Chapter Twenty

Luke was standing in the courtyard, watching the students at their various activities. This vision seemed clearer – the greens a little greener, the blues a little bluer. The people’s faces were still blurred, but now he seemed to be able to sense the diverse population – Togruta, human, Nikto, Whiphid, and more.

A human boy and a Twi’lek girl were sitting on a stone wall with a smattering of items between them.

The boy picked up a rock, pointed at it, and said, “Rock.”

The girl tilted her head, echoed, “ ‘Rock’,” and then said, “Nat.”

“ ‘Nat’,” he repeated. “And when it’s used as a building material – ” He tapped on the wall they were sitting on. “ – it’s called ‘stone’.”

“ ‘Stone’,” she said. “Our word is ‘darap’.”

“ ‘Darap’,” the boy repeated. “Okay, your turn.”

The girl picked up a flower, pointed at it, and said, “Aola.”

“ ‘Aola’,” the boy tried. “We call that ‘flower’.”

“ ‘Flower’,” she said.        

They’re teaching each other their language, said Lisa’s voice. A flicker of warmth passed through him that wasn’t entirely his own.

Luke nodded, then blinked and looked around. He sensed her nearby, but she was nowhere to be seen. Her voice had been in his mind, which was nothing new; he was used to that, but her presence felt so close.

He felt her smile. I’m with you. I can see through your eyes and hear through your ears.

You’re not physically here, though.

No, but at least the Force is letting me see the people through you. Take what you get and don’t complain, or we might lose it.

She was right. At least she was here in a way, and she could finally see what he’d been trying to describe to her for months.

They walked along the courtyard. In a clearing surrounded by large rocks, a group of ten students that seemed to range in age from four to eight were practicing with –

Are those lightsabers?!

Luke winced, and he immediately felt her apology. Smiling softly, he looked closer at the group. The students were wearing white tunics, a few with scorch marks in several places – sides, arms, legs – and helmets that blocked their vision. Remote training droids were floating above them, periodically shooting low-level bolts for the students to block with their sabers.

They’re training sabers, Luke told her. Low power. And the tunics are responsive to heat, hence the scorch marks.

He felt her frown. Are they doing this alone?

Luke glanced around at the group. Ten young students in lightsaber training…and an older student in standard training robes. More supervision than teaching, he sensed, just to make sure there were no serious injuries.

Oh, okay. Whew.

He chuckled, watching the training session for a few minutes. He could tell she was about to comment about the students being so young and yet wielding lightsabers – low power or not.

Don’t worry, he said. We’ll make sure they’re ready. No one’s going to get rushed or pressured into anything, especially for something like lightsaber training.

She went quiet, and he could sense her thinking. He let her; she’d tell him when she was ready.

They walked further, coming to a forest edge. There were paths that split the trees, and pairs of students were walking along them.

Looks like the buddy system, Lisa commented, and Luke agreed. I wonder where they’re going.

Luke shrugged. Let’s find out.

The answer turned out to be a lake. It was deeper than the river, and it seemed that only those who were able to successfully tread water were there.

Sounds of giggling and splashing reached their ears, along with the croaking of the one-eyed frogs watching the students from lily pads at the water’s edge. The bushes nearby rustled, and Luke turned. He could have sworn he’d seen a flash of color that was gone in an instant. Somewhere in the trees, a bird squawked.

The students looked toward the direction the sound had come from, and some of them waved. Another squawk sounded, and the students waved again before resuming their swim.

Did you understand that? Luke asked.

…not exactly. Beat. I can feel what it meant…kind of. I just can’t quite…translate it.

What did you feel?

Familiar…curious…watching…

Luke hummed. They observed for several more moments before moving back to the paths and to the courtyard. He cast his eyes over the students there and sighed contentedly.

What do you think?

It’s amazing, she answered. He felt a wave of warmth wash over him. The connections, the togetherness. No fighting. No one thinking they’re better than another. Luke…this is…

She fell silent, unable to articulate exactly what she wanted to say, and only one word came to Luke’s mind – and they seemed to say it together.

“Ours.”

Back *~*~* Chapter Nineteen *~*~* Chapter Twenty-One