The New Jedi Knights

Chapter 2: A Jedi on Vacation

Upon completing his meal, he rose, meandered about, and paused to gaze serenely at the water. Lost in contemplation of his parents' new life in a distant galaxy, he scarcely grasped the depth of his longing for them. "They'll find contentment on Yavin 4," he assured himself. Having always shared his existence with them, their absence from Earth now left a void. Standing there, he allowed the tranquility of the water to wash away his sorrow. His senses extended through the Force, permeating the ship, noting the increased bustle. As time passed, laughter echoed — children engaging in play, families bonding, and a myriad of extraterrestrial species from realms beyond mingled aboard the vessel.

A female interrupted him, "Are you all right? Just a moment ago you looked depressed." She introduced herself as Mary Paterson.

"I was thinking about my parents not being on Earth anymore. They are living on Yavin 4."

"Is that the place where the Jedi Knights live?"

He smiled, "At least the ones from that galaxy, yes," he paused, "I am sorry, let me introduce myself. I am Brandon Bowers, a Jedi Knight from Earth."

"I thought I recognized you. I've seen you and that other Jedi lady doing a lot of shows and presentations. I also heard you blew up that Death Star."

"Yes, I did, but I did not do it alone. No Jedi Knight is ever alone. It takes a team to get things done."

"You look awfully young to be a Jedi. You look like you are in your mid-thirties."

"I am older than that. When I started my training as a Jedi, I was 36 years old. That was seven years ago. I will be 43 on November 22."

"You're older than me. I am 38."

"Age does not mean a thing anymore. It is who you are, and what you think... that counts."

"That's true. The thing is, I've been thinking too much. I needed to get away from it all."

"Same here. Doing battle on that Death Star was a lot of work. I am glad it is over with, and I am back on Earth. Where did you go when they evacuated everyone?"

"Since that planet, Tatooine, was too hot for me, I asked to move to Endor. I loved those Ewoks." Shortly after, I helped Olga Dmitrievna Gruzinsky run the pioneer camp. She told me her history and why she kept the name of the camp — Sovyonok. We had a lot of those Ewoks to help us and other species." She paused, "let me see if I can recall that phrase... Ta sunset ta luu." She smiled, "If I recall right, it means 'The sunset is beautiful,' and their sunsets were. I nearly stood up each night to watch them and the stars glowing ever so brightly with one special Ewok. We are great friends to this day. His name was... Wicket. He told me his full name was... Wicket Wystri Warrick. It was sad to leave him and the rest, but I enjoy the sunsets on Earth, too."

"I never had been around them that much. My Master was training me hard because I have a very strong ability to use the Force. She and the other Jedi Masters knew that I could be useful. Now, I am on vacation. I am happy to be back on Earth. I hope that I do not have to leave this planet for a good long time."

"If they sent you to another world, you would go in a second. I was in the navy during the Iraq war. It is always great to be home, but I will be ready to get back into action when and if they call me."

"What was your rank?"

"I was a Major, and I still am."

He asked with a smile, "Why did you not tell me you were a Major?"

"I'm honored to be in the Navy, but I don't brag about it. The military is my job, not my life. I am Mary Paterson, and that is it."

He said with certainty, "I am a Jedi and always will be. Much of my life has changed for the better because of it. I do not want to be like I had been before. I am honor-bound to be a Jedi, and I will never stop being one."