broken [1]- a Star Wars story

VI

"Search deep into your thoughts, and you will find what you're looking for."

The cruiser comes to a land in Ilum effortlessly. The snow and ice covering the caves glisten in the frozen sun, and Aayla has trouble looking away.

A week had gone by from her first training session with Master Windu, and it was now that he thought she was ready to create her own lightsaber and move up in the ranks of the Jedi.

This was a moment she had been waiting for since Master Windu had made the call. Following the meeting with Yoda and Obi-Wan, Windu had arrived in the Jedi's quarters and met with Aayla, Obi-Wan arriving soon after.

It was here he told her of the plans to train her until she was ready, and then she would travel to Ilum with the Jedi to find her Kyber crystal. She had sensed a worry about the man, alongside her father, when they entered the room, and she had tried to ask Obi-Wan what was wrong. But the man only pushed it aside and blamed it on his upcoming meetings with the council following some Jedi business.

Jed, however, had sensed it too. And he grew impatiently fearful of what may happen to the girl he had grown up with. It all seemed too soon.

In the week leading up to the trip, Aayla had exhibited an extreme strength with the force. Had you only just met her, you would've thought she'd been training since being a youngling. However, this was not the case.

Master Windu had been testing her strength with the force, using it at her will, moving objects, pushing things, bringing things to her. Bending people's minds and reading thoughts were still on the list.

Jed, Obi-Wan and the Jedi Council had all taken notice of her progress, how strong she was the force, and the impeccable rate at which she was learning. Aayla was right, she was a fast learner. But however much this stunned the council, it brought fear as to what she was capable of.  Aayla sensed it.

Her fear, however, has distinguished momentarily, as the beauty of Ilum flooded her mind and her heartbeat quickened at the thought of building her own weapon.

The ice and snow filled her vision. The beauty of it all took her breath away for seconds; she was used to sand but this? This was beautiful. Coruscant was a surprise and an extraordinary revelation. But Ilum? This was something else. This was a gift.

As the cruiser came in to land, Master Windu turned to the girl and held her back. He was the only one who came with her for this journey; both Jed and Obi-Wan having to stay behind per ritual, but also having business to attend to. Something neither would tell the girl about.

"Aayla, this could be a lengthy process. Not everyone finds their crystal straight away." Windu tells her, looking down at the girl sternly, hoping she listens to what he's saying.

Despite her adrenaline racing at the thought of making her lightsaber, Aayla took in every word he said. She understood how long this could take, and she was prepared for the process. But at the peak of it all, she just wanted her weapon.

She'd been watching the Jedi in her free time, although not a lot of it. And she envied their skill and power, the way they moved their lightsabers with ease, how light footed they were in battle. She wanted to be like them.

Her training had taken her to new heights; she'd learnt techniques and skills she never thought she'd harbour. And she was learning quickly, effortlessly. It surprised the Jedi council, it surprised Obi-Wan. But they grew anxious at how quickly she was coming accustomed to her new strengths. Despite this, they trusted Master Windu and his thoughts on the ordeal.