[Junior Jedi Knights] - 01(4)

“Well, I’m not actually one of the Sand People, but I’ve lived with them since I was four years old,” Tahiri continued. “I was an orphan, and they found me in the desert and took care of me.” She moved to the large wooden bench by the window and perched on it. Then she resumed her story. “Luke Skywalker’s assistant, Tionne, discovered me while she and Luke were visiting Tatooine. They spent time with me and discovered that I’m strong in the Force. I didn’t know what they meant at first. But they explained that the little things I could do-like sense emotions and find things that were misplaced-were a special power. So Tionne rescued me from the desert and brought me to this moon. Not that I needed rescue. The Sand People are all right, and I did have my own bantha as a pet-you have seen a bantha, haven’t you?” Tahiri asked Anakin. She didn’t wait for an answer. “Banthas are animals with long, thick fur. They have spiral horns. On Tatooine we ride them and use them to carry things. Anyway, Tionne brought me here because she says that I have Jedi potential. Guess that’s why you’re here too, huh?”

Once again Tahiri did not wait for an answer.

“Best thing about this place is that I don’t have to wear long white robes and cover my face and mouth like I did on Tatooine-I hated that! Oh, and I don’t ever have to wear shoes if I don’t want to-I made Tionne promise me that the moment I arrived at the Great Temple,” Tahiri explained, wriggling her bare feet. “I made her promise because I love the feeling of the Temple’s cool clean stones under my feet. Where I’m from it’s hot and there’s sand everywhere - gritty sand that sticks between your toes. So, aren’t you going to say something?” she finally asked Anakin.

Anakin had to laugh. “It’s pretty hard to get a word in with you talking all the time,” he explained.

Tahiri thought for a moment.

“Sorry about that. It’s just that on Tatooine there wasn’t anyone near my own age to talk to. I guess I’m pretty lonely for a friend.”

“I guess I could use a friend too,” Anakin admitted. After all, his brother and sister were back on Coruscant with their parents, and Anakin already missed them, more than he could say.

“Then it’s settled-we’re best friends now,” Tahiri said with a grin. “So are you going to tell me your name?”

“My name is Anakin Solo,” he replied softly.

Jedi instructor Tionne found her newest student, Tahiri, in the Grand Audience Chamber. She had come to take the girl to her sleeping quarters. There had not been a chance to show the active young student where she was to sleep since the girl had arrived on the on the moon that morning. For the last few hours Tionne had had a hard enough time just keeping her eye on this last - minute addition to the young Jedi class, a class that had been carefully selected and then brought to Yavin 4 over the last week for classes that would begin tomorrow morning.

Tionne walked through the wooden doorway and paused, watching Tahiri talk to Anakin Solo. Tionne was happy to see that the child had begun to make a friend. She had known that Tahiri wasn’t shy. In fact, the girl rarely stopped talking. But Tionne had been worried that the other students would be put off by her nonstop chatter. It was understandable, though, since the girl hadn’t had any human her own age to talk to for almost six years.

“Tahiri, I’ve come to show you to your room,” Tionne said.

Tahiri looked away from her new friend and toward the silver-haired Jedi.

“I’m not tired. I want to stay and talk with Anakin,” Tahiri replied. Tahiri wasn’t used to anyone telling her when to sleep, or where. On Tatooine everyone took care of themselves. If you were tired you slept. If you were hungry you ate. And if you were thirsty… Well, if you were thirsty you hoped to find water somewhere in the desert.

Tionne smiled at Tahiri.

“You are not on Tatooine anymore,” she said. “And you will follow the rules of the Jedi academy.”

Tahiri frowned and her bright green eyes clouded. She really did hate being told what to do. But she stood up from the bench. She would follow Tionne for now.

“Young Anakin, it is almost time for lights out,” Tionne informed the boy. “All of our young students must be in their rooms and ready for bed four standard hours after nightfall,” she continued.

Anakin nodded. He was used to being told when to go to bed. On Coruscant his mother and father had made him go to bed at about the same time.

Anakin, Tahiri, and Tionne left the Grand Audience Chamber and descended the stairway to the next floor of the Temple. Artoo was still waiting at the base of the stairs for Anakin, and when the boy reached the bottom of the stairs the droid once again followed him. Several times he bleeped and beeped, but Anakin ignored the droid.