Star Wars: The Great Awakening (Book I)

Chapter 11 - Trial of Wisdom

"He is too old."
"Long have we watched him."
"There is too much anger in him."
"There is no balance with this one."
"He is willing."
"There is another."
"That time is not upon us."
"His mind is divided."
"He can be trusted."
"His final test will determine if he is truly willing."

***

Focus. Quiet your mind and let go...

Jolis woke with a jolt as the sounds of nearby explosions rattled his ears. Jumping to his feet, he bolted out of his sleeping quarters and hurried outside into the early morning hours to find the camp in disarray. Hundreds of people were frantically running in various directions in what seemed like nothing short of chaos.

As another round of explosions erupted not too far away, the rush of people screamed en masse.

Tables were tipped over, makeshift tents had been knocked down and the worn out buildings of the old but abandoned village where the survivors had made camp looked as if they'd seen better days.

"We've been discovered! We're under attack!" shouted one person. The center of the camp was alive with activity as weapons were being distributed to a line of several dozen guardsmen.

Quickly approaching, Jolis asked, "What's going on?"

"The invaders are attacking from the north," said one of the guardsman. "They're hitting us with artillery before their main force arrives. We've also heard they're in position to launch a secondary attack from the east. We're preparing a defense."

"The other tribes are reporting similar assaults," shouted another guardsman who rushed in from a nearby communications hut. "We must hold this location if we are to survive."

Instantly, Jolis felt the internal sensation; an unspoken instinct which told him that something was out of place.

Reaching out with is feelings, he could sense the fear and dread in those around him. As he began to look around in order to assess the situation, he quickly realized that one needn't be a Force user to see those emotions upon the faces of the villagers.

Although they were alive for the moment, they seemed to carry defeat upon their faces and on their shoulders. Hopeless. Leaderless. They were the survivors and in many cases, all that remained of their village kin.

Even so, several dozen adults now had weapons at the ready. Lining up in a loose formation, their eagerness was admirable but the emotions they hid internally told a different story. Still, they were willing to fight in order to defend their own.

Jolis took note of the number of children as well as older villagers who would be unable to fight.

"Where are the other tribes?" asked Jolis.

"Those who still survive have amassed together in the south near the Triguilden mountains," replied the guardsman. "But they're some kilometers away and cannot help us."

The pieces began falling together. Jolis could feel the impulse of the Force guiding his thoughts. Anger began to rise up within him at the thought of the invading force tearing through the camp and slaughtering these villagers. These were his kin.

Deep down, however, he knew that fighting wasn't the answer right now. Setting his feelings aside, he turned back towards the guardsmen assembled in the center of the camp.

"Time is against us," shouted a guardsman. "We must get those who cannot fight into the nearby caves. They will only get in the way out here."

"They will all be killed, as well all of the guards," Jolis sharply replied.