The stars stretched into endless ribbons of light through the transparisteel viewport as the Wayfarer emerged from hyperspace. The sleek-looking, silver transport ship shuddered slightly, its engines humming with a steady cadence that echoed through its durasteel corridors and became noticeable within its passenger cabin. Besides the beautiful view, it was the other telling sign that we had left hyperspace, breaking the quiet tension hanging in the air.
For a moment, I heard shuffling, knowing that the others were also noticing the change. A dozen young faces sat scattered among the rows of seats, their expressions a mixture of awe and anxiety. Some clung to small satchels of belongings, relics of their lives that they had to leave behind. I had barely any of that. I came with... just a satchel.
Others gazed wide-eyed at the exotic ship's interior, unsure whether they were awake or dreaming. For some of them, this was their very first journey through space, making them think that what they were hearing may be a sign of the ship suddenly coming apart. The thought alone made me smile; as for me, this feeling was natural.
What I didn't know was that someone else was also sensing our feelings and thoughts while watching over us.
Up in the front, Ben Skywalker couldn't help but smile while seated near the cockpit, keeping a watchful eye on us. The faint glow of the console illuminated his calm, serene features as he adjusted the navicomputer, sending our vessel's encrypted identifying signal to the Jedi Temple. He had been in our shoes once, thrust into the galaxy's mysteries earlier than we would be, as he was born in an era of sundering. He knew better than to overwhelm us, so he let our emotions play out and let us experience everything naturally, with him overseeing the start of our journey. The voyage to Yavin 4 was as much about transition as it was about arrival. Of course, we didn't know it back then, but we had to come to grasp the fact that the life we knew was now behind us.
I sat stiffly in my seat near the back of the cabin. I was amongst the last to get picked up, and while walking down the aisle, I noticed that I may be the oldest one. I was already eleven years old, older than many of the other children on board, but I felt no less unsure of myself than they did. I could feel it. I ran my fingers through my dark hair, trying to mask my nervousness while I stared out of the viewport, watching the stars outside return to pinpricks of light when we exited hyperspace. While doing it, I noticed my fingers shaking a little, so I tried resting them on my knees, tightening occasionally as if bracing for something unseen. Damn nerves...
"Are you scared?"
The voice entering my left ear startled me. Turning, I found myself looking into the deep violet eyes of a twi'lek girl seated right beside me. I had already forgotten that I wasn't alone in my row, mainly because we didn't exchange any words... Which wasn't an accident. She was asleep when I was picked up and led to my spot here.
Looking at her, her lekku draped gracefully over her shoulders, the ends twitching slightly as she spoke. Finally, I managed to blink my eyes, uncertain how to respond to her question. The girl's purplish skin shimmered faintly in the dim cabin light, and her expression held an odd mix of curiosity and challenge, still waiting for my answer. Which I should give soon, or I will look like an idiot.
"No," I responded eventually, my voice steady despite the knot in my stomach. My training within my family kicked in as I spoke, keeping my composure on all occasions. "Why would I be scared?"
"Because this is all new. Leaving everything behind. Going to a Jedi Temple... It's a lot to take in." The girl shrugged in answer, leaning back in her seat, yawning and stretching.
I couldn't help but frown, unsure if she was mocking me or just being blunt. Hearing her tone, probably the latter.
"So... I take that you're not scared?" I asked back.
"Not scared. Just… ready. Ready for something better." She smiled faintly after hearing my question.
Her words were strong, her tone more mature than her face suggested, which made me pause. The same was true of her eyes. They were... grown, even more grown-up than mine, which gave me goosebumps on my hands. Something was out of place, so I glanced at her again, noticing the scars along her wrists, partially hidden beneath the fabric of her simple, sand-colored tunic.
"I'm Vila, by the way." She spoke, extending a hand after she noticed my look. She didn't hide it from me, but she didn't comment on it either.
"Kael," I reacted, hesitating briefly before shaking it. Her grip was firm, and her palm warm despite the chill of the cabin. "Kael... Varo."
Before either of us could say more, the ship jolted slightly as it adjusted course. Before someone could yelp out, thinking we hit something, which would be silly in space, Ben Skywalker's calm and reassuring voice carried over the hum of the engines.
"Don't worry, just a minor course correction. We'll be arriving at Yavin 4 soon. This is your perfect chance to ask questions before we land!"
A few of the younger children shifted in their seats, murmuring quietly to one another. As I let her hand go, Vila glanced toward the front of the cabin while some others started questioning our guide. Her expression softened briefly as she watched Ben, becoming as if she were looking at a savior.
"Is he… the one in charge of us?" she asked me, her eyes fixated on our guardian.
"At least during this trip," I replied. "He's a Jedi Knight. See the blue stripes on his shoulder pads? It is the symbol of his rank within the Order. Also, if I remember correctly, you were asleep when he introduced himself." I added with a slight smile.
"I... may have been..." She blushed but made no excuses, even if she was indeed so exhausted by the time she got on the ship she didn't remember how she ended up in her chair.
"It happens." I continued, not wanting her to feel as if I was mocking her. "He is Ben Skywalker, which, if I am right, makes him the son of Luke Skywalker."
Her eyes immediately widened at the mention of Luke Skywalker, but she quickly masked her reaction, but not quick enough for me to miss it.
"Huh. Guess that makes him important." She stated, trying to sound uninterested.
I simply nodded, though I wasn't sure how much I believed her. But I wouldn't try to push the issue. Important people were a complicated topic in my life—figures of authority who often carried shadows of ambition or deceit; I had enough of those. Still... Ben seemed and felt different, though.
"Why do you think they brought us here?" Vila asked, her tone even quieter now.
Hearing her, I paused, then shrugged. Is she testing me? Or she doesn't know it? Both reasons were ridiculous.
"Because we're different. Because of the Will of the Force."
Vila's gaze lingered on me for a moment as if weighing my answer. Finally, she nodded, looking satisfied.
"Yeah. I guess we'll find out soon enough."
What do you mean by that? Find out soon? Find out what? Why else would we be here? I wanted to ask so many things, but... no matter. Watching her, I saw her shift slightly beside me, her presence oddly flickering in the unfamiliar environment, her eyes moving around, scanning the room as if measuring possible escape routes. I don't know if it was something she did consciously... It didn't feel like it.
Well... It turns out someone is even more nervous than I am. None of us was entirely forthcoming, huh? It's not a good start for a Jedi if I thought about it for a moment. So... to make sure I wasn't starting out with a lie, for the first time in what felt like ages, I allowed myself to relax, if only slightly.
...
....
...
The Wayfarer descended through the atmosphere of Yavin 4, the jungle moon's lush greenery coming into view below us. The ship's stabilizers hummed as it maneuvered through the dense air currents, the sprawling Jedi Temple growing larger with each passing moment. Whoever was piloting this ship was good; I could feel it, or in this case, barely feel it as I wasn't being thrown around in my seat.
What made me look away from the windows was Ben, who stood and turned to face us, his expression calm but firm.
"Alright, listen up. We're about to land at the Jedi Temple. This will be your home from now on. It's a place of learning and growth, but it's also a place of discipline. The Jedi Order is about more than just using the Force—it's about understanding it and living by its principles. You'll have time to adjust, but remember: this is a new beginning for all of you. A clean slate."
All of us, by reflex, nodded, some more eagerly than others. Vila glanced at me, her expression unreadable, turning away the moment I moved my eyes towards her.
"New beginning, huh?" she murmured.
The Wayfarer touched down gently on the landing platform, its landing gear hissing as it settled into place. It was a perfect end for our trip because I barely felt any shakes, only hearing the engines whine down. Superb piloting. Walking forward to the exit door, we watched as the ramp extended with a low whir, revealing the expansive courtyard of the Jedi Temple before our eyes. It was probably morning on this side of the moon, the air fresh but a bit humid to my taste. No matter... I will be used to it in no time. The first ones filed out hesitantly, their eyes sweeping left and right as they took in the towering stone structures and the lush jungle beyond, giving me more time to take it all in.
When I stepped onto the platform, the warm, humid air became even more potent than what I sensed from the ship. Vila was walking close beside me, her gaze scanning the surroundings with a mix of awe and a deep wariness. Was she afraid something would come out from between the trees? Still, unlike me, she was more used to these types of environments, not even twitching her nose or frowning her brows.
Turning forward, I looked at Ben Skywalker, who stood at the foot of the ramp, his hands clasped behind his back, waiting for us to gather before him.
"Welcome to Yavin 4," he said, officially welcoming us, his voice carrying over the rustle of the jungle. "This is where your journey as Jedi begins."
Hearing it, I felt a flicker of something deep within me—a spark of expectancy tempered by the sudden weight of the voice of my family resurfacing in the depths of my mind. I heard similar words once... but... No. This is different. Chasing the thoughts away, I glanced at Vila again, who caught my eye this time and gave me a faint smile.
"It seems you were right. Ready for this?" she asked out of the blue.
Of course, I was... did she doubt it? Until now? Haaah... Well... I wasn't sure if I was, but I nodded anyway.
"Yeah. Ready."
Together, we followed the others into the temple, an ancient but massive pyramid-looking building bearing the Jedi Order's symbol on its side. Becoming a Jedi... I must not fail.