“Any 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, emerged from his room dressed in garishly colored robes with an eye-popping display of intense primary blues, yellows, and reds. He seemed terribly flustered as he brushed his hands down the fabric of his robe, let out a sigh of dismay, and ducked back into his rooms.
“Bet the meeting has something to do with that trip Uncle Luke just took to Coruscant,” Jaina said. Jacen remembered that their uncle had recently flown off in the Shadow Chaser—a sleek ship they had appropriated from the Shadow Academy in order to make good their escape—to discuss the threat of the Second Imperium 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—if they 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 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 stood in his Jedi robe. His face deeply serious, he 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 army 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 the 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 warm 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 talking to each one of them in turn, “a Jedi Master 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, 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 fight for 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 he had crouched motionless. “Hi, Uncle Luke,” he said.