"Why must I go with you, Qui?" She whined, a playful smirk on her face.
"I am not holding you captive," he teased, knowing that she didn't want to go to the council meeting anyway. They nodded to several people as they passed them, and turned toward the hallway that led to the main academy.
"What has suddenly made you want to take another padawan so suddenly?" She asked as she pushed open the door to the academy.
"After my strange dream last night," he said, nodding to a youngling in the hallway, "I meditated for a time. The force, Avia, it wills it. Now that I have realized it is the will of the force, I am curious what perhaps is waiting for me that the force wishes I find." It was that time of year when younglings became eligible to become padawans after completing The Gathering, much to Avia's discontent.
They were headed to a training class for the older younglings, roughly eleven years old or so. Qui Gon had heard good things from Kit Fisto about the tiger clan. The force guided him, and his heart was confident it was time for another padawan.
"Does Aabo know we are coming?" She asked, adjusting her robe.
"Yes, I contacted him this morning and he said for us to arrive sometime before the council meeting."
They got to the door of the training room, and Qui pushed it open. As they entered, the familiar beige and black of the room stretched before them, as well as the wall of windows that looked out at the bustling busy nature of Coruscant. Ten younglings were sparring with their training sabers, and a few were momentarily distracted by the arrival of the two Jedi. They approached master Aabo, and the togrutan master refocused his gaze from his students to the Jedi.
"Master Jinn!" He exclaimed, "I've been expecting you. Ahh, Master Kutae, it's lovely to see you again."
She bowed, her hair sweeping her cheeks. "You as well, Master."
"We have some promising younglings in our presence here." He said with a nod, and they followed him to the far side of the room to observe. Qui Gon was impressed. The children were skilled, and far above those of the other clans he'd observed in the past week.
"When do they proceed with the gathering?" Qui Gon asked Aabo.
"Two weeks from Tuesday. They're particularly excited." Qui Gon watched them reverently and noticed he was distracting quite a few of them, nervousness leaking into the force around them. Avia watched them closely, impressed by their determination. A twi'lek girl had such determination in her eyes, and the force warmed. Avia looked to Qui for his opinion, but his eyes were on a boy in the corner.
"What is his name?" Qui asked.
"Obi Wan Kenobi. One of our star pupils," He beamed, his excitement returning.
"How are his classroom efforts?"
"Spectacular. His memory exceeds that of his entire clan, and he takes great interest in whatever information he can absorb. He has wondrous opinions on the laws we go over in class."
Qui Gon grinned. "His temperament?"
"Quiet, incredibly focused, and remarkably attuned to the force."
"I'd like to talk to Obi Wan, if I could." Qui interjected.
"Of course, Master. Younglings!" Aabo called, and they all paused. "Take a 15-minute break." Most of them left to go sit in the younglings' common room, eyeing Qui and Avia excitedly, hoping they impressed the Masters. "Initiate Kenobi. If you could join us over here please." Obi Wan flinched, his eyes widening. After a second of shock, he approached them and bowed, nervous energy rolling off of him. "This is Master Qui Gon Jinn and Master Avia Kutae."
Obi Wan bowed again, and Qui smiled. "It's a pleasure to meet you," Qui Gon said.
"The pleasure is mine, Master." Obi Wan said carefully. Qui Gon pulled him to the side.
"When you return, I will visit you again if you wish," Qui Gon said some time later. Obi Wan smiled wide, flashing his teeth, which had several empty spaces. The children began to filter in again, and she stood as Aabo approached them.
"Master Jinn is incredibly busy. What do you say?"
"Thank you, master Jinn." He bowed, and Qui Gon smiled.
"I shall see you soon."
He walked away and Aabo raised an eyebrow to him. "How did you find him?"
"I think he's a pleasant child," he said, hiding his emotions. "Thank you for allowing us to visit your class. We will return after the gathering," Qui Gon bowed. Aabo nodded and bowed in return. "What do you say, class?"
"Thank you, Masters." They chanted.
They left the classroom, and Qui was beaming, "the connection between that child and I, it was as if the force was telling me this was what it had been trying to tell me. All those visions and dreams."
She smiled. "You will take him as your padawan?"
"Surely. I believe it is the will of the force." He nodded, pride evident in his voice. He turned to her, his blue eyes twinkling, "What of you?" She shrugged. "I felt the change in the force when entered," he added. "It was quite strong."
"I do not wish to speak about it," She said with a sigh.
"It is your choice, I do not mean to aggravate you."
Her heart lightened. "You are right, of course. Doubt clouds my judgment."
"Take some time to clear your mind."
Before she could respond, Kit Fisto caught them in the hallway. His head tails were wrapped in new leather straps, and he had an arm full of training books in his arms. "Masters." He greeted. "The council wishes for your presence."
"How are you, Kit?" Qui asked.
"I'm great, Qui." He grinned. "Behati is doing great too."
"Phenomenal. One's first padawan can be a great challenge, but is always rewarding."
Kit nodded, "she has shown me that already. I will see you two later."
They bowed to one another and continued toward the council room.
Avia packed her medical supplies, being careful to wrap them as best as she could to prevent breakage on the trip. She had her clothing packed already and was waiting on her coworker, Viko. Viko was a zabrak around the same maturity as Avia with red skin and black tattoos that carved stories over his features. He was quite tall, especially for a zabrak, and his bright yellow eyes were piercing but kind. She'd been friends with Viko since they were younglings in the wolf clan. Now they were both healers at the temple. She looked in the mirror and tied her hair back carefully with a black stretch of fabric, and smoothed her hands over her healer's uniform. Something empty ached in her chest, but she shook it off and pulled her boots on. She'd gotten that feeling every day since she had left the jedi order, and with time she was sure it would loosen and allow her freedom again.
There was a knock and she sat on the floor to tie her boots. "Come in."
Qui Gon entered, adorned in his full jedi traveling robes. He smiled mischievously at her, and she rolled her eyes playfully and stood. "Ready?"
"Always. Are you?"
"As can be expected," she sighed and threw her backpack onto her back. "Viko should be here any moment."
Qui nodded, "have you been to Dathomir in the past?"
"Yes, once with Viko. I admit I am not looking entirely forward to going there again."
He took her other bag and Viko leaned in the doorway before them. "Are we ready?"
The three of them walked to their transport and boarded and immediately sat down to go through their mission that was given to them by the council.
"Our target is the orphanage here on this side of the planet. There we will look at a few force sensitive children and help them get a disease that is going around under control. We are being met by a well known Night Sister named Satha."
Avia nodded. She had already heard it all at the council meeting, but running through the mission before and after was the jedi way to ensure everyone present understood the goal. Viko nodded along with her, his yellow eyes narrow and bright. He hated going to Dathomir. He was of Dathomir, and Dathomir held no sentimental value in his mind. He had been very against returning, but he spoke the village's language and was forced to go.
They sat in silence for a long time after, Viko reading and Avia playing with one of her broken instruments in her healer's bag. Finally, Qui asked her, "You do not seem happy."
"I am happy," she said, her voice far more even and calm than she had hoped.
"This, this is not what the force wills. You are a jedi, a strong one."
"On the contrary, a few things tell me this is exactly as the force wills."Her tone was clipped and part of her felt guilty about it, but Qui could not accept her leaving the order.
His expression softened, and he took the tool from her hand and set it on the table. "Avia I-"
"We've arrived, Masters." Viko interrupted.
Avia stood and took Qui's hand. Her expression was soft, and Qui's heart skipped a beat. "I know you mean well Qui, but my path is mine to follow, not yours."
She grabbed her bag and followed Viko off the ship. A tall lean dathomiran woman was waiting for them, and two zabrak males were waiting behind her with nothing but think cloth tied around their waists and jewelry around their necks.
"Welcome!" The woman called, and the two men stepped forward and took their bags. "Thank you so much for coming."
"It is our pleasure," Qui-Gon said. He spoke with her quietly, and Avia glanced at Viko. He was watching the zabrak men, looking at the scars that adorned their bodies. "please, take us to the orphanage."
"Certainly," she grinned and they followed her servants. The wind whipped the hot air into their faces, and Avia and Qui wrapped their scarves around their faces. On their walk, they were stared at by various feral locals peering from within their withering homes. Avia felt uncomfortable, but let the force flow within her, reassuring her it was with her. They arrived at a large stone building with glassless windows, and within were dozens of zabrak children on the ground, thin beyond anything she had ever seen before.
"Are these children ill?" Avia asked her, her heart pounding.
"No," Satha said dismissively. "We managed to get the bug under control, now we just require Master Jinn to inspect our force sensitive children. They walked past their frail faithless bodies, and the children flinched from them as if they were defenseless prey. They walked into a back room where several healthier looking children were seated, and Qui made his way over to them.
"I hate coming here," Viko whispered to her and she squeezed his arm reassuringly.
"We'll be leaving soon." She nodded, and she looked at the two boys. One was larger and stronger than the other, and had a promising face, but his aura was somewhat weak, similar to the smaller one next to him. Neither of them were topically force sensitive enough to be jedi. "Tell me," Avia said, whispering to Satha. "If they are not force sensitive enough to become jedi, what will become of them?"
"Well the boy on the left," she said, gesturing to the larger boy, "has a well-known family to return to. The boy on the right is an orphan here, and will remain so, until he is thirteen."
"What happens when he turns thirteen?"
"He will be sold into servitude. However, he is not the healthiest child, and is quite weak minded." She smirked.
"Weak minded?"
"He does not learn like the others, and is fearful of everything." She said, a disgusted tone to her voice.
Avia nodded, making sure she respected the culture behind the statement. Sensitivity and those who could not adapt quickly were weak, and weeded out early on in the female-dominated society. Qui stood, shaking his head curtly to Avia.
The smaller boy looked mortified, and Satha bowed to Qui-Gon. "Thank you for coming, Masters. You're welcome to stay a few days if you would like."
Qui bowed to her and they left the orphanage. On her way out Avia glanced back at the boy, tears pouring down his cheeks. Qui sensed the change in her energy, and touched her shoulder as they went out into the streets. She shook her head softly, and Viko's eyes were downcast and filled with tears. She remained silent the rest of the evening, sitting outside their ship in the whipping wind. Avia and Qui were alone at dinner, and Avia was the first to break their silence.
"He's upset."
Qui nodded, "he does not know what to do with it." his eyebrows furrowed. "he grew up here, no?"
"Yes," she mused. "he was a servant child."
Avia's gaze was fixed on the setting sun, and she rose. Viko's energy signature was no in their presence, and she had a strange feeling she knew exactly where he was. Qui nodded, he knew as well. She pulled on her jacket and set out into town, her scarf around her face. The orphanage was easy to find again; it was burned into her mind. She knocked on the door and Satha answered the door and seemed surprised to see the former jedi master.
"Can I help you, master Kutae?"
"Is my companion, Viko, here?"
She nodded and allowed her in. In the foyer Viko had tears in his eyes, his shoulders slumped and his face reddening as she approached him. From his position he could see the child from earlier on the ground, an employee screaming at him and swinging a switch.
Viko stared at the child, helpless horror in his eyes. "I, I do not have the money to adopt him-" he despaired. "I can't save him from my fate. I couldn't keep him anyway I'm not permitted to adopt-" he said, his eyes wide and sad. She watched the boy as the woman lashed him again and again with a stick, yelling and screaming.
Her decision was made. This was what the force willed, it is why she felt it was right to quit the order- the boy. She knew as well as Viko that they couldn't leave him, she knew he would soon die in this harsh environment.
"I would like to adopt the boy, the one that failed the test today." Satha looked even more surprised than before. She nodded, however, and led her through the hallway toward the screaming woman, who turned angry toward Satha.
"Useless brats been hidin' food again," she spat.
"Leave us," Satha hissed and turned to Avia. The boy stared fearfully up at them, tears pouring down his cheeks. "Haza," Satha said and he flinched. "Come over here."
He staggered to his feet and approached them. Avia took a good look at him for the first time. His eyes were swollen with tears, but he was by far one of the most adorable children she had ever seen. His light orange skin was only a few shades darker than his bright yellow eyes. He was far smaller than any of the others, but he was certainly largely with the force. His eyes were wide and he was shaking with fear.
"I'll give you some time to get acquainted?"
Avia nodded, and sat down on the bench as Satha walked away. He shied away from her, and she smiled.
"What's your name?"
"Haza," he said softly.
"Haza, my name is Avia. Do you know why I am here?" He shook his head. "I would like to adopt you and take you back to Coruscant with me, to educate you and give you a better life. Is that something you would want?" He nodded, his eyes wide. She smiled, "that's wonderful." She could sense Satha approaching and stood. "How much?"
She scoffed, "It'd be nice to get him off my hands. All he does is cry. Can't even learn anything."
"What do you want for him?" She asked again.
"5 thousand." Avia pulled out her wallet and Satha's eyebrows rose. "I'll let you bring him back if you don't like him." The dathomiran woman defended, taking the money with shock.
Avia took off her jacket and wrapped it around Haza. "You and I need to be clear about one thing before we take another step." She murmured and he nodded vigorously. "I want you to be honest with me. If you're afraid, I want you to tell me. If you have a question about anything, I want you to ask. We're a team now and it is important we're on the same page. Ok?" He nodded again and she offered him her hand. He took it and she led him from the orphanage and out onto the street. Viko followed, his form hunched, but he couldn't hide his smile. Haza stumbled, and she stopped and watched him try to catch his breath.
"I- I have a hard time breathing," he wheezed, beginning to shiver again.
"Come here," she said and lifted him into her arms. He was thin and barely weighed enough to feel like he was in her arms. He was shaking violently, and Viko walked silently behind them. They boy shook all the way to the ship, and when they entered Qui-Gon didn't seem to be surprised to see them. Qui stood, and she rubbed the boy's back. "Haza this is Master Qui-Gon, my good friend."
He peeked at him from under her jacket and then hid his face in her neck again.
Don't be afraid." She grinned. "It's all going to be alright. You and I will talk about it soon but right now we have to take care of some things." She sat on the couch and the boy's breathing was labored, and fresh tears were flowing freely from his eyes. "I didn't purchase you for work, I purchased you so that you could be free." She explained again and he nodded, doubt in his tearful features. "I want you to be free to do what you wish and to go to school. This is my friend Viko." She said and Viko inclined his head with a grin, "and he is from Dathomir too." He stared at her and she pulled a tissue from the box and dabbed at a cut on his face. "No one here is ever going to hurt you. That I can promise you." He smiled shyly, and she smiled. "My full name is Avia Kutae. Is Haz your name?"
"Hazafarr." He said softly.
"Hazafarr." She grinned.
"I get called Haz."
"Which would you like?"
"I'm ok with either." He said.
"Ok, as long as you're sure." He nodded and she winked. "Are you hungry, Haz?" He nodded, and she stood. "Come with me." He took her hand and she sat him down at the table. She moved various folders and papers to make room for him. He felt out of place. He had a long cloth around his waist and nothing else but gold jewelry around his arm and neck. She put two plates of a strange meat in front of him and Viko, who sat down with them. She had only a cup of some kind of steaming liquid. Haz watched Viko use a few sharp metal objects to pull the meat apart and put it in his mouth without using his hands. Haz looked helplessly at the meat and she touched his shoulder. "Eat however you want to. There's no pressure here." He stared at her nervously and she smiled and rubbed his shoulder encouragingly. His hunger outweighed his worry, but he ate slowly. Once he was finished she led him to one of the bunks and lifted him up to the one above hers. "It's temporary, we'll be going home tomorrow."
"Home?"
She nodded and pulled from her pocket a tiny holomap. She clicked the compact oval open and it projected a small handheld galaxy with little shining planets winking at him. "We're here." She said pointing to a tiny dot labeled Dathomir. "And home is here." She said, and pointed to a larger dot far from the other labeled Coruscant. "That is where your new home is." His mouth fell open and he nodded, staring at the dot. "Here." She said and handed him the holomap. "It's yours. Explore." He grinned excitedly and she scooted toward him and pointed to the holomap. "If you touch the little planets, it makes them bigger and tells you all about them." He touched Coruscant and a large scale version of it replaced the map, Coruscant in large letters and beneath it a small paragraph. He looked down, ashamed. "I'll read it to you, and when we get home I'll teach you how to read, how's that?" He smiled and nodded, and she pointed to the words as she read. "Coruscant. Home world of the human species, Jedi order and the Republic capital. "
"Are you a Jedi?" He asked curiously.
"Technically, yes." She grinned and he gasped.
"Will I be a Jedi?"
"I don't know." She grinned, "maybe, we'll see." He grinned happily, flashing his sharp teeth. She closed the map. "Get some rest, we have a busy day tomorrow." He nodded and lay down, and she covered him with the blanket softly. "If you need anything, don't fear to come wake me." He nodded and yawned, and with his exhaustion and excitement fell quickly to sleep. A few hours later, however, he woke in cold sweats, his tiny holomap clutched in his grip. Where was he? He jumped silently to the floor from the bunk and looked anxiously for any sign of life. None. Everyone was asleep. He repressed his tears, not wishing to make any noise, and searched for the exit. She would return him to Satha. Just like Satha had always said, he would never be good for anything except for labor work and target practice and that was it. He was worthless, stupid, weak. What if Avia sold him- the lights flicked on and he gasped and spun around. Avia stood there, her face serene. "Come here." She said softly. He gulped and teetered back to her, the holomap white knuckled in his hand. "What was our deal?"
"I'm sorry," he sobbed, tears bursting from his eyes.
"Don't be sorry," she whispered, her hands rubbing his arms. "I'm not angry with you, Haza."
"I didn't want to wake you."
She pried the holomap gently from his hands, and lifted him into her arms. He wrapped his arms tight around her neck, and she sat down and cleared her throat before speaking. "I always want you to wake me if need be. I want to help you." He nodded and she smiled. "Why don't we look at this holomap of yours for a little while?" He nodded happily and wiped his face with his palms. For an hour or so they looked at the holomap, and she told him all about various worlds and places and people, filling him with wonder and excitement about the galaxy and what it held for him. He had no idea there were so many places and different peoples out there. With his excitement, his mind grew tired, and Avia carried him back to bed. "Rest, little one. Tomorrow we go home to Coruscant." He nodded, and with his hand lingering in hers, he drifted to sleep.