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By; KissinWookies
Preface
The Force is of a canny nature. Its influence is far reaching and Its ways are often unclear, even to those that serve it. Such is the Force and The Hand. Blowouts were highly uncommon in this sector. The alarm sounded in the Patrol Craft alerting to the sudden danger. A spout of molten rethin surged from the core of Bespin. Panicked, the pilot slapped at the control panel, struggling to steer clear of the danger. The engines whined in protest at such maneuvering. Seconds that felt like an eternity stretched out until the Patrol Craft was finally out of danger and back under control. The pilot wiped sweat from his brow and quickly checked the instrument panel, swearing he would never again fly below the recommended altitude. The display showed that he was in a restricted flight zone. He altered his path to get to legal air and decided that he had best have the craft checked out before he did anything else. Besides, he could really use a drink after all that. The mechanic was checking the craft thoroughly, cursing hotshot pilots in three different languages, when he found The Hand. Some sort of cylinder was tight in its apparently mechanical grasp. He was unable to loosen it. After tinkering with it for a few minutes, the mechanic dropped it in his pack. He would trade it off to an Ugnaught. Pleased with the possible trade and the resulting game of Sabacc, he returned to his work, whistling a popular tune.
Present
A deep breathe. Now another. Kra'Lor worked on calming his worries. Going before the Elders was only that. Not a big deal in its self. The big deal was what they might tell him. There was no reason to worry until he was sure of what he had to worry about. Ta'Lana's hand found his. He turned to her and saw the same fears echoed in her soft eyes. His heart swelled with tender emotions. Kra'Lor was still amazed, even after six years, that this woman had chosen him. Ta'Lana could have had any man in the village. She was beautiful, intelligent and quick to smile or lend a hand. Over all suitors, Ta'Lana had chosen Kra'Lor. Kra'Lor the orphan. Kra'Lor with the scared face. The only survivor of a vicious Jowelmon attack when he was but seven summers old. The tall man with the beast's claw marks etched deep in his face. The lovely Ta'Lana had chosen Kra'Lor, and had never regretted it. Once again he thanked the heavens for her. Kra'Lor squeezed her hand reassuringly. After today they will know for sure, and their worries will be put to rest, or clarified. "Ooooo?" They both looked down. Soft brown hair framed the small round face that peered up at them. She knows we are worried, Kra'Lor thought. He knew he was right. The child had an amazing sense of intuition. She is only one summer old. Perhaps we are just overly proud of her. That feeling of knowing crept up again, and he quickly put it from his mind. The Elders will be the ones to say. Ta'Lana bent and scooped Ra'May into her arms. The child's brilliant green eyes searched her mother's face, then her father's. Two chubby hands reached out, coming to rest on each parent's cheek, making smiles light their faces. "Oooooooh," she said, her tiny voice somber. Kra'Lor reached over and poked the baby in the ribs, getting a rewarding giggle and breaking the tension. She is so small, so wonderful a daughter. What will happen if she IS the one? He had an almost overwhelming urge to turn and rush his family back home, forever forgetting prophesies. But his duty to his people won him. He could not be so selfish. Even if it meant loosing his beloved daughter. If she IS the one, he could not stand in her path. The chamber door opened, and they were ushered in to the dimly lit interior. The Elders sat in low chairs at the far end of the room. There was nothing to fear from this group of men and women. The Elders had always been just and wise in their guidance of the many villages on this planet. As they approached, one Elder spoke, "Why are you so upset young Kra'Lor? We greet many parents every year, each hoping they have brought forward the One." "I apologize, Sir," Kra'Lor spoke, "I know that the One prophesized will bring great good, but I fear loosing my daughter." "Daughter you said?" The Elders began whispering amongst themselves. Daughter, a girl. The prophecy never said female. "Yes, Sir. We know that the One was assumed to be a male child, but we are now doubtful," He took Ta'Lana's hand in his. She squeezed it, this time reassuring him. Ta'Lana was proud of him. She had the same fears as he did, yet he spoke so calmly. She knew as well as he did that their sweet little Ra'May was the One. And because of that fact, they would loose her. Yet Kra'Lor stood there with his back straight and his voice steady. She turned her gaze back to the Elders who were now silent. "What makes you think your daughter…" "Ra'May," Ta'Lana supplied. "…Ra'May is the One?" the First Elder asked. Kra'Lor took a deep breath. "She is far too perceptive for a child so young. She seems to know things that should only be learned through experience." "That could be easily dismissed," the Elder said. "She moves things." Silence fell again. It was now out. Now they will test her and find out. Both parents felt the tension in the air. Little Ra'May felt it too, and tightened her grip around Ta'Lana's neck. "It's okay, Sweet Love," Ta'Lana whispered to her, kissing the top of the little girls head. The Elder spoke again, "Please explain?" "Ra'May has pulled things to her that are out of her reach; A toy, a bite from dinner that she had dropped. Once, even the sweets jar from the top of the mantel," Kra'Lor let it end there. There was no reason to elaborate further. No point in trying to explain that Ra'May could make them understand her, that it was almost like they could hear her in their minds. Not always, but it had happened too often to say it was chance. The Elders sat quietly, looking at each other. This was new. A child that moved things with her mind? A female child? Could she be the One? "Bring her closer, please. I wish to meet this child. Was it Ra'May? Lovely name," the Elder said as he stood. He stepped forward and looked closely at the tiny girl. Ra'May met his gaze steadily. The old man offered her a finger. Without looking, she reached out and took a hold of it. A moment passed, and Ra'May let go of the Elder's finger. The Elder turned and said, "Bring forth the artifact. We shall find out if she is the One." A signal was passed to the door servant, and he left the room, returning a few seconds later with an ornate wooden box. The servant bowed as he handed the box to the Elder. Kra'Lor could see how the elaborate carvings on the box had been smoothed and carried a soft shine from so many generations of handling. This box held the Artifact. In this box was a piece of the prophecy. "Long ago, when contact was made with the stars, and the first new races greeted us, we were given this box." The Elder's gentle voice began the familiar tale, "It was only a simple trade, an insignificant token; but our Elders saw a vision of it. A vision granted to every member. The hand in this box will one day open. It will open and relinquish its treasure to a child. That child will be the One. That child will grow to bring Great Good to us all. That child's path will lead him-- or her," he added, "To far places. The One will battle great Evil and shall bring peace to many." Everyone knew the story, but this was more like a ceremony. All the Elders were now standing close, watching. The Elder with the box looked to Kra'Lor and Ta'Lana, and offered the box to the small girl. With more than a little reluctance, Ta'Lana set Ra'May down. The child looked up at her parents who tried to cover their fear behind encouraging smiles. Ra'May studied their faces a moment then turned to the box. The old man moved one hand to open it, but before his fingers could touch the latch, it opened of its own accord. Slight sounds of breath being caught were the only things heard. Never before had the box opened it's self. Inside, lying upon a simple blue cloth, was a Black Hand. In it's grasp, the basis of the prophecy. A cylinder that no one had been able to remove from the hand. Only the One would be able to do it. Ra'May leaned forward to peer in the box, her soft hair falling across her cheeks as she did so. She reached her hand forward into the box. Every breath in the room was held. She pulled her chubby hand from the box and offered its contents to the Elder. A shiny cylinder was held out to him. The fact took a moment to sink in. In the box lay the Black Hand, open. The Treasure was wrapped in the small fingers of this little girl that stood before him. The One. This child was the One! A throaty sob broke the stunned silence, and the Elder looked to see Ta'Lana bury her head against Kra'Lor's chest. His arms wrapped around her. "This child, Your child, is the One!" The Elder spoke with a hint of reverence in his voice. "Why do you cry?" Kra'Lor spoke, as he knew his wife could not, "Because our little Ra'May is no longer ours. We will now loose her, the biggest joy in our lives." His throat choked with more than a hint of sorrow. "Now the Jedi will come for her." "Yes," a new voice from behind spoke, "The Jedi are whom she belongs with now," The stranger stood tall in the doorway. His robes hung open and they could see a similar cylinder at his side. "The Force," the stranger continued, "gives and takes. What it takes from you today is a child. What It gives to everyone else is a chance for peace." Everyone was still too surprised at his appearance to say anything, much less stop Ra'May from going to him. "Ra'May!" her mother whispered. The tiny child offered her prize to the stranger. He bent to take it and locked gazes with her. A moment passed, and he took the cylinder and stood straight again as Ra'May toddled back to her parents. They wrapped her in their protective embrace. "I am called Sarmolin. I am a Jedi Knight. You have a child that the Force has favored. With out proper training her abilities could destroy her. I will train her here for a few years, then we must leave." His voice was as gentle as his face. There was no falsehood there. Kra'Lor cleared his throat, "Then you don't mean to take her away today?" "No. Certainly not. What good would it do to try training a child that only wants her parents? There is too much you have to offer her before she will be ready to fulfill her destiny." Fresh sobs broke from Ta'Lana. Tears of gratitude touched the corners of Kra'Lor's eyes. They would not loose her after all. At least not today. Sarmolin looked to all the stunned faces in the room and spoke again, "Is this not the day you have been waiting for? Does this not call for a celebration?" The End?