Tatooine: Digging up the past in the sands of time.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei and Aramis arrive at Mos Eisley spaceport during the usual Tatooine day. The sandy spaceport bustled with activity. Bored stormtroopers stood at attention watching people go by and ignoring small petty crime.

The two landed without incident and proceeded to head out to the cantina there. Wei wanted a drink and it was possible he could glean the general direction of the Jundland Wastes and a means to cross them. He needed to find the location of Obi-Wan Kenobi's hermitage.

Wei sat on a bar stool and pointed at the bottle he wanted. The barkeep wordlessly poured him the first drink and set it in front of the Jedi.

He took a few sips and glanced up at the man behind the counter. "I hear Luke Skywalker once sat in this cantina."

The bartender nodded. "Yeah."

"Didn't he live somwhere out in the dunes?"

"Yeah, but no one goes out there. Empire doesn't want people going out there paying homage to the place."

Wei nodded. He sipped at his drink and let time pass a while while he emptied the glass. He stared at it like he was missing a long-lost lover, cuing the bartender to refill the glass.

"Tourism must be nice around here ever since Skywalker killed the Emperor."

The barkeep nodded.

He'd finish this glass and try to angle around to what he really wanted to know.

[Aramis Rakai]

As Wei and I walked through the dusty city, I looked about to see just why people would want to actually live here. Junkshops, cantina's, restaurants, a couple of inns. Other than that there was a small school we passed and what looked like a temple of some sort. Oh, and the animal stalls, of some strange looking beast with a wiggly nose.

On our way here, Wei filled me in on some information on some dude called Obi-Wan Kenobi, also called Ben. He was in some connection with another guy named Luke Skywalker and they were Jedi and we needed something from this Obi-Wan's pad. Problem was, we had no clue as where to find it. So, this was our newest mission.

Other than that there was nothing really of interest in my opinion, it was all dust and sand and more sand. We passed several stormtroopers and tourists and I shook my head. Why would you willingly want to come here? There were even no beaches or oceans to go with all this sand and it was utterly hot and sticky.

I was an Inleshat, a sea elf. I came from a water community and this place was drier than anything I'd ever seen.

As Wei strolled towards the cantina, I told him I was going to hang around outside and see if I could get any information through the younger crowds going about.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei took a sip of his liquor and looked over at the barkeep. "So is this really the bar where Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker made that deal with Han Solo?"

The barkeep pointed to the booth that was now roped off. "Right there. Han shot Greedo first, then five minutes later made the deal to get them to Alderaan."

Wei nodded. "I hear you can also go see the charred remain's of the Skywalker family moisture farm. Didn't Obi-Wan live close by there?"

The barkeep nodded again. "beyond the Jundland Wastes. The path is supposed to be easy enough to find. It's just a rock valley. But the Tusken Raiders are far too dangerous and wily for the stormtroopers to take care of. So no one goes out there."

Wei nodded and finished the drink. "Gruesome stuff. Can I get a bottle for the road?"

There was an exchange of goods, a handshake, and a minute later Wei walked out of the cantina with his moonshine alcohol and a clear direction.

"Not your planet, huh?" Wei said to Aramis. "They actually farm moisture here. Did you know that? Condense it down and bottle it up and sell it. Can you believe it?"

He clapped the young man on his now-dusty back. "Sand gets in your craw pretty quick around here. Come on, we need to get into one of those tour skiffs and see the Skywalker place."

[Aramis Rakai]

"Moisture farming?" That seemed very strange to me. "I could not live without water to clear out my gills...and from the smell, I don't believe they waste much water on bathing." I spoke in a low tone and smiled as we walked towards the touring place.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei shrugged. "When water is worth its weight in gold, you do what you can to make every drop count."

The two bought tickets and climbed into the nearest speeder marked with the tour company's logo. "The trick to this," Wei whispered, "Is to sit at the very back and just slip out that way when people are busy getting off the skiff. Then we run like the Death Star was rolling behind us to squash us flat. You remember how to use the Force to boost your physical ability?"

[Aramis Rakai]

I nodded. "Yes, Sir. I remember it well."

I quickly made my way to the back as instructed and took a seat. There were quite a few people loading onto the skiff.

I took a deep breath and let it out in a deep sigh as I looked out the window. I felt like a stranger to this man, whom my mother was so close too.

I frowned as I thought of my foster family. I had never really been close to them either and I had to wonder if I would ever truly find a family like the ones I had read about.

You will find your way...

I blinked my eyes open as I heard the voice. "What did you say?" I asked Wei as I looked at him.

[Wei Wu Wei]

"I haven't said a word."

Wei didn't like that the speeeder was enclosed. But apparently it was outfitted with a cooling system that seemed to make the usual Tatooine heat seem like a fantasy.

The doors seemed to be rigged to fall away. Plus if these were standard skiffs, it would send a small beacon to a headquarters to let people know it was in danger. Use of an emergency door could let the people at HQ know that the vehicle and its passengers were in trouble, and that would complicate things.


"This is going to make things hard. though. We might have to just try to walk away from the edge of the crowd instead."

[Aramis Rakai]

I nodded solemnly. "Whatever you say..." I leaned my head against the window, I didn't feel well.

My body was not used to this kind of heat and dryness. I felt slightly light-headed and sick to my stomach and the thought of running was not overjoying me in the least.

[Wei Wu Wei]

The tour bus didn't keep beverages on hand, so Wei had to think over ways to keep his tag-along hydrated. They reached the farm, which had not at all been restored to its former state. That meant no evaporators or condensers and certainly no water.

"Nuts. Oh well. Maybe we'll find some somewhere. I hear people leave wells on certain travel routes. Come on, let's go."

The two slunk away from the tour group as they walked down into the charred remains of the living area. They were able to run for a bit and were just meters in the canyon when Wei stopped to see how Aramis was doing.

"You ok?"

[Aramis Rakai]

My head was killing me. I had never been this dehydrated before and the only answer I could give him was to lean against a rock with a bout of dry heaves. I felt terrible and had done my best to keep it to myself, but at this point I could not any longer.

"Sorry..." I gasped between heaves and finally was able to catch my breath.

With a deep breath, I leaned against the rock and looked around. "It would really be cool if there was an underground well hidden here some where."

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei looked around for a marker or something that would indicate water. "We will see what happens."

The Jedi Knight climbed to a higher perch amongst the rocks to see further out. When he reached the top of the cliff a masked face greeted him. "Oh great."

The masked creature clobbered the Jedi knight with the butt of a rifle, sending Wei careening back down into the rocky gorge.

"Aramis, we have a problem."

The signature call of the Tusken Raiders filled the rocky valley. They filled the canyon with their numbers and blocked up the narrow path with their large banthas.

Wei snapped his saber on and held it in front of him. Form III would be good for defense, but there were too many for Wei to wear down and Aramis was vulnerable. Form V was more direct, but the timing was more precise and brutal. If Wei didn't keep his technique just right, the laser bolts would fly away in a random direction, rather than directly back at his attacker.

"Aramis, put your back to the wall and fight them off as best you can. I'll see if we can get out of this yet."

[Aramis Rakai]

I heard this loud screech and looked up to see Wei falling backwards.

Aramis, we have a problem!

It only took seconds, for about a hundred of these creatures appeared out of nowhere!

My jaw dropped as I heard Wei call, "Aramis, put your back to the wall and fight them off as best as you can. I'll see if we can get out of this yet!"

I did just that and it wasn't that hard since I was near the canyon wall already. I brought out my blaster and started shooting, they were coming from all angles and it didn't take long in my weakened state to be backed into a corner!

My head started to swim as I blasted shot after shot, bringing many down in my wake...but more seemed to flood towards me.

Panic began to filter in as a bolt seared my shoulder, knocking me off my feet. "Wei!!" I heard myself scream as I hit the ground and my blaster bounced out of my hand. I couldn't see straight as my shoulder burned and I did my best to get up only to feel the butt of a weapon hit me in the back.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei's lightsaber flashed around him. Shots fired towards him from all directions. Wei sent several back at their owners. The raiders pressed in around him and the Jedi cut them down.

When Wei was a youngling, he called Form V the "big stick form" because of how heavy-handed most of the melee attacks tended to be. When he got older he updated the nickname to the "lightbludgeon" form because it seemed to him that the lethal energy blade was swung around more like a club than a sword.

Wei lightbludgeoned everyone that came near him. He cut people nearly in two with his vertical strikes and cleaved into several raiders at once with his forceful horizontal blows. But as the young Jedi learned from the example of Mustafar, even Jedi can be outnumbered and slain.

He fell at last. The raiders pressed in on him and he felt like he was drowning in their numbers and their ferocious stink. When he came to, he found himself in a strange place with walls made of bantha hide. The Tatooine sun filtered through the hides, casting a dusty beam across the surface of the room. He was bound with some kind of restraint--probably ropes made from bantha guts--and could hear noise in the other room.

"Aramis?" Wei called out. "Where are you? You safe?"

[Aramis Rakai]

The last thing I remembered was bringing one of those stinking creatures down as I flipped over onto my back. I scissored him with my legs, but it was to no avail as another came up, screeched some foul language I was sure and nailed me into darkness.

When I finally came to, I was strung up like a Christmas light. My shoulders ached something fierce and I could taste a mixture of blood and bile in my mouth. My eyes slowly opened and I was in some strange looking tent.

I could hear noise outside and coughed from the dust in my lungs. I carefully got my knees under me to ease the pain in my shoulders.

It was about that time, the flap of tent in front of me flipped open and three masked creatures walked in. This couldn't be good...

They ripped off my shirt and outer jacket and drug me outside. I stumbled several times in my weakened state as I was led to a circle of these monsters. I then shoved to the ground, where they tied me to two large poles, bounding both my arms and my legs, stretching me as far as I could go before hoisting me into the air.

I cried out in pain as I felt my left shoulder dislocate. They cheered in their sickly way.

I panted as the poles were set and I hung before the crowd. The pain was excruciating, but I fought giving them anymore fulfillment from my cries.

A moment later the crowd before me parted and an extremely large masked creature appeared, bearing a long leather whip that was coiled at his side and a quiver of arrows along with a bow strapped to his back.

I swallowed hard as the crowd went wild. I felt sick and knew right then and there, I wished they had already killed me. My life flashed before me as the first crack of the whip sounded and the creature disappeared behind me.

Aramis, use the Force to shield the pain...

There were barbs in the whip and I felt every one as my enemy lashed me over and over again. I felt the blood running down my back with each lashing, and refused to let out a sound. But, my strength and adrenaline were leaving me and as the tenth whip lashing tore into my flesh...I screamed. My mind and body could not take the pain any longer...I wanted to die!

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei could hear Aramis' screams from outside the tent.

"Aramis!"

He fought against the bonds. His strength felt withered and he couldn't focus his energy. His body screamed at him for water and his addiction cried out for something to null the pain.

"Aramis!"

Suddenly the pain hit him. Not physical, but mental. Emotional. The corpse of his dead wife. Her delicate face oddly peaceful despite the blaster wound in her round belly where the baby would have been.

It made him mad. Furious. Suddenly he found power in his arms and legs. Wei took to his feet and snapped the gut rope from his wrists with a flex. He stepped forward once, and again with the other foot. He was free. Now to solve one very serious problem.

[Aramis Rakai]

I wanted to die, I could not die. I prayed to pass out, but could not.

Tears ran down my cheeks as the cheers filled my eardrums. I was there Saturday night entertainment...

My body heaved from shock and dehydration. I spit bile and panted as my aggressor came before me. He lashed my torso with the same bloody whip that tore my back to peices. I had no strength to stop the cries that came bursting from me. When he finally put the whip down, I could barely raise my head. Was it over?

My mouth gaped open as I saw him...notch an arrow.

Take it through my heart...kill me...my thoughts echoed through my mind as another tear fell down my cheek, the salt burned as it hit my open flesh and I groaned.

My eyes widened as I watched him pulled back on the string, I could taste my death...

The shot hit me in my shoulder blade, centimeters above my heart. I screamed in agony as my body convulsed in pain. He didn't want to kill me, he was playing with me! The crowds went wild as my aggressor lifted his bow in exultation. My troubled thoughts rendered me helplessly as my head hung lifelessly against my chest. Darkness finally took over.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei stepped out of the tent bare chested and with eyes full of anger. The throng pointed and screamed, emboldening the executioner to take a few shots at the Jedi.

He batted the first one back at the large Tusken, catching the masked torturer in the thigh. Wei caught the second one and snapped it in two, then threw the pieces back at his assailant.

Wei felt the anger in him rise to help him in battle. It was the Darkside--there was no doubt to Wei at all. He closed the gap between him and his adversary with one locomotive jump.

The Jedi Knight landed on the Tusken's chest. The force of impact knocked the big man over onto his back. Wei pummeled his head with big heavy blows until at last he put three good dents in the creature's head. He would never torture another living soul again.

Of course, leave it to the Tusken Raiders to always have their rifles about. The crowd lifted their weapons and took aim at the man ruining their fun. They fired into the small arena, forcing Wei back into the tent to recover his lightsaber.

Wei found it just in time and leapt out of the entrance again as the sustained laser fire set the hide hut ablaze. Bolt after bolt of searing red energy found itself stamped "return to sender" and sent immediately back where it came. The crowd was thinned to a quarter of its size before the sand people got smart and started to flee.

Wei cut down his tag-along and removed the arrow. Immediately the wound started to bleed out, but Wei used the tip of his lightsaber to cauterize the wound. "Be glad you're knocked out, water boy. Let's go find you an oasis."

The Jedi hefted Aramis onto his back and bolted, keeping Tatooine's suns on his left so he would always have a general sense of his direction. The Force was his only aide and guide and before he knew it, Wei had stepped in something wet.

"Water!" He put aramis in the pool and took several long drinks for himself.

[Aramis Rakai]

As soon as Aramis' body was put into the pool, his body sunk beneath the crystal clear waters and the change took place immediately. His gills opened up on both his neck and back, giving the unconscious victim all the air and nutrients he needed to begin the recuperation process. The boy's wrist and calf fins revealed themselves from their slits and his pores began to take in nutrients from the water.

Ever so slowly, as the blood washed away and the wounds began to close up and heal.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei sat under the shade of a tree in the oasis. He had drank his fill and decided to nap. He didn't know how long he had been asleep or what time they arrived on the planet, but apparently the day's events happened in the latter half of the day. When the Jedi woke up from his nap, it was nightfall.

"I'm surprised we haven't run into animals or Sand People," he muttered to himself. He didn't bother to check on Aramis. The boy was probably fast asleep at the bottom of the pool. His wounds weren't lethal, though they were probably very debilitating. Aramis would be in some pain for a while, but he would be physically fine.

As for Wei himself--not so good mentally. Thinking back on the entire ordeal Wei realized something: he had shaken hands with the Dark Side of the Force. He allowed his anger to fuel and motivate his actions. Maybe that's why he drank so much. The anger from his wife's death and losing everything he knew made him susceptible to that. Drinking numbed it all down.

About that time he realized his hands were trembling a little. He needed a drink. He reached for the place where he tied the liquor to his belt and was dismayed to find that the bottle was gone. Taken by the Sand People.

"Balls."

[Quay Na's Spirit]

I was caressed within a blue light, I remembered reading of such things in my living years and now I had become a part of it. I stood within the pool that my son lay in, knowing full well that my Master had saved him.

Now, it was time for me to help him anyway that I could. I walked through the oasis within seconds and sought refuge behind a few trees near Master Wei. He was troubled, I could feel his grief. "The hurt will heal, Master Wei..." I called and remained where I was. "We all have our downfalls, but with time...you too, will heal."

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei looked up and seeing no one at first shrugged it off. The Jedi laid down in the sand and rested his head on a rock. "Like hell. Wife's gone, Jedi gone. All gone."

Wei shut his eyes and rubbed his nose with his thumb and index finger. "Headache. Need booze to make it stop. Booze is good. You can never have too much of a good thing."

[Quay Na's Spirit]

He had fallen into an abyss, one at which with time perhaps, I could help pull him from. What I saw saddened me deeply, Master Wei was broken. He was not the same loving master that I remembered from so long ago.

There had to be something I could do to help this man, this man who saved my son. He could have very easily left Aramis to die, but he did not.

I walked from behind my refuge of trees, the blue light around me shimmering as I stepped.

"I recall doing the same with stimulants at one time of my life and getting off those were hell. I know how it feels." I took a seat on the sand and watched to see if he would stir.

[Wei Wu Wei]

"Don't want to get off. Want to switch off."

The fact that his Padawan of three days was standing in front of him Force Ghost style had either not reached Wei's brain or he was just choosing not to acknowledge it.

"What do you want?"

[Quay Na's Spirit]

"There is a person in there, if there was not...you would have allowed my son to die. I know that you are much stronger than you believe, Master."

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei shifted onto his back and folded his hands across his middle. He sat for a while, not saying a word. He didn't want her encouragement, her comfort.

"You're not her," he said at last.

Wei started to sit up, but decided it wasn't worth the effort. "Your kid doesn't know what he's gotten himself into. It's fun for now, but it's going to be much worse later. He's too old for Force training and settling his mind. He's going to get himself killed. Why did you bother bringing him to me in the first place?"

[Quay Na's Spirit]

I raised an eyebrow. "Hmmm, so you led him to follow you under false pretenses? Are you really that inhumane now, Master Wei? I brought him to you, because I trusted your humility, your honor and your judgment. Have I wronged you so bad that you must hate me or my son so much?"

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei finally looked squarely at Quay. "I haven't led him to nothing. I'm not in charge of him. I told him if he wanted to tag along he was welcome, so long as he didn't stop me. So far, he hasn't. I'm not guiding him. I'm not teaching him. He's here."

Wei scowled. "He can learn as he goes either on his own or by watching me. It's not a great example, but that's what he's got."

[Quay Na's Spirit]

I held no emotion to his anger. "You are a strong Master, I know that...I have always known that even before we were together for that short time. You may think that in those three days I learned nothing, but I did. What you taught me alone kept me alive long enough for me to have my son and for that I am grateful. You saved me, Master Wei."

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei hid his eyes in the crook of his elbow and let out a blubber sigh through his lips. "How did you die?" He asked.

[Quay Na's Spirit]

"I escaped to Naboo, to my fathers mansion under my twin sisters name. I decided that it would be best that I have child there and I made plans with a family member to take my child away as soon as I had him, his name was to be Aramis Elijah Rakai." I paused for a moment. "I had dreams that I would not be raising my son and he would never know me. I had to rid myself of everything that related me to the Jedi, I packed up my things and sent them with Aramis and informed the family to not give him this box until his 21st birthday."

I closed my eyes as that painful day came. "It did not take long for the Empire to learn my whereabouts or my name. It only days after the birth of my son that the Imperials stormed the mansion, killed my father right in front of me..."

I sighed as I looked at my Master. "I was in no shape to fight, I didn't even have my lightsabre...but, they didn't kill me there. No, they took me captive and fed me to the sickening lust of Imperials. I never saw the light of day again as I was repeatedly offended, ripping my insides out over and over again. Through, it all I remembered your kind ways and what you taught me. I thought of my son and what he meant to me. I prayed to die, Master and finally it came...I don't know how long I lasted. My body was broken and abused for hours on end..."

I put my head in my hands as it all came rushing back to me. "That was how I died."

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei nodded under his elbow. "That's awful," he said. "I'm sorry you had to meet your end that way."

The Jedi reached out the other arm and pointed at the spirit of his lost padawan. "I'm going to watch your kid for you. I might not be a man to lead, but he has to follow. There's really no other option, so I'm going to roll with this and see what happens. But the more he follows me down this path, the more likely his odds of meeting the same end you did. It's not too late to turn him down another path. One where he might actually live. What happened to him today will seem like massage therapy compared to what the Imps will do if they find out what he is. You yourself have experienced that."

[Quay Na's Spirit]

"I have watched over him for years. He is much stronger than I ever was. He has it in him to become a great Jedi one day and I wish him to do it under your liege. There is no one I trust more to make this happen, Master Wei. I know of the hurt and pains you suffer. But, in helping my son, could help you as well."

[Wei Wu Wei]

"I just want to know why the Empire killed my family. They weren't interested in me, they were interested in my family."

Wei lifted his arm up enough to glance at the pool. "He's been under there a while. He won't drown, but I should probably see if he's not dead."

He put his arm back. "They were looking for something. Something like these," he continued, producing the two little blue cubes from the pouch tucked in the waistband of his pants.

"I need to find the others."

[Quay Na's Spirit]

"My son is healing, Master. His life force is getting stronger as the nutrients from the water are being absorbed within him. That, along with the Force are aiding in his healing process."

I looked at the cubes he held. "What are they, Master?"

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei shrugged. "They seem to have some sort of pictogram inscribed on them. Each face of the cube has the same lines etched into them so no matter how you put them in a lightsaber, they show the same image. I think it's some sort of map, maybe. My dad gave me the first once. Aramis and I found the second one at the place where Qui-Gon Jinn died on Naboo. Now we're here to search Obi-Wan Kenobi's place."

Wei yawned. "Well, he's not going anywhere for a while, so I guess I'll sleep too. I'm sorry to hear about your fate, Quay."

[Quay Na's Spirit]

"I will watch over both of you while you rest. In the morning, I can show you the way to the Kenobi residence." I offered gently.

[Wei Wu Wei]

"All right."

Wei found a rock that suited him and laid his head on it like it was a pillow. He fell asleep immediately without any problem.

[Aramis Rakai]

I didn't know how long I was unconscious. I smiled as my mind slowly brought me back to the real world. The first thing I felt was the envelope of water I was in, I felt my gills shift back and forth as the water flowed through me.

Slowly, I opened my eyes to darkness, but I could see stars sparkling beyond my water pool and sat up. Water ran off me as my eyes adjusted to the moonlit night. I glanced down at what used to be torn open flesh, to see closed up scars in their place. It still stung a bit, but nothing like I had remembered from before. The thought of those creatures suddenly went through my mind and I shuddered as I quickly glanced around.

There was nothing about, I even had to wonder if I were still on Tattooine. The lushness of the oasis was even more of a surprise than I could ever have imagined. I slowly stood testing my ability to move about. I saw a running spring and walked over taking in the water that I begged for not so long ago. It was good to be drinking fresh water again.

As I stood I looked at the arrow wound, it was closed, but it was also very tender. I stepped out of the pool and wished I had a tunic, but it was gone and there was no way I would be going back to that encampment any time soon...no way!

"Wei?" I called out quietly as I walked quietly in the soft grass off the pool. My legs didn't seem to want to carry me any further so I sat down. I hoped Wei was safe... Even though I had just woken up, I was still very tired. I stretched out in the cool, sweet grass and slept.

[Quay Na's Spirit]

I watched over both men as they rested. I wished there was more I could do to help them.

I smiled as I watched Aramis sleep, he was my son, my blood. I had watched over him as he grew from an infant to a little boy and from a little boy to a young man and now into the man he was becoming. I could not be prouder. I knew deep down he was so much stronger than I in the Force, and he would make a grand Jedi one day.

My thoughts went back to Wei, he was no longer the man I had once knew the Empire had killed that part of him. But, he was still Wei somewhere deep inside and perhaps as he went on his journey he would be able to find himself again. I only prayed he could and I hoped that maybe my son would be able to aid in that renewal.

As the first son began to rise, I watched both men begin to stir.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei opened his eyes at the first morning light. "Is it Life Day?" he asked.

The desert had left him painted with a thin layer of dew and the desert night has been just cold enough to crease the edges of his body with chill.

He stood up and started to move around a bit to get himself warmed up. Soon both of the planet's suns would be in the air and they'd be too hot for comfort.

"Hey, Aramis," Wei said. "How are you feeling?"

He decided to leave the boy's mother out of this by now. He wasn't sure if Quay ever visited her son like she had him and didn't want to get the boy in a tizzy over his mother.

"Think you've slept enough?"

[Aramis Rakai]

I turned over slowly as I heard Wei's voice. "I'm better, much better. Thank you for helping me." I knew he didn't have too, but he did and that meant alot.

I sat up and stretched. My open wounds were all closed and halfway healed.

"Where are we? How did you ever find this place?" I asked as I stood to test my strength, I felt a ton better.

[Wei Wu Wei]

"We are," he said, "at an oasis."

He sat up and shook the sand out of his hair. "I found this place on accident. Can you walk? Think you'll be ok?"

Wei needed to get to Obi-Wan's place immediately, but it would be slow going no matter how Aramis felt. He couldn't stay at the oasis in case any other hostile things showed up. It was just the kind of thing he wanted to avoid. There was not helping that now.

[Aramis Rakai]

I hated the thought of leaving the oasis, but I knew we had to leave. I nodded. "I'll be alright." My body had taken in enough water to last me for a while. My pores were refreshed, though I did wish that I had my tunic.

My wounds were still slightly sore, but it was manageable. "Let's hope that we don't run into any more of those goons." I winced at the thought of that again.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei nodded. "They'll avoid us for a while but once they get even more of themselves together. Now get ready to run."

He dashed off in the direction Quay indicated to him. Hopefully this would go by quickly and he could figure out the next step. There was another place to go.

[Aramis Rakai]

I took off behind Wei, wishing I had my sabre or my blaster, if we did run into those creatures again, I was completely defenseless and that was not good.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei plowed through the sand , kicking up huge piles of sand in his wake. His path cut a small trench in the Tatooine desert.

Quay seemed to always be in front of him. In the distance he could see the small stone hut where the old Jedi Master once lived.

"That looks great. We're nearly there!"

[Aramis Rakai]

Thank goodness!! I thought wildly as I tried to keep up the the Jedi Master, who did not like to be referred to as such, for whatever reason I did not know.

"Let's hope there are none of those things around. I have no weapon!" I felt a bit of nervousness pass through me.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei tossed him a silver cylinder. "Those guys aren't too bright. They left all that stuff in the same room they kept us. Get ready to jump. It looks like there's a small valley up ahead."

They reached the end of the line at the edge of the small valley. Wei planted both feet firmly at the edge and made a large locomotive jump across the way. He saw the other side coming along in his vision. He willed it towards him, reaching with his arms, legs, everything for the edge.

He landed as he launched with both feet planted firmly on the far side. He bent his legs to the fullest extent and rolled from his left shoulder to the right hip. He got to his feet and bolted the last several hundred feet to the ancient Jedi Master's door.

[Aramis Rakai]

Well, this would be interesting...I did not quit running as I grabbed the silver cylinder. My mother's lightsabre!! I had feared I had lost it forever. This renewed my soul as I kept running full speed towards the edge of the small valley.

I jumped...and flew through the air, with the greatest of ease!! Unluckily for me, there was no flying trapeze. I had seen how Wei had landed and prayed not to break an ankle as the land was coming up very quickly on my account.

Roll, Aramis!!

I was limber...and I landed with a roll to my uninjured shoulder in the dust. I coughed and shook the sand out of my long hair as I stood.

Slowly, I managed to run to the strange-looking stone house in the middle of nowhere. "Nice place." I said as I sauntered up to Wei.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei nodded and opened the door.

The place had been ransacked once before, but no time terribly soon. Once the Empire found out the location of Obi-Wan Kenobi's hermitage it of course took the place apart.

"Well. Let's find that thing."

Wei was confident that the cube would be there. Somewhere in the walls or in the floor. He wasn't sure, but it was there. "So, Aramis. History lesson. What do you know about Obi-Wan Kenobi?"

[Aramis Rakai]

"Not a lot," I shrugged. " Besides, he was a Jedi and trained Anakin Skywalker who eventually became Darth Vader."

[Wei Wu Wei]

"Obi-wan Kenobi is THE Form III master. He was untouchable. In fact, the only reason he died is because he let Darth Vader strike him down. In fact, it made the Jedi Master more powerful than he was when he was living."

Wei looked about and tried to think of the way Obi Wan would have hidden it. Kenobi was always calm. He saw everything in slow motion and kept his attack and defensive patterns close to himself.

Wei snapped on his lightsaber and held it in front of him. Then he took a moment to focus on the hum of it and took the attack stance of the Form. Saber overhead, pointed towards the opponent with the forward hand pointed in the same direction. He was turned entirely to the side, which narrowed his profile and made him harder to hit.

He took a deep breath and began the basic Form III form. It was a lot of defensive motions. The opening sequence showed five blocks to one attack. He needed to think like Obi-Wan and the only way Wei could think of to do that would be to practice the old Jedi's favored fighting style.

[Aramis Rakai]

I did not know much of anything about the Jedi. I had not been raised in that manor. I wished I had. My mother had had that advantage.

I had no clue what he was talking about in the Forms of fighting. In a way, it made me feel a bit ignorant, but there was nothing I could do about it, besides take in all I could from Master Wei.

I stood in the doorway and watched this great master, that had taught my mother, in awe.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei lost himself in the humming of the lightsaber. His mind expanded and suddenly he could see everything in his mind. The sea green blade hummed and blurred around him.

The noise at last filled the room. Suddenly there was nothing else to do. There it was! Wei slashed the wall and returned to the starting position.

He turned the lightsaber off just as the tiny blue cube fell from the gash in the wall.

[Aramis Rakai]

I could not help, but to smile. His training and knowledge was more than amazing. "Impressive, how did you do that?" I had to ask.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei looked at Aramis and blinked for a second. Clearly the kid was impressed with what he had done, but to be honest, there wasn't much he could say.

"The Force flows when you let it in. The ancient Jedi Masters said to clear your mind of all interruptions. That when you free yourself from all attachments."

Wei picked up the cube and snapped on his lightsaber again. "I have never been much good for levitation, healing, mind reading. But I have always had a natural talent at enhancing my physical ability through the Force and fighting with lightsabers."

[Aramis Rakai]

I nodded. "I'm sorry, I don't quite understand these form..." I felt somewhat embarrassed and turned away. I prayed that maybe the ground would suddenly open up and swallow me.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei shrugged and held the blade in front of him. "It's not hard. Here, I'll give you a quick history of lightsaber combat."

Wei made a few quick motions with his lightsaber. "When the most ancient of Jedi Masters first began to study combat with the lightsaber, they decided to make a method of teaching basic combat techniques. Over time these developed from one style into a total of seven recognized styles. They are Forms I through VII, but besides their numbers, each one also has a name."

"Form I, called Shii-Cho was the first style to be developed. It is very basic, but strong in attack and defense, especially against several opponents. In Shii-Cho there are six target zones: the head, the left arm and side, the right arm and side, the back, the left leg, and the right leg. Each attack is designed to hit one of these zones. Shii-Cho also placed emphasis on destroying an opponent's lightsaber. Most students learned this form as younglings, and most Jedi move on to study other forms after they become Padawans. One Jedi Master, Kit Fisto, studied this art until he had thoroughly mastered it."

Wei then held the sword in front of his face and brought it down to his side. "This is the opening stance for the second form, called Makashi. Makashi was developed in response to Shii-Cho as a means of fighting other opponents wielding lightsabers. Makashi users were concerned with the preservation of their weapons more than anything. Makashi wastes no energy on big slashes or clumsy blocking. In fact, most of Makashi's techniques can be performed with a flick of the wrist, and the others by swinging from the elbow. I have heard some say that if you are swinging from the shoulder, you are no longer using the Makashi form. Count Dooku, Darth Tyrannus, was held as one of the most ingenius fighters of the Makashii style. I am sorry to say that it was his mastery of this style that made him so adept at fighting Jedi during the Clone Wars."

The former Jedi Knight resumed the stance he had taken when finding the cube. "Form III is called Soresu. Like I said before, Obi-Wan Kenobi made a permanent name for himself in the mastery of this Form. This form focuses entirely on defense. Serious practitioners of this style of combat study their opponents diligently, keep themselves calm and passive, and prepare themselves for extended battles. Often when a person fights a Form III master, that person will run themselves weary before the master makes his first attack."

Wei paused a moment and looked over at the tag-along. "You with me so far?

[Aramis Rakai]

I listened carefully and nodded. "Yes, please go on...this is very interesting."

I wondered if I were to take to this form of fighting, which would I start with and where would I end up. I gently touched my mother's lightsabre and wondered which form she chose, if I could find out somehow...I would do the same. For some strange reason, it just felt right.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei adjusted his glasses. "Indeed it is. Now the fourth lightsaber form is Ataru. This form was invented my Jedi Master Yoda as a means to make up for his diminutive stature and short reach. It involves a high degree of Force enhancement because it calls upon a Jedi's ability to perform acrobatic feats, high jumps, and high speed spins to put force behind the blade for all the attacks. It's a very fast, very high energy style of combat that requires a great deal of endurance. It's very predictable because of how all the attacks telegraph, but the frenzy speed of Ataru makes up for it."

The Jedi Knight lowered his weapn for a moment. "Form V, Djem So (also called Shien) is a more aggressive version of Soresu, which is the defensive form. Shien is the half of Form V that deals with blaster bolts and is the form responsible for giving up the technique required to actually perfectly deflect the bolts back at an opponent. Djem So deals with fighting against opponents with lightsabers. Darth Vader is the most infamous practitioner of this form. I wouldn't be surprised if he took to its study just to spite his master, Obi-Wan."

"Form VI, called Niman, is a balanced form that utilizes parts of the other lightsaber combat forms, save for the seventh form, which I'll explain in a minute. Form VI was mastered by Jedi who did not generally make much time for lightsaber combat. Most of the Jedi healers, diplomats, sages, and others learned this form. In the battle of Geonosis, every Jedi who made use of Niman died. It is a form of combat that I have mastered already, but I do not tend to use it much myself."

Wei sat on one of the rock benches carved out of the hut wall. "The last form, Vapaad, is the most dangerous form among the seven. To wield Vapaad, a Jedi must embrace the thrill of battle. He must make use of his desire to fight and conquer an opponent. Mace Windu created Vapaad to deal with his anger, which was infamous. Vapaad allowed Master Windu to channel his anger without letting it consume him. It was very dangerous to do, and not many Jedi who have taken up the study of Vapaad have managed to avoid falling to the Darkside. In fact, a Jedi could only learn Vapaad after they had earned Master Windu's express permission. It was just that dangerous. But some argue there is no stronger style of combat than this. I have not dared to learn it."

Wei stood up and turned off his saber. "And those are the seven lightsaber forms. I know most of the introductory techniques for most of them, and have mastered Form I and Form VI. I know Form III on an intermediate level, and Form V is shortly behind that. As for the other three, I am still learning them myself."

Wei thought back to the time he spent in the archives studying holos of the Jedi Masters training and practicing their arts. He studied their every move in all of their exhibitions. He even managed to practice with most of them when they had spare moments. Each one was a privilege and an honor.

"You will find your own way, Aramis. When you have the time, consider what makes you feel most centered and like yourself. Think about how you approach problems and reflect on how you act when you fight, and find a lightsaber form that fits that way of thinking."

[Aramis Rakai]

I thought about how I had lead my life up until now, before saying anything. "I have always been taught to avoid fighting whenever possible. But, when it does come to fighting...non-Jedi I'm pretty quick on my feet and don't have to swing a punch." I smiled a bit. "Bruises your knuckles, but truth be told I have my own technique. I can usually, and I mean usually bypass a punch, grab my aggressor's hand and twist them backwards and get them to their knees. Usually, sometimes...it doesn't work."

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei nodded. "Well, even if you decide not to specialize in Jedi lightsaber combat, you need to find at least one form of combat to be proficient in."

He tucked the cube into his belt with the others. "Let's go."

[Aramis Rakai]

I nodded and followed him out the door. "So, now where are we off too?"

[Wei Wu Wei]

"Back to the ship, then I need to figure out where the rest of these cubes are and just how many I have left to gather up. Maybe we'll train you when I'm not doing that. Sound good?"

Wei was relaxing now that he had the next piece of the puzzle. The kid wasn't so bad, but if he was going to survive, he needed to know a few things. He'd see to it that Aramis got at least a little training in each area of Jedi Knowledge.

[Aramis Rakai]

I was surprised myself about the training part. I definitely had not expected it. I had figured that once we had the cube, I would be on my way back to the mansion and Wei would be on his way.

"Sounds great." I said with a slight smile, I was more than ready to get off this sandy, hot planet. My life was changing every moment, it was not so long ago that I had been tied to a couple of posts and whipped nearly to death. Had it not been for Wei, I was sure I would have died.

My wounds were still healing, but I was alive and that was all that mattered.

"I will do my best, Wei. I give you my word." I told him with a firm acknowledgment in my voice.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei looked back at him. "You don't have to promise me anything. You're not beholden to me, and I get no reward for teaching you the Force. Give that promise to yourself and hold yourself to it."

The trip back to the ship was like the usual: a Force-assisted sprint across arid sand to the Skywalker farm, where they caught the last bus from the tour guide company back to Mos Eisley. Then they returned to their ship.

"Your first bit of Force training," Wei said after the course had been set, "Is to sit in total silence for five whole minutes and do absolutely nothing."

[Aramis Rakai]

I raised an eyebrow as I listened to his instructions. "That's it?" I asked quietly. I did not believe that this would be too hard.

"Okay." I said as I got comfortable and closed my eyes. I was tired enough, I could probably go to sleep pretty fast, but decided that was probably not such a good idea.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei sat back in the pilot's chair. He was content to let the ship fly itself at whatever speed it deemed necessary to be the most efficient course for fuel consumption and duration of travel.

When he turned around on the chair's swivel bottom he could see down to where Aramis sat with his eyes shut. Wei smirked. This was going to be harder than the kid thought. He remembered the first time he was asked to sit still and do nothing for five minutes.

Wei had laid down on his back in the middle of the floor and contented himself with staring at the ceiling. Then he got restless and began to count the tiles in his vision. When that ended he suddenly felt the urge to get up and move around. Still, his master silently encouraged him not to move. It was the longest five minutes of his life.

Now those five minutes of silence were quickly becoming all he had left to remind him that at his core he was still a Jedi. These five minutes were very very important.

[Aramis Rakai]

At first, it was not too bad. But, as the moments ticked by, I was beginning to get rather bored. I really wanted to go to sleep.

I sighed deeply. "Is it time?" I asked quietly.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei heard him clearly in the silence and checked the chrono. "Four minutes to go. Just breathe. Focus on your breathing."

[Aramis Rakai]

Focus on my breathing...

I centered myself and focused my breathing on taking as shallow breaths as I could. I kept my eyes closed and lay still.

I don't know how long I was out, but I snorted and woke up with a start.

I coughed slightly. "Sorry." I apologized and shook my head. "How long did I last?"

[Wei Wu Wei]

"Thirty minutes. Falling asleep helps."

Wei laughed. "I used to do that a lot myself. My master told me it was a sign that my mind and body were relaxed and at peace. All I had to do was work on being alert in those moments."

[Aramis Rakai]

I smiled sheepishly and pushed my hair back over my shoulder. "It was harder than I expected. I thought five minutes would be a breeze."

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei chuckled. "It'll get easier. Just find a focus and let your mind spread out."

He got up from the pilot's chair. It would be a while before their next destination. "Good job today, Aramis."

[Aramis Rakai]

"Thanks..." I said as I got up and followed him to the main part of the ship. I found my pack and walked back to one of the cabins. I needed some rest, my body still hurt from the beatings I had received. I threw my pack down on the bed and went into the small fresher.

My pale skin looked paler than normal, but I had been under an immense amount of stress and figured that to be the only reason. I stretched and yelped as a pain etched its way through my lower abdomen. I noted a bruise and figured it was from one of the rifle butts I had received. I touched it gently and winced.

I ignored it and decided that a nice warm shower would be the best thing for me. Afterwards, I dressed and headed out to the galley for a bite to eat...if there was anything out there.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei decided to find an empty cabin and laid down on the bed. At last there was nothing else to do for a while. He reached into a small pouch on his belt and retrieved from it a small holo he always kept of his wife. There she was, smiling at him with her black braids looped behind her head. Her dress blew in an unseen wind and she waved at him, then blew him a kiss.

He loved that holo. And he loved her. He set the holo down on the small table next to the bed and rolled over to sleep. Without a drink around, it was the only other way he could think of to deal with the pain. The ship's autopilot would alert him and Aramis when the next destination was at hand.

Until then, he would rest.