Star Wars: Skywalker's Rebellion

Chapter Two: Moving Forward

129 ABY; Six Months Later

Cade Skywalker walks through the Temple, barely even noticing people's stolen glances sideways at him. He had long ago been forced to accept the fact that people would always see him as a Skywalker, no matter what he did to sway them. Cade turned into a room on the left of the hall, where Wolf Sazen sat waiting.

"What did you call me for, Master?" asked Cade.

"Sit down, my Apprentice," Sazen said.

Cade did as he was told, and stared expecting at Wolf. The man had grown notably older since Cade had met him almost nine years before. He knew that he was like a son to the man, and Sazen treated him as such, being as harsh and as kind as a father would be.

"You no doubt know by now that your time as a Padawan is coming to a close. You will soon be a Jedi Knight, the first in a very long time and the first properly trained in centuries. We expect, that no matter the time they completed their initiation, all of your group of Padawans—your class if you will—will become Jedi Knights at around the same time. This way we can move forward and get a new group of Padawans trained."

"Wait," Cade said. "I thought my training wouldn't be complete for another several years."

Wolf rubbed his eyes. "We've had to, ah, hurry things along a little."

"I can't become a Jedi Knight yet, I'm only sixteen years of age—"

Wolf slammed his hand on the table. "I know!" he sighed and took a deep breath. "Sorry, what I meant was that we're aware of the age of you and your fellow Apprentices, but we're doing what we have to do."

"What's happening?" Cade asked, his curiosity rising.

Wolf didn't answer. "I'm going to be moving along your training. Your Rank in your Apprentice group is #1, and I know that you could outwit and outfight any member of your group. So I'm going to begin taking you with me."

"On missions?"

Wolf nodded. Despite Cade's thoughts about the Order, he felt himself getting excited. He had been waiting for a real mission for forever. A chance to prove himself outside of being ranked first in duels and such.

"So," said Cade. "When do we start?"

"I'll let you know as soon as I get word," Sazen responded. "Until then, I suggest you keep training. You may go."

"Yes, Master."

Cade exited the room and walked back to his living quarters. His father was there, which surprised him. Kol usually was talking with the New Order's council.

"Father, what are you doing here so early?"

"Didn't expect me?" Kol raised an eyebrow.

"Uh, no..."

"Ah, well I guess that explains the young lady waiting for you in the back," Cade's father's face was expressionless. Cade had never told his father about Azlyn.

"Oh yeah, about that..." Cade stuttered.

"Just giving our security code out to anyone now are we?" said his father, and Cade thought he saw a hint of a smile.

"No, I... she..." Cade couldn't seem to find the words. This had been unexpected. Azlyn often came over to talk, but his father was never there during that time.

"It's alright, son," said Kol, now smiling, maybe at his son's complete disregard for words. "Perhaps you should pull yourself together and talk to her."

"Right."

"I was quite the ladies' man myself, you know."

"No, it's... not like that." Cade said.

"Well maybe you should stop sputtering at me and go figure out what it is like."

Cade hurried out of the main room and into his bedroom in the back. Azlyn was sitting on his bed, smiling, having heard the whole conversation.

"Not like that, huh?" she said.

"Shut up," Cade said. "You try explaining it to him."

Azlyn put her hands up. "No thank you."

Cade smiled knowingly and sat down beside her. "So what is it?"

Azlyn looked down at the floor and her smile faded. "I don't know if I'm going to ever become a Jedi Knight."

"What?" Cade hadn't expected this. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, compared to others in our group, my force abilites are pathetic, and my lightsaber skills aren't too great either. And when it comes down to it, there are much better Apprentices all around than me. So what if they decide to, ya know—"

"No," Cade said. "You're the smartest person I know, and there's still plenty of time until we graduate. You'll get better." Cade decided not to tell her what Wolf had said about moving graduation up. It wouldn't help any.

"But what if it isn't enough?"

Cade rested his hand on her leg. "It will be. I'll make sure you pass."

"How?" Azlyn didn't look up.

"What if I helped you with lightsaber skills?"

"You think my Master hasn't tried getting me better at using a lightsaber?"

"He probably doesn't even remember what it was like to learn how to use a lightsaber. Maybe he's just teaching you the right things at the wrong times."

"Maybe..."

"Hey," Cade put a finger under her chin and lifted it up until she was staring into his eyes. "I'm not letting you fail any of this. If we become Jedi Knights, we'll do it together."

Azlyn nodded and was about to say something when the white bracelet on her arm turned red. "I gotta go," she said.

Cade nodded and she squeezed his hand before getting up and leaving, giving a guilty passing glance to Cade's father. After she was gone, Kol came into Cade's room and sat down in the exact place that Azlyn had been sitting only moment earlier. He took a deep breath.

"We need to talk."