Master Jedi - The First of Two
posted 25 September 2007, Tuesday
The trip back from Clack'dor VI was a quiet one. Jina had decided to stay in the back watching their prisoner while Luke flew the ship. He knew it took incredible control from Jina to stay on Dagobah and not run off, but how much control she would have after he dropped her off at her home was a question he desperately wanted to know. Jina didn't know, her feelings were not clear on the matter, but Luke was well aware of what awaited her back on Tatooine. I'm sorry you have to go through this, Luke thought, but I know you can do it. In the back of the freighter Jina curled up like a ball on the floor and stared blankly as she repeated her cave experience again and again in her mind.
She almost jumped off the ship when they arrived to drop off the prisoner, but Luke managed to keep her corralled for another half hour or so before finally dropping her off in the outskirts by her parents home. With a desperation that exploded into her legs making her sprint at full speed Jina left Luke and hurried to her family. There were no goodbyes or discussion. She was out of the door before it fully opened and all Luke could do was hope for the best as the events of the day began to unfold.
"Mother! Father!" Jina yelled as she ran up to the door and began banging on it with all the self control she could muster not to break it down. With a hefty pull the hinged metal front door came open and her annoyed father stuck his head out wondering what the disturbance was. He didn't get a chance to say anything as Jina pounced on him immediately and offered him a strong, relieved hug. "I'm so glad you're okay! Where's mom?" As quickly as she jumped on her father she ran off to find her mother who was sitting at the living room table happy, surprise and confused all at once about her daughter's behavior. "Was that you yelling outside? Is everything okay?" Jina's mother asked as Jina tackled her with a big hug.
"I'm so glad you're alright! I thought it would be too late!" Jina sighed.
After closing the door Hark walked over and grabbed his daughter by the shoulders and tried to slow her down. "What is it Jina? Is everything okay? Me and your mother are fine."
Jina looked up at her dad happy to see his face. "I thought I would be too late, but it's okay now. It's okay."
"Too late for what dear?" Janaa asked as she gave her husband a worried look.
"It doesn't matter now. You're safe. Now you just need to pack up your things because you're moving to the Republic." Jina continued at top speed.
"What?" Hark shook his head. "We're not going anywhere Jina. Now what's this you're rambling about? You're not making any sense!"
Jina jerked away from her father's grasp frustrated. "Listen carefully. You're in danger here... on this planet. I don't know how long you have, but you need to leave."
"Jina we've lived here in Ridgeport for thirty years... we're--" Janaa added before being interrupted.
"You don't understand! If you stay here you're going to die!" Jina gave her mother an intense look that sent a chill through her. "I'll explain it when we're all out of here."
"Jina. Even if we were to leave where would we go? This is our home, and we don't have a lot of money." Hark tried to explain that a move was a complicated thing. Maybe too complicated for Jina to understand.
"Everything has been prepared. You'll be staying on a Republic ship until you find a more permanent home. They even have a job ready for you dad." Jina pleaded.
"Even a job?" Janna asked.
Hark shook his head again agitating Jina. "That sounds good Jina, but like your mother said this is our home." He was sure now that his daughter was hysterical and overreacting. He didn't stop to consider his older daughter and what had happened to her.
As her parents tried to calm what they thought was their daughter's obvious hysteria Jina popped her head up suddenly and asked about her sister. "Where's Licia? Is she in her room?"
As she began towards her sister's room Hark grabbed her by the arm remembering what had happened to his daughter and wanting to prepare Jina. "Jina. Something happened to your sister. She's okay, but--"
"What happened to her?" Jina began yelling again, her heart racing. "Is she okay?" She tried to pull away from her father but he refused to let her go.
"Jina listen!" Her mother said in a stern voice. "Your sister has been through a lot and yelling isn't going to help her. If you're going to talk to her you need to be calm. She doesn't need you upsetting her right now."
"Let me go." Jina said calmly trying to restrain herself - Not wanting to accidentally hurt her father. "I want to see Licia." Her father obliged and Jina slowly walked to her sister's door trying to appease her parents. "Licia? Can I come in?" She gently knocked. No answer. Too impatient and worried to knock again Jina opened the door and quickly slipped in shutting and locking it behind her. The room was dark and Licia was in bed hidden underneath her sheets. She remained silent as Jina approached. "I know you're awake. What's wrong Licia? What happened?" Jina whispered lovingly trying to assure her sister. Licia began to cry beneath her covers fueling Jina's emotions. "I'm here for you. What happened? Tell me."
"I'll be okay Jina. Don't worry about me." Licia said. She didn't know that her sister could sense her fear and doubt knowing she was lying.
"Did someone hurt you?" Jina asked, not about to drop the subject. Her worry was about to make her chest explode so she Force-flipped the light switch on causing her sister to search deeper in her sheets for a place to hide. "It's okay Licia," Jina said as she slowly pulled the covers off her sisters head. Licia's mutilated right head tentacle was the first thing Jina saw, and her heart sank to her stomach. Her sister's face was black with bruises and red with scars from a severe beating. "Oh my God!" Jina stood up immediately filling with anger. "Who did this to you? I'm going to kill them!" The words rolled off her tongue so easily she covered her mouth when she realized what she had said.
"No Jina!" Licia finally sat up and faced her sister revealing her swollen left eye. "I don't want you to get hurt. It's over. I won't be going out of the house anymore so--"
"So you're going to lock yourself in here for the rest of your life? That's stupid! Now who did this to you! What happened?" Jina's anger flared up. Outside their parents called out to them wanting to come in and calm things down.
"It was Terix. He's a punk who hangs out at the bar I work at. He's been hitting on me since I started there, but I didn't want anything to do with him. A few days ago he got drunk and hit me. He told me that if I didn't sleep with him he'd do worse next time." Licia began crying again clearly afraid of Terix.
Jina Force-flipped the lights off and crawled into bed with her sister. "I'm not going to let him hurt you again," she said confidently as she hugged her.
Licia was happy to have her sister by her side and surprised at her maturity. "You've changed a lot since you left."
Jina nodded. "Yeah..."
Luke had returned to the warehouse after dropping off Jina wanting to give her some time alone with her family. The next day was also something he wasn't looking forward to, but he knew he had to be there for her no matter what happened. "Take care of the place R5!" He yelled as he pulled his robe tightly over himself and headed out into the quickly chilling air of the evening. There was also a minor sand storm whipping about, but he had to begin the long walk to Ridgeport if he didn't want to be too late.
It's different for everyone, Luke thought to himself as he thought about Jina and her cave vision. He was worried about her trial which was going to happen soon. But why two parts? Was there something special about her? Luke didn't understand - especially since the second was invisible to his prescient eye. He knew he played a part in it, and that worried him even more. Like a father Luke felt the urge to shield Jina from the pain of the ordeal, but she could never be a Jedi if he did.
Abused by wind blown sand and the cold night air Luke made his way across the dry lake bed and to the front door of Jina's home. It was nine o'clock when he knocked on their front door arousing Jina's father and the suspicion that came along with a visitor at such an hour. "Who is it?" Hark's muffled voice asked from the other side of the locked, metal door.
"It's Luke!" He yelled trying to be heard over the whistle of the wind.
"Who?"
"Luke! The Jedi who saved you!" He said with no intention of self praise.
The clanks of three locks preceded the slow opening of the door, and after Hark had taken his cautious peek at Luke he swung the door open and smiled. "It's you! Come in, come in!" You shouldn't be traveling at night around here... or in a sand storm. You shouldn't be knocking on people's doors so late either, but it's good to see you all the same."
"I'm sorry for getting here late, but it was a rough walk."
Hark shook his head. "I guess that's a Jedi thing... but I wouldn't understand any of that stuff." He walked into the kitchen and came out with a glass of water. "Want something to drink?"
"Thanks." Luke grabbed the glass and drank all of it cooling his throat. "I hope you don't mind if I stay here tonight. I'll sleep here on the floor."
"No it's okay, but I don't understand why you would walk through a sand storm to sleep here on the floor. You should have come in the morning." Hark sat down at his table and yawned.
"I have something important to attend to," Luke said as he wasted no time huddling in the corner getting ready to sleep. "You should get some sleep. We'll talk more in the morning." Hark welcomed his words and went off to bed thankful that he didn't have to stay up late entertaining a guest.
The smell of food and the patter of busy footsteps aroused Luke from an uncomfortable sleep that took him hours to fall into. "Good morning," Hark said energetically. "I'm off to work, but I'll leave some food for you in the kitchen."
You're not going to work today, Luke thought as he sat up and rubbed his face. "Has Jina gone?" Luke asked knowing it would lead Hark down his predetermined path.
"Jina? She's sleeping with her sister. They probably want to sleep in today."
"No... Jina has other things on her mind," Luke said confidently as he got up and sat at the living room table.
Luke words confused Hark making him pop his head into his daughter's room. After flipping on the lights he realized that Jina was gone. "I could have sworn I was the first one up today... Everything's alright... Isn't it?" Hark turned to Luke after closing Licia's door.
"No... Things are not alright." Luke shook his head as he stared at Hark.
Hark knew what he meant. He didn't want to talk about it, but felt forced to. "Every time I think about Licia I just want to rip that little shit apart... but he's a crazy thug with friends and I can't make things worse for my family. You understand right?"
Luke nodded in agreement, "You did the right thing Hark. You controlled your emotions, and there aren't a lot of people who can do that."
Hark stared at his broken table thinking about the night before. "Jina wanted us to pick up and move to some star ship. She was hysterical actually. We've lived here for thirty years and made it this far so we'll be fine... Right?"
Luke slowly shook his head.
Hark sighed deeply then sat quietly for five minutes. The time for his regular departure to work had come and gone. Janaa walked out of her bedroom and joined them at the table. "You're going to be late for work honey!" She said.
"What's it like on a star ship?" Hark said to Luke completely ignoring his wife.
"It's different, but you won't have to worry about sandstorms or heatstroke." Luke half-smiled.
"Not this again," Janna prepared for an argument, but her husband stopped her.
"We're not safe here anymore. I know we've lived here most of our lives, but it's time to move on Janaa. I've tried to deny it, but the truth is that Licia isn't safe here... and neither are we."
Janaa crossed her arms and looked away teary eyed.
Luke looked at Hark then Janaa. "I have a lot of friends in the republic. Your family will be taken care of, and more importantly you'll be safe. I know this is a major change, but you need to leave if you want to live. I know Jina isn't going to leave here without you."
Thinking of Jina and the whole situation Hark asked Luke, "Do you know where Jina went?"
Luke nodded, "Yes. She's in the city looking for something..."
In the city square at the center of Ridgeport Jina marched straight towards the bar where her sister worked. The name of the bar was written in a language she didn't understand and on a sign that looked ready to break open the head of the next person walking underneath. The bar was a narrow door that opened up into an equally narrow room with the same handful of patrons that decided to make it their usual place. Jina rushed through the plastic beads that acted as the front door and walked right up to the lutrillian bartender. "You little young to be here, no?" The bartender asked in his barely understandable basic.
"I'm looking for Terix," Jina struggled to stay calm as she said his name.
The bartender came in close, "Best not be looking for him girl. He is danger, crazy."
Jina began to tremble with anger as she grabbed him by the collar. "I'm Licia's sister, and if you don't help me find him I'm going to do to you what I plan to do to him!" Jina brought her fist down on the bar and Force-smashed a hole in it.
The long hours contemplating her sisters attack the night before had worked Jina into a rage that blinded her to most reason. The anger inside fueled her actions like a runaway train, and for now all Jina could feel was the pain of her sister and the pain swelling in her chest for revenge. The frightened bartender easily agreed to point Terix out should he come in that day, and his arrival was as sure as the rising of Tatooine's twin suns. The only question was when, and Jina didn't really care when as long as she got to see him.
On the roof of a nearby building Jina waited for her opportunity desperately anticipating the signal she worked out with the Lutrillian. Patrons came and went, each one striking a blow to her patience. As the morning hours ticked away the sand and heat began to wear down her determination. The time allowed Jina to occasionally remember her training and the words of her master in between her plans for Terix, and by early evening the pain in her chest wasn't so bad. Tired and on the brink of heatstroke Jina had nearly overcome the anger that had driven her throughout the day when the clang of empty bottles drew her attention.
The bartender had just dropped two empty bottles into a box next to the front door making a lot more noise than necessary and signaling the presence of the man Jina wanted to find. He looked at three young men who were just leaving his place fulfilling his obligation and directing Jina's anger to the appropriate person. She stood up with an alertness she thought the day's heat has sucked away and observed the three men laughing and chatting through the square. It was obvious that the upright, muscular man in the middle was Terix, and the clingy, wiry men orbiting him were his friends. The sight of him made Jina clench her fist stoking the anger that had died down.
I'll follow him, and wait until he does something or hurts someone. I'll be justified in doing what I need to do, planned Jina. He's bound to do something she hoped as she began jumping from rooftop to rooftop waiting for Terix to give her the excuse she needed to avenge her sister. Outside the square Terix and his men stopped by another bar and chatted up some people loitering outside then strolled to a few more places to converse with more people - thugs as Jina thought.
Two hours later the first sun had set and Terix was still wandering about having chats. Not once did he act up or threaten anyone. I can't believe this is him, Jina frustrated, but hearing his name called by the many people he had seen throughout her pursuit confirmed it. She followed him to the back of a small restaurant that was closing and decided to sit down to rest. Her day had been long and her anger had turned into annoyance, her desire for revenge into exhaustion. Jina sighed deeply as she asked herself what she was doing. I shouldn't be here. Luke's going to be angry with me, Jina worried. I wonder if this was part of my test? Did I fail?
With little anger left inside her Jina repented of her actions and decided to go back home. Getting her family to safety was now her priority and she felt foolish for having wasted so much time. She jumped down onto the now empty street a block away and wrapped her robe around herself when someone called out to her from behind. "Hey you!" Jina turned around to find that it was none other than Terix. "Hey! What were you doing up there? This is my territory and no one steals from me!" Terix said. With no desire left to deal with him Jina turned around and walked away, but the obvious steps running up behind her told her he was not going to be denied.
With a quick turn Jina rolled behind Terix and pushed him to the floor in front of her allowing his momentum to carry him. "I don't have time to waste on you!" she said, but from behind two men grabbed her by the arms. More annoyed than anything Jina brought her fists down into the groins of both men easily dispatching them. "You bitch!" one of them yelled as they groaned in pain. "So you're a girl huh?" Terix stated as he got to his feet. "I don't allow girls to treat me like this. They do what I want or they feel pain!" Again he rushed Jina foolishly ignoring the fact that she dealt with him quite easily before. She watched him come right at her then punched him squarely in the mouth with all her might.
Jina watched him as he knelt there in front of her bleeding profusely. She could have Force-punched him causing serious damage, but she was glad she didn't. In spite of the pain shooting through her hand Jina felt the tingle of satisfaction and she wanted more. She never thought revenge would feel this good and suddenly thoughts of doing more raced through her mind. I could cut him into little pieces she thought as her teeth and fists were now tightly clenched. Jina pulled her lightsaber from her belt and extended it a few inches from Terix's face - the glow illuminating her grave expression. "I could kill you right now... but even though you probably deserve to die I won't. You just better hope that we don't meet again." After pulling herself away from Terix Jina ran off making sure they didn't follow.
The day had been one of Jina's longest, and as she slowly walked up the street to her house Luke looked down from the roof proud of his student. "How was your day?" he asked. Jina looked up at his silhouette against the glow of the second sunset and just shook her head. "That bad huh?" Luke continued. Now shuffling her feet Jina made it to the corner of her parents house and stopped, looking tired and defeated. "You weren't following me were you?" She asked.
"Nope. I've been helping your family load their things into the ship all day." Luke bounced his feet off the side of the house.
Ignoring the news Luke just gave her she asked, "Why didn't you follow me?"
"What you had to do today you had to do alone, but I'm proud you made the right decision."
"So you did follow me?"
Luke chuckled, "No. I could sense everything you were doing from here."
"It wouldn't have been wrong for me to kill him..." Jina said as she admired the warm glow of the sky.
"If the circumstances were different... but a Jedi should never use anger or revenge to fuel his actions... no matter how justified. It only leads to bad things."
"So I passed my test?"
"No... not yet."
To Be Continued...
She almost jumped off the ship when they arrived to drop off the prisoner, but Luke managed to keep her corralled for another half hour or so before finally dropping her off in the outskirts by her parents home. With a desperation that exploded into her legs making her sprint at full speed Jina left Luke and hurried to her family. There were no goodbyes or discussion. She was out of the door before it fully opened and all Luke could do was hope for the best as the events of the day began to unfold.
"Mother! Father!" Jina yelled as she ran up to the door and began banging on it with all the self control she could muster not to break it down. With a hefty pull the hinged metal front door came open and her annoyed father stuck his head out wondering what the disturbance was. He didn't get a chance to say anything as Jina pounced on him immediately and offered him a strong, relieved hug. "I'm so glad you're okay! Where's mom?" As quickly as she jumped on her father she ran off to find her mother who was sitting at the living room table happy, surprise and confused all at once about her daughter's behavior. "Was that you yelling outside? Is everything okay?" Jina's mother asked as Jina tackled her with a big hug.
"I'm so glad you're alright! I thought it would be too late!" Jina sighed.
After closing the door Hark walked over and grabbed his daughter by the shoulders and tried to slow her down. "What is it Jina? Is everything okay? Me and your mother are fine."
Jina looked up at her dad happy to see his face. "I thought I would be too late, but it's okay now. It's okay."
"Too late for what dear?" Janaa asked as she gave her husband a worried look.
"It doesn't matter now. You're safe. Now you just need to pack up your things because you're moving to the Republic." Jina continued at top speed.
"What?" Hark shook his head. "We're not going anywhere Jina. Now what's this you're rambling about? You're not making any sense!"
Jina jerked away from her father's grasp frustrated. "Listen carefully. You're in danger here... on this planet. I don't know how long you have, but you need to leave."
"Jina we've lived here in Ridgeport for thirty years... we're--" Janaa added before being interrupted.
"You don't understand! If you stay here you're going to die!" Jina gave her mother an intense look that sent a chill through her. "I'll explain it when we're all out of here."
"Jina. Even if we were to leave where would we go? This is our home, and we don't have a lot of money." Hark tried to explain that a move was a complicated thing. Maybe too complicated for Jina to understand.
"Everything has been prepared. You'll be staying on a Republic ship until you find a more permanent home. They even have a job ready for you dad." Jina pleaded.
"Even a job?" Janna asked.
Hark shook his head again agitating Jina. "That sounds good Jina, but like your mother said this is our home." He was sure now that his daughter was hysterical and overreacting. He didn't stop to consider his older daughter and what had happened to her.
As her parents tried to calm what they thought was their daughter's obvious hysteria Jina popped her head up suddenly and asked about her sister. "Where's Licia? Is she in her room?"
As she began towards her sister's room Hark grabbed her by the arm remembering what had happened to his daughter and wanting to prepare Jina. "Jina. Something happened to your sister. She's okay, but--"
"What happened to her?" Jina began yelling again, her heart racing. "Is she okay?" She tried to pull away from her father but he refused to let her go.
"Jina listen!" Her mother said in a stern voice. "Your sister has been through a lot and yelling isn't going to help her. If you're going to talk to her you need to be calm. She doesn't need you upsetting her right now."
"Let me go." Jina said calmly trying to restrain herself - Not wanting to accidentally hurt her father. "I want to see Licia." Her father obliged and Jina slowly walked to her sister's door trying to appease her parents. "Licia? Can I come in?" She gently knocked. No answer. Too impatient and worried to knock again Jina opened the door and quickly slipped in shutting and locking it behind her. The room was dark and Licia was in bed hidden underneath her sheets. She remained silent as Jina approached. "I know you're awake. What's wrong Licia? What happened?" Jina whispered lovingly trying to assure her sister. Licia began to cry beneath her covers fueling Jina's emotions. "I'm here for you. What happened? Tell me."
"I'll be okay Jina. Don't worry about me." Licia said. She didn't know that her sister could sense her fear and doubt knowing she was lying.
"Did someone hurt you?" Jina asked, not about to drop the subject. Her worry was about to make her chest explode so she Force-flipped the light switch on causing her sister to search deeper in her sheets for a place to hide. "It's okay Licia," Jina said as she slowly pulled the covers off her sisters head. Licia's mutilated right head tentacle was the first thing Jina saw, and her heart sank to her stomach. Her sister's face was black with bruises and red with scars from a severe beating. "Oh my God!" Jina stood up immediately filling with anger. "Who did this to you? I'm going to kill them!" The words rolled off her tongue so easily she covered her mouth when she realized what she had said.
"No Jina!" Licia finally sat up and faced her sister revealing her swollen left eye. "I don't want you to get hurt. It's over. I won't be going out of the house anymore so--"
"So you're going to lock yourself in here for the rest of your life? That's stupid! Now who did this to you! What happened?" Jina's anger flared up. Outside their parents called out to them wanting to come in and calm things down.
"It was Terix. He's a punk who hangs out at the bar I work at. He's been hitting on me since I started there, but I didn't want anything to do with him. A few days ago he got drunk and hit me. He told me that if I didn't sleep with him he'd do worse next time." Licia began crying again clearly afraid of Terix.
Jina Force-flipped the lights off and crawled into bed with her sister. "I'm not going to let him hurt you again," she said confidently as she hugged her.
Licia was happy to have her sister by her side and surprised at her maturity. "You've changed a lot since you left."
Jina nodded. "Yeah..."
Luke had returned to the warehouse after dropping off Jina wanting to give her some time alone with her family. The next day was also something he wasn't looking forward to, but he knew he had to be there for her no matter what happened. "Take care of the place R5!" He yelled as he pulled his robe tightly over himself and headed out into the quickly chilling air of the evening. There was also a minor sand storm whipping about, but he had to begin the long walk to Ridgeport if he didn't want to be too late.
It's different for everyone, Luke thought to himself as he thought about Jina and her cave vision. He was worried about her trial which was going to happen soon. But why two parts? Was there something special about her? Luke didn't understand - especially since the second was invisible to his prescient eye. He knew he played a part in it, and that worried him even more. Like a father Luke felt the urge to shield Jina from the pain of the ordeal, but she could never be a Jedi if he did.
Abused by wind blown sand and the cold night air Luke made his way across the dry lake bed and to the front door of Jina's home. It was nine o'clock when he knocked on their front door arousing Jina's father and the suspicion that came along with a visitor at such an hour. "Who is it?" Hark's muffled voice asked from the other side of the locked, metal door.
"It's Luke!" He yelled trying to be heard over the whistle of the wind.
"Who?"
"Luke! The Jedi who saved you!" He said with no intention of self praise.
The clanks of three locks preceded the slow opening of the door, and after Hark had taken his cautious peek at Luke he swung the door open and smiled. "It's you! Come in, come in!" You shouldn't be traveling at night around here... or in a sand storm. You shouldn't be knocking on people's doors so late either, but it's good to see you all the same."
"I'm sorry for getting here late, but it was a rough walk."
Hark shook his head. "I guess that's a Jedi thing... but I wouldn't understand any of that stuff." He walked into the kitchen and came out with a glass of water. "Want something to drink?"
"Thanks." Luke grabbed the glass and drank all of it cooling his throat. "I hope you don't mind if I stay here tonight. I'll sleep here on the floor."
"No it's okay, but I don't understand why you would walk through a sand storm to sleep here on the floor. You should have come in the morning." Hark sat down at his table and yawned.
"I have something important to attend to," Luke said as he wasted no time huddling in the corner getting ready to sleep. "You should get some sleep. We'll talk more in the morning." Hark welcomed his words and went off to bed thankful that he didn't have to stay up late entertaining a guest.
The smell of food and the patter of busy footsteps aroused Luke from an uncomfortable sleep that took him hours to fall into. "Good morning," Hark said energetically. "I'm off to work, but I'll leave some food for you in the kitchen."
You're not going to work today, Luke thought as he sat up and rubbed his face. "Has Jina gone?" Luke asked knowing it would lead Hark down his predetermined path.
"Jina? She's sleeping with her sister. They probably want to sleep in today."
"No... Jina has other things on her mind," Luke said confidently as he got up and sat at the living room table.
Luke words confused Hark making him pop his head into his daughter's room. After flipping on the lights he realized that Jina was gone. "I could have sworn I was the first one up today... Everything's alright... Isn't it?" Hark turned to Luke after closing Licia's door.
"No... Things are not alright." Luke shook his head as he stared at Hark.
Hark knew what he meant. He didn't want to talk about it, but felt forced to. "Every time I think about Licia I just want to rip that little shit apart... but he's a crazy thug with friends and I can't make things worse for my family. You understand right?"
Luke nodded in agreement, "You did the right thing Hark. You controlled your emotions, and there aren't a lot of people who can do that."
Hark stared at his broken table thinking about the night before. "Jina wanted us to pick up and move to some star ship. She was hysterical actually. We've lived here for thirty years and made it this far so we'll be fine... Right?"
Luke slowly shook his head.
Hark sighed deeply then sat quietly for five minutes. The time for his regular departure to work had come and gone. Janaa walked out of her bedroom and joined them at the table. "You're going to be late for work honey!" She said.
"What's it like on a star ship?" Hark said to Luke completely ignoring his wife.
"It's different, but you won't have to worry about sandstorms or heatstroke." Luke half-smiled.
"Not this again," Janna prepared for an argument, but her husband stopped her.
"We're not safe here anymore. I know we've lived here most of our lives, but it's time to move on Janaa. I've tried to deny it, but the truth is that Licia isn't safe here... and neither are we."
Janaa crossed her arms and looked away teary eyed.
Luke looked at Hark then Janaa. "I have a lot of friends in the republic. Your family will be taken care of, and more importantly you'll be safe. I know this is a major change, but you need to leave if you want to live. I know Jina isn't going to leave here without you."
Thinking of Jina and the whole situation Hark asked Luke, "Do you know where Jina went?"
Luke nodded, "Yes. She's in the city looking for something..."
In the city square at the center of Ridgeport Jina marched straight towards the bar where her sister worked. The name of the bar was written in a language she didn't understand and on a sign that looked ready to break open the head of the next person walking underneath. The bar was a narrow door that opened up into an equally narrow room with the same handful of patrons that decided to make it their usual place. Jina rushed through the plastic beads that acted as the front door and walked right up to the lutrillian bartender. "You little young to be here, no?" The bartender asked in his barely understandable basic.
"I'm looking for Terix," Jina struggled to stay calm as she said his name.
The bartender came in close, "Best not be looking for him girl. He is danger, crazy."
Jina began to tremble with anger as she grabbed him by the collar. "I'm Licia's sister, and if you don't help me find him I'm going to do to you what I plan to do to him!" Jina brought her fist down on the bar and Force-smashed a hole in it.
The long hours contemplating her sisters attack the night before had worked Jina into a rage that blinded her to most reason. The anger inside fueled her actions like a runaway train, and for now all Jina could feel was the pain of her sister and the pain swelling in her chest for revenge. The frightened bartender easily agreed to point Terix out should he come in that day, and his arrival was as sure as the rising of Tatooine's twin suns. The only question was when, and Jina didn't really care when as long as she got to see him.
On the roof of a nearby building Jina waited for her opportunity desperately anticipating the signal she worked out with the Lutrillian. Patrons came and went, each one striking a blow to her patience. As the morning hours ticked away the sand and heat began to wear down her determination. The time allowed Jina to occasionally remember her training and the words of her master in between her plans for Terix, and by early evening the pain in her chest wasn't so bad. Tired and on the brink of heatstroke Jina had nearly overcome the anger that had driven her throughout the day when the clang of empty bottles drew her attention.
The bartender had just dropped two empty bottles into a box next to the front door making a lot more noise than necessary and signaling the presence of the man Jina wanted to find. He looked at three young men who were just leaving his place fulfilling his obligation and directing Jina's anger to the appropriate person. She stood up with an alertness she thought the day's heat has sucked away and observed the three men laughing and chatting through the square. It was obvious that the upright, muscular man in the middle was Terix, and the clingy, wiry men orbiting him were his friends. The sight of him made Jina clench her fist stoking the anger that had died down.
I'll follow him, and wait until he does something or hurts someone. I'll be justified in doing what I need to do, planned Jina. He's bound to do something she hoped as she began jumping from rooftop to rooftop waiting for Terix to give her the excuse she needed to avenge her sister. Outside the square Terix and his men stopped by another bar and chatted up some people loitering outside then strolled to a few more places to converse with more people - thugs as Jina thought.
Two hours later the first sun had set and Terix was still wandering about having chats. Not once did he act up or threaten anyone. I can't believe this is him, Jina frustrated, but hearing his name called by the many people he had seen throughout her pursuit confirmed it. She followed him to the back of a small restaurant that was closing and decided to sit down to rest. Her day had been long and her anger had turned into annoyance, her desire for revenge into exhaustion. Jina sighed deeply as she asked herself what she was doing. I shouldn't be here. Luke's going to be angry with me, Jina worried. I wonder if this was part of my test? Did I fail?
With little anger left inside her Jina repented of her actions and decided to go back home. Getting her family to safety was now her priority and she felt foolish for having wasted so much time. She jumped down onto the now empty street a block away and wrapped her robe around herself when someone called out to her from behind. "Hey you!" Jina turned around to find that it was none other than Terix. "Hey! What were you doing up there? This is my territory and no one steals from me!" Terix said. With no desire left to deal with him Jina turned around and walked away, but the obvious steps running up behind her told her he was not going to be denied.
With a quick turn Jina rolled behind Terix and pushed him to the floor in front of her allowing his momentum to carry him. "I don't have time to waste on you!" she said, but from behind two men grabbed her by the arms. More annoyed than anything Jina brought her fists down into the groins of both men easily dispatching them. "You bitch!" one of them yelled as they groaned in pain. "So you're a girl huh?" Terix stated as he got to his feet. "I don't allow girls to treat me like this. They do what I want or they feel pain!" Again he rushed Jina foolishly ignoring the fact that she dealt with him quite easily before. She watched him come right at her then punched him squarely in the mouth with all her might.
Jina watched him as he knelt there in front of her bleeding profusely. She could have Force-punched him causing serious damage, but she was glad she didn't. In spite of the pain shooting through her hand Jina felt the tingle of satisfaction and she wanted more. She never thought revenge would feel this good and suddenly thoughts of doing more raced through her mind. I could cut him into little pieces she thought as her teeth and fists were now tightly clenched. Jina pulled her lightsaber from her belt and extended it a few inches from Terix's face - the glow illuminating her grave expression. "I could kill you right now... but even though you probably deserve to die I won't. You just better hope that we don't meet again." After pulling herself away from Terix Jina ran off making sure they didn't follow.
The day had been one of Jina's longest, and as she slowly walked up the street to her house Luke looked down from the roof proud of his student. "How was your day?" he asked. Jina looked up at his silhouette against the glow of the second sunset and just shook her head. "That bad huh?" Luke continued. Now shuffling her feet Jina made it to the corner of her parents house and stopped, looking tired and defeated. "You weren't following me were you?" She asked.
"Nope. I've been helping your family load their things into the ship all day." Luke bounced his feet off the side of the house.
Ignoring the news Luke just gave her she asked, "Why didn't you follow me?"
"What you had to do today you had to do alone, but I'm proud you made the right decision."
"So you did follow me?"
Luke chuckled, "No. I could sense everything you were doing from here."
"It wouldn't have been wrong for me to kill him..." Jina said as she admired the warm glow of the sky.
"If the circumstances were different... but a Jedi should never use anger or revenge to fuel his actions... no matter how justified. It only leads to bad things."
"So I passed my test?"
"No... not yet."
To Be Continued...
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