“Ahala, I’m glad you’re here,” Master Sheena announced.
Ezell twisted herself around to look at Ahala, her lekku flailing behind her in a flurry. She watched silently as introductions were made, surprised to see Ahala here.
Just as fast, Ahala was gone.
"I like to keep an eye on the students here. Ahala has potential, as do you, Ezell,” Master Sheena said.
Ezell sat upright in her seat. “You keep saying that,” she whined.
“Because it’s true. I know you don’t believe me, but I brought you here for a reason,” she said.
“And I’ve been telling you that you’re crazy. I don’t have special powers, I didn’t move anything with my mind, I wasn’t even the one who threw that rock at you!” Ezell insisted.
She was beyond frustrated at this point, with these people, with this place, with everything.
Master Sheena just sighed. She spoke again after a long moment, “Ezell, my abilities allow me to do more than move rocks with my mind. I can sense things, the people around me,” she said with a gesture of a hand. “The Force connects all living beings, and those especially attuned to it can feel it in others, as I felt it in you. And we can also tell when someone is lying to our face.”
Ezell bit her lip, at a loss for words.
“I don’t want to be one of you people,” she said, eventually. “I want to go home.”
Master Sheena’s eyes softened, “Ezell, that alleyway shouldn’t be your home. No one should be living like that, having to beg or steal just to get by—”
Ezell threw herself up from her chair. “You have no idea what it’s like for me! You don’t even know me!” She yelled, her fists clenched at her side.
Who did this Jedi think she was?
For a moment, Master Sheena looked surprised at Ezell’s outburst, before her expression faded back into her typical neutral face.
“You are right, I don’t know you. But I do know more than you realize,” she said, then she looked as though she had come to some conclusion in her head. “Alright, Ezell. I’ll make a deal with you. I’ll shorten your probation to two weeks—”
“Two weeks?” Ezell exclaimed.
“—And after that, you’ll be free to leave.”
“You can’t shorten it to two days instead?” Ezell joked, though she knew it was a fool’s hope.
Master Sheena shook her head with a fond smile. “No, I can’t. But after the two weeks are up, if you choose to, you may remain here at the Temple and begin your training as one of our students. We’d gladly accept you into our ranks.”
Ezell tapped her cheek in mock deliberation. “Hmm, tempting but no.” With that, she hopped out of her seat and made her way over to the door. “Is that all you wanted?”
“There is one more thing,” Master Sheena started, which earned her a groan from Ezell. “I’d like you to accompany Ahala Saas on her journey.”
Ezell grimaced, “Me and her? You’re kidding.”
Master Sheena smiled and clasped her hands over her desk. “I believe it will be a good exercise for you. Perhaps a bonding experience is exactly what you need. You’ll be able to see what a Jedi is capable of.”
Ezell stared, “You’re completely serious. Frag…” she muttered under her breath.
“Language please, Ezell,” Master Sheena said, and Ezell just stuck out her tongue at her.
Ezell looked down at her mini-datapad. This was the docking bay Master Sheena told her to go to. Ezell readjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder as she looked out at the various ships sitting in the large hangar. Then, she saw her not-friend.
"Ahala!" Ezell yelled out with a large wave of her hand. She ran to catch up to her.
