Whie awoke with a start. The young Padawan was subject to what he called ‘true dreams’ where he would predict something that would happen in the future; but that was not what woke him. He had not had one of those dreams in a while, which led him to believe that his fate would soon be decided. Long had he known that he would be killed by a lightsaber held by a Jedi, and that he would die young. The lack of true dreams would seem to indicate that it would be soon. This thought brought him back to why he awoke… or rather that he did not know why he awoke. Uneasy, he dressed and went for a walk.
He was only mildly surprised to find a friend and fellow Padawan waiting for him in the lake room. Tallisibeth Ewandung-Esterhazy—commonly known as Scout—smiled at him. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
“One of these days I’m going to figure out how you can do that. We both know that you don’t have that much connection with the Force.”
Her smile grew into a grin. “Maybe not, but I’ve gotten to know you pretty well since that mission to Vjun. We’ve become attuned to each other, and I can tell that something is bothering you.”
Whie just looked at her with mild disbelief, but chose not to argue. Scout was very good at rationalising, and he just did not feel like getting into it with her. “So what brings you to the lake other than concern for me?”
“What, you mean that wasn’t enough?” Scout’s grin faltered. “I couldn’t sleep. I keep thinking that something is going to happen.”
“You too, huh?” he looked down. “Think it means anything, or is it just a reaction to everything? They say the war will be over soon, you know. Master Kenobi is supposed to be catching General Grievous any time now.”
“I don’t know. I just feel on edge,” the red head let silence reign between them for a few moments before asking her question. “Whie, have you had anymore of those dreams?”
“No, I haven’t, but you know that Scout. You would have known it if I had one.” He did not comment on what it meant—Scout could guess as well as he could.
“Right,” Scout said brightly to change the subject. “What do you think we should do, meditate or spar?”
“Spar, I think. We may not be good Padawans to admit this, but I don’t think either of us could concentrate enough to meditate properly right now.”
It happened that night, a great disturbance in the Force. One so great that even Scout, with her limited access to the Force, could feel it. Amid the destruction going on around them, Whie and Scout worked out that Clone Troopers were attacking the Jedi Temple. Without comment, without a second thought, they grabbed their lightsabers and jumped into the fray. If it was the will of the Force that they die that night, then it was not going to be meaningless.
Then they saw it, the ultimate scene of betrayal. Young Jedi students lying slaughtered in the corridors of the Temple—some killed by multiple blaster wounds, other with cauterised wounds typical of a lightsaber. This was puzzling… until they saw the lightsaber instructor Cin Drallig battling a tall person in a Jedi cloak wielding a blue lightsaber. As the duellists tuned, the two Padawans recognised the assailant with a start: Anakin Skywalker.
“Whie,” Scout breathed. “You were right; Master Skywalker will play a part in your death.”
The look on Whie’s face was grim as Cin Drallig fell. “And I will die by lightsaber, just as I always dreamed.” Slowly he unclipped his lightsaber. “Ready?”
His companion drew a deep breath. “As I’ll ever be.”
With a yell they converged on the fallen Jedi. Whie concentrated on battling Skywalker, not faltering when he felt Scout die beside him. He knew the end for him was near but he was not going to give in. The last thing he saw was the blue blade of Skywalker’s lightsaber as it was about to skewer him, and the vision of Scout lying on the floor, oddly peaceful.
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