Chapter Seventeen

“…Master Skywalker…”

The voice was faint, but clear. Luke looked around the Academy campus. The students running around were still blurred and faceless, but the voices had become slightly clearer in every vision he’d had since that first jolt he’d gotten when he’d dozed off in Lisa’s arms.

Oh…that’s right, he thought with a smile. He’d fallen asleep after his first attempt at walking again, her arms wrapped around him and his head on her shoulder.

No wonder this vision was so much more vibrant than the ones he’d get when she wasn’t holding him.

“…Master Skywalker…”

Luke was compelled to walk away from the buildings and down into a field. Several students were gathered there, sitting on the grass with their legs crossed. He was not surprised to see the young girl with the tablet; she’d seemed to have become a constant presence in these visions – very rarely did he have one without catching at least a glimpse of her.

“Master Skywalker says we must help each other,” said the voice Luke instinctively knew belonged to the young girl. He watched as she knelt at the side of another student, but not too close. She set her tablet down onto the grass and folded her hands in her lap. “What are you feeling right now?”

The other student hesitated, looking around at the others gathered nearby. The young girl also glanced around at the rest of them, then said, “Can you guys give them some space, please?” Turning back to the student she was trying to help, she asked, “Do you want people to stay, or do you want everyone to go?”

As the other students obediently stood and backed away, a few of them remained. Once the student was surrounded by those they trusted, they explained that they were feeling frustrated that they seemed unable to clear their mind enough to meditate, and they were afraid they’d be in trouble if they couldn’t accomplish it.

“You won’t get into trouble,” said the young girl seriously. “Maybe meditation just isn’t your thing. Not everyone can do the whole…blank-mind thing.”

Even though they couldn’t hear him, Luke covered his mouth to hold in a laugh. “Blank-mind” was one way of putting it. That might be something he’d have to explain better when the time came.

The air seemed to ripple like a heat wave.

The young girl rubbed her nose, then said, “Not everyone can clear their mind. Maybe you just learn different. That just means we have to teach you a different way.”

Did…did the environment just respond to his thought?

He hadn’t reached for the Force at all.

The girl picked up her tablet and tapped at it. “Hm…nothing in my notes yet.” She frowned slightly. “I should make a section for this. Okay – when you’re ready, we can go ask Master Skywalker and Lisa for help. Or…you can go by yourself. If you want.”

Luke’s heart swelled when he heard her name mentioned; she was here.

The student shook their head. “Please come with me.” They looked at their other friends with the young girl. “Will you come too?”

They nodded immediately and, after a moment’s hesitation, one of them patted the student on the back. Another pulled them into a quick hug.

“Just let us know when you’re ready,” said the young girl, “and we’ll all go together.”

Back *~*~* Chapter Sixteen *~*~* Chapter Eighteen