Star Wars: The Jedi Chronicles:Enter The Shadows (Books 1-4)

Star Wars: The Jedi Chronicles: Shadow Sith Part 2: Changing Winds

Star Wars: The Jedi Chronicles

Shadow Sith Part 2

Changing Winds

By: Brandon Purinton

Chapter One

Faith and Trust

 

Shain has just left for earth and is never coming back. Now it’s  down to Josh Sietsma, Eve, Anthony, and DJ, with their padawans - Jacklinea and Cassandra - to find rest of the twenty-one Earthlings and restore them to their previous state in less than a year. Everyone spent the night in the Jedi temple on Dantooine. It is now a Sunday on earth and Shain lands just in time for youth group. Shain gets home and doesn't look the greatest.

Bethany is walking down the hall way toward the Pulse room and spots Shain walking towards the doors through the glass.

Bethany Lindsey: (not believing what she’s seeing) Brandon? (yells down the hallway) Brandon’s here! (she opens the door for Shain.) Brandon, you’re home!

Shain: (depressed and not caring) Yeah… I guess I am.

Bethany Lindsey: What are you doing back? You don’t usually come home till holidays.

Shain: (distracted) Huh? Oh, yeah. I don’t really want to talk about it.

Bethany Lindsey: Are you ok? ‘Cause…

Ashley and Valerie come down the hall way and Valerie tackles Shain with a hug. They get up and Joel Francis gives Shain a noogie.

Joel Francis: (putting his arm up over Shain’s shoulders) How ya doing, buddy?

Valerie Punt: B-rad, I don’t care if you don’t like hugs. (gives Shain a hug)

Ashley Punt: Where’s everyone else?

Shain: Uh… back in Star Wars galaxy…

Ashley Punt: You mean you came back by yourself?

Shain: Yeah.

Mickayla Lewis: Um, hello? Who is this?

Ashley Punt: Oh, sorry, Mickayla; this is Brandon. He’s a Jedi, along with a bunch of other people that come to back home to visit time to time.

Mickayla doesn't believe her, until she looks outside and sees Shain’s ship.

Mickayla Lewis: Oh, ok. Hey, that’s a cool space ship! What's its name?

Shain: I don’t know. I never named my ship.

Mickayla Lewis: You should name it “Fluffy”!

Everyone laughs except Shain, who manages to force a stiff grin.

Shain: Ha-ha, yeah, sure…

Austin Perry: Brandon, are you ok? You don’t look so good.

Shain: I’ll be fine. (TGD walks up to Shain)

TGD Strope: High-five!

Shain gives him a wimpy high five.

TGD Strope:  What was that?

Shain: What?

TGD Strope: That was a sad excuse for a high-five.

Shain: Sorry.

He gives TGD a better high-five. Pastor Jamie walks up and smiles at Shain.

Jamie Saunders: Hey, buddy! How’ve ya been? Haven’t seen you since the news last week with the other Jedi. Speaking of which, where are they? Ya usually bring them all in with ya.

Shain: They’re all back in the Star Wars universe. They went back.

Ashley Punt: How come you didn’t go back with them?

Shain: I did... but I came home and I’m here to stay.

Everyone looks around, not believing what they just heard.

Pr. Jamie Saunders: (trying to end the silence and clear the room so he can talk with Shain) OK, guys it’s time to get started.

Everyone but Jamie and Shain walks back to the Pulse room.

Jamie: (to Shain) We can talk later, ok?

That night, Jamie speaks about faith and trust in fellow believers and God. The subject cuts through Shain like a butter-knife through butter. He doesn't know what to think. After youth group, Pastor Jamie takes Shain back to his office.

Jamie Saunders: What’s eating ya, buddy?

Shain explains what’s happening in the Star Wars galaxy and by time he’s done, there are tears in his eyes and he is doing everything he can not to cry like a little girl.

Jamie Saunders: You said you have the ability to save them from these crystals that are controlling them, right?

Shain: Yeah.

Jamie Saunders: You trust that God is good, right?

Shain: Yeah.

Jamie Saunders: And you know without a shadow of a doubt that God is in control, correct?

Shain: I guess.

Jamie Saunders: Guess? There’s no guessing with God; either God is in control, or he isn’t. I know the answer - do you?

Shain: Yes.

Jamie Saunders: Then why are you here?

Shain: Because I can’t handle the fact that I am fighting my friends and family. I hate seeing my friends get killed, even if I have this stupid crystal.

Jamie Saunders: God gave you that “stupid crystal” for a purpose and that purpose is just for this time in your life right now. I’ve met all the kids that went with you and I know you’re not the oldest. There are at least five kids older than you that have the potential to lead that group... but they chose to trust you and your leadership abilities. And right now, you’re not just letting your friends down, but you’re letting that galaxy down and you’re quitting on God. Philippians 4:13 says “I can--

Shain: “--do all things though Christ who strengthens me.”

Jamie Saunders: (nods) Can you? Do you believe that with all your heart? I don’t think you do, ‘cause if you did, you wouldn’t be within light years of me or anyone but your family and friends that are in trouble.

Shain: (pauses for a moment) But fighting them?

Jamie Saunders: (grinning) The way I see it, it’s an intervention.

Shain looks at the clock; it’s already 9:30.

Jamie Saunders: It’s getting late. Go home and get some rest, then go back there and save my teens (smieling).

Shain: Thanks, Jamie. I’m not sure if I’m going back yet, but I’ll think about it tonight

Shain goes down to the base under his house and sits and thinks for hours about what Jamie said before going to bed, trying to decide whether or not to go back... but he finally decides against it.