Revelation
After three weeks of intensive training in the basics of lightsaber combat, the day had come when Nomi had to face the training remote for the first time.
Although she initially resisted, the young woman now had to admit that she was glad to be able to fight with this special weapon.
As she hooked the lightsaber hilt to her belt, Dash approached her and kissed her neck.
"I want to accompany you to training today," he whispered in his wife's ear. "I'm curious about your progress."
"You have to ask Luke if he'll let you watch," Nomi replied, taking her husband's hand. "But you can come with me."
Together they made the short walk to Luke's quarters and heard the sounds of the creatures that lived in the nearby swamp.
When they reached their destination, Nomi knocked on the door. It wasn't long before Luke opened the door. As usual, he was dressed all in black. The Jedi raised an eyebrow when he saw Dash standing next to Nomi.
"Hello, Nomi. Hello, Dash," he said, stepping out with a small bag in his hand and closing the door. "So you want to see your wife's progress, my friend?"
Rendar nodded his head.
"Of course, Luke," the ex-mercenary answered. "Nomi never allows me to watch her lightsaber practice. She makes a big secret out of it. I'm very curious to see how my wife handles this weapon and I hope that you will allow me to watch the training."
Skywalker smiled at his friend.
"I don't mind you watching, Dash," he answered and then turned his attention to Nomi.
"Today you compete against this training remote, Nomi."
He took the device out of the bag and showed it to his two friends. It was a small silver sphere with sensors and small openings on the surface.
"It will try to hit you with small laser beams," he continued. "Your task is to fend off these laser beams. There's no need to worry as it isn't dangerous. I adjusted the intensity so that a hit only causes a brief uncomfortable tingling sensation. Finally, I had to take into account that you are in the seventh month of your pregnancy. I don't want to risk anything happening to you or the child. Now get ready, Nomi."
The young Jedi activated the training remote and tossed it into the air, where it hovered and hummed softly.
Immediately, Nomi ignited the lightsaber and went into a fighting stance. As soon as the lightsaber's blue blade appeared, the remote came to life. It came at the young woman with lightning speed and fired a beam in her direction. But the remote wasn't fast enough. With the sureness of a sleepwalker, Nomi deflected the beam that was meant to hit her.
Dash watched his wife in awe while Luke watched her every move with a teacher's eye.
Fully concentrated, Nomi went back to the basic position and waited for the next attack. And
she shouldn't wait long. This time the device attacked her from behind. In the blink of an eye, she turned and blocked that attack.
Again and again the training remote tried to circumvent the young woman's defenses,
but without success.
After a while the time set by Luke was up and the remote floated over to him and deactivated. The Jedi looked at Nomi in disbelief, who deactivated her lightsaber as Dash walked over to her.
"How did you do that, Nomi?" Luke asked, staring at the training remote in his hand. "When I first faced such a device under Obi-Wan's supervision, I was hit more than once. And not only that, I also had to endure Han's mockery."
Nomi shrugged and rested her head on Dash's chest.
"I don't know, Luke," she answered. "Somehow I knew where the training remote would attack next. Maybe it's the instincts of a seasoned fighter."
Luke looked at her thoughtfully.
"It could be, but maybe it's something else. If you're not too tired, I'd like to try something. I have a hunch and I want to know if I'm right."
Nomi turned and cast a glance at her husband who nodded slightly.
"No, I'm not tired," she answered with a smile.
When he heard that, Luke went to his quarters and returned shortly thereafter with a helmet with an opaque visor.
"I want you to wear this helmet," he said and held out the helmet to Nomi.
The young woman shook her head and looked to Dash for support. But Dash only saw the welcome opportunity to finally get confirmation of his suspicion and remained silent.
"But then I'm completely blind," Nomi finally said. "I can't fight wearing this helmet, Luke."
"That's exactly what I want to find out. Put the helmet on and we'll see what happens."
Reluctantly, Nomi did as she was asked. As soon as she put on the helmet and ignited the lightsaber, she heard the low hum of the activated training remote. She couldn't see anything and tried to figure out where the remote would attack.
And then, despite the opaque visor, she saw it clearly. It was about to attack from the left. She turned in that direction and deflected the beam. It seemed like a miracle to her, but no matter which direction the attack came from, she successfully parried every single one.
Eventually, the remote deactivated and floated back in Skywalker's hand.
"I've seen enough, Nomi," the Jedi said, exchanging a look with Dash.
Nomi deactivated the lightsaber, removed the helmet and looked at her childhood friend expectantly
"How did you do this?" Luke asked, still surprised by what he had seen.
"I don't know, Luke," the young woman replied, hooking the lightsaber hilt to her belt and wiping the sweat from her forehead. "It was like I could almost see the remote. But that's nonsense, no one can do that but a Jedi. Maybe I saw the device through my daughter's Force abilities. She didn't want her mother to get hurt and helped me. Yes, that's how it must have been."
Luke shook his head.
"I don't believe that. There was no reason for Tasherit to protect you because you weren't really in any danger, Nomi." He hesitated a moment before continuing.
"I would like to do one last test. There is a way to determine if someone has the potential to become a Jedi. To do this, I need to get into your mind and find a specific spot. It may not be very pleasant, but I ask that you allow me to do this."
Nomi stared at her friend and backed away from him.
"No, Luke, I don't want that," she said in a panicked voice.
Dash had been leaning against a tree during the latter part of his wife's training and was now listening to the conversation. Noticing that his wife was losing her nerve, he went over.
"Please, let Luke take this test because I need certainty, darling," he said and took her in his arms. "I have long suspected that you are Force sensitive. And I never really believed I was the reason for our Force sensitive offspring."
Nomi looked up at her husband and saw in his eyes how important it was to him.
"All right then. I'm ready for the test, Luke. Let's get it over with."
Dash stepped aside and made room for Luke to stand in front of Nomi. The Jedi was glad she agreed. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes, concentrated, and reached out with the Force. Slowly and carefully, he entered Nomi's mind searching for a specific spot.
Nomi felt a slight pressure as her friend went deeper and deeper. Suddenly, Luke gasped, staggered back and almost fell, but managed to avoid the fall.
Dash rushed to him.
"What happened, Luke?" He asked and looked over to his wife.
"I didn't do anything. What was that, Luke?"
Nomi approached the two men and Skywalker smiled at her.
"You're right, Nomi, you didn't do anything. And you have certainty now, Dash. Your wife is Force sensitive and has the potential to become a Jedi. When I found the spot I was looking for, I was pushed back. It was as if two identical magnetic poles met. We should take advantage of that potential in your wife, Dash."
Nomi couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"You can't make that decision over my head," she interrupted the two men. "I don't want that and I'm not Force sensitive. You must be wrong, Luke. There were never any Jedi in our family."
Skywalker couldn't help but laugh.
"Well, then you'll be the first."
Nomi made a face.
"It's not funny, Luke."
Luke got serious again.
"You shouldn't let your skills go to waste, Nomi. You could be of great use to the Alliance with your talent. I ask you not to refuse the gift that has been given to you. Think about it. I am sure that you will make the right decision."
The young woman took her husband's hand and nodded.
"I'll think about it and let you know my decision tomorrow, my friend."
Along with Dash, she went to their quarters after saying goodbye to Luke.
As they entered their quarters, Dash turned to his wife and looked at her as if he were seeing her for the first time. Then, after looking at her in silence for a long time, he said something she hadn't expected.
"I've thought it through carefully and made a decision, Nomi," he began, taking his wife's hand. "It's better if we part. Please let me finish."
His wife could only stare at him, surprised at what she heard.
Dash took a deep breath before continuing.
"Despite my Jedi ancestry, I'm not Force sensitive. You need a companion who is your equal. I'm not the man you need."
Nomi wondered if he had lost his mind. She stroked his hand holding hers.
"Damn, are you completely insane, Dash? Why are you talking about a breakup? Why do you think you're not the man I need? Nobody is better for me than you. I love you more than my life, Dash. Please don't throw this love away. We have three wonderful sons and now I'm expecting our daughter who will also be Force sensitive. You are my equal in many ways. I don't care that you can't use the Force because I need you, your love and your strength. I don't want to lose you, Dash."
She turned and hugged her husband with tears in her eyes.
Feeling helpless, Dash began stroking his wife soothingly and kissed her. He realized how much he had hurt the woman he loved.
"I need you too, Nomi," he whispered in her ear. "Your love always gave me strength during these difficult years. I hope you'll never regret staying with me. Because of you and the children, I am happy again after a long time. I love you more than I can say, Nomi."
The young woman tiptoed and kissed her husband tenderly.
"It's been a tough day for both of us, darling. We should go to bed. Our sons are already asleep."
Her husband nodded his head and followed her to prepare for the night.
Not long thereafter they went to bed, snuggled up to each other, and fell asleep.
