Marin hurried through the corridors of the Jedi temple, almost bumping into a few startled knights who were just coming around the corner. "Excuse me! Sorry!" She could still make it!
It wasn't fair! This morning should have been a simple, boring morning. Her schedule had consisted of modern republic history followed by a class on practical meditation techniques. That is, until the message...
Tired from the intensive training the day before, she'd gotten out of bed and did her regular morning ritual on auto pilot. She was almost out of the door of her room when she noticed she had a message marked "URGENT", it read: "Report to room TF034 at 9:00. You are relieved of all other classes for today. - Master Erad'un."
9:00?! That was in 10 minutes! And she had to be at the other side of the temple complex! How could she have missed the message when she got out of bed! And by the way, what was this all about? Was she in trouble? Was this a test? Relieved of all other classes?! Oh well, no time to think about it now. And she started running towards the other side of the temple complex.
Life at the temple was al she knew. All of her life she had been training to become a Jedi. Now eleven years old, Marin was a light skinned, brown-eyed Jedi in training. She had been born on Alderaan, but due to the young age at which Jedi younglings are recruited she had little to no memories of that time. The temple was her home now, the Jedi her family. She was a fanatic student, always trying to excel et everything. Lightsaber training was not her favorite class though. She was way more interested in everything she could learn about. She loved to dive into the vast collection of knowledge the Order had built up. She already knew that she wanted to specialize in becoming a consular when she was a knight, just like her greatest example, Master Shaak Ti.
Now, however, she was late! And she needed to pick up the pace if she was going to be in time...
She reached the classroom just before 9:00. When she entered she saw that she wasn't alone. Already sitting in the classroom were 2 other students; Oris, a Twi'lek boy who Marin mostly knew as someone who would get excited about pretty much anything. And Johk, a boy originally from Taris. Johk felt more at home in the background. Always calm and ready to listen when Marin needed someone to talk to. Marin, uncertain what was going on, gave Jokh a quick glance. He returned it with a small shrug and a questioning look. Apparently he also didn't have a clue. Then master Erad'un entered the classroom and closed the door.
"Good morning students. My name is master Erad'un. I will be briefing you this morning."
After a quick glance at the students he continued. "All three of you are here because you've been selected for a special assignment." Jedi master Erad'un's voice was clear and strong as always. You could instantly feel his presence when he spoke. The dark skinned Jedi master stood before the classroom and continued:
"Master Yoda wanted to give the introduction for this assignment personally. Unfortunately he had to leave unexpectedly for pressing matters. He did however record a holo-message which will hopefully make things a bit more clear for you." Erad'un said, and he pressed some buttons which dimmed the light. A blue, life-sized image of master Yoda appeared over the holoprojector.
"Good morning students. Challenging times these are. And it is in these challenging times, when our order spread thin all over the galaxy we find, most clear, the need for young, strong and determined Jedi is. So even when endure the conflict does, continue, your training must."
It wasn't every day you were briefed by master Yoda himself. It was as exciting as it was unexpected. And from the look on their faces, the other two students were as surprised as she was. Only fifteen minutes ago she was summoned here without knowing why and what this was all about. She had known the other students, Oris and Johk, for as long a she could remember. They had grown up together at the academy with the other younglings. Now she sat here, in this classroom wondering why they had a private briefing by a member of the Jedi council...
"A challenge you will face today." Yoda continued, "Many years of training you have had. Nearing the age you are, when as a padawan, your training will continue.
To see, how far you have come and a suitable master to help us find, trials you must face. Unannounced, some of these trials will be. The first, today, you will face.
A trial? Becoming a padawan? Marin, completely caught off guard, quickly shot a glance at Oris, who sat there with his eyes wide open, returned an equally surprised look. She quickly focused back on master Yoda...
The blue projection of the Jedi master continued: "As a Jedi, Always prepared to assess a situation you must be. Arisen, a conflict has somewhere here on Coruscant. To resolve this situation, Assistance of the Jedi was requested. Together, investigate you will, all sides and aspects of this situation. Together, a resolution you will find. Master Erad'un, one of our most experienced consulars, accompany you he will. I'm sure , many questions you all have. But operating on limited knowledge, part of the assignment is."
"Faith in all of you, I have. Some of the brightest students of your class you are. But remember: " Yoda's voice dropped almost to a whisper, "Real this conflict is. Of the consequences of your actions, mindful you should be. Because real they also will be."
He continued in a lighter tone of voice: "The word I now give back to master Erad'un. Fill you in on the operational details, he will. Unfortunately, Tend to other matters, I must. May the Force be with you!"
As the holo image of master Yoda disappeared and the lights in the room brightened again, Master Erad'un stepped forward from the corner where he had quietly stood.
"Now, students, don't worry if you're surprised by all this." Erad'un said, "As master Yoda explained, this was the intention. Don't be afraid though, your training should have prepared you for anything we you will likely encounter. And I will be there to guide you through this. Remember, the way you handle this situation together will be evaluated. This will be used to determine whether any of you are ready to start training as a padawan.
We will depart at 10:15 from shuttle bay three. No need to bring any luggage, everything you need will be on board of our shuttle."
"Our destination is in a commercial area in the Aaren district on the other side of the planet. I will use the time it will take us to get there to brief you on the situation and answer any of the questions you might have as best I can. The time that's left you can spend on planning how you're going to handle this. Remember, it is important that you work together and that all three of you support the resolution. By the way, I'm sure you have met mister Jes Darrin at some point here at the temple, he will be our pilot. He will also be available to transfer one or more of you to a secondary location while the rest stays on site if the investigation requires it."
"One more thing, you are free to discuss what you have heard here with each other, but please do not mention anything to the other students. They will get an assignment like this too someday. And we want it to be a surprise. Now, you have about an hour to get ready and report to the shuttle bay. Any burning questions that cannot wait until the briefing?"
Marin could think of a thousand questions she would like to ask, but something in Erad'un's voice told her they could wait. The others must have picked up the same signals because no one said anything.
"Good, I will see you in the shuttle bay. May the Force be with you." And with that, Erad'un left the class room.
As the students were left alone the classroom stayed silent until Erad'un's footsteps faded in the background. That is, until Oris almost shouted:
"Did you hear that!? We're ready to become padawans!"
"Slow down Oris.", Johk tried to calm him down, "You heard master Yoda, this is just one of the tests. And we have to pass it first. It is pretty awesome though. What do you think Marin? Can we do this?"
"I don't know... this kind of caught be by surprise. But wow, a real consular assignment." This was the part Marin was most excited about.
"Yeah, I know! When I was summoned here I couldn't stop wondering what I had done wrong this time!" Oris said excitedly. "I was so relieved when I heard it was a briefing for an assignment! Of course we'll pass! we have to! Even Master Yoda has faith in us, he said so!"
"I guess we'll have to give it our best!." Marin said. "By the way, did any of you think he looked old?"
"You mean master almost-900-years-old Yoda? I don't think there's anything alive in the galaxy that's older then him!" Johk joked.
"I know that," answered Marin absent mindedly, "I just thought he looked older than usual. Like something is weighing down on him."
"It must be the war. He has a lot of responsibility with all the Jedi generals fighting against the separatists", Johk explained.
"Exactly!" Oris said, "And only a couple of days ago the skies were filled with laser fire! If it weren't for Anakin Skywalker and Master Kenobi they would've kidnapped the supreme chancellor!" Like always, Oris became more and more excited when he talked about the Jedi fighting the war. "I want to be just like Anakin when I become a knight!"
"Yeah, yeah, we know Oris. Let's go back to our dorms and get ready. We have just under an hour to get to the shuttle bay. And I know Erad'un doesn't like it when students are late! " Johk said.
"Have you met him before? Erad'un I mean?" asked Marin. "Not really. I just heard stories. He mostly teaches consular stuff. He's supposed to be alright, just as long you don't get on his bad side."
"What about Jes Darrin, what is he doing on this assignment? He isn't even a Jedi!" Oris said.
Johk answered: "Isn't he some kind of mechanic? He usually works in the hangar bays I think. I know he occasionally helps out as a pilot."
"I think it's because so many of the masters are deployed somewhere in the conflict. " Marin explained. "But if both Yoda and Erad'un think this is a good idea, that's good enough for me..."
"I heard he used to be a soldier. Before he worked at the temple I mean" Johk said.
"Some kind of soldier?" Oris questioned, "I don't believe it. I mean, why would he be piloting here instead of fighting on the front lines?"
Marin let it be. She was way too excited about the assignment to worry about who was flying them there...
They walked back to the dorms and got ready for their first real consular assignment.