Planting Seeds for A New World
A short story set in the Stars Wars 'verse
I wrote this short story for Peliplat, a film review and discussion community. It’s my second piece for Peliplat, the first was The Film That Helped Me Become A Director, about filmmaking pioneer Alice Guy Blache, written for a competition sponsored by Run N Gun, Vancouver’s famous 48 hour film race (I plan to share the Run N Gun film I made last year soon).
When I saw that May’s Peliplat writing contests included an invitation to write a short story set in the Star Wars world, I got excited. We all intuitively understand aspects of Star Wars, because it is rooted in ancient mythology. And we all have own experience with the Force!
I hope you enjoy the story, and please don’t hesitate to check out the platform. If you sign up, you can “like” my pieces (to help me win prize money) and write articles yourself! Or simply enjoy being a part of a community of observers, thinkers, and film lovers :)
This short story was inspired by a line from the Quran. When I was in Istanbul, I visited the Hagia Sofia and found this line on a pamphlet. It hit me hard and I carry its message with me to this day.
even if you can see the final hour on the horizon, if there is a seedling in your hand: plant it
It’s time for us all to tell new stories. This is one of mine ✨
Amongst rows of freshly planted seedlings, Mother and son froze as the sky darkened above them. Knees resting in fertile soil, their eyes turned to where the sun once shone. There – far in the distance, but rapidly growing near – a fleet of Imperial ships descended, cloaking the radiant warmth and light of their planet's life-giving star.
Keeping her eyes trained on the encroaching Armada, the Mother took a deep breath. “It's time,” she spoke as she exhaled. Her words hit the air with a measured calm as a chill wind swept across them, raising the hairs on their arms and forcing the ground to deepen its hold over the young plants they'd just carefully migrated into the earth.
Her son – a youth still full of innocent boyhood, but nearing the age of staking his own claim of land – burst to his feet. “I'm ready!” he proclaimed and, in his haste, dropped the young seedling in his hand onto the ground, making a rapid turn for their house across the field.
“Wait!" His mother cried.
He twisted back toward her, breathing heavy, face flickering with pride and excitement. “Why!?" he demanded.
His Mother held his gaze, long enough to make him shake with urgency, before she softened her eyes and pointed toward the seedling he had dropped unceremoniously. “Finish your duty,” she instructed.
"Mother, we must hurry! The Empire nears.” He looked at her in disbelief, his body twitching to run in the direction of their home.
“Have I taught you nothing about the Force, my son?” She rose to her feet and crossed toward him, lovingly scooping the discarded seedling off the rich plane of earth and into her hands. “You will be ready once there is no rush in your body, mind, or soul. You will be ready once their is no fear.”
“I am not afraid!” He clenched his hands into fists. “Waiting any longer will mean certain death,” he challenged her, his voice deepening almost enough to hide a quiver of uncertainty.
His Mother shook her head gently. “Remember the code, dear one, built of my own flesh and blood. There is no death…"
He looked at her, fear darkening his eyes until it dawned. “There is no death. There is the Force,” he recited, dropping his guard.
“And fear of death masquerades as many things – pride most of all. You are not ready yet." She offered him a kind smile as the wind picked up around them and the low, buzzing hum of the coming invasion reached their ears.
“Plant it.” She extended her hand with the sprouted seedling resting secure in a clump of rich soil on the heart of her palm. “Then you will be ready.”
“But, Mother…” Tears welled in his eyes as he looked from her to the seedling to the fleet of ships now close enough to count. Too many to count.
“Still your mind, my son. This is your final test. Plant it.” She raised the seedling closer, nodding with finality.
Her son took a deep breath and stepped forward, placing his palm underneath hers. He resisted the urge to look back toward to their house – with their weapons and their shelter – as he allowed his Mother to gently slide the seedling into his own hand. With one last look to the sky, he dropped to his knees.
As the metallic groan thundered ever-closer above them, he nestled the seedling into the earth. A bead of sweat formed on his brow and dropped onto the young plant as he patted fresh soil around it. “There," he sighed, turning his face up to his Mother, sky black with enemy ships behind her. "The job is finished.”
“Good work, my son.” She smiled and extended her hand. “Come. Now you are ready to do something not available to those in battle."
With a nod, her son stood from the earth and grasped her outstretched hand.
“Still your mind further, down to one single point,” she instructed, her voice unwavering. “Imagine your body within this point. Use the Force to become undetectable. Do it now!"
Focusing on the freshly planted seedling, picturing its roots growing sturdy, deep into the ground, the son slowed his breathing and drew his mind to a single point of awareness. Small. Microscopic. Mycelial. “I am one with the earth,” he whispered.
His mother nodded. “We are one with the earth.”
CRASH! Fifty yards from them, a laser pierced the ground, just missing the farthest row plants.
“We are one with the earth,” Mother and son chanted together, slowly, intentionally, without fear.
BOOM! Another laser cannon connected with the ground on the far side of their home, destroying nothing.
Side by side, hand in hand, they stood as the fleet continued its passage overhead. More lasers burst forth from the ships, striking the dirt around them, but not one harmed the Mother and son or their seedlings. Before long, the shadow of Imperial Starfleet had passed. The son released his Mother's hand and fell to the earth, kissing the ground.
“Well done.” The Mother stroked her son's hair once before firmly placing her hand upon his shoulder. “Now you are ready for whatever comes. All you need to do is let go of fear, and remember the code.”
There is no emotion; there is peace.
There is no ignorance; there is knowledge.
There is no passion; there is serenity.
There is no chaos; there is harmony.
There is no death; there is the Force.
There is no death; there is the Force. Use the Force.