Lightsabers

by Kevin J. Anderson

  "Actually," Yfra said, not meeting Tenel Ka's eyes, "I wasn't so much

  chosen as I was . . .

  convenient. I was in a nearby star system on business, you see, when

  your grandmother received word of your . . . unfortunate accident.

  "Now, my dear," she continued, "we'll be corning out of hyperspace in a

  few hours, so if there's anything I can do in the meantime-"

  "Yes, there is," Tenel Ka interrupted in her usual forthright manner. "I

  wish to be left alone."

  If the ambassador was put off by the abrupt answer, she covered it well.

  "Why, of course you do, my dear," she said with gracious insincerity.

  "You've been through such an ordeal." She looked meaningfully at Tenel

  Ka's arm and artfully pretended to suppress a shudder of revulsion. "You

  must feel simply terrible."

  With that, Yfra withdrew, managing to leave Tenel Ka feeling even worse

  than she had beforewhich might actually have been what the ambassador

  wanted. The ruthless henchwoman was a skilled manipulator.

  Tenel Ka looked at her left arm-what remained of it, after her faulty

  lightsaber had exploded. There had been no chance of salvaging the limb

  and allowing it to heal in a bacta tank. She was no longer complete.

  How could she be a true warrior now? She could not even claim her wound

  as the honorable result of battle. Her injury had, in fact, been caused

  by her own pride. And haste. And stupidity. If only she had taken more

  care in choosing her lightsaber components. If only she had been more

  meticulous in assembling the weapon. . . .

  Certain that her success or failure in battle would depend on her

  physical skills, she had not bothered to use her best talents when

  constructing her weapon.

  Even during her Jedi training, Tenel Ka had always proudly tried to rely

  solely on her natural abilities, refusing to use the Force unless there

  was no other way to accomplish her goals.

  But now what had become of her fighting prowess? How could she ever

  again climb a building using nothing but her fibercord, her grappling

  hook, and her own wits? How would she climb a tree? Or hunt? Or swim?

  Why, she couldn't even braid her own hair! And who would respect a Jedi

  with only one arm?

  Lost in such grim thoughts, Tenel Ka drifted into sleep. The next thing

  she heard was a tapping on the door to her stateroom.

  "My dear, are you resting?" Ambassador Yfra LIGHTSABERS

  ^ called in her cultured voice. "Time to come out now. We're almost

  home. We're near Hapes."

  Tenel Ka shook herself awake, stood, and looked at the viewscreens

  around her. The Thunder Wraith was no longer traveling in hyperspace.

  The stars and planets of the Hapes Cluster lay all about her, like

  handfuls of rainbow gems from Gallinore scattered on rich black velvet.

  "Did you hear me, my dear?" the ambassador's voice came through the door

  again. "You're home."

  "Home," Tenel Ka repeated. The dread she had been feeling congealed into

  a ball of ice in the pit of her stomach, as she considered that this

  place might indeed be her home from now on.

  Immense warships, Hapan Battle Dragons, appeared as if out of nowhere to

  escort the tiny shuttle to its landing area. When the Thunder Wraith

  finally landed and Tenel Ka disembarked, she looked around with the

  first trace of eagerness she had felt since the lightsaber accident,

  searching for her parents. She was surprised, however, to find that her

  grandmother, Ta'a Chume, was the only relative present.

  The former queen, accompanied by a large honor guard in full ceremonial

  garb, stepped forward to greet her granddaughter. Tenel Ka endured an

  embrace and a showy display of affection-although her grandmother never

  hugged her in private-and asked, "Why did my parents not come?"

  "They were called away," Ta'a Chume answered smoothly, "on an urgent and

  top-secret diplomatic . . . matter. Only I and my most trusted confidant

  know their whereabouts." She motioned to one of her retainers, who

  strode forward to drape a royal robe across Tenel Ka's shoulders. Its

  thick, soft folds hid Tenel Ka's arms, and she did not have the energy

  to object. "But," her grandmother continued, "I assure you that your

  parents will return as quickly as they are able."

  Four pairs of scantily clad male servants appeared, bringing cushioned

  seats for the princess and her grandmother. Tenel Ka sat, and only then

  noticed that at least two dozen more handsome servants had filed onto

  the landing pad. She closed her eyes and sighed. She might have known.

  It seemed that in her parents' absence, Ta'a Chume had decided to

  receive Tenel Ka with as much spectacle and fanfare as possible-perhaps

  to prove to her aspiring-Jedi granddaughter how wonderful it was to be a

  member of the royal family.

  Tenel Ka was not thrilled.

  Three brawny young men, dressed only in loincloths, moved to the center

  of the landing pad and began a rhythmic display of their gymnastic

  abilities. Other servants along the sidelines produced stringed

  instruments and flutes and began a musical accompaniment. During their

  performance, the former queen leaned toward her granddaughter and

  murmured, "You are so fortunate."

  LIGHTSABERS

  ^ Tenel Ka blinked in surprise.

  Her grandmother made an all-encompassing gesture. "Everything you

  see-Hapes and its sixty-three worlds-is yours to command." Her voice

  took on a persuasive tone. "Not many who fail to become Jedi Knights

  have such a pleasant alternative. After all, unlike the weapons of

  battle, wielding political power does not require the use of both arms.

  Tenel Ka grimaced, not only at her grandmother's unfair assertion that

  she had failed in her Jedi training, but also because one of the

  acrobats had performed a double handspring-an act she had done countless

  times herself, and one she'd always assumed she'd go right on doing. She

  had even included flips, cartwheels, and handsprings in her daily

  exercises at the Jedi academy. The Jedi academy . . . she missed it

  already.

  When the gymnasts finished, a young man stepped forward and began to

  juggle with phenomenal agility.

  Tenel Ka grew more uncomfortable as she watched him pass fire crystals,

  hoops, and blazing torches from hand to hand, tossing them high into the

  air with ever-increasing speed.

  Another thing I will never be able to do, Tenel Ka thought, pressing her

  lips into a grim line.

  She tried to concentrate on the juggler's face instead. The young man

  was indeed beautiful, but right then Tenel Ka would have traded every

  servant and guard on the landing platform for just a glimpse of a face

  that was friendly: Jacen, Jaina, Lowbacca, even Master Skywalker. . . .

  "You know," her grandmother said, leaning toward her again, as if a

  thought had just occurred to her, "perhaps your injury was the Force's

  way of showing you that you were never meant to be a Jedi Knight-that

  your destiny has always been to rule Hapes."

  Tenel Ka's breath left her in a rush, as if a rancor had stepped on her

  stoma
ch. She wondered if perhaps, for once, her grandmother might not be

  right.

  ^ ----------------THE ACOUSTICS IN the grand audience chamber on Yavin

  could carry even a whispered word from the stage to every seat in the

  hall. But today no lecturer stood at the far end of the long chamber,

  and Jaina's steps were so slow and hesitant that her booted feet made no

  sound. With the exception of Jacen and Lowie, who sat on stone benches

  near the front, the audience chamber remained completely empty.

  No, not quite empty. Images of a confident young warrior from Dathomir

  filled Jaina's vision: Tenel Ka raising her cup in a pledge of

  friendship, Tenel Ka braiding her long hair in preparation for Jedi

  training exercises, Tenel Ka scaling the outer walls of the Great

  Temple, pulling herself up easily hand-over-hand. Jaina could sense

  through their connection in the Force that similar thoughts troubled her

  twin brother.

  Just moments after Jaina took a seat near Jacen, the Jedi historian and

  instructor Tionne appeared through a side door and came to stand near

  the three

  ^

  trainees. Jaina felt her brother's mood brighten at the sightof the

  silvery-haired Jedi woman. Tionne had taught them to look for multiple

  solutions to any problem, to find choices, fresh perspectives, new

  alternatives. As always, Jaina was struck by the wisdom in the

  mother-of-pearl eyes, wisdom gained from years of studying the tales and

  lore of ancient Jedi.

  Tionne's voice was soft and melodious. "Master Skywalker has asked me to

  . . . help you to move forward in your lightsaber training."

  Jaina shifted uncomfortably, not wanting to think about the deadly

  weapon she wore clipped to a utility loop on her orange jumpsuit.

  Tionne motioned to the three seated trainees.

  "Please. Come up on the platform where we have more room to work."

  Jacen and Lowie mounted the steps, but Jaina hung back, not sure if she

  could express her reluctance. But when Tionne beckoned again, smiling at

  her with kind patience, Jaina found herself moving to join the others.

  With each step, her lightsaber bumped against her leg, a grim reminder

  of its deadly presence. Her heart began to pound with dread, and a cold

  sweat broke out on her neck and forehead. Continuing with her lightsaber

  training, she could see now, was going to be even more difficult than

  she had expected, and Jaina could tell from the set of LIGHTSABERS

  ^ Jacen's jaw that her brother was also struggling to control his own

  anxiety. He must have sensed her difficulty too, because he turned to

  her with a shaky smile. "Want to hear a joke?"

  She forced a laugh. "Why not?"

  This took her brother by surprise, and he paused a moment to think.

  "Okay, why is a droid mechanic never lonely?"

  Jaina shrugged, knowing tter t ian to attempt an answer.

  "Because he's always making new friends!"

  Jaina giggled in spite of herself, grateful for the release in tension.

  Lowie let loose a bark of laughter as well. A dimple appeared in

  Tionne's cheek, and the approving glow in her alien eyes showed that she

  understood how hard this must be for all of them.

  Then, spacing the trainees two meters apart, each facing the same

  direction, Tionne took them through a series of exercises, using only

  the hilts of their lightsabers. Clearing her mind of all else, Jaina

  echoed the instructor's strong, fluid movements as if she were

  performing a dance.

  Apparently satisfied with their progress, Tionne ended the exercise and

  came to stand in front of Lowie. Gesturing for Jaina to take a position

  beside her, facing Jacen, Tionne pressed a stud on the handle of her

  weapon and a shimmering silver beam sprang from it, eoruscating with

  energy.

  "Please ignite your lightsabers," she said.

  Though a frown of doubt crossed Jacen's face, he soon held a glowing

  emerald blade. With a snaphiss, Lowie's blade appeared too, blazing a

  deep gold, like molten bronze. He held it at his side.

  "Oh, do be careful, Master Lowbacca," Em Teedee said from the Wookiee's

  waist. "You know how delicate my circuitry is."

  Biting her lower lip, Jaina closed her eyes and touched a button on her

  lightsaber. Her weapon whooshed to life; the flare of its

  electric-violet beam and the light of the three other energy blades

  penetrated even through her shut eyelids, bringing with them a flood of

  vivid memories.

  Violet. The color of the evil Nightvister Tamith Kai's eyes.

  Silver Brakiss's flowing robes. The Shadow Acad@ emy. Jacen and Jaina

  dueling with each other in holographic disguise. A mistake by either of

  them could have meant death.

  Bronze. Almost the reddish gold of Tenel Ka,v hair. Tenel Ka's severed

  arm, still holding the handle of the failed lightsaber as it exploded.

  The shock on Tenel Ka'sface as an emerald blade sliced through her arm.

  Emerald green. The color of Zekk's eyes, surrounded by a dark corona.

  Zekk, who was even now being trained on the Shadow Academy, learning to

  serve the Second Imperium and using the dark side LIGHTSABERS

  ^ of the Force. And if the Second Imperium attacked the New Republic as

  planned-the New Republic that Jaina and Jacen and Luke Skywalker's other

  Jedi Knights had sworn to protect-she would be forced to fight. How

  could she not defend the New Republic, when her mother was its leader?

  Would she have to face Zekk with a lightsaber to protect her own mother?

  With a cry, Jaina switched off her weapon and dropped it to the

  flagstones, backing away from it as if it had turned into a krayt

  dragon. An instant later all lightsabers were extinguished, and Jaina

  shuddered with relief.

  Tionne's pearly eyes were grave as she looked at her three young

  charges. Picking up Jaina's discarded lightsaber, she seated herself on

  the cool stone of the raised platform and said, "Please, make yourselves

  comfortable. I need to tell you a story."

  Jaina, Jacen, and Lowie settled in a tight halfcircle around her,

  crowding close, needing the contact. Tionne sat straighter and held her

  delicate hands before her, moving them as she wove her tale like an

  invisible tapestry before their eyes.

  "Thousands of years ago, in a time of great evil and great good," Tionne

  began in her rich musical voice, "there lived a woman named Nomi

  Sunrider with her husband Andur, who was training to be a Jedi Knight.

  "When Nomi and her husband traveled to take a gift of precious Adegan

  crystals to Andur's new Jedi Master, they were stopped by a group of

  greedy bandits, who killed Nomi's husband and tried to steal the

  crystals. But when Nomi saw her husband lying dead, she snatched up his

  lightsaber and took a deadly revenge on his murderers. Afterward, seeing

  what she had done, Nomi was so filled with revulsion that she vowed

  never to touch a lightsaber again.

  "To fulfill the dying wish of her husband, Nomi carried the crystals to

  his Jedi Master, Thon. There she stayed with her baby daughter Vima and

  began her own training to become a Jedi. She learned and grew i
n wisdom

  and the Force, but still she refused to touch a lightsaber, although it

  was the weapon of the Jedi.

  "Eventually, however, there came a day when she discovered that her

  power with the Force alone could not protect the ones she loved. To save

  her beloved Jedi Master and to guard her daughter, Nomi once again took

  up a lightsaber and fought for what she knew was right.

  "But by this time Nomi understood the purpose and meaning of the

  lightsaber-and from that day forward she fought with all the power of

  the light side of the Force. She was never eager to use her lightsaber,

  but she knew it was occasionally necessary. By learning to accept this,

  she became a great Jedi Master and a great warrior."

  LIGHTSABERS

  ^ As the story ended, Jaina drew a deep refreshing breath, coming out of

  the near trance she entered whenever listening to Tionne's tales. Jaina

  sensed that much of the horror she had felt earlier had already drained

  away, though her muscles were as sore and weary as if she herself had

  fought all of Nomi Sunrider's lightsaber battles.

  Jaina felt something heavy and solid slide into her hand. She glanced

  down to see the handle of her lightsaber. Tionne had slipped it to her.

  "No need to turn it on for now," the Jedi instructor said gently,

  looking directly into Jaina's brown eyes. "I think we've come far enough