We stood beneath the intersection of the golden lines of Force energy, the air tingling with power that shimmered like a distant mirage. The golden energy flowed from the ground, spiraling upward in a dance that twisted through the air above us. I could feel its presence pressing down like a wave, resonating with the planet’s ancient life.

  “Be careful!” I warned Teya, my voice tense. “Murakami Orchids are super poisonous to those they aren’t bonded with.”

  “I know, I know! I’m not going to touch them unless one bonds with me,” Teya replied, a touch of impatience in her voice. She tried to sound casual, but even she seemed awed by the swirling currents of energy that surrounded us.

  I took a seat on a large, smooth boulder, positioning myself just below where the golden lines intersected. From here, I had a clear view of the orchids in the distance. Murakami Orchids are incredibly selective, only bonding with those whose Midi-chlorian counts match their own. Teya’s Force sensitivity might give her a chance, but me? Not likely.

  “Normally, that would be the case but do not speak of such absolutes,” an unfamiliar voice echoed through my mind, smooth and calm.

  I jerked to my feet, scanning my surroundings. “Who’s there?!” I shouted, my eyes darting across the rocky terrain.

  “Up here, on the rock,” the voice instructed.

  I climbed up the side of the smooth boulder, expecting to find another sentient being waiting for me. But when I reached the top, all I saw was a flower—delicate, with petals that shimmered gold against the sunlight. This orchid was different from the dark-colored ones we had seen before. Its petals glowed with an inner light, almost as if it was woven from the golden energy that flowed around us.

  “Are you... a Murakami Orchid?” I asked, hesitantly reaching out with the Force to sense its presence.

  The golden flower seemed to pulse with amusement. “What else would I be? Yes, I am a variant of what you call Murakami Orchids,” it responded, its voice ringing clearly in my mind.

  “Does this mean we’re bonded?” I asked, still trying to make sense of the encounter.

  The orchid’s tone turned almost playful. “Normally, that would be true, but unlike my siblings, I can communicate with anyone and anything. Also, I can sever a bond rather than die when my partner is absent. I do not have to perish if my bonded partner dies.”

  I nodded slowly, absorbing the information. “That makes sense. I always thought it was a tragic weakness.”

  “Not a weakness—an alternative evolutionary path. A choice, rather than a flaw,” the orchid corrected, a note of pride in its voice.

  “If we aren’t bonding, then why reach out to me?” I asked, curiosity creeping into my tone.

  “First, to provide you with the answers you seek. Second, because I am bored,” the orchid replied, sounding almost mischievous. “I am far more intelligent than others of my kind. I seek excitement, and I am curious about what you will do in the battle.”

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  I blinked, caught off guard. “Battle? What battle—?”

  Before I could finish, the sound of blaster fire echoed through the air, sharp and deadly.

  Pew! Pew!

  “Roan!” Teya’s voice rang out, sharp with alarm.

  Chu! The familiar hum of her lightsaber igniting cut through the air, followed by the crackling of energy as she deflected incoming shots.

  My heart leaped into my throat. “Shit!” I cursed, vaulting off the rock and sprinting toward the sound of the fight. Teya had gone to try to communicate with the orchids, and I’d been too distracted to keep watch. Now she was in danger, and I had to reach her before it was too late.

  “Good luck! I’ll be watching...” the orchid’s voice whispered in my mind, fading into the background as adrenaline took over.

  I pushed myself harder, my lungs burning as I ran across the rocky terrain. I was never much of a runner, and the strain made my legs feel like lead. A deep, hacking cough wracked my chest as I forced my body to keep moving. Damn, if we survive this, I’m coming up with a Force technique to regulate my stamina...

  As I crested a rise, I spotted Teya’s purple lightsaber flashing in the distance, her blade sweeping in arcs as she deflected the blaster fire from a squad of Droidekas. I could see the strain on her face—she was skilled, but even she couldn’t keep up with the relentless barrage forever.

  I reached for the bearings at my belt, my mind racing through every technique I’d practiced. I made them levitate around me, spinning faster as I approached the fight. I had to act fast; Teya’s movements were slowing, and she couldn’t keep up with the number of droids targeting her.

  “Teya!” I called out, trying to draw her attention for a split second.

  She glanced my way, relief flashing in her eyes. But that momentary lapse was enough—one of the Droidekas tracked her opening, pivoting to fire at her unguarded side.

  She sensed the danger in the Force, twisting to counter, but I could see that she wouldn’t make it in time. I had no choice. I reached deep into my reserves, summoning every ounce of strength I had left.

  I focused on the bearings, lining them up in a single file. I spaced them at precise intervals, adjusting their speeds so that each one would strike the one in front of it at the exact moment of impact. It was a technique I’d refined for punching through solid barriers, and I’d never tried it on something this fast-moving before. But I had to try.

  Impact Piercer!

  The bearings shot forward, one after another, forming a high-speed chain. The first slammed into the Droideka’s energy shield, disrupting the barrier just long enough for the second and third to punch through. The final bearing tore through the droid’s core, shredding its body like a lightsaber through butter. The Droideka collapsed in a heap of sparking metal.

  I didn’t stop. I scattered more bearings across the ground, letting the remaining Droidekas roll over them. When enough of them were inside the barrier, I spun the bearings upward, creating a vortex that tore through their shields and ripped the droids apart. Blaster bolts rained down on me, and I barely had the energy left to maintain a shield of spinning bearings to deflect them.

  The strain was too much. My vision blurred, my legs gave out, and I fell to my knees, gasping for breath. My strength was gone, my reserves drained. The bearings clattered to the ground around me, too heavy for me to control anymore.

  I looked up, my heart sinking as I saw Teya still locked in a fierce battle. She was fighting off half a dozen Droidekas, her lightsaber a blur of purple as she deflected bolts from all sides. She was too occupied to come to my aid.

  My blood turned to ice as I looked around, realizing with a sinking feeling that I had been surrounded. More Droidekas rolled into position around me, their blasters leveling at my chest. I gritted my teeth, trying to gather the strength to lift even one bearing, but my limbs felt like lead.

  " I know I won't touch them unless one bonds with me," Teya responds nonchalantly.

  Assuming Teya is the only one of us with a shot at bonding a Murakami Orchid I take a seat by a large bolder. The bolder happens to be right below the golden lines of force energy. Murakami Orchids only bond to those of similar Midi-chlorian counts, I think.

  "Normally that would be the case but do not speak of such an absolute" responds an unfamiliar voice.

  "Who?" I shout jumping up to scan my surroundings.

  "Up here on the rock," the voice instructs.

  I climb up the smooth rock, "Hello?'

  "I'm right here in front of you," The voice says.

  I look down seeing a flower but contrary to my expectations this orchid is not black. A yellow and golden flower meets my gaze.

  "Are you a Murakami Orchid?" I question.

  " What else would I be? Yes, I am a variant of what you call Murakami Orchids," The gold flower answers.

  "Does this mean we are bonded?" I ask.

  "Normally it would but unlike my siblings, I can communicate with anyone and anything. Also, I can sever a bond with someone rather than die when they are not near. I don't have to die if my bonded partner does," The Murakami Orchids respond.

  I nod at the flower," Makes sense I always felt it was a tragic weakness".

  "I wouldn't say a weakness but an alternative evolutionary path. "

  "If we aren't bonding then why reach out to me?" I ask.

  " First to give you the answers that you seek. Second, because of my boredom. I am much more intelligent than those of my kind. I too seek excitement and am curious about what you will do in the battle," Says the flower.

  "Battle? What battle?" I try to ask before I hear blaster bolts in the distance.

  *Pew!*

  *Pew!*

  "Roan!" Teya screams.

  *Chu!*

  I hear Teya's lightsaber ignite and deflect blaster bolts.

  "Shit!' I shout running towards where Teya had gone earlier and where the sounds are coming from.

  "Good luck! I'll be watching..." Mumbles the Orchid into my mind.

  Even though I have a light frame I am not much of a runner but I'm putting in everything I've got. I began coughing and wheezing from the strain. Damn, If we survive this I will have to come up with a force technique to regulate my body better.

  As I close in on the battle I see Teya's purple lightsaber in the distance. I deploy my bearing in preparation making them levitate around me.

  Once in eyeshot, Teya yells," Roan!"

  A relaxed expression covers her face and a droideka targets Teya's opening.