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❶ "Maz' Counsel"—The Force Awakens OST

A few hours later as she stared at the overhead in the captain's cabin, Naluma said, "The more I think about it, the more I think we need to assume new identities."

Luke nodded at her while getting out of bed. He knew there was more, if only she would trust the Force and follow it. "And?"

While she dressed, she said, "I don't know. I think we're being led to Kattada for two reasons, but it's clouded. Just have a bad feeling about one side of the coin, but something that clicks about the other side."

"What's the game plan, Master Fau?"

"Me?"

"Yes, you. You are calling the shots during this part of your training." Luke gave her hand a gentle squeeze, letting his confidence in her flow through their bond.

"First, hit Zaxyn and get fake IDs from military intelligence, and a fake marriage certificate—Kattada caters to newlyweds and the retirement crowd. Since we're a little young for retirement, how about a second honeymoon?" She gave him a devastating smile.

"Back to the plan, my love, or we're never going to leave here."

"Second, change the ID beacon on the shuttle—oh, yeah, while we're on Zaxyn, I want the hyperdrive looked at again. And the sublight engines are running a bit below norm." Naluma looked around the cabin for a datapad to add those items to her list.

"After Zaxyn, visit Hosnian under our new aliases, buy some new clothes for a tropical resort, maybe a few more meals at Chinot's ..."

"Sounds good to me. Maybe we should make reservations on Kattada first."

"Funny, Luke. You know I can't do that from Ahch-To."

"Just checking if you remembered," he said as he fired the engines for launch.

"Once we reach Endor, I'll make the call. I also need to contact Han about the academy supply order due in a few days."

Luke smiled, grateful she was thinking about her regular duties again, without feeling the stress she used to carry. "All right, one day until Endor."

When they arrived at the Royal Kattada Resort two days later, they moved into their private beach cottage. The white-planked bungalow stood on pylons and boasted its own sitting room, small kitchen, and patio. The ocean lapped at the sandy shores in front of the little house.

Other beach cottages traced along the white-sand beach about a hundred meters apart. A traditional hotel with multiple towers and resort facilities stood north of the beach houses.

During the first week, Naluma chose their activities based on the Force's guidance alone. They spent an ample amount of time in the water, whether on power sleds or in primitive canoes. Luke became an adequate swimmer by the end of the week, but he would never win any races.

Near the end of the first week, Luke pulled up a travel menu on the datapad. "What are we doing next week? Staying here or doing something else?"

Naluma always had the feeling he already knew what they were going to do. It was always test. And she was woefully tired of these tests.

She paged through different activities quickly, looking at the prices and the itineraries. She knew that they were not done with Kattada yet. The Force had led them here for a reason, and that reason had not yet been accomplished. She just had no idea what that reason was.

She scrolled back a few screens. The Force would not let her consider anything else. "This. Pleasure cruise to the outlying islands."

He looked at the cost and description. "Are you sure?"

"Positive. Without a doubt, the Force is leading us here."

"Well, let's see if we can book passage this close to departure. The cruise leaves in two days." He picked up the communicator and rang the cruise agency. "Yes, this is Jed Darklighter. I'm staying over at the Royal Kattada Resort with my bride. We'd like to book passage on your ship, the Kattada Empress for the next cruise ... oh, you just had a cancellation?"

Naluma smiled with the additional confirmation of the Force's guidance. If they had called even an hour before, they would not have had this chance.

"It's how much?" His eyes widened at the price. "Oh, it's for a luxury stateroom? Is that the only opening you have?"

Take it. I've got the credits, and if this turns out to be Republic business, we can expense it. Besides, the Force is guiding us on it, Luke. Can't ignore that.

"No, we'll take it. I guess we could splurge, this being our honeymoon . . . No, we'll pay hard credits." Luke finished the transaction in a few minutes and received their boarding documents on the datapad.

Naluma grabbed his hand and dragged him up. "Come on, we have that historical tour today."

"What?"

"The historical tour. The palace, the governmental building, an historical park with restored ancient architecture, with a visit to the town bazaar at the end."

"That was today?"

"Yes."

He stroked her face. "Can we skip it? We've sampled a cruiser-load of activities and every fun rental on the island. I was hoping ..." He kissed her softly on the lips and ran his hand down her back.

She pulled away from his embrace. "Luke, this isn't my decision, and you know it. You want to miss what the Force is guiding us to, that's your business. But I'm going, with or without you."

He smiled with pride.

"Another test?" She sighed.

He nodded his head. "Not that I wouldn't mind some private time with you."

"You'll have to wait until tonight, I'm afraid." She grabbed her things and headed down the steps to the beach, leaving him in her wake.

After spending the morning in the historic village, they dined at the village's one restaurant, which catered to sustainable food. The droid was full of somewhat-useless, yet interesting, information. "Kattada boasted one of the most ideal agricultural environments in the galaxy for thousands of crops. Because of this, Kattada had received farming colonists from all over the galaxy."

Naluma murmured to Luke, "Maybe we can use some of these techniques to make the academy more sustainable."

"Our growing season is much shorter there. Not sure we could do much else besides root crops and a few hardy fruit trees." 

She sighed and stared out the window until they reached the governmental hall. It was a small building with a main hall for the planet's parliamentary body. After an hour of touring , they boarded the hover coach again and head to the Kattada Imperial Palace, the residence of the Kattadan Empress.

The palace rose far above the surrounding manicured gardens with delicate spires and colored glass windows. After proceeding through security, the tour protocol droid led them through the main entry hall.

Immediately, Naluma perceived something was wrong. "I'm going to find a refresher."

"You okay?"

Yeah. Fine. Need to check something out. Cover for me here.

Be careful.

I'm always careful. She kissed him lightly on the cheek and headed down the first corridor.

The corridor boasted a high ceiling and wide passageway. Naluma adjusted her pace to prevent her footsteps from echoing on the marble floor.

As she rounded a corner, she found the refresher. Although she did not actually need to use it, she headed inside to secure her alibi.

❶ As Naluma finished washing her hands, loud footsteps echoed in the corridor. Thinking it was the tour group, she opened the door and peered down the hall. She quickly shut the door as she viewed a quartet of stormtroopers escorting a First Order officer.

Once they had turned the corner, she edged out of the refresher, holding the door as it closed silently behind her. The palace still boasted the original architecture with hinged doors securing the doorways instead of turbo hatches.

Hugging the right wall of the corridor, she tread silently down the ornate hallway, her sundress swishing lightly as she moved. She stopped at the corner, feeling that the stormtroopers and two Palace guards lay ahead.

She assumed the role of a lost, ditzy tourist and strolled around the corner. "Oh! I must have taken a wrong turn. Could one of you direct me back to the tour?"

The head palace guard sighed. "Turn around, ma'am, and return through the corridor you came down—"

The lead stormtrooper stepped forward and motioned with his blaster. "Lieutenant, take her back and make sure she stays with the group."

The Lieutenant looked her squarely in the face and held his gaze.

Not doubting that the trooper was cycling through his facial-recognition software inside his helmet behind those lifeless black lenses for eyes, Naluma prepared to deflect the blaster bolts with the Force. 

I guess we'll see how good our disguises are.  When the soldier motioned her back down the corridor with his rifle, she let out the breath she was holding.

The lieutenant stepped toward her and grabbed her by the elbow. He escorted her back to the tour group.

When they reached the others, he told the tour guide droid, "I found one of your group wandering the administrative corridors. Keep them to the approved areas."

"Thank you, Lieutenant, for escorting me back," Naluma said, batting her eyelashes at him. "I just am no good at directions."

"No problem, Mrs.?"

"Darklighter, Mrs. Cami Darklighter." She offered her hand for him to kiss. "A pleasure."

Luke wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "Everything okay, honey?"

"It was awful, Jed. I took a wrong turn and ended up in the administrative offices with guards all around me. I was so scared. I had no idea how to get back. This officer was so kind to show me the way. Thank you, Captain."

"It's lieutenant, ma'am."

With wide eyes, Naluma asked, "Oh, is there a difference?"

The lieutenant smiled. "Don't wander off again. You could get hurt if you end up in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Luke said, "I'll stay with her the whole time. She won't get lost again. I promise."

The officer nodded, turned on his heels sharply, and returned to his post.

As the droid returned to his speech, Luke asked, What was that about?

Ran into a First Order officer and stormtrooper squad. Officer's meeting with the Empress now.

Did he see you?

No. Only the troopers and the lieutenant. What do you think it means?

A take-over. It's about to happen ... or already has.

About to, I think. We haven't seen stormtroopers anywhere else. If they had taken over, we would have seen them supervising the agriculture fields as well as in the Parliament.

I think you're right. Luke and Naluma followed the droid into the opulent throne room. Well, if you wanted to know why the Force was guiding you here, I think this is it.

Did you know . . .

● This sequence was influenced by all the TV shows I grew up watching back in the 1980's: Magnum, P.I. - The A-Team - Airwolf  - The Fall Guy. Also, there will be some JAG influence. 

● Kattada is loosely based on a Polynesian island chain, but all resemblance ends there.

Tell me what you think . . .

● Why do you think the First Order is interested in Kattada?

● Is it a take over or something else?