Delusions of Grandeur

4

The T-23 had never been so crowded, but Lowie was proud of the way his skyhopper handled the load.

While other engineers continued to repair the ancient pyramid, he and Jaina had fixed the damage the skyhopper had sustained in the Shadow Academy attack, then augmented the T-23’s engines and stabilizers. Eager to test the improved craft, Lowie offered to take his friends out for a spin.

Because Raynar was so downcast about the disappearance of both his father and his uncle, none of the Jedi trainees had the heart to exclude him. The young man had appeared in the hangar bay wearing a plain brown jumpsuit, instead of his usual robes of garish purple, scarlet, yellow, and orange.

Now, as they soared above the canopy of Massassi trees, the skyhopper’s performance was flawless, even with so many extra passengers. Lowie roared a question back to his friends.

“I think my foot’s asleep,” Jaina answered from the cargo well, where she had volunteered to sit. “But other than that, I’ve probably got the most comfortable spot on board.”

“Hey, I’m fine,” Jacen said. He and Tenel Ka were jammed together on the passenger seat.

“I am experiencing no discomfort,” Tenel Ka reported.

“Uh, this is fun,” Raynar said stoically. He was wedged sideways in the passenger footspace with his knees drawn up to his chest. One of his elbows rested on the few remaining square centimeters on the passenger seat.

“Indeed, Master Lowbacca, I am also quite comfortable. Thank you for inquiring,” Em Teedee answered last of all.

Once he’d traveled far enough from the Jedi academy’s traffic of transport ships, construction crews, and military vessels, Lowie decided there was little danger in a bit of creative flying. With Raaba gone, he’d been feeling restless for days and needed a safe way to release his pent-up frustration.

Lowie woofed a warning for everyone to secure their crash webbing so he could test the T-23’s maneuverability. He zigged and zagged across the treetops, eliciting squeals and laughter from his passengers, though he did detect one or two of them applying their Jedi relaxation techniques.

He brought the T-23 about in a tight curve above the trees, spiraling in until everyone on board was thoroughly dizzy. Then, amidst giggles and applause, he took the skyhopper into a steep climb. After pausing in midair, he put the craft into a steep dive toward the Massassi trees. Lowie pulled up just before crashing, then leveled out to skim across the treetops.

Jacen whooped, and Jaina shrieked with the thrill. Raynar spoke in a rather timid voice. “I’ve never done that before. It was fun.”

“This is a fact,” Tenel Ka said.

“Quite exhilarating, I’d say,” Em Teedee put in, “so long as the appropriate safety factors are applied.”

“We’d better be getting back,” Jaina yelled from the cargo well. “Tionne asked us to help her out with lessons this morning.”

“Yeah, it wouldn’t be fair to leave her alone with all the new trainees, since Uncle Luke is off on an adventure again,” Jacen said. “Besides, I want to check on Nicta—I’m not sure how much care a baby gort needs.”

Lowie turned the skyhopper back toward the Great Temple, feeling some of his tension relieved at last.

The Jedi instructor Tionne asked all students to gather in the practice courtyard just outside the temple. With Master Skywalker off on another mission for the New Republic, she had taken over the lessons. Above, workers continued to repair the roof platform on the damaged pyramid.

Joined by his friends, Lowie climbed up one of the courtyard’s retaining walls. Though the afternoon was warm and humid, a light breeze rustled the jungle leaves, and Lowie could almost imagine he was alone in the treetops—or perhaps with Raaba—listening to the tales of heroes who fought to defend what they believed in.

Tionne sang an ancient ballad—one of her favorite methods of teaching—about young Gav and Jori Daragon, a Force-talented brother and sister who had given up on their Jedi training. They’d tried to make their fortune by exploring the galaxy, but instead stumbled upon the ancient Sith Empire and sparked a war that nearly toppled the Old Republic.

Lowie closed his eyes and let the story grow like a secret garden around him. Tendrils of tale and melody twined together in his mind, blooming with ancient splendor. He wondered if Raaba would enjoy this tale, too. He might tell it to her … if he ever saw her again.

Then, all too soon, the music ended. A murmur of appreciation rippled through the crowd of Jedi trainees and the few New Republic guards who had stopped to listen. Reluctantly, Lowie opened his eyes and looked up at the Jedi teacher and historian.

“Gav and Jori had meant to discover many things—but not what they actually found,” Tionne said in her melodious voice. “Remember that what you look for and what you find may be two different things.” Her fine silvery hair floated on the breeze, and her enormous mother-of-pearl eyes seemed to look directly at Lowie.

“As your Jedi training progresses, many causes will call for you to use your powers on their behalf. But how can you know if the cause is one you should champion? You must learn to listen to the Force, and the Force will guide you. Hate and mistrust, domination, revenge—even glory—these are not the things a Jedi fights for.

“A Jedi defends justice, protects the weak from tyranny, and rescues those in harm’s way—but always with the guidance of the Force. If you do not believe this in your heart, you are not ready to become a full Jedi.” Tionne’s delicate face dimpled into a smile. “But do not despair: there is time. Time to learn. And that’s why we are all here: to learn together.”

The Jedi instructor then dismissed them all to continue their independent lessons.

Jaina’s mind was completely exhausted after hours of practice sessions with various Jedi techniques. As always, she had made sure the subtle exercises strained her abilities to the limit—that was the best way to learn and grow in the Force.

Tenel Ka rolled both shoulders to stretch the kinks out of her muscles. Perspiration from the late afternoon heat glistened on her face and neck. “Very satisfying effort,” she said, “but I believe I could use a swim in the river.”

“Hey, great idea!” Jacen said. Raynar hesitated, then agreed.

Jaina nodded. The suggestion brought back memories of the last time she and Zekk had gone to the wide greenish-brown river that ran through the jungles. “Sure, it’d be refreshing.”

At the river’s edge, Jacen, Jaina, and Raynar all stripped down to their minimal exercise gear. While Tenel Ka peeled off her boots and her lizard-hide armor, Lowie unfastened the syren-fiber belt from his waist, with Em Teedee still attached, and set it aside.

The little droid gave what sounded like an aggrieved sigh. “So, I’m simply to be left behind. Unwanted. Unneeded.”

“We could try to float you on the water, Em Teedee,” Jacen said with a roguish grin.

“Oh my, no, Master Jacen!” the little translator cried. “I’m certain I should sink and be lost forever.”

Jaina cast the droid an apologetic glance. “If you want, I could figure out a way to waterproof you. A few gaskets, some aquasealant …”

“I should like that very much, Mistress Jaina!” Em Teedee said. “It’s a wonder I hadn’t thought of it before.”

Tenel Ka, already poised on a rock, dove into deep water, and Jacen immediately followed her. Raynar waded through the shallows, while Lowie climbed a boulder and leapt into the water with a Wookiee bellow.

Taking up the challenge, Jaina plunged in after him. Soon all of them were splashing and enjoying themselves. Jaina, Lowie, and Tenel Ka took turns diving to the bottom of the river to bring back interesting water creatures for Jacen to examine.

Even Raynar seemed to release his worries. After the boy had been humiliated in the river during the battle with the Shadow Academy, Tionne had taken it upon herself to teach him how to swim better. Now he enjoyed spending time in the river.

While the Wookiee was on one of his dives, Jaina surfaced and heard the sound of a ship’s engines. Looking toward the landing field, she saw a small two-passenger star skimmer circle in front of the temple and then head straight for the river. Jaina recognized the Rising Star, Raaba’s ship! Jaina gave a tentative wave as the skimmer sped toward them, no more than two meters above the water’s surface.

Lowie burst up from the river bottom holding a six-clawed crustacean. With a speed and precision that Jaina had to admire, the Rising Star spun once, zipped up the riverbank, and came to a neat landing just clear of the mud. Jaina stifled a giggle at her friend’s roar of surprise and recognition.

Before Lowie could recover from his shock and make his way to shore, the chocolate-furred Wookiee woman had climbed out of her skimmer. Shedding unnecessary pieces of equipment with each running stride, she headed directly for Lowie.

“Oh, do be careful,” Em Teedee exclaimed as Raaba’s foot narrowly missed him on her way into the river. The two Wookiees swam toward each other, bellowing and growling and barking at each other like a pair of nek battle dogs.

Jaina chuckled as she picked out a few of the guttural phrases—things like “I thought I’d never see you again” and “I told you I’d find you”—but most of the interchange was too fast for her to follow. Watching the two splash and frolic in the water, she felt a pang. Jaina couldn’t help but wish that Zekk was here, too. She had so much to say to the young man who kept trying to find a way to erase his dark side past.

She realized that Raaba and Lowie must also have a lot of things they wanted to say to each other. Chiding herself, she said, “Jacen, Raynar, Tenel Ka—I think we need to get back to the Great Temple now. Lowie can come back whenever he’s ready.”

Tenel Ka, treading water beside Jacen, caught on quickly. “This is a fact,” she said.

Jacen shrugged. “Okay.” He swam with the warrior girl back to shore. Raynar gave Jaina a questioning look, but did not argue. Turning back toward the river, Jaina yelled, “Hey, Lowie, will you be needing Em Teedee for anything?”

He rumbled a negative and cocked his head, as if to inquire why two Wookiees would need a translating droid.

“Okay, I’ll take him to my room, give him a tune-up, maybe figure out how to waterproof him.”

But the two Wookiees didn’t hear her. Lowie and Raaba were already splashing together toward the far side of the river….

For the next two days, the Wookiees were completely absorbed in each other as they went for climbs in the jungle and flew around the small moon in the Rising Star or in Lowie’s T-23.

Jaina found it sweet to see Lowie so smitten, but disturbing as well. Aside from perfunctory greetings, Raaba made no effort whatsoever to converse with anyone but Lowie and one or two alien Jedi trainees. She seemed to find humans not worth the bother.

Jaina knew, of course, that Raaba was angry at Tyko Thul for insulting Nolaa Tarkona and the Diversity Alliance just before she’d left Kuar, but Jaina had hoped the chocolate-furred Wookiee would want to get better acquainted with Lowie’s friends. That did not prove to be the case.

It came as an even greater shock, then, when Lowie announced that he was leaving the Jedi academy, at least for a while.

Raaba intended to return to Kashyyyk for a reunion with her best friend, Sirra, and to announce to her family that she was still alive. She had invited Lowie to come along so that he could visit his own family and so that she could spend more time talking with him about the Diversity Alliance on the way there and back.

He would be gone with Raaba for no more than a few weeks, Lowie assured them all. Then, without ceremony, he packed a small satchel of belongings and necessities for the trip and clipped his lightsaber to the glossy, woven belt. Since he would have no need for a translator among Wookiees, he asked Jaina to take care of Em Teedee for him while he was gone.

“Do be careful, Master Lowbacca,” Em Teedee called forlornly from Jaina’s hand. “I shall await your return with great anticipation.”

Lowie made his goodbyes and climbed into the Rising Star. Jaina, Jacen, Raynar, and Tenel Ka stood back, and Raaba’s little skimmer took off. Tucking the translating droid under one arm, Jaina watched the ship dwindle into the distance and vanish into the cloud-streaked skies.

Lowie was gone.