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❶ "The Asset"—The Mandalorian Chapter 1 OST

As Luke and Naluma exited the examination room, another doctor called out, "Master Skywalker."

Luke turned to him,  recognizing the blue humanoid from his first few months on Zaxyn thirteen years ago. A shudder passed through him as he remembered the electro-shock therapy the good doctor had prescribed for him.

"I need to review your test results before you leave." 

Something's up. I don't think he's talking about me. Luke turned to Naluma.

She rested her arm on his. "Go ahead. I need the refresher anyway. I'll meet you here."

He did not like the look in her eyes, but he did not want to violate her shields without a just cause. She did not need any more pressure. He leaned in and kissed her on the forehead. "I'm sure this won't take long."

She nodded with a sigh before turning away.

The Chiss humanoid with blue skin and red eyes led Luke through a maze of corridors to his office in another wing. "How have you been? Those hallucinations still troubling you? I think I have another treatment that might work."

"I've been fine, Doctor. The problem has been resolved."

"Oh, good. Maybe we could compare notes."

Luke ignored that request and followed the doctor down the corridor to his office. Sindain projected a compassionate demeanor, but Luke felt a swelling sternness under the man's façade—and fear, great fear. Luke's insight told him this meeting was not about his own test results but Naluma's.

The doctor shook Luke's hand and motioned to a chair in front of his desk before taking his own seat. "Master Skywalker,  I apologize for the subterfuge, but right now it would not be advantageous for the patient to suspect what's going on."

❶ "The patient?"

"Master Fau."

"Doctor, we came in for a medical exam. I don't understand what this has to do with psychiatrics."

"Everything, Master Skywalker. Everything." The Chiss spoke these words through clenched teeth, his fear and anger rising. "Master Fau is ... for lack of a better layman's term ... disturbed. Master Skywalker, I recommend you remove Master Fau from duty immediately."

"What? Why? Infertility should not affect the ability for her to perform her duties—"

"But depression does."

"She's not depressed. I would have sensed it through our Force-bond  ..." Luke reached out along it to prove it to himself. He collapsed in a dejected sigh. How could I have missed that. The darkness is smothering her. He stood, heading for the door.

"Sit down, Master Skywalker. We are observing Master Fau. She is no danger while she is here." Dr. Sindain rested his arms on his desk and leaned forward, boring his red eyes into Luke's. 

"Now, as I was saying, Master Fau is depressed—a danger to herself and to others. We have hints in our records that mental illness resulted in even the Younglings being massacred during the Jedi Purge."

Luke struggled to keep his reactions under control. My father was depressed? How did Master Yoda miss that? Obi-Wan? Couldn't they help him? "Naluma wouldn't hurt anyone like that. I know her better than anyone else does. She wouldn't even dream of harming the Padawan."

"Master Skywalker, Dr. Kalonia added a psychological screening to Master Fau's medical questionnaire." He handed Luke the datapad. "Scroll down. You will see that Master Fau has attempt—"

"I see." Luke was stunned. He scanned his eyes down the report. "But she would never hurt any of the Padawan. She considers them her own children."

"Read the rest of the report. She has admitted to wanting to kill a Padawan." The doctor leaned forward and poked his long finger on the datapad. "These are not the thoughts of a stable person, Master Skywalker, and definitely not of a Jedi."

"You don't understand. This is in reference to training the boy in combat. She doesn't want to kill him." As Luke spoke, he was not sure how much he believed his own words. How could I have missed how far this has gone? Why would she even put this on the survey and not even tell me first? And then it hit him. She has been trying to tell me—on the shuttle, even in the study. I just haven't been listening. Oh, Naluma, I've failed you.

Dr. Sindain continued, staring with his red eyes into Luke's. "I recommend she be institutionalized immediately."

"I forbid that, doctor. Institutionalizing her won't work. First, there isn't a cell she can't break out of. Second, locking her up won't solve the problem—it will only create more. You're reading this as a psychiatric problem, but it's a Jedi problem that needs to be dealt with in a Jedi manner, not by imprisoning her."

"I doubt the Jedi could handle this. They couldn't in the past."

"Well they weren't I. They don't have the bond I have through the Force with Naluma." Luke leaned forward. "Trust me, there's only one thing that's going to cure her, and it's not going to be your mind games or your electroshock torture. It's going to the be the Force."

"Because I have no authority over the Jedi Order, the decision lies with you. Choose wisely," Dr. Sindain said with a stiff jaw. "At the very least, remove her from all duties for at least three months and then bring her back for another evaluation."

"If I remove her from duties, she's going to realize something's up. In addition, Naluma is not only a Jedi, she's my wife. The way our Force-bond works, she'll pick up on this, no matter what."

"Do your best that she doesn't," Sindain said with a huff. "It has been my experience that it will take only one trigger at the wrong time to set a patient off. You have three options, Master Skywalker." 

I can't lie to her. Hiding things is only going to make things worse when she finds out.

He counted the options on his blue fingers. "1) institutionalize Master Fau, 2) take a long break—away from the academy and any Jedi business, or 3) lose your wife and possibly the entire Jedi Order. Are you willing to put innocents in harm's way, Master Skywalker?"

"No, of course not."

"Well, make a decision. Innocent lives hang in the balance."

Luke thought over his options. Locking her up—which would mean sedation and separation from me and our Force-bond—is not an option. Sedating her will cut her off from the Force, but only the Force can keep her sane. I'll have to stay with her. Oh, where can we go? Khalkha's not an option. Somewhere no one will find us? Somewhere the Force overflows? An image flashed through his head with smell of the sea churning memories of a place they had explored a few years ago.

"I'll sequester her myself until she regains her balance. We'll be away from any other sentient beings. Would that be satisfactory?"

"I suppose. But bring her back for an evaluation before returning to duty." The doctor sighed as he updated the medical record. "I am notating that you are taking personal responsibility for her as her commanding officer, against my better judgment and advice. You will be held liable for all of her actions from this point forward. Please sign here." Sindain held out the datapad for Luke.

DISCLAIMER: This is a work of FICTION. The Force and the Jedi are not real. 

In despair? Please, get PROFESSIONAL help. There is hope. There is always hope. People are available to help you.

US: 1-800-273-8255

UK: +44 (0) 8457 90 90 90

Canada: 1-800-784-2433

Australia: 13 11 14

Did you know . . .

● Sedating Naluma would have brought on the Force-visions, subjecting her to continual torture of a nature the medical staff had no idea about. These visions are spurred on by the dark side of the Force, playing on their fears. [according to my story, non-canon]

● Dr. Sindain is of the same species as Admiral Thrawn [and, no, I'm not going to even attempt to spell his first name].

Tell me what you think . .  .

● What would you have done in Luke's situation?

● Do you think Luke can help Naluma or will he end up institutionalizing her?