May The Way Be With You

Misunderstandings

Another two weeks have passed, and I noticed my coworkers treat me a little differently. They don't come to me as often with questions, nor ask for my help as much. At first I thought it was because they were too focused on their work. But as time has gone on, and I've noticed some of them are struggling with a few repairs, I've offered help, only to be politely declined.

They are never mean or nasty about it, but they don't ask me for help anymore. I'm starting to feel melancholic about it. Did I do something wrong? I realize this started after I was going to take the fall for Grub. Is that a factor? I'm so lost in my thoughts that I miss a hammer strike and smash my thumb. "Dank farrik!!!" I exclaim, shaking my hand.

"Kid! Are you ok!?" Hepsa calls up. I turn and see the others looking up at me. Before I can speak, my foot slips as I turn and I fall off the ladder I was using. I hit the ground hard, then hear gasps as I see the ladder start to come right for me. I feel two hands grab me by my armpits and pull hard, barely getting me out of the way as the ladder crashes right where I landed.

"Druk! Kid, are you ok!? What happened? Are you hurt?" Fiona's voice calls out. I look up and see Grub was the one who grabbed and pulled me. Fiona drops down, checking my legs for breaks.

"I'm fine. I'm not hurt. It'll take more than a fall to hurt me." I sigh, shooing away her hands.

"You fell off a two story ladder, straight on your back! You shouldn't be able to breath right now!" Jareo, another mechanic, gasps. I stand up, only feeling slightly woozy and grabbing Grub's shoulder for balance.

"Son of a Hutt Lord! Look at the back of her head!" Hepsa exclaims. I touch the back of it, and my fingers are wet. I look at my fingers and see blood. Huh, that sucks. Fiona grabs my arm and has me move to a chair.

"Grub, go get a healer, now!" She commands. Grub gets two steps away when I call out.

"That won't be necessary. I'll be fine in a few minutes. I'm a very fast healer." I tell him. Fiona looks at me like I'm crazy.

"You just cracked your skull open! You need a healer!" She insists.

"I'm telling you, I'll be healed up by the time Grub and the healer come back." I tell her as Grub seems to decide kriff it and runs off. A few minutes later the wooziness and pain fade, and I feel fine again. I get up to go back to work, but Fiona manhandles me back down.

"You've been hurt! Sit down and wait for the healer!" She demands.

"Whatever my species is, we heal fast! I'm fine and can go back to work! Besides, why do any of you care?" I practically growl.

"Of course we care! You're our friend!" Hepsa says, expression hurt.

"Sure aren't acting like it. No one lets me help anymore, no one comes to me for advice like they used to, hell, I've practically been ignored for the past two weeks until I accidentally hurt myself! So let me get back to work!" I rant, getting up again. Fiona pushes me back down and in my anger, I use That Feeling to push her away.

She looks at me in shock as I get up and lift the ladder with That Feeling. "You can use the Force?" She asks. I raise an eyebrow, and vaguely remember the voices in the temple use that word.

"Force? What is that?" I ask, ignoring everyone's confused and shocked expressions.

"It's what binds the universe together. Some people are able to weld it, like magic. I think we should continue this conversation in my office." Fiona states, heading straight there. I grumble and lean the ladder against the ship I'm working on. As I go to follow her, Hepsa stops me for a moment.

"Hey, just so you know, we didn't stop coming to you for help and advice because we don't think of you as a friend. Fiona asked us so we didn't put more work and stress on you. We were trying to give you a break. I'm sorry we made you upset." She sighs, looking remorseful. I nod, then go to the office. Fiona is leaning against her desk, expression unreadable.