[Junior Jedi Knights] -05
by Rebecca Moesta
Drops of moisture sparkled on the short grass of the landing field in front of the Jedi academy. The sunlight on Yavin 4 seemed especially bright after the morning’s rain. Smells of leaves and flowers drifted from the jungle nearby.
The air felt comfortably damp and warm to Anakin Solo, who gazed expectantly toward the sky. He brushed his fringe of straight brown bangs away from his ice blue eyes and then shaded them with one hand so that he could see better. The ship should arrive soon, he thought. Anakin’s best friend Tahiri stood beside him, barefoot on the grassy stubble. Her pale yellow hair blew free in the breeze, and her sea green eyes also looked skyward. Beside her waited Uldir, the strong teenage son of two cargo pilots. Shaggy chestnut hair framed his proud face.
Uldir had stowed away and come to the Jedi academy in hopes of becoming a Jedi. He had persuaded Anakin’s uncle, Luke Skywalker, to accept him as a Jedi trainee for a while, even though the teen had no real talent with the Force. Although Uldir was several years older than Anakin, the two youngest Jedi trainees had befriended the new student..
Both Tahiri and Uldir were unusually silent today, and Anakin felt himself growing impatient.
“We’ve been waiting almost an hour,” Anakin said.
“Do you think something’s wrong?” Uldir shrugged.
Tahiri didn’t respond. Anakin shifted his weight. So far, he had managed to amuse himself by solving puzzles in his head, but he was getting tired of standing. He wanted to sit down, but he knew the wet grass would soak his comfortable flightsuit in no time. He wasn’t sure that would feel any better than just standing. Even though Tahiri was a couple of years younger than he was, the long wait this morning didn’t seem to bother her at all.
Uldir whistled a tune under his breath and retied the belt of his new brown Jedi robe. Anakin guessed it made Uldir feel more like a student to have a robe like the ones Jedi Masters often wore. A Jedi needs to be patient, Anakin reminded himself.
Taking a deep breath, he did one of his calming exercises using the Force. He thought back on the quest that had recently taken them all to the planet Dagobah. He, Tahiri, and Uldir had had many adventures there, guided by the Jedi Master Ikrit. One at a time, the three junior Jedi had gone into a special cave to find out about who they were inside themselves. In the cave Anakin and Tahiri had learned that their parents and the people in their past were a part of who each of them was today. But they also learned that only their own choices could decide whom they would become now.
Uldir had seen nothing in the cave, though, and Anakin wondered if the older boy had learned anything.
“I don’t think so,” Tahiri said suddenly. Just like that, with no explanation.
“Huh?” Anakin blinked at her. “What don’t you think?”
Tahiri shrugged.
“I don’t think that there’s anything wrong, of course. That is what you asked, isn’t it? You asked if I thought that anything was wrong. And I don’t. So I said-“
“Yes… yes, I heard you,” Anakin said. “I only meant-“
Tahiri gave him an odd look.
“Really, Anakin! Sometimes I wonder how you manage to get so confused even during a simple conversation. And anyway, I don’t know why you’d think that anything might be wrong. Master Skywalker wouldn’t have sent us out here to meet Tionne if he hadn’t been sure she was going to arrive sooner or later. So I’m positive that everything is fine. Relax and enjoy the beautiful weather. She’ll be here any time now.”
“Well, I hope she hurries,” Uldir said. His amber eyes searched the sky. “I don’t have much time before my next shift working in the kitchen. I thought we were going to go into the jungle together so you could give me some tips on using the Force to lift leaves.”
“We’ll have plenty of time to practice,” Tahiri said confidently.
“I just wish there was an easier way to learn about the Force,” Uldir said. His voice had started low, but changed with a squeak i n midsentence. “It always seems like such hard work.”
“I guess I don’t think about whether it’s hard to study the Force and practice, because I enjoy it so much,” Anakin admitted.
Tahiri gave Uldir an encouraging smile.
“I have a feeling you’re going to start catching on pretty soon now. After all, when Tionne found me on Tatooine-“
“That’s Uncle Luke’s homeworld, you know,” Anakin explained to Uldir.
“Right,” Tahiri said. “Anyway; when Tionne found me out in the middle of the desert living with the Sand People, I didn’t know any more about using the Force than you—but look how much I’ve learned already. Tionne is a natural teacher, and I’m never bored when she’s talking. That’s why I love to go along on her research trips, you know. I wish I could have gone with her this time to Borgo Prime…. I always learn so much.” Tahiri looked pensive for a moment; then her face brightened. “Well, she did promise to take me along on her next research trip. Traveling with her is always an adventure. I hope-“