LIGHT SABERS
by
Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta
Jungle birds cried out and took wing, searching for a breakfast of
flying insects. The enormous gas giant Yavin hung overhead, luminous
with reflected light, but Luke stared beyond it with his imagination,
envisioning all of the galaxy's dark and secret corners where the Second
Imperium might lie hidden.. . .
Finally Luke stood and stretched. It was time for his morning exercises.
Perhaps the exertion would help him think more clearly, get his heart
beat' Ing harder, tune his reflexes.
At the top of the pyramid, he went to the sheer edge of the enormous,
vine-covered blocks that formed the sides of the towering temple. It was
a long drop to the next level, where the ziggurat widened toward its
base. Each squared-off set of blocks displayed decorative etchings and
crenellations, carved into the stone thousands of years earlier during
the building of the ancient structure" weathered by scorching attack and
passing time.
The dense jungle encroached at the rear of the temple pyramid,
embellishing the massive stones with thick vines and overspreading
Massassi tree branches.
Luke paused for a moment at the edge, took a deep breath, and closed his
eyes to center his concentration. Then he leaped out into space.
He felt himself falling and rotated in midair, executing a backward
somersault that brought him into Position, feet down, just in time to
see the cracked old stones rushing up at him. Using the Force to slow
himself just enough for a hard landing, he rebounded and pushed off
toward the nearest vine. Allowing himself a brief laugh of LIGHTSABERS
exhilaration, Luke snagged the rough jungle creeper and swung up onto
the lichen-flaked branch of a Massassi tree. He landed smoothly and ran
along the branch without pausing. Next he jumped across in the jungle
canopy and grabbed a small a gap branch overhead, hauling himself
higher, climbing, running.
finding more Each day Luke challenged himself, difficult routines in
order to continue honing his skills. Even during times of peace, a Jedi
Knight could never allow himself to relax and grow weak.
But these were not quiet times, and Luke Skywalker had plenty of
challenges to face.
Years ago, a student named Brakiss had been planted in Luke's academy as
an Imperial spy to learn the ways of the Jedi and twist them to evil
uses. Luke had seen through the disguise, however, and had tried
unsuccessfully to turn Brakiss to the light side. After the dark trainee
had fled, Luke had not heard from Brakiss again-until recently, when
Jacen, Jaina, and the young Wookiee Lowbacca had been kidnapped. Brakiss
had teamed up with one of the evil new Nightsisters-Tamith Kai-to form a
Shadow Academy for training Dark Jedi in the service of the Empire.
Panting from his workout, Luke continued to climb through the trees,
startling a nest of ravenous stintarils. The rodents turned on him,
flashing bright teeth, but when he nudged their attack instincts in a
new direction, they forgot their intended target and scattered through
the leafy branches.
He swung himself up and finally reached the jungle canopy. Sunshine
burst upon him as he pushed his head above the leafy treetops. Humid air
filled his burning lungs, and he blinked again in the morning light. The
lush world around h
im seemed very bright after the filtered dimness of the thick
underievels. Looking back toward the stepped pyi-amid of the Great
Temple that housed his Jedi students, Luke considered both the new group
of fighters he had brought here to help protect the New Republic and the
trainees at the Shadow Academy. . . .
In the past few months, the Shadow Academy had begun recruiting
candidates among the disadvantaged young men and women Of Coruscant,
been the teenager named Zekk, a dark-haired, green-eyed scamp who had
been a good friend to the twins, especially Jaina. In addition, the TIE
pilot Qorl-who had spent over two decades hiding on Yavin 4 after the
first Death Star was destroyed-had led a raid to steal hyperdrive cores
and turbolaser batteries from an incoming New Republic supply ship.
All this and more had led Luke Skywalker to the conclusion that the
Shadow Academy was gearing up for a major battle against the New
Republic.
LIGHTSABERS
Since the dead, of Emperor Palpatine, there had been many warlords and
leaders who had attempted to rekindle the imperial way-but Luke sensed
through the Force that this new leader was something more evil than just
another pretender. . . .
Bright sunlight fell across Luke, warming his hands. Brilliantly colored
insects flitted about, buzzing in the new day. He shifted against the
rough branches and drew a deep breath of the fresh air, catching mingled
scents from the lush jungle all around him.
The Shadow Academy was still out there, still training Dark Jedi. Luke
hated to rush his training of those who studied the ways of the light
sidebut circumstances forced him to attempt to bring out powerful
defenders faster than the Shadow Academy could create new enemies. A
fight was brewing, and they had to be prepared.
Luke grabbed a loose vine and let himself drop, drop, drop until,
landing with a jarring thump against a wide Massassi tree branch, he set
off, running at top speed back to the academy.
The workout had awakened him fully, and now he was ready for action.
It was time for another gathering of students at the Jedi academy-and
Jacen Solo knew that meant his uncle, Luke Skywalker, had something
important to say.
Life at the academy was not a constant series of lectures and classes,
as he had experienced during tutoring sessions back on Coruscant. The
Jedi academy was designed primarily for independent study in a place
where Force-sensitive individuals could delve into their minds, test
their abilities, and work at their own pace.
Each potential Jedi Knight had a range of skills.
Jacen himself had a knack for understanding animals, calling them to
him, and kno thoughts and feelings wing their His sister Jaina, on the
other hand, had a genius for mechanical things and electronic circuits,
and possessed engineering intuition.
Lowbacca, their Wookiee friend, ha
d an eerie rapport with computers, which allowed him to decipher and
Program complex electronic circuits.
Their athletic friend Tenel Ka was physically strong and self-trained,
but she usually avoided relying on the Force as the easiest solution to
a Problem. Tenel Ka depended on her own wits and strength first.
In his quarters Jacen's exotic pets rustled in their cages along the
stone wal
l. He hurried to feed them and then ran his fingers through his
unruly brown curls to remove any stray bits of moss or fodder he might
have picked up from the cages. He poked his head into his twin sister
Jaina's chambers as she, too, Prepared for the big meeting. She quickly
combed her straight brown hair and scrubbed her face clean so that her
skin looked pink and fresh.
LIGHTSABERS
"Anv idea what Uncle Luke's going to talk about?@' she asked, drying
drips of water from her chin and nose.
"I was hoping you'd know," Jacen said.
One of the other young Jedi trainees, Raynar, emer-ed from his room
dressed in garishly colored i-obcs with an eye-popping display of
intense priiiiary blues, yellows, and reds. He seemed terribly
I'lustered as he brushed his hands down the fabric of I"is robe. let out
a sigh of dismay, and ducked back int ) his rooms.
took to Coruscant," Jaina said.
J@liceii remembered that their uncle had recently flown off in the
Shado@v Chaser-a sleek ship they had appropriated from the Shadow
Academy in order to make good their e-,cape-to discuss the threat of the
Second Imp erium with Chief of State Leia Organa Solo, Luke's sister and
the twins'
mother.
"Only one way to find out," Jacen said. "Most of the other students
should be in the grand audience chamber already."
"Well then, what are we waiting for?" Jaina said, and took off with her
brother at a brisk clip down the corridor.
Behind them, Raynar emerged from his quarters again, looking much more
satisfied now that he had managed to find a robe that was, if anything,
even more dazzlingly bright than the first one-enough to cause tension
headaches in anyone who looked too long. Raynar cinched the robe around
his waist with a green and orange patterned sash, then bustled after
Jacen and Jaina.
When they stepped out of the turbolift into the grand audience chamber,
the twins looked at the restless crowd of human and alien students, some
with two arms and two legs, Others with many times that.
Some had fur, others had feathers, scales, or slick damp skin .- - but
all had a talent for the Force, the potential-ifthey trained and studied
diligently-to eventually become members of a new order of Jedi Knights
that was growing stronger with each passing year.
Over the background chatter they heard a resounding Wookiee bellow, and
Jacen pointed. "There',s Lowie! He's with Tenel Ka already."
They hurried down the central aisle, passing other students and slipping
between rows of stone benches to reach their two friends. Jaina held
back and waited while her brother took a seat next to Tenel Ka, as he
always did.
Jacen wondered if his twin sister had noticed how much he liked being
with Tenel Ka, how he always chose a place beside the Young warrior
girl. Then he realized that Jaina would never miss anything of that
sort-but he didn't really care.
Tenel Ka didn't seem to object to Jacen spending LIGHTSABERS
his time next to her. The two of them were an odd mix. Jacen always wore
an impish grin and enjoyed joking around. Ever since they had met, one
of his main goals had been to make Tenel Ka laugh by telling her silly
jokes. But despite his best efforts, the strong girl with reddish-gold
hair remained serious, almost grim, though he knew she was intelligent,
quick to act, and profoundly loyal.
"Greetings, Jacen," Tenel Ka said.
"How are you doing, Tenel Ka? Hey, I've got another joke for you."
Lowbacca groaned, and Jacen shot him a wounded look.
"There is no time," Tenel Ka said, pointing toward the speaker's
platform. "Master Skywalker is about to address us."
Indeed, Luke had come out onto the stage and his Jedi robe. His face
deeply serious, he stood in folded his hands in front of him, and the
audience quickly grew quiet.
"A time of great darkness is upon us," Master Skywalker said. The
silence grew even deeper.
Jacen sat straight and looked around in alarm.
"Not only does the Empire continue its struggles to reclaim the galaxy,
but this time it is using the Force in an unprecedented manner. With its
Shadow Academy, the leaders of the Second Imperium are creating their
own an-ny of dark side Force-wielders.
And we, my friends, are the only ones who can stand against it." He
paused as that news sank in.
Jacen swallowed hard.
"Though th@ Emperor has been dead for nineteen years, still the New
Republic struggles to bring the worlds of the galaxy into an alliance.
Palpatine did not take so long to squeeze his iron fist around star
systems-but the New Republic is a different kind of government. We
aren't willing to use the Emperor's tactics. The Chief of State will not
send armed fleets to crush planets into Submission or execute
dissidents. Unfortunately, though, because we use peaceful democratic
means, we are more vulnerable to a threat like the Empire."
Jacen felt warni inside at the mention of his mother and what she was
doing with the New Republic.
"In days long past," Luke said, walking from side to side on the stage
so that he seemed to be t@ilkitig to each one of them in turn, "a Jedi
Mastei- spent years looking for a single student to teach and guide
along the path, of the Jedi." Luke's voice became graver. "Now, though,
our need is too great for such caution. The Empire nearly succeeded in
obliterating the Jedi Knights of old, and we don't have the luxury of
such patience. Instead, I'm going to have to ask you to learn a little
faster, to grow strong a little sooner. I must accelerate your training,
because the New Republic needs more Jedi Knights."
From one of the front rows, where he always sat, LIGHTSABERS
Raynar spoke up. Jacen had to blink to clear the spots of bright color
from his vision when the sandy-haired boy raised his hand. "We're ready,
Master Skywalker! We're all willing to fight for YOU."
Luke looked intently at the boy who had interrupted him. "I'm not asking
you to fight for me, Raynar," Luke said in a calm voice. "I need your
help to fightfor the New Republic, and against the evil ways we thought
were behind us. Not for any one person."
The students stirred. Their minds churned with a determination they
didn't know how to direct.
Master Skywalker continued to pace. "Each of you must work individually
to stretch your abilities.
I'll help as I can. I want to meet with you in small groups to plan
strategy, discuss ways to help each other. We must be strong, because I
believe with all my heart that we face dark times ahead."
Down in the echoing hangar bay beneath the temple, Jacen crouched in a
cool corner, extending his mind into a crack between blocks where he
sensed a rare red and green stinger lizard. He sent a tendril of thought
to it, imaginary enticements of food-dismissing reptilian concerns of
danger. Jacen very much wanted to add the lizard to his collection of
unusual pets.
Lowbacca and Jaina tinkered with Lowie's T-23 skyhopper, the flying
craft that his uncle Chewbacca had given him when he'd brought the young
Wookiee to the Jedi academy. Jacen knew his sister was a bit jealous of
Lowie for having his own flying machine. In fact, that had been one of
the reasons Jaina had so badly wanted to repair the crashed TIE fighter
they'd found out in the jungle.
Tenel Ka stood outside the upraised horizontal door of the hangar bay.
She held a forked wooden spear that she used for target practice,
throwing it with exceptional skill toward a tiny mark on the landing
pad. The teenaged warrior could strike her target with either hand. She
stared at her goal with cool, granite-gray eyes, focused her
concentration, and then let the sharpened stick fly.
Tenel Ka could have nudged the spear with the Force, guiding it where
she wished it to go-but Jacen knew from long experience that she would
probably tackle him to the ground if he dared suggest such a thing.
Tenel Ka had gained her physical skill through faithful practice and was
reluctant to use the Force in a way that she considered to be cheating.
She was very proud of her skills.
In the rear of the hangar bay, the turbolift hummed. Master Luke
Skywalker emerged and looked around. Jacen gave up his designs on the
stinger lizard and stood. His knees cracked, and his ankles were sore,
which made him realize how long LIGHTSABERS
^ 3 he had crouched motionless. "Hi, Uncle Luke," he said.