Seraphina stared at the untouched bowl of red soup in front of her. She was dreading the afternoon. Today, she would have to interrogate Amaro. While she wanted to before, she was regretting it now. It had only been three days since her master had died and they had captured Amaro and brought him to the new Resistance base on D’Qar.
Amber and Nathan sat across from her at the table where they were eating. Her friends said nothing but they exchanged concerned glances at each other. Seraphina pretended not to notice.
“Are you okay with the interrogation?” Amber asked gently.
Seraphina nodded. “I’ll be fine.” The words didn’t sound convincing.
Amber raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure? If you don’t want to do this, we understand-“
“No,” Seraphina interrupted. “The Resistance needs answers. I’m not about to back down now.”
“It’ll be alright.” Nathan assured her. “If it makes you feel any better, we’ll be there with you.”
Amber nodded and smiled. “Yeah, if he so much as touches you, I’ll make sure the next blaster bolt he gets hit with won’t be set to stun.”
Seraphina smiled at her friends. They had all grown close over the past few days. Nathan and Amber had comforted her after they had arrived on D’Qar and were ready to support her. She loved them for that. They had wanted to help her in whatever they could. They were true friends.
“Thank you.” Seraphina said, looking into their eyes. “Knowing that you guys will be there is helping to settle my nerves.”
Amber smiled. “Like I said, I still have to find a way to get Amaro to pay for going through my head.”
Nathan glanced over at the clock mounted on the wall. “Come on, the general wants Seraphina to do the interrogation at exactly one o’clock.”
Amber made a face at the mention of the general. “I’ve never liked Alarick. And he doesn’t like me either.”
Nathan led the way to the detention cells. “At least he is allowing us to stay with them for the time being.”
Amber scowled. “I guess, but I get the feeling that we shouldn’t completely trust him.”
Seraphina nodded slowly. “I agree. I feel as though there is something wrong in the Force…and the general has something to do with it.”
Nathan sighed. “We don’t have any proof. Let’s keep an open mind and focus on the task at hand.”
The trio walked on in silence. Seraphina turned her thoughts to her recent dreams that still made no sense to her. The dreams of her master dying had come true. Did that mean that Amber and Nathan would die eventually as well? She tried not to dwell on that too much. Her recent visions had seemed more like memories, but when they would reach a certain point, they would end. If they were memories then Seraphina didn’t get to see them finish playing out. It was almost as though they were blocked by something.
Seraphina was certain that the boy in her dreams was a childhood friend but she couldn’t remember his name. She knew it was right there in front of her but she couldn’t quite grasp it. It was driving her crazy, being unable to remember who he was or what his name was. She brushed her thoughts aside as they neared Amaro’s cell.
Two guards stood outside his cell and they eyed the three people coming closer. Seraphina glanced at the energy barrier that separated Amaro from the hallway. The cell was small but larger than the one that she had been in on his ship. Amaro’s helmet had been removed and locked up in case there was a communication device inside. Seraphina could see black hair that fell into his eyes but he didn’t turn to face her as she entered the code to dissolve the barrier and let herself in.
“Wait out here.” She told the others. Amber and Nathan nodded and stayed near the door, though not close enough to get stung by the energy barrier that had appeared as soon as Seraphina had stepped inside. Her friends watched her as she walked slowly and cautiously over to the table in the center of the room and sat down in one of the two chairs.
Amaro made no attempt to move. He continued to stare at the ground though Seraphina could feel his gaze on her every now and then. “I was wondering when you would get here.” He finally said.
Seraphina had to do her best not to gasp in surprise. Amaro hadn’t said a word since arriving at the base. The general had been right in thinking that he would only talk to Seraphina. That was one of the reasons she had been picked to question him.
“I suppose that you have many questions.” Amaro said, now raising his head to meet Seraphina’s gaze. His eyes were jade green. He stood and moved towards her, sitting in the chair across from her and intertwined his fingers on the table. Staring into her blue eyes, he leaned forward and said, “What do you want?”
Seraphina swallowed before answering. “Answers.” Her pulse had quickened when she saw his eyes. He was so familiar but she had never met him before, right? “What is the First Order planning?”
Amaro shrugged. “I honestly have no idea.” His nonchalance about this interrogation was starting to grate on her nerves.
When she had come in here, she had expected a fight or at least some resistance from him. Not…this. He spoke to her like they had known each other for years. She found herself fiddling with the hem of her shirt and forced herself to stop. Showing nervousness would only give him the upper hand in this battle of words and minds.
Amaro watched her intently; his eyes scanning her face as though he were trying to remember her. “You’ve gotten taller since I last saw you.” He murmured.
Seraphina stiffened at his remark. Since he last saw me…? She thought. That was only three days ago!
Amaro continued to study her. “I was referring to the last time I saw you at the Jedi temple on Coruscant. You’ve grown quite a bit.”
Seraphina watched him, unsure of what to do. He had obviously heard her thoughts. She could leave, but now she was curious. She could hear Nathan’s voice behind her; urgent. “Seraphina, get out of there!”
She knew he was right but at the same time, could Amaro actually have known her? “I could show you how I know you, Seraphina.” He offered.
Seraphina was tempted to accept that suggestion. Part of her mind screamed at her to not trust him but the other part of her mind assured her that he would not hurt her. He could have harmed her if he wanted to, but he hadn’t.
“The others would have to leave though.” Amaro said.
Amber tensed behind her and fingered with her blaster. Seraphina turned to them. “It’s okay,” she assured them. “I’ll shout if I need your help.” Amber and Nathan reluctantly left followed closely by the guards, leaving Seraphina alone with Amaro. She turned her attention back to the all too familiar Sith lord. “Show me.” She whispered.
Amaro hadn’t been planning on showing her so soon but if he didn’t do this now then he would never have another chance to do it again. He gazed into Seraphina’s eyes. “Close your eyes.” He said, almost gently. The look she gave him said that she didn’t trust him. He almost said, Trust me, but then she wouldn’t have trusted him.
She doesn’t even realize who I am. He thought. “Seraphina, close your eyes.” He watched as she hesitantly closed her eyes. He closed his eyes as well and began to enter her mind.
Amaro could feel her panic and fear as he attempted to get past her barriers. I won’t hurt you. Amaro assured her.
Like you hurt my master? She thought back at him.
Amaro winced. It had only been three days since the death of Master Aven. Seraphina, he said gently. Let me in.
Slowly, her mental shields went down but Amaro could still sense her tenseness. She was ready to push him out if he did anything that would hurt her or her friends.
Amaro quickly brushed past memories of her training everyday to be a Jedi, building her lightsaber, piloting ships, and growing up on Tatooine.
Now that’s something that we have in common. He thought, careful to keep his thoughts to himself as he delved deeper into her mind. He came across the memories he was looking for. He watched them for a moment and then connected the pieces that seemed to be missing.
What are you doing? Seraphina asked as she sensed him doing something with her older memories.
You wanted to find out about how I know about you? Well, here you are. Amaro said as he finished piecing the memories and watched them as they played out. Seraphina watched as well.
A younger Seraphina, around five or so, stood on a sandy dune of Tatooine, watching the sunset. Her adoptive father and mother stood nearby, watching the young girl. Seraphina’s bright blue eyes reflected the orange setting suns as they descended and Tatooine’s three moons began to rise in the starry night sky. Seraphina breathed out as a sigh as she watched the stars.
“Come on, Seraphina!” her adoptive father called. “It’s getting late!”
Seraphina reluctantly went inside the house and crawled into bed. She glanced out the window at the stars that twinkled against the sky. She smiled to herself as she closed her eyes, sleep overtaking her senses.
A few days later, Seraphina came walking into her house after having played outside for an hour. She followed the sound of voices to the kitchen where her adoptive parents were talking with a man who was in his late twenties to early thirties.
“What makes you think that Seraphina will even want to go with you?” her mother asked.
The man looked at her mother and father. “I understand your concerns, but Seraphina is strong in the Force. I’m sure you’ve noticed that.”
Seraphina’s mom exchanged a look with her father before turning to the man in front of her. “We have noticed, we just didn’t want to believe that it was true.”
“Well it is true. And I know that Seraphina was adopted three years ago.”
“How could you know that?” Seraphina’s father asked.
“Jedi records.” The man said. Seraphina let out a small gasp. Could this man be a Jedi? “Anyways, if Seraphina agrees then she will come with me to Coruscant where she will be trained to be a Jedi.”
“Seraphina,” her father called. “You can come out now.” Seraphina slowly came into the kitchen. She glanced at the man and her parents. “Seraphina,” her father said. “This man says that you’re Force-sensitive. Do you know what that means?” Seraphina shook her head.
“This means that you can learn about the Force and be a Jedi.” Her mother said.
The man looked at Seraphina. “The choice is yours. As a Jedi, you could save many people. If you choose to stay then I understand.”
Seraphina looked at her father. “Your mother and I will support whatever decision you make.”
Seraphina looked at the ground before making up her mind. “I want to help people.” Her parents smiled at her though their eyes were sad.
The man stood. “Then that settles it. We must leave for Coruscant at once.”
Amaro quickly switched to another memory and watched it.
Two years later, Seraphina had risen to the top of her class. Now, the Council thought that she was ready for a master. Though she was only seven, she was far more mature than others her age. When she found out who her master was, she was ecstatic.
The man that had found her on Tatooine had been chosen to teach her. Master Dabir Aven was pleased to have this young girl as his Padawan. The Council had found out that she was a descendant of the Skywalker family and that she was incredibly powerful.
Master Aven worked hard to train Seraphina and she worked to listen and accept his teaching. She was progressing much faster than any other student in the history of the Jedi. She was learning quickly and soon, she would be ready for the trials.
The next memory Amaro found was one that took him by surprise for a moment before he pressed on and observed the image.
Eight-year-old Seraphina followed her master as he led her through the wide hallways of the Temple. She nearly tripped on her long Jedi robes multiple times. She muttered under her breath about her clumsiness but remained silent during most of the walk. Finally, the Padawan’s curiosity got the best of her and she couldn’t stop the question that poured from her mouth.
“Where are we going, Master?” she asked.
Master Aven glanced at her but did not stop his pace. “We are going to see a friend of mine and his Padawan.”
Before Seraphina could ask another question, Master Aven stopped and Seraphina almost ran into him. She peered around her master to see who was in front of them. A man around Master Aven’s age stood close by with a boy slightly older than Seraphina. Neither of them had noticed her where she stood behind her master.
The boy had black hair and jade green eyes. He watched as his master and Master Aven exchanged a few words before the boy’s master introduced him.
“Dabir, this is my Padawan, Josh Aland.” Josh bowed in respect to Master Aven when his master had introduced him. Master Aven offered Josh a head bow. Master Aven glanced at Seraphina.
“Master Kyron, Padawan Aland, this is my Padawan, Seraphina Skywalker.” Master Aven gestured for Seraphina to step out from behind him.
Seraphina shyly emerged from behind her master and bowed towards Master Kyron. Josh smiled warmly at her, having noticed her timidity. Seraphina smiled back at him, thankful for his kindness towards her.
Master Kyron and Master Aven began talking and walking while their Padawans followed in silence, glancing now and then at the masters in front of them and each other. While the masters talked, Seraphina watched Josh out of the corner of her eye. He fingered with the hilt of his lightsaber that was clipped at his belt and Seraphina couldn’t help but admire it.
His lightsaber was unlike any that she had seen before. It was a silver cross guard lightsaber hilt that glinted in the sun that shone through the windows of the hall. What color was his crystal? Blue? Green? Or was it a color that was rarely seen? Like purple. The only Jedi she knew of that ever had a purple kyber crystal for their lightsaber was Master Mace Windu.
Josh must have noticed her eyeing his hilt because he smiled at her and said, “Interested in this?” Seraphina quickly averted her gaze. Josh chuckled. “It’s alright,” he said gently. “I know you’re curious. I noticed that you don’t have a lightsaber.”
At this, Seraphina frowned. “I’m not old enough to have a lightsaber yet. But Master Aven said that when I’m ten he would take me to find my kyber crystal.”
“What color are you hoping to get?”
“Blue, maybe.” Seraphina shrugged. “I really don’t know. Blue is the most common lightsaber color besides green. So…I don’t know.”
Josh smiled. “I could show you mine later if you want.”
Seraphina smiled at him. “Thank you.”
Amaro nearly withdrew from Seraphina’s mind. How had these memories been here but she had not remembered them? He pressed on and focused on another one of her blocked memories.
Josh and Seraphina, now three years older, reclined in a grassy field. Seraphina was gazing up at the blue sky. Josh was talking to her with a wide smile on his face.
“And that’s when my master slipped and fell into the marsh. I tried to help him but he insisted that he could get out of the situation himself. So he spent two hours struggling to climb out when he finally admitted that he could use my help. And when I managed to get him out he said, ‘And this shows that you shouldn’t reject help when you most need it.'”
Seraphina laughed. “I can’t believe Master Kyron did that.”
Josh smiled. “Yeah, well, he’s like that sometimes.”
Seraphina fingered with her lightsaber hilt that she had made two years prior. It was a simple silver hilt. “I don’t think my master and I have been anywhere interesting like you and Master Kyron have.”
Josh moved so that he propped himself up with his elbow. “What about the time you went to Shili to find some more Force-sensitives?”
Seraphina nodded. “Yes, but it wasn’t all that interesting. The Togruta were friendly enough but I could tell that they were hesitant to tell us if they had any Force-sensitive younglings.”
“I wish that I could go and help search for Force-sensitive beings. It would be less dangerous than going on suicide missions to other planets.”
“Don’t hold your breath.” Seraphina said. “There are still lots of dangers when looking for Jedi potential people. One time, my master and I ran into bounty hunters while on a trip to Naboo. This was right after I made my lightsaber. You should’ve seen the looks on the bounty hunter’s faces when they realized that we were Jedi.” Seraphina laughed at the memory. “They ran for the hills.”
Josh laughed with her. “I’ve had a few encounters like that but with pirates. I’ll be lucky if I never see another pirate in my life.”
Seraphina turned to look at him. “Don’t say that. The Jedi have the worst luck ever.”
Josh grinned. “Are you sure it’s all Jedi or just Skywalkers?” Seraphina playfully punched Josh in the arm. Josh caught her wrist. “You should be careful, Padawan Skywalker. Don’t let your anger get the best of you.”
Seraphina couldn’t help but laugh. “You sound like Master Aven.”
“That was kind of the point.” Josh replied, staring into her blue eyes.
Seraphina pretended not to notice. Instead, she pulled her wrist out of Josh’s grip and picked up her lightsaber as she stood. “Feel like sparring?”
Josh nodded and stood up, igniting his lightsaber. The green beam hummed in his grip as he held the cross guard hilt tightly. “Ready when you are.”
Seraphina ignited her lightsaber and the sapphire blue blade flashed to life between them. The two combatants circled each other for several seconds before beginning their fight. Seraphina struck first, bringing her lightsaber up towards Josh’s chest. He deflected it easily. Seraphina kept swinging her lightsaber at him and he dodged every attack.
“Widen your stance.” Josh said. “You’ll get taken down much too easily if your stance is too tight and close.” As if to prove his point, Josh swept his leg under Seraphina’s and she fell onto her back in the grass; her lightsaber deactivating as she went down. Josh pointed the tip of his green saber at her throat. “I win.”
Seraphina scowled and tried to sit up, only to be shoved back down again by Josh’s boot on her shoulder. “I get it; you win. Will you let me up now?”
Josh considered this. “No,” he answered with a grin. “If you want to get up then you’ll have to try.”
Seraphina glared at him before he went flying down the hill behind him. Seraphina stood and watched as he tumbled down the grassy tor. He stopped at the bottom and stood. He looked up at where she stood at the crest. “I wasn’t expecting that!” he yelled as he began to climb back up the knoll. “I was expecting you to fight me off; not use the Force to throw me off a hill.”
Seraphina smirked. “Using the Force was better than trying to fight you.” She held out her arm for her lightsaber and it flew into her outstretched hand.
“You’ll be a great Jedi someday.” Josh said with a smile.
Amaro quickly tried to find the memory he had been searching for ever since entering Seraphina’s mind. He didn’t want to go through all of her memories. He finally found what he was looking for.
Twelve-year-old Seraphina watched Josh approach her from where she sat in the cafeteria. His eyes were filled with sadness and anger; emotions that a Jedi should not display.
“Josh, are you alright?” Seraphina asked.
Josh didn’t meet her gaze. “I-I’m sorry, Seraphina.”
“Sorry about what?” she asked, confusion blooming across her face. “What are you talking about?”
“I realize that I can’t be a Jedi.”
“What? Why not?”
“Because of the code. It doesn’t make any sense.”
Seraphina knew the Jedi code all too well. Every Jedi and Padawan had grown up knowing it.
There is no emotion, there is peace.
There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.
There is no passion, there is serenity.
There is no chaos, there is harmony.
There is no death, there is the Force.
“Josh, I-I don’t understand. What about the code?”
This time, Josh looked into Seraphina’s eyes. “It says that we’re not allowed to have emotions or passion. We’re encouraged to love but we can’t forge relationships. And the Jedi are supposed to be the peace-keepers but they can’t keep the peace even among themselves!”
Seraphina flinched at his temper. She had never seen him angry before. A salt shaker exploded nearby. “Josh, why is this such a big deal? You’ve spent your entire life learning the code and the ways of a Jedi and now you get angry over it?”
“Because I’ve realized how imperfect the Jedi are. They are not the peace-keepers we grew up thinking they were. We’re not allowed to show emotion which is natural and we can’t have relationships.”
Seraphina rolled her eyes. “Relationships lead to jealousy and jealousy leads to the-“
“Dark Side,” Josh finished. “I know, Seraphina. But, I mean, emotions can’t be all that bad, right?”
Seraphina averted her gaze. “I think that’s something you’ll have to discuss with your master.”
Josh scowled. “Master Kyron won’t listen to what I have to say. He’ll assume that I’m abandoning the Jedi Order.”
“And are you, Josh?” Seraphina asked hotly. “Are you going to leave the Jedi Order? You wouldn’t be coming to say sorry otherwise.”
“I-I am leaving, Seraphina.” Seraphina let out a shaky breath, resisting the tears that had formed in her eyes. “I really am sorry. But I can’t follow the code anymore. I know that now.”
“What changed that?”
Josh gazed at her and Seraphina had a nagging feeling that she was the reason he couldn’t continue to be a Jedi. “I’ll miss you.” With that, Josh stood and left the Temple, and Seraphina never saw him again.
Later that evening as Seraphina tried to sleep; her thoughts were focused on Josh. Tears streamed down her cheeks and stained her pillow as she thought about her only friend who had left her.
I wish I could forget what he did. She thought.
And you will. A voice responded to her thoughts. Seraphina sat up swiftly in the bed and looked around the dark room. Pain flooded her head like someone was driving a hot rod through her skull. She doubled over from the pain and gasped as she held her head in her hands, desperately trying to stop the pain as more tears raced down her cheeks.
Don’t worry. The voice whispered. Seraphina clenched her jaw at the voice. It was cold, dark, and it made her sick. Josh won’t bother to come back. Especially if you don’t remember him. I can’t have my new apprentice worry about little girls like you. Seraphina screamed out in agony as the pain continued until she fell unconscious at the severity of the torture.
When she woke up the following morning, she could barely remember what had happened the day before and since then, her memories of Josh had been blocked and hard to reach. It had pained her to not know what had happened to her best friend. Where was he? Was he even alive? For four years, the memories of her friend faded and she gave up on trying to remember them as she focused on her training.
Amaro withdrew from Seraphina’s mind. He was overwhelmed with what he had seen. While watching her memories and being in her mind, he had experienced all of her emotions. Happiness at the fact that she would get to be trained as a Jedi, her excitement at having a new friend when the other Padawans regarded her coldly because she was a Skywalker, her peace when laying in the meadow, her determination to win in the duel, and her disappointment and hurt when Josh left her like so many other people did.
“Josh?” Seraphina whispered. Amaro looked at her as she lifted her head and looked him in the eye. She gasped. “Josh? Is it you?”
Amaro nodded slowly. “Yes, Seraphina, it is me.”
Seraphina studied his face. Why hadn’t she seen it before? Amaro Ahriman was Josh Aland; her best friend from her childhood! He was taller and his hair was longer. But his eyes were the same as always; jade green. Several emotions went through her all at once. Shock, happiness, comfort, hurt, sadness, and anger.
Amaro only watched her as she studied him. He stared into her blue eyes; eyes that he used to get lost in all the time. They were still the way he imagined them; beautiful, placid pools that reflected everything around her. Her brown hair was still done in a braid just as she always did it. She was taller than he remembered, but still short compared to him. Then again, he had always been tall. He watched as her eyes revealed her emotions. He was surprised at how many emotions happened in just a few seconds.
She suddenly stood up, her chair falling backwards at her sudden movement. Her hands were clenched into fists. “What have you done?” she asked, her voice laced with anger, disbelief, and hurt. “You went over to the Dark Side?”
Amaro stood as well and took a step towards Seraphina. She instinctively took a step back. “You wouldn’t understand what I’ve been through.”
Seraphina clenched her jaw. “We didn’t know what happened to you! We spent months, months, trying to find you! When they couldn’t find you, everyone assumed you were dead.”
“And did you assume that I was dead?”
Seraphina shook her head. “I didn’t believe you were dead. I didn’t want to believe you were dead, Josh.”
“Don’t call me that.” Amaro hissed. “My name is Amaro.”
Seraphina shook her head in disbelief. “I don’t believe this. Now I’m starting to believe that you, my best friend, Josh Aland, is dead.” She marched out of the cell, leaving Amaro alone.
Author’s Note
Whew. This chapter took forever to write. I’m so happy that I got it done. There were so many times that I had to rewrite the chapter because I wasn’t happy with it. Actually, I have my sister to thank for helping me come up with Amaro’s past and his connection to Seraphina. We came up with some of this while playing a game.
Did anyone figure out the connection between the boy in Seraphina’s memories and Amaro? Now you know why he wanted to capture Seraphina earlier in the story. Or do you?
What did you guys think of the fact that General Alarick might be behind something not so cool? My sister said that if he ends up being evil (which I don’t know if he will), then that gives Amber a good reason to shoot him (which I’m sure she’s been wanting to do since they first met).
And Nathan…He’s supposed to be Seraphina’s protector from Amaro. He’s doing a greeeeaaaat job at protecting her since he spent the last chapter unconscious. He’ll do more than just be cut my Sith lightsabers and be unconscious.
Leave a review if you have any questions, character ideas, or just want to type a review to the story. This has not been easy to write but it has been fun. Private Message me any characters you guys can think of because I need more people to add to the story.
Thank you to those who added this story to their list of favorites. It means a lot to me! And thank you to the special guest user who left a comment. Thank you for reading my story and I hope I can keep you all entranced in the story and in more updates to come. : )
-Breann Hill