Chapter 1
Rumors of wars have been surrounding the city, and I feel the burdens of the people’s minds as I pass them in the streets. When I walk around our beautiful city, I watch the people and see their faces. Some faces are merely concerned, but others are more fearful. The only faces that look happy are the children, and it makes me jealous. When did I become older than these children running in the streets? When did I start noticing other people’s problems and feeling the weight of the war in the air? People have even been talking about moving to another system because of the looming danger.
And it is just getting nearer. When war is looming, it feels dreadful like an upcoming dream that may or may not be real. You would never have thought it would happen to you. But it is, and it is coming.
Our city is supposed to be safe, and as I look up to the sky above, I see the bright suns shining down on me and the people. The sky is clear, and the weather on the outside is not how the city feels on the inside. A speeder races above me and I feel the wind from it on my face when it goes by. We are very protected from the outside world, and unless the war comes from inside our borders, we should be safe. But the rumors still remain.
All around me buildings rise up and there are buildings built on top of buildings built on top of buildings, and they tower over us all. Even though there are countless skyscrapers, trees and lush greenery surround the city and fill the air with clearness. As I take a lower glimpse, I can make out the small details of more buildings and platforms of the Under City underneath the blue-green clear bridge I am walking on. I’ve never ventured down there, but I’ve heard it is dark and is filled with heaviness. Maybe that’s where the rumors of the war are starting.
When I step off the bridge and onto the next platform, I almost run into someone because I am so lost in thought. I caught the face of this person. The person looked hesitant, like they were not ready to greet me. The face also looked nervous, and when I made eye-contact, they quickly looked away. Most everyone I see is acting just the same.
My father is included in the people who are nervous. Usually he is a calm and strong leader, but recently, I can feel his strong emotions turning in another direction– towards pain. I never see him anymore, because he is constantly with The Council. Fear has been surrounding the Council as well and has been for months. They try to hide it from me, but I can feel the dark and ominous cloud of death coming towards where I live.
In the Academy, we learn about the history of our planet and all the hardships and wars we have gone through. This seems like a distant memory, but truly it is not. Just reading about the consequences of war makes my stomach twist and my mind go blank. I can’t imagine what death might be like in person.
Tal interrupted my thoughts with his smile.
“You’re making that face again.”
“What?”
“It looks like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders.” I did not like that Tal could read me this easily, but since we are childhood friends, I guess I should accept it. As we walk onto another bridge to get to the Hover Speeder platform, I decide to be honest with Tal.
“I fear that I might actually have the world on my shoulders in a short amount of time.”
“Satine, you do not have to worry about a war,” it’s as if he knew exactly what I was thinking. “We are safe where we are. Your father is a good ruler, and he will make sure we are all safe.” We get close to the Hover Speeder, and one of the drivers named Del Miedo greets Tal and I as we step on board. We both greet him with a smile as he takes us to our destination. I turn back to Tal.
“Tal you are blind!” I said with a smirk but also with seriousness in my voice. “Violence is coming. Can’t you feel it? Surely you are smart enough to sense this by now.” I playfully shove Tal as if we were kids again.
“You are the blind one,” Tal said as he winked at me.
I knew I could not win this conversation like the many we have had beforehand, so I decided to be the bigger person and drop the conversation. I was not blind. There was no possible way anyone could not feel the dark cloud surrounding our city. But I appreciate Tal trying to keep my spirits up. It is people like this who I need in my life– who will have my back and help me when I need it most.
As Del Miedo continues to guide the Hover Speeder towards where I live, I watch the scenery unveil before me. Our palace is tucked right in the center of all the buildings in Mandalore with a giant landing platform for ships, massive doors that open to greet people, and windows that are as tall as the building itself and they glowed with light. All around the palace there are other skyscrapers and buildings that were dangerously close together because of our growing population. However, this never stops people from growing plants and flowers out of their windows making the city a little bit brighter. Thousands of people live inside these buildings, and we have constant guards at our doorstep watching and protecting.
When we reached the landing platform to my giant house, Del Meido stopped the Hover Speeder, and Tal and I stepped off. Tal waved goodbye and started trotting down the street to his own house, which was relatively close to mine and considerably big. How he could stay so positive I do not know. As I walk across the landing platform and up the stairs, I am reminded of the responsibilities our family, my grandfather, my father, and I have and all the reasons I cannot stay as positive as the citizens of Mandalore. Sometimes I feel as if my father is more of a duke than a father, but I have to remember how he helped take a hostile, war-driven world and made it into the peaceful and prosperous city we live in today. After my grandfather got too old to rule, my father stepped in and my grandfather has taken up more of the father-figure role.
The guards at the door step aside to let me in after I reach the top of the stairs. Immediately, my sister greets me and bombards me with questions as soon as I walk in the door.
“Where have you been Sati?” my sister asked. She is younger than me, but in many ways she is much older.
“Just taking the long way back from school. Why? Were you waiting on me?”
“Yes, in fact I was. I want to tell you about my night last night.”
“Oh the night where you decided to go out, get drunk, and sleep with yet another hopeless good for nothing?”
“If you must know… this one was lovely.” “That’s nice Bo, but I would prefer not to hear about it...”
“Why? Don’t you need a little action?”
“Shut up Bo! Just tell me about school.”
She laughed. “It was school. I learned all about how there might be a war coming soon.”
“I heard that as well. It is laying heavy on the people’s minds and on father’s heart. I am worried for him.”
“I am too. The people in the lower parts of town are just as worried. Let’s go see him.”
As we walk side by side down the long hallways I wonder what will become of this place after we are gone. I also wonder about the people who don’t even have shelter above their heads and what they would do to live in a place like this. When I am ruler, I am going to try and make sure everyone has a place to live. And I will plant more trees.
When I see my father’s face, my heart falls. He is not well. I rushed quickly up to him.
“Father, what has happened this time? I give him an embrace, but he barely returns it.
“The people are not happy.”
“What people? Not all of them of course.”
“The people who do not believe as we do.”
“Father, please tell me. I no longer need to be protected.”
“But it is my job to protect you, child.”
“Please allow me to carry this burden with you.” He sighed, glanced at Bo, looked at me, gave me a forced smile and said,
“You know how we believe in nonviolent solutions?”
“Yes, you have taught me this for as long as I can remember.”
“Well, some people do not believe in nonviolent solutions. Some people believe the only way to solve issues is through force. This is how Mandalore used to be. But your great grandfather, your grandfather, and I have worked hard to dismiss that past and strive for a better one. However, recently, there have been several rebellions against these peaceful ideas. The most recent rebellion was not too far from here. I sent some of my men to take care of it, but none of them returned.”
I gasped, “I’m so sorry father, I know how much your men mean to you. Is this why your heart looks so heavy?”
“Yes, and I’m also trying to decide what my next move needs to be. I am trying to keep the peace, but it seems as if it’s not possible.”
Bo decided to chime in, “Well father, there is a time for war and a time for peace. I believe this might be the time for war. You have to be able to protect yourself, your family, and your people.”
“Yes my Bo, but we must still stick to our beliefs and what the New Mandalore is founded upon.”
“But when will it be enough? When will Pacifism be enough? Sometimes we have to fight.”
When my sister gets like this, father usually just smiles and listens. However, this time, he did not.
“Bo,” he said sternly, “We will not fight these people. Fighting leads to hate, and I will not stand for that. Death is not something you can come back from.”
That made Bo shut up, but I could see the comebacks racing in her head, so I spoke up quickly.
“What can I do to help father?”
“Nothing, my child. I want you to stay safe. I feel as if violence is near. You two must keep one another safe– no matter what.”
That was the end of the conversation. Father kissed us both on the forehead and walked away back into his meeting room where he continued to discuss with the counsel what they were going to do about the impending war. I wish he would let me join him. I was 15 now, but every time I reminded him of that, he always told me I was too young to be involved. One time I tried to argue, but he shut that idea down pretty quickly.
“Brown-noser,” Bo spat.
“Shut up,” I spat right back. Bo gave a small grin.
“I’m going out tonight. Want to join?” Bo asked, already knowing my answer.
“You just went out last night. And you want to go even after this attack?”
“Yes, Sati, I’m safe I promise. I go with a group of people.” I sighed. But what about the group of people… I wanted to say. But I knew I could not talk her out of it. I’ve already tried so many times before.
“Just please be safe and stick with someone. And don’t tell Father.”
“I never do,” Bo blew me a kiss and skipped away.
To get my mind off worrying indecently about my sister, I decided to go talk to my grandfather. He was always in his study after lunch time, so I strolled my way down the right hallway, past the beautiful artwork on the wall and found him in his usual spot with the door open. I knocked and asked rhetorically, “Can I come in?”
“Satine,” my grandfather said with the warm love he has had in his voice for as long as I can remember. Every time I talked to him, no matter what was going on, he made me feel better every time. He looked younger than he was, because he was insistent on keeping his mind and body sharp. I loved the smile creases around his eyes, because it meant he was considerably happy. I had often wondered if I would have them when I get old and whether or not I smiled enough.
I sat down on the couch next to him and he put down his book to speak with me.
“What are you reading?” I asked.
“Oh just another story about two star-crossed lovers.” I rolled my eyes but grinned. Grandfather read these stories all the time, because it reminded him of his late wife- my grandmother. I never met her, but I have heard incredible stories about her– How the people loved her and how she would go to various parts of the city and just talk with people. She was the kind of ruler I want to be when I got older. My grandfather talked about her all the time. She passed away from an incurable sickness and it broke my grandfather’s heart. That’s why he loves reading these stories.
“How was your day?” he asked genuinely.
“It was alright. I am worried about father. There has been another attack but he hasn’t given me much details. And Bo only seems concerned about fighting back and going out.”
Grandfather sat there for a moment thinking. He was never too hasty with what he had to say, which meant what he said was genuine.
“I understand why you are worried. It is difficult when we don’t always know what’s going to happen. But you understand your father is just trying to protect you, right? I did the same thing to him when he was your age.”
“I know. I know. It doesn’t make it easier. How do you calm your worries when you don’t know what is going to happen?” I asked hoping for an answer.
“I don’t,” he said with a disappointed smile. “If you find out how to worry less, let me know.”
I paused thinking.
“I guess we have to believe there is something greater than ourselves out there.” I said finally. “You are wise, young one. You are going to be a great ruler one day.” This is something that was a constant worry in the back of my head. One day, since I was the oldest, my father would pass his rule to me. And I would rule the Mandalorian people. I fear I would never be ready for that kind of responsibility.
“I don’t like thinking about that.” I said.
“Why not? You want to be more involved with council meetings… so really you’ve already started the process,” he smiled.
“I guess you have a point,” I smiled back.
We spent the rest of the afternoon discussing our worries and how to overcome them. I felt much better after talking with him, and I reminded myself of how grateful I was for him and his wisdom.
