A few weeks had passed and Kazu had found himself working overnight shifts in the archives. Once again at his computer, he barely moved except for making a few slow clicks, always followed by pressing a couple keys. One of his fellow archivists, a Gand named Aavra Wyyrd leaned on the counter next to him and moonlight glowed through the temple's windows.
"Wyrrd wonders if things are going to pick up tonight," Aavra said.
"You mean other than the two who needed help finding one archive an hour ago?" Kazu replied, not looking up from the computer. "Not if the experience I've been having is any indicator. Usually there aren't more than one or two who come in every few hours at best. Most tend to use this time to sleep or train. Still though," he yawned, "there's always the recently returned archives that need restocking. I did it last night."
Aavra lumbered away from the counter.
"Fair enough."
A few minutes ticked by and Kazu stayed at his computer. However, he soon found he wasn't alone again. Looking up, he saw Xinnaa standing over him.
"Why are you up?"
"Took too long of a nap earlier and now I'm way too energized to sleep," she said. "Heard you were working graveyard and thought you could use the company."
"It has been really slow tonight…" Kazu said, looking around at the completely empty floor in front of him. "Eh, why not?" he continued, looking back at his computer. "Any leads on figuring out what you're going to do or where you're going to go?"
"Maybe Dinzo or Resilon?"
Kazu turned to look at her again, his eyes moving up and down.
"Yeah. You've got what it takes to be a miner."
"It's a thought," she retorted. "Besides, for someone who claims he wants to leave," she added, leaning into him. "I don't see you coming up with ideas."
"Best to stay for now," Kazu said. "The Order has resources I can use. Would be naïve to rob myself of those."
"There you go being cryptic again," she groaned. "Are you ever going to let me in on what you're doing? You don't have to tell the others. I won't."
Kazu paused, looked at his computer and back at Xinnaa.
"Can you keep a secret?" he asked.
"Yeah," she said, starting to smile.
"So can I," he grinned.
"You ass," she said, leaning back.
Kazu went back to his computer and pressed a couple keys before glancing back at Xinnaa whose eyes were wandering around the empty archives. He heard Aavra restocking archives on the floor above them.
"Actually, Xinnaa," he said. "There has been something I've been meaning to ask you."
"Is it how not to be a condescending scud-sucker? 'Cause I can't help you there."
"No… It… has to do with what happened to you."
"Oh, I can't wait to hear what you're going to ask," she tensed, giving him a sour look. "Do I have permission to sock you if you keep being a scughole?"
"Wouldn't be the first relationship I've detonated," he said under his breath. "Yeah, hit me all you want," he added loud enough for her to hear.
"Okay. Let's hear it."
"Did… did your breakdown start with dreams or was it something else?"
Xinnaa loosened and softened her look toward him.
"I never had dreams," she said. "I never remember my dreams anyway. The problem wasn't when I was asleep. Every time I trained, every time I meditated, I'd start to get overwhelmed and anxious. The Masters tried to help, but their advice wasn't any good for me. Whenever I would attempt to try something different to meditate, my mind would keep going and going, never stopping. It eventually hit a boiling point and I cracked under the strain. Well… you said you read about it and watched the vids… you know what happened next."
"Yeah," Kazu replied, rubbing his head. "You've had a hard couple of years. I'm glad I was the one they sent to find you. Even if I did get stabbed."
"How's the scar doing, by the way?"
"Not too bad. A little tight most mornings, but I've gotten used to it… Hey, one more question for you."
"What's up?"
"I'm not sure why it took me this long to ask but, right before you tried to grab my lightsaber, you said you 'weren't going with him…' Who?"
"I was wondering when this was going to come up," she breathed. "Some time after I left, I was hiding out in the forests of Veron Minor. An apparition came to me and started speaking. I kept asking him to leave. Eventually he did but wherever I went, he would show up and try to get me to join him."
"Did he have a name?"
"I've never met anyone or anything who didn't… but he never told me his. I never asked either. I just wanted him gone."
"Thanks, Xinnaa," he said, standing and putting a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry to have made you relive that."
Xinnaa took Kazu's hand and held it with both of hers.
"It's okay. I can't pretend it didn't happen and talking about it might do both of us some good. I still don't know what you're looking for or why, but I hope it helped in some way."
# # #
Khondo kneeled in front of a holographic projector and an image of a hooded figure flickered to life. He could see a menacing frown on its face out of the corner of his eye.
"You have progress you wish to share with me?" the figure asked.
"I have begun wearing the boy down," Khondo said. "A little more time and his mind will be ready. He will be fully susceptible to joining us."
The figure leaned back and crossed its arms. The frown disappeared underneath the shadow of the hood.
"However long you take, Khondo, I hope you have an idea of how you're going to convince him once he's been worn down. After all, your life hangs on success," the figure said as the hologram blinked off.
Khondo stood and walked down the passageway, heading back to his quarters. As soon as he went through the passage doorway, he was met by Aldreck.
"Everything has been set up for tonight," Aldreck said as Khondo walked past.
"Very good."
"Just to be on the safe side here," Aldreck started. "Have you… given any thought as to what happens if the boy decides not to join you?"
Khondo stopped and turned toward his servant slowly.
"I just mean, sir," Aldreck continued, stepping backward and putting his hands up. "There's always a chance… Something happens and you'll need to flee from—"
"I do not… flee" Khondo spat. "Nor will I fail."
# # #
"The Council has decided to allow us to take our trials at the same time," Saa'na said as she, So'lia, and Tycho walked along one of the temple's outside walkways. "They said we've been on a unique path since the beginning and, with the two of us shadowing our master together, it only seemed like the consistent thing to do."
"Makes sense," Tycho responded. "The two of you are extraordinary to begin with… an almost legendary species… twin seedlings… the journey the two of you have been on has been unprecedented. If there was any exception to the rule, it's you two. So when are they setting the date?"
"Two weeks," So'lia said.
"Gotta plan something then. You guys are gonna pass for sure. But what? Neither of you eat and you barely drink…"
"We don't have to," Saa'na said. "We didn't celebrate your success."
"What if… what if we made it a thing for the three of us?" Tycho said. "Go party up on Coruscant? Maybe drag Kazu along too. He could probably use… well… any kind of a break."
"Kazu means Xinnaa," So'lia replied.
"Eh, she's growing on me. Might be fun with her too."
# # #
Kazu opened his eyes to see the sun setting.
Still getting used to waking up in the evening, he thought. Hope this overnight schedule ends soonish.
He heaved himself out of bed, dressed, and left his room, walking toward the temple's main hall. But as he turned a corner into a connecting corridor, he came face to face with his destination burning. Kazu rubbed his eyes and saw the same thing when they opened back up. He turned around but found that his back was up against a wall.
Kazu ran and turned again to find himself in the Temple Atrium. He circled to survey what was happening before him and saw the whole temple breaking down in flames in front of him, ash raining down.
Won't be hard to leave now.
He made a break for the temple entrance and found bodies strewn about, only deterred when he saw the lifeless forms of Tycho, Saa'na, So'lia, and Xinnaa.
"This can't be happening again," he said quietly.
Kazu then noticed something move out of the corner of his eye and looked up. He saw a man on a pillar with long dark hair and a goatee. He was dressed in black robes, smiled and reached out to him.
"Who are you!?" Kazu yelled, jerking backward only to have everything disappear and his open door come into view.
He closed it and slammed his back against it, sliding down with his hands on his head.
"Not again," he said after a few moments of silence. "Not again."