Weeks passed and Cal's team was reassigned. He and five other scrappers were removing the paneling from what used to be the training room for the Jedi assigned to this ship during the Clone Wars. He had trained in one just like it with his Master and as much as he tried to push them down, the memories filled his head while he worked. Memories of trying and failing, his Master's voice encouraging him to try again, and finally succeeding. The Lasat's deep, booming voice demanded respect and reverence but was also warm and encouraging. The deliberate rhythm and manner in which he spoke always helped Cal find his center when things were difficult or dangerous. Now, the memory of his master's voice only brought pain, sadness, and shame that he had not been a good enough Jedi to save him.
The days working in the training room were long and more wearing than most and Cal looked forward to the end of every one of them when he could sit with Leena and talk about other things, anything. Anything that would banish the memories and pain, even if only for a few hours.
One evening, in the kitchenette, he prepared two meal packs and a rare treat of fresh fruit he had failed to convince the passing trader to reduce the price on. Leena would be there soon. He had spent most of the day removing a wall panel bearing a large emblem of the former Jedi Order and desperately looked forward to her company and sharing the rare treat with her when a loud banging rattled the front door.
He froze. Leena never knocked. She always used the buzzer despite how pathetically it rang out into the little apartment. He cautiously approached the door, wishing he could draw his lightsaber even though that would be pointless. All the lightsaber could have done was give away what he is, after all. It must remain hidden.
Cal pressed to control near the door and it whooshed open with an ear wrenching grind to reveal a doorway wall filled with the hulking figure of none other than his good friend Prauf.
"Prauf!" He said with relief. "What are you doing here?" His Abednedoan friend rarely visited his home. Instead they met up at the trail station every morning on the way to the yard and waved goodbye at the same place at the end of each long day.
"Cal," Prauf said breathlessly and the relief Cal had felt was immediately replaced by worry at the sound in his friend's voice, the look in his dark eyes. "I'm sorry to surprise you but I came as soon as I heard... you have to know..." Prauf spoke very quickly as the rain that had begun falling hard steamed down his face.
Cal reached out to his friend, took his arm, and guided him out of the downpour and into the apartment.
"What's going on, Prauf?" He asked, trying to slow the man down so he could speak more clearly.
Prauf took a few deep breaths and brought his voice back under control. "Something went wrong today in the yards. Your friend, Leena..."
"What?! What about her?"
"I heard she was working in one of the main engine nozzles... tethered to the top of it or something like that when it came loose. The whole panel fell and her with it."
"What?" Cal asked, this time it was him who was breathless. The news hit as hard as a fist to the stomach and he wanted to plead with Prauf to not say what he knew was coming next, but he didn't have to because his friend's next words were not possible.
"She's alive, in the med center but in real bad shape."
"What?! How?" Cal asked, not sure if he had actually heard that right. "A fall like that..." he began but cut himself off as he grabbed his poncho from where it hung near the door and began pulling out over his head.
"I know! She should be dead. No one can survive a fall like that." Prauf was speaking faster again and pacing around the room. Cal rushed to the door, intent on going to the med center, but Prauf grabbed his shoulder to stop him and turn him back around. "You can't go."
"Why not?"
"The Empire sent investigators. People are saying the panel slowed before it hit like some kind of magic was trying to stop it. Now the Empire has locked down the med center. No one can go in or out. If you go down there you'll get caught up in it too."
"I'll be careful," Cal said, stepping free of Prauf's strong but kind grasp and flipped his hood up over his head to hide his face
"I'm sorry," Prauf offered as the door groaned open again and Cal rushed out into the rain.
