Maya-202!

A Star Wars-Inspired Story!

Episode I

The Two Prince War

Chapter XVI

Not the truth

It had been a while since either Aren or Artex had spoken – the former Jedi had just sat there piloting the ship to the planet Iryx, raging in thought. "Uh… so, Aren, are you… ok?" the clanker decided to ask, finally breaking the awkward silence. He didn't reply for a moment – the droid presumed he was trying to figure out how to phrase all the things he wanted to say. "I'm… fine. Just… confused, I suppose, is the best word for it right now. I can't believe someone that was a Jedi would do such a thing!" he seethed. Artex found himself feeling (or as close as a droid could do) sorry for Aren, and he tried to offer some emotional support.

"Well, I don't know the truth, but back in my Clone Wars days, I used to overhear similar things all the time – Separatist Leaders calling the Jedi hypocrites amongst many other, less pleasant names. Of course, I never talked to any of them properly, only followed their orders, but you could always hear them talk about it with each other," the droid recalled. "Besides, and please don't take this the wrong way, but there's still the possibility it's not the truth – what if the guy, Scald, was the one lying to you? It could easily be the case," Artex added. Aren glanced over at him, for the first time in a while, with a calmer look on his face. "You could be right. My anger has been getting the better of me recently, maybe I should try to look at this rationally." He moved forward a bit, closer to the ship's front window. Hyperspace could be so pretty sometimes – Aren remembered the first time he had seen it. His mesmerisation had been so strong it had felt like it had taken over his body. But he didn't have time to focus on space's beautiful sights right now – he had different priorities.

A few moments later, they rapidly emerged out of hyperspace and arrived in front of a gorgeous, vivid, blue, and green planet – Iryx. "So, this is where he lives, huh?" Aren mumbled.

"Looks like it," Artex confirmed. It was, like many of the planets in the galaxy from the view above, stunning. "Wow," Aren murmured as the ship slightly slowed down when he was staring at it in all its glory. He noticed the decrease in their speed. "There's no time to waste – let's get down there as fast as possible…" he planned, and immediately afterwards, he accelerated rapidly into the planet's atmosphere. "Let's find out what the real truth is…" he said.

Jedi Council Chambers, Jedi Temple, Coruscant

"Do you feel it?" Rey asked, slightly tempted to tickle Maya's hand with a small flower as Master Luke Skywalker had once done to her. "The Force?" Maya quiered back.

"Yes," the Jedi Master confirmed. Maya sighed out a "No," with a rather disappointed tone of voice. Rey could tell her energy was deflated – they had been trying this for about 20 minutes now. Rey had asked if she wanted a break, but Maya was determined to get in touch with the Force. "Don't worry, Maya. Maybe it's because you're too focused here – sometimes trying to do something, trying to think of something so hard makes it impossible to actually achieve what you desire. There is a point when it can become too much. When you felt it kick in on Fortralin, as you explained to me, were you solely thinking about it, or did it just… happen?" Rey wondered. Maya opened her eyes in pause for a second, taking into account what the Jedi Grand Master had said. "It just… almost… in fact, it wasn't me taking control of the force – it was like it took control of me… You're right, I must be thinking about it too much," she concluded.

"The Force works in mysterious ways, young Maya – I may not be completely correct, so it may not be the problem. However, I suspect that it is, and so if we work on that, I think you will be able to get in contact with the Force," Rey reminded her.

"But how can I work on it if concentrating on it is the problem?" Maya questioned.

"That's how – distract yourself with other tasks, and then when the time comes, when the time is right – the Force will find you," the Jedi assured her. "After it happens a few more times, I think you will become easier to be more in touch with it," she added. Maya was smiling at first when the Jedi Grand Master was saying this, but her expression slowly turned to slight confusion. "Thank you, Master Jedi. So, what should I do now?" the trooper said. Rey shot Finn a glance, a sort of 'I trust you know what's the best course of action' look. He had been sat back with BB-8 in a long, comfy-looking sofa whilst Maya and Rey had been having their conversation, listening in case he was required to help. "For now, I think you should return to Prince Onasius. I will come with you, just to be on hand if there is any danger on the way," Finn plotted out. Maya nodded along thoughtfully, to appear as if she was taking in his words. "Alright then," she agreed. "But will I get to complete my training?" she added in a small panic, secretly hoping the answer was yes. Rey chuckled. "Oh, it'll be a long time before you complete your training, young one," she told her. "But you'll get there eventually – I trust you will, and I trust the Force will guide you to your goal," Rey continued. A grin of excitement swept slowly across Maya's face. She simply stated, "I believe you."

A few moments later, outside the Jedi Temple, along the walkway to the ship's landing pad, Maya and Finn were discussing what she should say to Prince Onasius when they returned to Iryx. "How do you think he'll react?" Maya asked.

"I think he'll be… surprised at the whole thing, more than anything. But he might not show it so much anyway with all the craziness going on right now, so I wouldn't take it personally," Finn suggested. "You're right, it's just such a strange feeling for me… well, I'm just so confused, in all honestly," Maya confessed. She felt like a bit of a fraud truthfully now – she wasn't born a Jedi, she was created in a factory, like a droid. "Try your best not to worry, young one," Finn advised. "I know that is easier said than done, but your Prince will accept you, if that's what you are worried about," he carried on. She took his consideration deeply, and agreed with it – he was right, what reason would Onasius have to be unhappy about it?

Once they were in Coruscant Space, BB-8 was beeping with excitement as he had taken piloting control of their ship, whilst Maya and Finn continued their earlier conversation. "Can I ask, will I get a-" Maya began, although Finn read her like a datapad. "In time – maybe – you will get a lightsaber, but not right now. I'm oversimplifying it there, actually. You're not just given it – most Jedi padawans have to build it. But you'll see," he said with a coy smirk. Maya felt like such a child getting excited about it and asking all these silly, stereotypical questions that most Jedi younglings would likely also ask, but she couldn't not wonder about them. She was almost overflowing with enthusiasm. Suddenly, however, that enthusiasm gradually turned to a strange, dreading feeling. Finn, sensing something had changed, rapidly shot a look at her. "What's wrong?" he said in a worried tone.

"Prince Onasius. I feel that… he's in danger!" she shrieked.