Playlist:

❶ "Yoda and the Younglings"—Attack of the Clones OST

⊘ Silence

Four years had elapsed since Dashka's death on the mountain.

Four years of transition as the Jedi Order grew from two dozen to almost three dozen.

Four years of Luke and Naluma growing closer together as their Force-bond strengthened.

Four years of bearing each other's burdens.

Naluma gazed out at the courtyard full of students, lost in her planning of the events to come later in the evening. When Luke was home, they spent their time in his study. The Padawan assumed they were discussing private Jedi business, but most nights they enjoyed each other's company, whether playing a game or watching an old vid that Luke had picked up on a recent trip. Due to security concerns, they could only connect to the Holonet for two minutes at a time.

After nine years together, they knew by instinct what the other needed at any given time. A word of encouragement, a chaste caress, or even a surprise gift—neither withheld anything the other needed—except physical union. 

Naluma smiled at the anticipation of spending one of those evenings with Luke tonight. Kalder and he had returned from a mission to Mandalore Space only a few hours earlier, but Padawan classes had delayed any quality time thus far.

❶ The Jedi Knight returned her attention to the beginning saber class. With training foils extended to the air, the four young Padawan in the courtyard pounded to the grass in one movement, sliding their training sabers forward. As one, they tumbled forward and pounced for attack. Three of them lifted their foils and turned left, striking out, but the fourth—a second-year Padawan repeating the course—turned right, hitting her fellow Padawan with the training rod.

Naluma frowned at Pilar, a thirteen-year-old girl rescued from ravaged Onderon. After eight years of training Padawan, the girl was the first to struggle with saber fighting. Tall for human standards, this one was awkward. Her short-cropped, auburn hair wafted in the wind as silt blew into the girl's eyes. Pilar attempted to rub her eye with her saber hand, knocking herself in the head with the blunt stick.

With a sigh, Naluma shook her head. I don't know what her problem is. She has a great Force control, but her coordination is abysmal. She's more apt to cause problems in a group exercise than be a solution. I hope she has another talent, because saber fighting is never going to be it. I guess we should try her out in a few other fields soon, like flight school or healing, or she just might lose her all confidence with her Force-work.

"Again, Padawan. This time, stay together." Naluma placed her hands on her hips and enjoyed the wind blowing against her skin. She relished in the Force flowing in the courtyard through the trees and flowers.

"I'm sorry, Jedi Fau," Pilar said. "I—"

Naluma held her hand up to the girl. "No excuses. Concentrate and do it right. You can never afford to let your mind wander—and especially not in group work."

A large Besalisk Padawan with gray skin rankled his ridgecrest as he lifted his four arms to lead the group through the beginning paces of the drill again. Pilar looked over her shoulder, jumping into the routine with her group. The girl stood a few extra meters away from the group, shaking as she performed each move.

Naluma could feel the girl's fear as it spread throughout the rest of the group. "Be at peace, all of you. Regain your center. If you feel fear from a teammate, send them your peace—don't take their fear upon yourself. Fear is contagious. Squelch it together."

After a few more movements passed, the Jedi said, "Good, Naahah. I feel your peace. Concentrate on that, each of you."

The group moved into the somersault and pivoted right. "Good, Pilar. Keep going. Remember, in battle, your enemy won't stop until one of you is dead. Watch your forms, Geryl."

Naluma did not even realize Luke had joined her until he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and whispered in her ear. "Impressive."

She smiled, her heart rate accelerating and a slight flush coloring her face. She looked back at her Padawan, beaming as they finished the drill.

⊘ Master Skywalker boomed, "Excellent! Step one is done—and well done. I am proud of you, Padawan."

The group bowed in formality to the Jedi Master.

"Oh, don't stop on my account. Again, please."

The group looked at Naluma, who nodded her head in agreement. "Again, until your mind is no longer thinking through the movements—until kinesthesis kicks in."

The group shouted a battle cry and began the exercise once more as the sun dipped low in the sky.

Keeping her eyes on the Padawan, Naluma asked Luke, "What's up?"

"Missions."

"Who are you taking?"

"Tandolleau and Jannah. Wei'ahtt's going with ... you."

She turned to him, widening her eyes and opening her mouth in shock. "Who's going to teach the kids if I leave?"

"Kalder and Kallay will handle the academy."

"Can't one of them go with Wei'ahtt?"

"Not this time. Madine's got recruits going missing a few days after they report for basic on Ruusan. He wants to send in operatives."

"But why me?"

Luke put his hands on his hips and shook his head while grinning at her. "Because you are the only Jedi who could pull off being a drill instructor."

"Back in fatigues again? This ought to be fun." While sarcasm laced her words, the corners of Naluma's mouth tilted upward at the prospect of a real mission again. It had been almost a year since she and Luke had gone undercover to break up a slave-trafficking ring on Lianna. "And what's your plan for Wei'ahtt in all this?"

"He's joining up again. At least this time he won't have to lie about his age." Luke turned his head back to the Padawan as they concluded their drill. "Enough for today. Go get cleaned up. Dinner's in fifteen."

"Yes, Master Skywalker," they said in unison while saluting with their sabers. After storing their training batons in the weather-proof case, the Padawan rushed into the lodge.

As soon as the teens had departed, Luke took Naluma in his arms and asked, "So, how about it?"

"I guess. Where are you headed?"

"Castell. Republic pilot had to make an emergency landing. First Order picked him up. Accused him of spying." Luke's eyes scrunched. Naluma shouldered his grief as he thought of the torture the pilot endured.

"Rescue mission?" she asked.

Luke shook his head. "Negotiations first. We're defending him in First Order court. If that doesn't work, we'll do it the other way."

"Do you really think they're going to give him a fair trial?"

"No. I'm sure it's just a ploy to tarnish the Republic in the eyes of its citizens."

"Then why even bother with negotiations?"

"Senate directive."

She rolled her eyes. "What's your plan?" she asked with a grin as they headed indoors.

"Take a couple of Y-wings in. Negotiate," Luke said with a twinkle in his eye. "Then accelerate the negotiations."

"Yeah, like they're gonna let you take your lightsabers in."

He threw his arm around her shoulder and laughed. "Did I ever tell you about the time I rescued Han from Jabba the Hutt?"

She grinned at him as she leaned in and smelled his mossy scent, inhaling deeply. "No, you did not."

The Jedi Master stole a kiss when they stopped in front of her quarters. "Tell you tonight on the shuttle. Go pack. We leave after dinner."

She opened the hatch to her quarters, turning to him before she entered. "Hey, how are Wei'ahtt and I going to get our lightsabers on base?"

Chuckling, Luke smiled in mystery at her and walked down the hall.

Naluma entered her suite and muttered, "I hate it when he does that—Ooh! Now, this is interesting." On her bed lay two sleeves of amalgamated plastic and metal that looked like police batons. Beside them lay two bantha-hide holsters.

She removed her saber from her belt and slid it into the baton. The saber snapped into the sleeve with an audible click. She hefted the weapon, removing the saber in one smooth motion. "Sometimes that man is just too clever." She fingered the texture of the leather holsters while contemplating the man that drove her crazy.

Did you know ...

● This sequence was the last sequence written to buffer "Warning Signs" and "It's Time," as well as to develop the characters of the Famous Five Jedi.

● Ten years have passed since the New Jedi Order began. Luke and Naluma have been together for nine years as a couple—nine long years of denied passion. 

● The relationship of Luke and Naluma has gone through many of the stages of the Greek love cycle found in Greek philosophy and drama: brotherly, playful, romantic, unconditional, and now long-standing. Luke's Jedi compassion sent him through unconditional before the rest. Naluma's romantic love taught her unconditional love for Luke and others. Now, all these stages of love manifest themselves throughout their relationship, intertwining as their hearts have.

Tell me what you think ...

● After reading the analysis of Luke and Naluma's love, how does Han and Leia's love compare?

● Can unconditional love exist without brotherly love? Why or why not?