Objects Only

Karr grudgingly held out his own. “Karr Nuq Sin.”

But she didn’t shake it. She used the grip to pull his hand closer to her face. “What’s with the gloves, Karr?”

“They protect my hands.”

“Well, yeah,” she said. “That’s what gloves do. I mean, why are you wearing them indoors?”

“So that I can control my abilities.”

She folded her arms. “Your totally real choking abilities? Those must be amazing gloves.”

“I…” He paused. He barely knew this girl, but he barely knew just about everyone, so it didn’t matter anyway. He told her the truth. “Sometimes when I touch things, I can see the past. I mean, the past of whatever I’m touching.”

Maize cackled wildly. “Bantha fodder! I don’t believe you. Show me.”

Karr tried to retreat. “I can’t just do it on command.”

She grabbed his gloved hand again. “Come on, what do you see in my past?”

“It doesn’t work that way. In fact, I’m not sure it works with people. I think it has to be an object. Like an item that’s witnessed something big.”

Maize let go of him and scanned the room for something that might work. Seeing nothing with potential, she reached into her bag and pulled out a small metal drafting tool. “Tell me about this,” she said, holding it out to him.


- Force Collector, Chapter 2