Playlist:

❶ "The Last Jedi"—The Last Jedi OST

⊘ Silence

❷ "Jyn Erso and the Hope Suite"—Rogue One OST

❸ "Rosemary Recalls"—The Man from Snowy River OST

❹ "Last Embrace"—North and South OST

⊘ Silence

❶ Luke did not stop when they reached the lobby. However, two behemoth Korunnai security guards blocked their entrance to the corridor.

A dark one with bulging biceps and intimidating tattoos on his face and arms said, "I'm sorry, Master Skywalker, visiting hours have concluded for the day. Please come back tomorrow."

"I have to get to—"

Agonizing screams cut him off.

"They don't know what they're doing to her. Please."

The guards widened their stances and crossed their arms. "Sorry."

Luke held his head low and inhaled deeply. He glanced at the Padawan behind him. And then he raised his hands.

He stared the first guard in the eye. "You are mistaken."

The guard murmured, "Mistaken?"

Luke waved his hand at the man with a small gesture. "You will let us pass."

Now both murmured the words "... let you pass." They stood apart, allowing the Jedi Master and Padawan to enter the corridor.

When they reached Naluma's room, four med techs held down her arms. Her body jerked and wiggled as she tried to break free, blood spurting from her arm where her IVs had ripped out.

Another med tech held the IV catheter, attempting to reinsert it. Still unconscious, Naluma moaned and screamed. She kicked violently, jerking on the traction sling with her left leg. Her right leg hit the med tech in the eye.

Now his blood splattered the white blankets. He pulled off to the side, holding his eye as he stumbled to the sink.

Anything loose flew through the room. Hyposprays, medical pods, trays, bottles, supplies, all swirled around the center of the room. Then one bottle crashed on the shoulder of the man trying to insert the catheter.

Luke yelled from the doorway, "Let go of her. Let go!"

The Padawan pushed in behind him.

"Isolate, Padawan," Luke said. "Take control over these objects, on my mark." He inhaled a long steady breath and then nodded to the youth. "Now."

The Padawan took positions around the room, reaching out with the Force to stop the items.

"Let go of her."

The med techs struggled to hold her, pulling her legs further apart.

Naluma wailed, "No! Stay away. No! Get off me. Don't touch me. Get away from me."

Writhing and screaming, Kally grabbed her head and fell to the ground. The tray in her Force-grasp spun from her control and struck the med tech across his jaw. He staggered backward, chin to the lights, and then tightened his grip on Naulma's arm. 

Kalder raced to his sister. "Master Luke, what's happening?"

"Shield her. Shield yourselves. Caught in a Force-vision—projecting." Luke turned to the med techs. "Release her! She thinks you're attacking her. Let go!"

The three remaining med techs ignored him, one now lying on top of her, trying to hold down the kicking right leg.

Naluma groaned again, whimpering as the body fell on her.

Luke pushed his hands, Force-pushing the med techs to the walls. They landed against the cabinets with a thud.

One knocked Jannah over in the process. The glass beaker in her Force-grip shattered on the tile floor. She rolled in a somersault and sprung back to her feet.

Naluma thrashed a few minutes longer, but Luke dared not to touch her. Not yet. Not while she was reacting. He wasn't even sure if she could hear him, but he feared to touch her mind. He uttered her name with as much love as he could put behind it. "Naluma."

He said it again. "Naluma."

Her leg jerked, but her body slowed.

"Naluma, you're safe."

Her arms stopped flailing.

Luke touched her mind with the Force. 'Luma it's me. It's Luke. You're safe. No one's going to hurt you here.

She moaned as she jerked her legs. Sweat drenched her gown, her hair, her limbs, her face. Luke could feel the heat emanating from her body as fever wracked it.

Peace. 'Luma, this isn't real. I need you to come back to me. This isn't real.

⊘ Her eyelids popped open, revealing her dilated black eyes. Behind them was fear Luke had never seen before. Kill me. Don't let them do it again. Just kill me.

Sh. It's all right. It was only a nightmare. You're safe.

Luke reached for the gauze that Tandolleau had been holding aloft. He opened a package. May I?

Naluma looked at the gauze in his hand and nodded, while bringing her breathing under control.

"That's right. Nice, long breaths. Find your center again." He removed the sweat from her face and then glanced at the rest of the room.

The Padawan levitated the instruments and objects from swirling in the air to the tray beside the bed. The med tech scampered away with his hand over his eye.

Luke said, "Jannah, check on the remaining med techs. Tandolleau, go get a doctor to check these guys out. Kalder, how's Kallay?"

"She's coming out of it. Probably a concussion, though."

Kallay moaned as she revived. Kalder helped her sit up and brought some water to her before checking out the lump on her head.

Luke returned his attention to Naluma. His heart raced when her hand grabbed his own.

Don't leave me. She clutched his hand harder.

He looked at the Padawan, the med techs, and then back to her. He nodded.

The security guards, revived from their befuddlement, arrived with a Twi'lek female doctor in tow.

The doctor hurried to the nearest med tech on the floor. Her ribbon-wrapped lekku barely swung as she kneeled. As she scanned his body, she asked, "What happened?"

The med tech looked at Luke and then at the doctor. "We were trying to hold the patient down while she was convulsing. She kicked us. Hellna got hit in the eye."

"Where is she?"

"She fled. Imagine she's in ER."

The doctor wiped her hands on her scrubs stood. "A few bruises for you guys, but other than that, you'll be fine. Go check out the rest of your crew while I attend to the patient. And track down Hellna."

She turned to Naluma, the loose IV tubing dripping on the floor and blood still oozing from her catheter insertion point on her arm. She grabbed the gauze from the box lying on top of Naluma and applied pressure to the wound. "You mind telling me what happened?"

Naluma opened her mouth to speak, but only a groan came out.

Luke rubbed her hand. Relax. "She got caught in a Force-vision. When the med techs came in to sedate her again, she thought they were attacking her—they became part of the vision."

The doctor moved to the traction sling and examined the leg with the scanner. "You're oozing again, but it looks like the bones are still in place." She turned back to Naluma and Luke. "I'm going to send for another med tech. Clean you up again, and then give you a sedative strong enough to knock out a wampa."

"No." Naluma squirmed.

"Look here, Jedi or not, you've got to get some rest tonight, or no bacta tomorrow."

Luke looked at the Padawan looking on. You guys, go wait in the hall.

Wei'ahtt nodded as they headed out. Jannah grabbed Tandolleau and dragged him along. Kalder helped Kallay stumble through the door.

When they were gone, Naluma spoke. "No sedative. I'll take pain meds, but the visions come with the sedatives. I'll get no rest that way."

Luke said, "How about a Jedi trance?"

"I don't think I could manage that right now, Luke," Naluma said with a wince.

"No, I'll put you in one. You'll get your rest, and nothing will bother you."

"But you won't get any rest."

"I'll survive."

Naluma nodded.

The doctor looked up from taping the gauze on the catheter wound. "You still need more saline. I'm going to have to switch arms."

Two med techs arrived, both female. Naluma breathed a sigh of relief.

The doctor said, "New catheter port on the left arm with five percent saline. A double dose of Nyex. Irrigate the leg wound. Clean the head wound and the rest of the patient and change her gown and bedding."

The head tech said, "Yes, doctor." The other tech had already directed a sanitation droid into the room and was cleaning up the blood and glass that littered the floor.

"While they clean you up, I'll go check on the kids. Be back soon." He kissed her on the forehead.

The doctor said, "Master Skywalker, not near the head wound."

Naluma pulled Luke's head down and redirected his lips to hers.

He brushed them slightly and then grinned.

She entwined her fingers in his. Hurry back. Can't wait to spend a night in bed with you.

Ha! You wish.

❷ In the hallway, Kalder held an ice pack to the back of Kallay's head to stem the swelling. The rest leaned against the wall. They straightened to attention when Luke arrived.

"I'm going to stay with Naluma tonight—no, make that until she's discharged."

The Padawan, except for Kallay, nodded.

"How's the head, Kallay?"

"Suffered worse in training."

"No concussion, Kalder?" Luke asked

"I'll stay up with her tonight, make sure she's all right." Kalder rubbed Kallay's arm.

"All right, but if it gets worse, bring Kallay here to get checked out." Luke looked at the rest. "Tandolleau, you feel up to piloting the shuttle?"

"Yes, Master Skywalker."

"Tomorrow, I want you to go on a supply run to Cerea."

Jannah's eyes perked up.

"That's three jumps away. Artoo should be able to plot it easily. Kallay, knows what we need. When you come back, orbit the station and shut down any unnecessary systems to conserve fuel. I'll contact you when we're ready for a pick-up."

Tandolleau nodded.

Luke held up his finger. "Before you guys go, bring me and Naluma some clothes."

Wei'ahtt said, "Gotta finish the wash first."

Luke said, "Do that tonight."

Jannah asked, "Master Luke?"

"What?"

"While we're on Cerea, would it be all right if we ... you know, saw the sights?"

Luke narrowed his eyes at her. "How much?"

"Oh, it wouldn't cost you anything. We'd pay our own way."

"Just stay out of trouble."

"Trouble? Never, Master Luke." Jannah smiled with charm at him. "Thanks."

Luke shook his head at her. "Why do I think I'm going to regret this?"

Tandolleau smirked. "Because you will."

❸ After the Padawan had left for the shuttle, Luke entered Naluma's room. She sat on the edge of the utilitarian bed while the med techs adjusted her new medical gown. She hobbled around from one side to the other as they removed the bottom sheet from the bed.

Luke stepped to her side and lifted her in his arms.

"Oh!" Naluma squealed in surprise. "Thank you."

He held her close to his chest while the med techs finished changing the sheets. I'm here for you, and I'm never letting you go.

Naluma stroked his face. I might just hold you to that.

Figuratively.

Spoil sport.

He lowered her back onto the inclined portion while one of the techs guided her leg back into the traction swing. The other one tucked the covers around her. Naluma shifted to the left side of the bed, leaving half of it empty.

Once the med techs had dimmed the lights and vacated the room, Luke grabbed her arm. "Ready to go under?"

She shook her head and then patted the space next to her.

"I shouldn't, Naluma."

"You know that contact makes the trance easier. Besides, you'll be on top of the covers."

Luke sighed and then climbed onto the bed. He took her hand in his and sent the Force tendrils into her brain, letting it bathe her in its sweet rays.

❹ After a week of treatments, the med center released Naluma on convalescent leave. The doctors directed her not to put weight on the leg for at least a month. Even though she would hobble on crutches for weeks to come, Luke sighed in relief that she was out of the med center.

The bacta treatments concluded yesterday, leaving red, puffy skin where jagged gashes once were. Her leg would operate as normal one day, but she would bear a nasty scar for life.

Once they had settled the final bill, Luke escorted her from the med center in a hover chair. When they reached the shuttle, he took the crutches from her and levitated her into his own quarters.

She sighed with fatigue. "Luke, not your quarters."

"Relax, I'm staying with the Padawan in your bunk. You need your rest, and you won't get it trying to sleep with those gundarks."

"What about refresher facilities? Am I supposed to levitate myself out the hatch every time I need to relieve myself?"

"Well, you could levitate yourself if you wanted, but Kallay installed a portable unit in here this week. I think it will suffice."

Naluma smiled at him. "You took care of everything."

"Not everything. Girls will help you when you need a shower."

Her eyes twinkled. "Might be better if you helped me ... you know, as to not show any sign of weakness among the Padawan."

He chuckled and shook his head. "You never give up, do you?"

"As long as there's a chance—"

Luke stared at her as he tilted his head and pressed his lips together in self-control. "Please don't tempt me. When you're better, we'll talk. About everything and how all this is going to work."

"Close the hatch, Master Skywalker."

"Why?"

"Just close it."

He reached behind him and closed it with the Force.

She grabbed him by his belt and dragged him down on the bed next to her. Naluma cradled his cheek and pressed her lips to his.

Luke's mouth tasted her sweetness, searching her feelings with the kiss and not the Force. As Naluma gasped for breath, he pressed his lips against hers once more, almost bruising them this time. His left hand worked its way into her hair, undoing her chignon, while he caressed her back with his right hand.

He shuddered and gasped for air as energy surged across the Force-bond. Naluma moved her hands down Luke's chest, stroking the rigid muscles underneath his tunic. She slid her hands up his sides to his collar, unfastening it.

As Luke shuddered again, he clutched her wrists and broke off the kiss. "Naluma, I promise we'll get this all figured out, but we can't do this yet. Please, I need to figure out where our boundaries are."

"What if I don't want boundaries?" Her eyes  widened and her jaw tensed.

"Think of your vows. We have a greater duty to the galaxy than to pleasing ourselves. I know I'd regret it. So would you."

"You're right. Oh, why did we ever become Jedi?"

For a long moment, they lingered in the pain together.

After a moment, Luke stood and kissed her on the forehead. Pointing at her with concern, he said with a gleam in his eye, "Get some rest. Try not to dream of me too much while you sleep in my bunk."

"Only if you do the same." Naluma wiggled her eyebrows at him as he exited the cabin.

⊘ Naluma was not sure if it were the scent of Luke that permeated his quarters or his calming presence sent through the Force-bond, but this night she had only pleasant dreams ... about him.  

Did you know ...

● Luke and Naluma's relationship was complicated before they were under the scrutiny of five teenagers around the clock. The closer they get together, the more difficult it will be to discipline the kids for their crushes

Tell me what you think ... 

● How do you think it's going to end up with the different Padawan?