at me. Unimpressed, I turned my lightsaber on and dove in front of him, blocking his swing. I saw the harsh features of his face and his dark eyes recoil in surprise. Momentarily shocked, he proceeded to push down, trying to get me on my knees. I gritted my teeth and pushed up before swiftly rolling out of the way. Plasma burnt into the stone floor as he swiped down. 'Looks to me like you need more practice with a partner.' I coaxed him. He smirked slightly and advanced on me, taking multiple slashes at my body. I darted backwards, and tried to block his attempts. 'Looks to me that you need a new defence strategy.' He flicked his wrist upward and plasma grazed my shoulder. I gritted my teeth as my shirt sizzled. I slashed forward causing green and blue sparks to spit outward. I pushed him backward, blocking each of his attacks. 'Not bad for a girl I must say.' He remarked, before dodging and swinging at a low horizontal level. I jumped and frowned. 'Cheap shot.' As I said it, I turned and ran. I could hear him in hot pursuit behind me. Scanning the room, I saw a large tapestry hanging, displaying a woven depiction of the legendary Jedi master Yoda. Bolting towards it, I leapt up and grabbed onto a golden piece of rope that hung from the side. Pulling it down, I wrapped the rope around a nearby column, causing me to land right behind my rival. I skidded backwards, using my hand to steady me before running towards him. He switched around and we both swung our lightsabers into each other's twice. The force behind his second stroke caused me to fall to one knee. Mustering all my might I stabbed upwards, inches from his throat. I assumed I now had the advantage until I realised glowing blue plasma was also poised at the side of my collarbone. I could feel the energy singeing the small hairs on my neck and the noise echoed in my ears. We stared at one another, neither backing down from what had been a spectacular fight. 'I think we'll call it a draw.' Master Skywalker's voice filled my head and I was suddenly aware that the entire class was watching us. 'Both of you yield.' We continued to stare at one another, unsure as to whether the fight was really over. 'Yield, now.' Master Skywalker commanded and both rods slowly fell to our sides, switching off. Luke sighed heavily, rubbing his brow and glaring in our direction. 'Everyone take a short break whilst I hang this tapestry back up.' Whispers and murmurs filled the room from the other students and I could feel their eyes bore into me. A hand suddenly appeared in my field of vision as my opponent leaned down to help me to my feet. I delicately took it, getting up and catching my breath. 'You're not bad.' He smiled a little. 'I'm Ben Solo.' Ben began to shake my hand that he was already holding. 'Tessala of Chaaktil.' I answered whilst tightening the hand shake up somewhat. As we began to walk out of the main hall together Ben became more intrigued in me. 'Chaaktil you said? Isn't that a planet?' I nodded, running up the steps two by two. 'It is. It's not overly interesting though; mostly sand and then some more sand.' I thought for a second. 'Solo as in Han Solo? As in Leia Organa is your mother?' I saw Ben's face fall the moment I mentioned his parents and nodded knowingly. 'By the look you're giving I'm assuming you don't have the best relationship?' He didn't answer me and quickened his pace to walk ahead. 'Wait up!' I cried, chasing after him.
Ben sped ahead of me, almost running. I saw him round a corner and flee up a flight of stairs to the roof of the temple. Surveying my surroundings, a stone arched window caught my eye. I peered out of it and looked up, noticing a variety of bricks sticking out at odd angles. 'Climbing it is then.' Huffing, I heaved my body up, jumping from spoke to spoke until I reached the roof. As I got there, I saw a silhouette sitting on the edge. I walked over quietly before taking a seat next to him. Ben's face looked pained as he stared out across the green stony landscape, a burning red sun framing his face. 'They don't care about me.' Ben finally spoke, breaking a long and awkward silence. 'I'm sure that isn't true.' I responded, placing a hand on his leg. He shrugged me off and continued to look outward. 'Then why did they send me here by myself? Why did they cut me out?' I opened my mouth to answer but stopped myself. I didn't actually know how to respond considering I'd known this man for about twenty minutes. 'At least you have parents.' I finally said, picking up a loose bit of stone off the wall and throwing it towards the horizon. Ben flinched at my words and action. 'We could swap lives?' I nudged him gently on the shoulder, making an effort to lighten the mood. The tiniest smile broke across his face and he nudged me back without saying anything. The sun began to set beneath a towering hill and I swung my legs off the side of the temple. 'I'm sorry for bringing up your parents, I didn't realise it was such a sore topic.' I felt bad for him. It seemed as though he was struggling with some personal demons and wasn't sure how to overcome them. I noticed him ball his fists, squeeze his fingers and then release them, the skin burning red. 'I'm presuming you don't hang out with any of the other students here?' He shook his head, side-eyeing me. 'I don't have friends.' His aggressive yet solemn mutter hit me hard and I shuffled slightly nearer to him. 'Hey,' finally, his eyes moved up to properly meet mine. 'You do now Ben.'