CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER ONE
JEDI ACADEMY
October 9, 1415 Galactic Calendar
1520 Galactic Standard Hours
Dantooine Jedi Academy
Jedi Knight Dragon
"Begin!" Master Yuna Sandra yelled. With that, Relena and I turned around and activated our practice lightsabers and began yet another duel. We had dueled before on many occasions, testing each others knowledge of light saber combat. I normally use two lightsabers to duel, yet Relena only uses one, it would be much unfair if I used both of them. Besides, I'm always looking for a challenge, and Relena was the best challenge in single handed lightsaber dueling for Padawan's on all of Dantooine. She was very good, I respected her and had competed against her ever since I can remember. My good friend was the only Padawan to ever give me a challenge.
She swung a fast left, would have nearly took my head off had I not ducked. Swinging a swift right I simply took a step back and avoided the swing. She spun and tried to hit me in the back which I blocked by putting my lightsaber behind my head. She then abruptly charged forward lightsaber guiding in front of her; simply stepping to the right avoided that one too. "I'm not playing this game again."
I fixed a faint smile, "I have no idea what you're talking about." I lied.
"The one where you let me attack until I get tired, then you attack. It's getting old Dragon."
"Oh come on, I was just having a bit of fun…" without finishing my sentence I swung a hard right at her.
Blocking it, she smiled, "that's more like it."
I swung left then bent down trying to take out her legs. Cart wheeling she avoided the strike. Turned around she attacked me blindly swinging a swift right with the lightsaber followed with a hard kick to the leg. I was able to block the lightsaber, yet I didn't anticipate the kick, knocked down on my back I knew I had a good fight ahead of me. "Oh, you want to play like that?" As she came to strike again, I swung on my backside and kicked her in the back and rolled up. Then a fierce series of strikes from the both of us prevailed, each blocking the others attack, there was no room to dodge. Seeing an opening, I rolled under her legs and elbowed her back. Lurching forward she swung all her might behind her, I barely blocked the attack due to the power behind it.
"Dodge this!" with her left hand she lifted up a nearby plant and threw it towards me, I easily destroyed it with my lightsaber. But the number one mistake a young Padawan makes according to my master was "focus." Focusing too much on one thing, and not being aware of your surroundings. Well I certainly was guilty, as I destroyed the plant, I was unaware of the oncoming trashcan that hit me in the head so hard I dropped my lightsaber to the ground.
"Ooh, he didn't see that one coming." I could hear Master Vrook saying.
On my back once again, I opened my eyes to a flying Relena coming down for the kill with her lightsaber. I rolled to my left barely dodging the attack, she laughed. Sometimes she could be really scary in battle if she got into it enough On my back I swung my left foot, knocking her legs out, she dropped her lightsaber and she too was on the ground. I immediately rolled over and put her in a head lock, to immobilize her so I could grab my lightsaber, she punched me in the face, breaking the hold.
We both stood up, looked to our lightsabers and simultaneously summoned them to our hands. Looking at her face I saw that her lip was bloodied from the aggression I put her jaw into the headlock. I also could feel the right side of my face aching from where she had punched me, no doubt would I have a bruise there tomorrow. We both looked to see Master Sandra walk up.
"Ok you two, I think that's enough for today…how about give it a rest."
"NO!" we both yelled at her.
Raising her eyebrows and walking off she said, "Sorry, never mind."
Relena looked seriously at me, touching her lip she said, "You busted my lip."
"Well you threw a trash can at me."
"Well you put me in a head lock."
"And you punched me in the face, what's your point?"
"None really, I'm just complaining." With her finger she through a rock at me…wait a minute this seems familiar. Sensing my surroundings, I also felt yet another plant, and a piece of wood flying at me. Hmm…three items at once, not bad I fried the rock with the beam of my lightsaber, jumped over the plant and sliced two pieces of wood out of one.
"Hmm, your boys a fast learner." I could hear Master Vrook tell Master Sandra.
"That he is." She told him.
After seeing what she had done, I had something up my sleeve. Looking like I scratched my ear I beckoned an object, using the force on her. I ran at her in full sprint, lightsaber raised in preparation to attack, she wisely readied herself. Five feet from her she was caught surprised by a flying piece of wood connecting with her back. She lurched back from the pain, arms raised. Using the force I launched myself over her head, in the process reaching around the beam of her lightsaber and grabbing the handgrip of her own sword stealing it from her with my left hand, landing behind her, I crouched on my knees and swung the lightsaber in my left hand through her side. The lightsaber glowed red as it passed through her, indicating a hit on a body. I had won the duel using her own practice lightsaber.
"Whoa! That was a good move." Master Vrook said.
Panting and exhausted I helped Relena up, she was knocked on the ground still winded from the piece of wood. "Nice move…when…didn't see you summon…wood." She panted.
"When I…scratched…ear." I huffed out, exhausted as well. We both walked to the slab of rock by Master Vrook, and Master Sandra.
"That was very good you two, I think the best duel I've seen from you both." Master Sandra told us.
"Excellent use of the force, yet you two still have much to learn."
"Yes Master Vrook," we acknowledged.
"But always remember Relena, your attacks and tactics can always be used against you. Be aware of the knowledge of the force…although I doubt there will be many crazy Padawan's like Dragon out there in the galaxy." He then shifted his attention to me. "I can't believe you jumped over an active lightsaber, what if that was a real lightsaber, not a practice one, and she had merely jumped up at the last second…hmm, no wonder why your Master Sandra's Padawan, did you teach him that?"
Rolling her eyes, "Of course not, me?" Master Sandra was always using the daring side of the force, the fine line between life and death. She found it exhilarating. "Dragon you need to wash up," holding her nose. "You stink."
I stared at Relena, "hmm, wonder why?" she smiled.
"We shall see you and your Padawan at the Great Hall tonight?"
"Well of course." Master Sandra told him, tonight was the traditional Wednesday dinner. Where all students and Masters at the academy not currently on a mission, discussed current situations in the galaxy and ate dinner.
"Later Dragon," Relena waved off, accompanied by Master Vrook to her dorm, where she too would wash up.
"See you tonight Relena." I told her waving her off.
A few moments passed and then my Master spoke. "You were taking it easy on her, the way today that you dueled with her."
"How I duel with her. I put her in a head lock, and through a piece of wood in her back." I protested.
"Is that what you call an actual fight?"
"Fights aren't always cut and dry Master, you know this better than the most. Remember that mission last month where you and I had to run through vats and destroy enemies with the will of the force and a combination of slush and mud?"
"Indeed, simple how you think so much about combat. You do have a natural love for its different art forms, fortunately that passion hasn't gone towards your training partner yet."
Not only through battle, I could see why my Master would know about love. Many men had probably fallen for her beauty on first sight. Although, the age of thirty-six, Master Sandra was quiet a sight for sore eyes. The only thing that gave away her age were thin, hardly noticeable wrinkles beneath her green eyes. Her thin Twi'lek body only contemplated her soft blue skin. She was nearly like a human female, except her skin is a different color, she has no hair, altered ears, and she has long Lekku head-tails that hang to her torso. Ok so maybe not like a human female, but you get the point.
Without argument I held onto the words of my Jedi Master. She favors risk and action, very bold, and headstrong, but none-the-less, very wise. She is by far the most laid back Jedi Master on all of Dantooine, maybe because she acts as restless as she did in her youth. She was the youngest Jedi Master ever, receiving the title at the tender age of twenty-two. After being taught by Master Benoit for many years, I was originally given off to Master Nightingale…she left on a mission and never returned. Following that, I was appointed to be Master Sandra's Padawan, by Master Sandra herself. I'm her first and only Padawan, and I'm very proud to be. She's told me in the many years I've been her Padawan, that I know more about her than anyone else. In turn she knows more about me than anyone else. I can trust her with any secret, and she knows I can be trusted with any secret too.
Master Sandra and I are connected with an incredible bond. Sometimes we have the same dreams, and at times can tell what the other ones thinking. In a way it's really cool and sort of scary. Yet we have a strong connection, she is very cloudy about her training as a Padawan. She refuses to tell me about certain things, I know something horrible must have happened in her training yet she refuses to tell me. It's also odd, Master Sandra knows several dark side powers: such as, she can choke people with her mind, and I've also seen her pulsating electricity from her fingers on an occasion or two, amongst other things.
"You know you cut that duel close, next time jump higher above your opponent so that it's more difficult for them to slice you in half by merely jumping." She became curious when I didn't answer. "What are you day dreaming about?" Master Sandra asked.
"Oh I was just thinking about those Dark force powers of yours."
"Who says their Dark?"
"Then if their not Dark powers, why don't you show me how to use them?"
"I would never show you how to use those powers, their Dark you know?" she laughed out. Jesting she patted me on the back, "don't be so anxious to learn anything and everything about the force so soon, you're only nineteen after all.
Rolling my eyes, I continued walking. She's always this weird when I talk about those powers. "So what do you think the meeting's about tonight."
"Maybe seeing how the entire Republic Senate just got assassinated, it might be just a 'little' something about that." She told me sarcastically yet shrewdly.
"Oh really, couldn't have guessed that one."
"Then why did you ask?"
"Well we had that huge discussion last week about it."
"Well it's a huge deal. But besides that I don't know, I just know afterwards you and I have to talk with the Jedi Council."
"The Jedi Council, what's this about?"
"I have no idea. Just look your best." Both of our attentions were then drawn to a yelling.
"BLOCK! BLOCK! How many times have I told you to block?" That sounded definitely like the yelling of Master Xack. Probably instructing his Padawan, and indeed he was, far off on the droid practice floor was Master Xack's Padawan, William O'Conner. William was two years younger than I, but very good with a lightsaber at his age. He was definitely one of the most skilled Padawan's on all of Dantooine. Yet still had a bit of catching up to do, to compete with either myself or Relena.
William was battling four, level seventeen battle droid's. As he rolled and destroyed one of the droids with a vertical jumping slash of his saber, another droid shot him with a stun blast to the side. A stun blast didn't hurt much, yet left a good welt on the skin for a day or two.
"A Jedi must always be defensive and offensive. Not just offensive, boy will you ever learn?"
"I…am trying…Master…" he uneasily said back, jumping behind the center robot and slashing him in half. Hearing a blaster shot, William swung his lightsaber behind him and deflected the blaster bolt back at the shooting droid, taking out his head. Using his hand to direct the force, he threw the two remaining droids against each other. As the droids lie on the ground, he brought his lightsaber down powerfully on each one, shattering the droids in half. William looked at his master and gave a confused look, "What?"
Well William knew why his master was giving him a confused look, when William got a wake up call from the droid with no head. The large droid drilled the back of William's head with a ferocious metal punch. William fell to the ground, unconscious.
"Ha! Ha!" Master Xack laughed out, rubbing his shiny brown balled head. He flicked his finger towards the droid and shut it off. He felt his Padawan's pulse.
"Is William alright?" Master Sandra asked him.
"Oh the kid's fine. He just got banged up a little, nothing too much a fine lad like him can't handle." He then looked at me, surveying me he said. "Hmm, looks like you've been banged up a bit too, who won?"
I shrugged my shoulders, it was almost funny how every one knew who I competed against everyday. My master answered before I got a chance to.
"Well Dragon won, but Relena…she sure did give him a run for his money."
"Yes, I see, well that Relena sure is something else. Dangerously good Jedi, I think that you are the only fool who can stand up to her, or maybe she's the only fool who can stand up to you, either way, you are both too good for your age." Master Xack said.
"Well Will's pretty good too you know." I told Master Xack.
"Yeah, the boy ain't bad. Much better than I was at his age…" he laughed, "of course I'd never tell him that, hell…it would go to his head. He might go off thinking he's as good as you."
"You spoil my Padawan too much, no need to fill his head with such thoughts of greatness." Master Sandra told him.
"No need to, he already knows it, don't you lad?" He sniffed the air, "Great, but sure is stinky. What the hell kid, you know what a shower is. What you been teaching this boy Yuna?"
"It's a long story." Master Sandra told him. "Hey you tend to your Padawan, I'll tend to mine. See you tonight, and hopefully your Padawan too."
We walked off, and exited the Courtyard where we had spent most of the day. We talked as we walked through the Jedi enclave, she constantly lectured me on 'focus,' and how important it was. How if you weren't focused you were as good as dead in combat. "Blah, blah, blah you're acting old, stop lecturing me."
"Hey I can't always be cool, I have to act like your Master sometimes you know. You're not as good as you think you are. And even if that means acting old, besides my lectures might help you someday.."
"For what? Like boring my enemies to death?" I ridiculed.
"Very funny." As we reached near my dorm, she departed, simply telling me, "Fix your braid, tighten it up or something, it's looking untidy. Remember twenty-hundred, be in the Great hall."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." She left to her dorm, and I entered mine.
October 9, 1415 Galactic Calendar
1710 Galactic Standard Hours
Dantooine Jedi Academy
Jedi Knight Relena Selene
Damn, did Dragon have to throw that piece of wood at my back? Still hurt. After putting on the three adhesive crystal stars below my right eye, I've got a 'thing' for stars, I finished drying off my long brown hair which was still a little bit wet. Looking in the mirror I saw that my lip had stopped bleeding, there was just a scratch there now. My elbow and knees had been a little scraped up too, but it's all fair in love and war. Sitting on my bed I put on my clothes: tunic, and robe. Seeing how my hair was a mess I looked in the mirror and began braiding it, putting on the appropriate beads I was required to wear. It took me several minutes, due to the sheer number of beads. Beads were an Apprentices way of showing how many different techniques, and skills they have learned. Only one Padawan had more than I, but Dragon only had four or five more. He's never boasted about the amount of beads he has, nor have I. We were both the best, and we knew it, that was enough for us.
Bending down to put on my tall travel boots, I felt the pain in my back. Dragon did get me pretty good with that piece of wood, but I guess I deserved it. I did throw a garbage can at his head after all. We never got mad at each other when we dueled, we knew what ever crazy thing we did, we'd get the other back the next day. So it was all good, if you ask us. I looked at the clock, still a half hour before bore time. That's what I called these stupid meetings, same old, same old. The Republic is in trouble, the Sith are numerous, we need to train very hard. Been there, done that, well Dragon and I agreed, the Sith can come to this Academy any time, any day, we'd show them what were made of. Picking up my lightsaber I left the dorm. I had designed my lightsaber to look like Master Vrook's, in a show of respect.
I hate using those dinky practice sabers, their so weak and hard to balance. Now my custom lightsaber is much more powerful, and comfortable. It's been fitted with two crystals that give it added damage and attack power. Plus I made it, with a very comfortable handgrip. Plus a violet crystal to make my saber purple, my favorite color.
With time to spare I walked to Dragon's dorm, we would do the usual, talk and complain before bore time. Daily when either of us was done practicing with our Masters we'd hang out together. Seeing our friendship with each other, our Masters would usually schedule practice sessions together.
Every month the Council would schedule a type of competition for Padawan's to participate in, encouraging cooperation and competition. Sometimes it's a single's dueling event. Sometimes it's a two on two event, sometimes it's even a three on three event. On the two on two events, it's always been Dragon and I, and no one could touch us. On the three on three events, we usually team with William O'Conner, and we've never lost. Another event was coming up at the end of the week, a three on three. Dragon and I have already agreed to team with William.
Now the Padawan's aren't the only ones to have fun, twice a year the Masters will get together and have their own competition. They only have singles and doubles, people are usually unsure to participate in singles, because they know always for the final duel is Master Benoit. No ones been able to beat him yet, if his skill with a light saber isn't enough, he is built extremely well. Despite wearing a robe you can easily see his bulging muscles. Just watching him in dueling alone can make you intimidated. What's even scarier is that he's not a real tall man at all, Dragon's height. Probably 5' 10" I'd say, lots of men and even some women are taller than him. Though in training, he teaches us to be calm with the force, he duel's very aggressively.
I get to Dragon's dorm and don't even bother to knock, obviously sensing my presence he open's the door from across the room with the force. As usual, Dragon wasn't ready, he had on only his pants and high travel boots.
"I'll be ready in a minute." He said looking in the mirror putting on his beads.
"Well I would hope so."
"How's your lip?"
"Fine, but it's my back that's going to ache a little bit."
"Oh give me a break I didn't even hit you that hard."
I could sense the faint bit of amusement in his words, "What you think it's funny? I wouldn't be talking Mr. Black eye."
He turned to look at me, "Oh Shut up."
"Hey look at it this way, you do smell better." I didn't even see a reaction in his face, nor sense one. "What's wrong."
"Oh nothing, it's just Sandra told me that after the meeting we have to go talk to the Jedi Council. Just a little curious I guess."
"Hmm…" I agreed, picking up his red lightsaber. "You know everyone has a silver or gold lightsaber, but nooo, you just have to have a red lightsaber. And the weird way your beam comes out…" In fact Dragon had a very unique lightsaber, a normal blade emitter was at the top of the saber, so that it came straight out in an instant. Yet Dragon's blade emitter was unattached from the top and bolted to the top side of the lightsaber. So that when the activator was pressed, the bolt turned clockwise making the blade come up in an arch. When the beam was finished with it's motion, it looked just like a normal lightsaber with the blade emitter on top. The beam was vice versa when coming back down. Quite deadly to someone who didn't have knowledge of how to properly operate it.
"Hey it's not my fault, blame Sandra, it's modeled after hers."
I activated his saber, making sure the blade emitter wasn't facing me. "You switched the crystal to make the beam color green?"
"Yeah, white was just getting boring." Dragon said, putting on the last of his beads.
"Same color with your other lightsaber?" I asked looking for his second identical lightsaber.
"Well yeah, you think I'm going to be a dork like those Jedi Guardians?" Dragon laughed.
In fact the Jedi Guardian Padawan's were odd, they were always competing with the Jedi Strike Team Padawan's. Thinking they were just as big and bad as us. On one such occasion, Guardian Padawan Goland had been watching Dragon and I practicing on some battle droids against droids we could use our actual lightsabers, not the crappy practice ones Seeing Dragon using two lightsabers in practice he came up and said, 'look I have two lightsabers too,' in fact it was two lightsabers. One of his own, and one of his friends: two different styles, two different colors, Pink and brown, a horrible mix of colors. He tried to show off against the same level battle droids Dragon and I had just destroyed. Oh, did he fail horribly. Not realizing that two blades were harder to control and the power of the attack is far less than a single handed lightsaber. After hitting a droid four times really hard he somehow lost grip on his first lightsaber and dropped it, with his remaining lightsaber he was only shading off the outer plating of the droid he was working on, wasting time obviously the droids surrounding him moved in and knocked him unconscious.
Besides Master Sandra and Dragon, no one really uses two lightsabers. Their much harder to control, easier to lose, and attacks are less in power. Yet in the correct hands, the attacks are extremely fast and the defense is outstanding.
Dragon never really cared about putting on a tunic, he said they were uncomfortable. Besides tunics were not required by the order, there was really no real dress code, as a Padawan, you only really had to wear an Apprentice braid. I watched as Dragon put on a black vest, he laced it up. Leaving his arms and much of his skin and collar bone exposed. Dragon nearly looked like a Sith with the black vest, black pants, and black boots. Plus it didn't help much with the tattoos on his arms. On the right arm is a blue dragon, on his left arm is a red dragon, both covering the outside of the arm from the elbow up to the beginning of the neck. Not to mention the usual black cut off gloves he wears to his elbows while dueling. No need for them tonight, I think. Had Dragon not been a Jedi, he could easily pass for a Sith, in both look and skill. "Hey where's your other lightsaber?"
"Like I know…" with that, Dragon drew out his hand and summoned the saber to his hand. Wherever the lightsaber was, it would come to his hand. Hearing a rustling from under an undergarment the lightsaber flew to his hand.
"Ewww, it was under that?"
"I guess so," he shrugged, not caring where it had come from. He then summoned the lightsaber I had been examining to his other hand. He placed each lightsaber on either side of his belt, hearing a "click," showing they were attached to his saber holders. He looked in the mirror once again fixing his trimmed goatee, and brown hair with blonde highlights, spiking it up. He didn't put any highlights in his hair, it was just naturally like that.
"Your hair's fine, come on." I egged him.
"Just give me a minute."
"You said that like five minutes ago," I harassed him.
"Eh.." He grunted taking out a razor and shaving off some hair around his goatee. Finishing he looked at me, he turned around. "How's my tail?"
"Your pony tails fine Dragon…"
"Well how about…"
"You look fine, you're good."
"Well I know I'm fine, stop embarrassing me." He smirked.
I just merely rolled my eyes, he did this sometimes. Well I shouldn't talk, I'm no better. We don't do it to anyone else, just one another. Childish banter that we've done since we started training together as kids.
Walking out, he caught his black robe in his hand and put it on. He never bothered tying it up, just wore it open so his vest and skin showed. Most Jedi Masters would object to Dragon's dressing style, stating it's 'not traditional.' Yet Master Sandra really didn't care, she was really cool about stuff like that. She always said, 'I don't care as long as it doesn't hinder performance or add a distraction.' It did neither for Dragon.
On our way to the Great Hall, we passed by to see William walking out of his door. He was clutching the back of his head, and moving sluggishly.
"Hey Will," Dragon greeted.
"Yo…" He sluggishly said back.
"What happened to your head?" I asked still seeing him clutch the back of it.
"Funny…I can't remember." He told us.
"He…can't…remember," Dragon laughed slapping his knee.
"What so funny about that? I can't remember," William paused to think, "wait a minute, did you see what happened?"
"Yeah, you had just finished fighting the droids, but you left one."
"No I didn't," he protested.
"Yeah, the one with the head blasted off from his own blaster. Remember?"
"Yes…"
"Well when you looked at Master Xack, he came behind you and punched you in the back of the head. Knocking you out," Dragon smiled.
"Are you serious? A headless droid knocked me out? Dammit! That's cheating!"
We continued our walk to the Great Hall, finally entering inside the open corridor. The Great Hall was basically just that, a Great hall. With the exception of large cushions to sit on, lining up and down the enormous open space. Normally you could sit wherever you want, but usually classes sat by classes. Guardian's sat with Guardians, Consulars sat with Consulars, Sentinels sat with Sentinels, and Strike Team members sat with Strike Team members.
A Jedi Guardian trains for battle and physical prowess with little emphasis on negotiation. A Jedi Consular seeks to master the force they would rather negotiate than fight, very good with persuasion. A Jedi Sentinel try's to be balanced between the two, try's to negotiate but is ready to fight if they have to. Now a Jedi Strike Team Member is centered on absolute power, trained in every type of battle and strategic maneuver. They're sent in when there is absolutely no peaceful way to resolve a problem, and battle is imminent. The most destructive, and powerful of the Jedi.
The Jedi Strike Team is fairly new, only a decade old. Master Benoit says that the Strike Team is an experiment, that is daily testing the will of the force. So that century's from now, we will know the true extremities of the force.
As we walked through the row of cushions to our normal sitting place, the Padawan Goland of the Guardians began to talk. "Ooh, look it's the Strike Team Padawan's, be afraid, be very afraid."
We stopped and looked blankly at them. "That's right, see Dragon, someone at least gets the picture." William told him.
"Wait a minute, didn't you get knocked out by those dumb training droids?" Goland asked William.
"Yeah I heard that too." Santrick, Goland's friend added.
William rolled his eyes, "Yeah that's right."
"You know I fought droids today too, and I didn't get knocked out." Goland paused, "Looks like you Strike ain't so big and bad after all."
"What, one?" I asked bluntly.
"As a matter of fact, I fought two." He chuckled.
"Two…I fought four." William told them, tensing up.
"What were they? Level five…" Goland laughed, but was cut off.
"I bet you've never even seen a level five battle droid. If you had an argument with one, you'd be stumped for hours. Too advanced for your dumb skull." Master Xack said coming up behind the trio. That was pretty bad considering battle practice droids couldn't even talk.
"Oh…um, Master Xack, um…"
"Don't oh, um, Master Xack me. You're just lucky these three have enough wisdom not to whoop your candy asses. Now mind your own damn business, you bunch of ingrates." Master Xack told the Guardian Padawan's, beckoning us to walk off. "Those idiots probably never even knew a battle droid could get up to level seventeen." Master Xack was pretty cool as well, he knew what he wanted, but boy did he have an attitude. Well I guess you have to have one if you're in charge of the Jedi Strike Team.
Already sitting on the cushions were Master Sandra, and Master Vrook. Master Xack and the three of us joined them. Usually our three Masters sat together, there were seven other Masters and Padawans in the Jedi Strike team numbers. Though Dragon, O'Conner and I were the only humans. Nothing wrong with the other members, it was just easier to get along with other humans than it was with Selkath's or Iridonian Zabrak's. Plus if you only understood Galactic Basic, then that was the end of discussion.
"What took you so long?" Master Sandra asked Dragon.
"It was just…those stupid Guardian chumps were giving Will a problem."
"Damn right," Master Xack began. "You know, I don't like those idiots, tell me how thick headed can you be, I mean, yeah my Padawan's pretty thick headed…"
"Thanks Master Xack," William sarcastically said.
"Hey no problem lad, anything I can do to help the spirits of my young Padawan…where was I, yeah but I mean those boys are stuuppiidd. Wherever could they have gotten it from?" He paused waving to their Jedi Masters across the hall. "Hello you damn fools. Yes you are a bunch of idiots." He smiled at them.
After a couple of minutes the Great Hall had filled to capacity and the meeting had begun.
October 9, 1415 Galactic Calendar
1800 Galactic Standard Hours
Dantooine Jedi Academy
Jedi Knight Dragon
Standing at the front of the hall were the members of the Jedi Council. Master Riddick, Master Ash, Master Sutherland, Master Voss, Master Benoit and of course the Senior Jedi Council Member…Master Luminous Neo. These six Masters are the wisest and most powerful of our Order. All throughout the week they discuss situations in closed doors in the Jedi Council throne room. They are rarely seen, except for early morning, and late afternoon. And of course if a Master or Padawan are summoned to the Jedi Council chamber. If one is summoned, the other must accompany. Only once a week are they regularly seen, that just happens to be bore time, as Relena likes to call it.
Master Neo began to speak, and the room respectfully silenced. Master Neo definitely has command presence. Just a glare from her solemn blue eyes would make anyone think twice about being disrespectful. She is just a little bit shorter than Master Benoit, but wow, does everyone know her? If someone didn't know who Master Neo was, all you had to say was, 'look for the fiery red hair, the pointed elf ears, and the only Master wearing a Blue robe on Dantooine.' After that, everyone basically knows who she is.
Once a Jedi attains the rank of Master, they can wear basically whatever they want. Master Neo was the only Master, to truly take that to heart. Not only does she wear a Blue Robe that she leaves open, she also wears little else. Regardless she does wear low cut pants, and red travel boots. But on her upper body she only wears a torn piece of purple and white leather to cover her chest, and that was about it. Leaving her stomach, neck and collarbone exposed.
Now, no Master has ever disagreed with her way of dressing, I mean, who would? She's the Senior Jedi Council member, she can do whatever she wants. Besides, if anyone ever gives her a problem, they would certainly have to go through Master Benoit, and no one wants to go through that. Probably why no one has either.
Also what's odd is that no one knows her age, or can even guess it for that matter. Naturally she's an elf, so she is an immortal. She looks like she's twenty, though she's been a Jedi since the very beginning of the Jedi order itself. From what I've heard, and seen, Master Neo is a very serious Jedi. Only a slight sense of humor, but I guess if you've been around for so long you kind of don't need one anyway.
I looked to Master Vrook, Relena's Master. He had medium length brown hair, chrome blue eyes and a slight beard surrounded by stubble. He had the look of a man in his early forties, that had way too much stress and trouble on his plate.
Looking at Master Xack I could see his old age. A Jedi in his fifties, bald brown head, he has a mustache that hangs down to the bottom of his chin. Yet he deliberately shaved in between the two mustaches in order to not have a goatee. He had a scar across the left side of his chin, from some sort of mission he had been on years ago. He wore a yellow tunic, and brown robe. "What you staring at boy?" he asked me. "Pay attention this may be somewhat important."
"Sure," I told him, paying attention.
"Members of the Order, you are called here tonight on behalf for us to address you on the escalating situations from the Republic, brought about by the Sith." Master Neo addressed. "It seems the Republic has elected a new Supreme Chancellor, Chancellor Takkata Unson. Only about half the Republic systems have replaced senators, for their planet. Yet that was easily foreseen to be done, that is not the main reason you are here." She paused to look at the Great Hall very closely.
"As you know, Weapon Master Potkot had been assigned to a mission on the Outer Rim world of Taris III has been missing for some time now." A Weapon Master was the greatest tool we had against our enemies. Weapon Masters were the absolute best in lightsaber dueling. They performed many so called 'suicide' missions and were exceedingly well at it. There was only one of these such Masters at a time, but their status was beyond legendary. She paused, to excruciate the point. "We've discovered that he's dead." I felt a force of uneasiness filter across the Great Hall. My own Master put her head in between her hands and I watched Relena's Master bite his lip and borrow his head down, Will's Master stared off silently in the distance…not wanting to comprehend the pain he surely felt. "Furthermore, the Sith without remorse have taken full responsibility for the matter. Stating that, 'any Jedi who encounters a Sith, is a threat to the future of the Sith Empire, not even a Weapon Master can stand a chance against the might of greatness.'" She paused and put down the holo-panel she had been reading the article from. "This is surely not the first time a Sith has murdered a Jedi Weapon Master." I had flashbacks of my first Master, Sarah Nightingale...I had learned years ago that she too had been a Weapon Master…the Sith had surely killed her as well. "Yet, the brutality and lack of respect in the way he was killed, is beyond words." I could see Master Neo close her eyes as she spoke her next words. "On televised Galactic Television…they beheaded Weapon Master Potkot. A despicable act that could have easily been avoided: and was totally uncalled for. The Sith are becoming more ferocious, and frequent, with their attacks. Make no mistake, they are your enemy and they will not hesitate to kill you. The time for swift retaliation is at hand. Immediately after tonight's meeting certain chain of events will be placed into action."
"Certain chain of events, what does that mean?", I whispered to Relena. She just shrugged, not knowing what it meant either.
"Shhh!" Master Vrook hushed at me.
"They will be executed in a timely manner, with no remorse. Those who have been summoned to the Jedi Council Throne room will be further briefed after dinner. The Sith have no idea what's about to hit them." With that, Master Neo rambled on for several more minutes.
"Enough of these unfortunate events for one night, I will not further burden you on an unfilled appetite, the rest can wait until next week. Eat, and enjoy the company of friends, until next week my fellow Jedi." With that, Master Neo had finished her Pre-dinner speech.
As usual, the order began a frenzy of discussion following the speech. Many were of the fallen Weapon Master. The position he held meant more than just his death could stain. Though fallen, a Weapon Master always lived on through another. The great warrior of the Jedi, our ultimate weapon had been slain…the Sith had indeed sent a statement to us.
"You and your Padawan were summoned to talk to the Council, right?" Master Vrook asked, interrupting my thought.
"That's right, I wonder what it's about." My Master told him.
"I don't know, but in the way of her tone of voice, it sounds dangerous." Master Vrook told her.
"Let's not discuss this matter, there's other things to talk about." My Master told him, trying to change the subject.
"Danger, like that's anything new to us?" I asked out loud. Master Yuna and I were known for having an emaculant record in combat…most considered dangerous.
Catching the point, Master Xack spoke aloud. "It's about time those Sith Bastards got what was coming."
"Hell yeah, that's what I say!" William agreed.
"Boy, what's up with you and your cussing? You think your cool or something?" Master Xack told William.
"Sorry Master,"
"Damn kids," Master Xack said.
"Man, you ain't ever going to change." Master Vrook laughingly told him.
"What's that suppose to mean?"
"Oh…nothing."
"No, fool, what's that supposed to mean. You tell me."
"Someone getting an attitude?"
"You damn right I am, you trying to imply something?"
"Hey don't' make me sic my Padawan on you." Master Vrook teasingly threatened, trying to break the tension that we all felt at the moment.
I instinctively smiled at their pre dinner squabble. Master Xack was an extremely effective swordsman, if he were to go one-on-one with nearly any Jedi he'd most likely win. But nearly any Jedi wasn't Relena, and she could surely give Master Xack a run for his money. They would make a pretty entertaining match.
"Ooh, you don't have to go that far. I saw what that dangerous woman did to Dragon, so no thanks I'll shut up now." He laughed, patting Relena on the back.
"Um hum." My own Master agreed.
"What happened?" William curiously asked.
I, and Relena, explained to him the event while grabbing our plates from the protocol droid.
"So she almost beat you huh?" William asked.
"Well she's beat me a couple times, but man this one was pretty close." I told him.
We sat down, and ate our meal together talking about the upcoming competition. We knew we would win, we always did. After finishing my dinner, which I didn't finish I was too nervous about talking to the Jedi Council I summoned the Protocol droid, and gave him my half eaten plate of food. Respectfully, I waited for my master to finish before I stood up.
"Already set to go I see." My Master said.
"Yes Master…of course, if you're ready." I knew she was, I could feel the overwhelming curiosity flowing through her. She much wiser than I, in the fact of how easily she could hide her emotions from expressing outwards upon her blue face.
"Young Padawan's, so eager to leap into danger and exhilaration. If only I was that young and adventurous." Master Xack told me.
"What are you talking about? You're always eager to leap into danger, and you're way too adventurous for your own good. The only difference between you and a Padawan is that you're wiser, and older." My Master told him.
"Hmm, good point." Master Xack told Master Sandra.
"Farewell, until tomorrow." My Master told Xack, and Vrook.
"Goodbye Relena, Will…" I said giving him a nod as he continued to gorge his face with food. I gave a wink to Relena and walked off with my Master.
October 9, 1415 Galactic Calendar
1855 Galactic Standard Hours
Dantooine Jedi Academy
Jedi Master Luminous Neo
"That will be all, may the Force be with you." I told Master Quinn and his Padawan. As they exited the room I turned to look at Master Benoit, he gave me a stern look in return.
"None of our Jedi have come back with information on the missing girl, Christi Hemmington?"
"No Master Benoit, not as of yet." I told him.
"Luminous, it's very important we find her. She is the daughter of the most powerful witch ever. If the Sith have gotten a hold of her, there's no telling what power they could unleash on the galaxy." Master Riddick said.
"Yes…I agree, and rest her mothers soul." I said aloud, recalling the fate of Christi's mother also named Christi Hemmington and more commonly known as the Golden Witch who had died two years ago. It had been reported she had died fighting the space pirates on Ataxia Four. But everyone knew that was a fabricated story. Her real death was…so much nobler than that.
Regarding the Golden Witch's daughter, Christi. All of our intelligence has suggested that she was kidnapped roughly ten months ago by the Sith. If they've killed her or not, is not known. Nor is it, if they've turned her to the Dark side or not. Help us all, if they have. We've been unsuccessful in finding her, because her captors have made it so. The only explanation is that their keeping her mobile somehow. But how it's avoiding our detection, is unknown even to myself.
Yet due to sheer luck, we've discovered that all of the girls whereabouts, statistics, vitals and previous locations our stowed away in a protected computer file. On this far away world, holds the key that we need to finding the girl. Also this far away world holds the likes of many of our enemies.
"Master Neo, it's absolutely prudent that we find her." Master Voss spoke. "The planet where the documents are held is a harsh one, full of scum and liars. May I suggest that we send in a strike team…" a subtle smile curled across his lips. "A bit more accustomed to the rigorous environment in an extreme situation as this, perhaps Master Sandra and her Padawan as well?"
I nodded my head in agreement, Our top Jedi Strike Team duo the Sith won't know what hit them. "Two steps ahead of you my old friend. The two are being summoned here this very instant to be briefed in this matter. I believe both have more than enough qualifications for this prolonged mission of theirs."
"This is a dangerous mission you want to send them on Luminous, are you sure he won't falter?" Master Benoit asked.
"I know he won't, he is the most promising Padawan in the entire academy. I would be surprised if anyone could best him in a duel."
"No doubt is he the best Padawan in the academy, yet I mean…"
Hearing him talk I knew what he was leading too, "I understand that the boy is young, but he is indeed skilled. Don't let the age of his youth blind you. That being said…" I looked out to the Council before me, "don't let his past history misguide any of your judgments either…he has no knowledge of it himself, don't let it deter you from trusting him. He'll do fine." I left the conversation at that, no need to continue with it.
"I hope your right. Yet remember she's there, if he meets her?" Master Benoit asked me.
"There is no better ally than that of blood. He will do fine, I'm positive of it…" I confidently reassured him.
"I agree, Weapon Master Nightingale and Master Sandra have taught him well." Master Riddick said. I smiled inwardly as I remembered the Weapon Master of the past…she too was gone…in her own way.
"Yet this a major mission. Studying a quick way to eliminate an opponent is one thing, extracting what you have learned is something else. Actually killing someone with your lightsabers, feeling their death in your conscious…no amount of training can prepare a Padawan for that. It may be difficult for him." Master Voss told the council.
"Do you not remember his mission last year?" Master Sutherland pointed out. "On the planet of Calm where he fended off a refugee camp of ten insurgents…he left none alive. He earned a commendation award for that mission alone. Not to mention, are you unaware of his incredible duels against Padawan Relena? The same as a regular fight, just without the killing.".
"Right you are, though I doubt there will be a surprise invasion by insurgents with lightsabers on this mission." Master Ash said lashing back at the Strike Team Master.
"Be careful to not underestimate your opponent, especially the Sith. The boy has trained for countless years, a Dark Jedi will be no match. The boy acts like a Dark Jedi, dresses like them, power like them, but make no mistake, he's not one of them, by no means does he think like one. He has proven his worth time and time again as a Jedi of the Republic. Like a Dark Jedi and Dragon, they are both unconventional, and mischievous in their battle tactics." I told Master Ash.
"Very true, yet so is this newly formed Jedi Strike Team that we have assembled." Master Ash informed me.
"We shall see how this all plays out. The boy is going, discussion closed." Master Benoit instructed the council. "I shall summon Master Sandra and her Padawan."
I merely nodded in agreement. This was in fact Dragon's first major assignment, on his previous missions, though minor in size, he demonstrated just how excellent he was with a blade. Almost too excellent, he was a Jedi and one of the best, even amongst the Masters. Even with my knowledge of the force, it is hard to foresee his future. It is much too clouded by the Dark side, not only from himself, but the events aspiring from the galaxy and the current situations. I could foresee the future of great Jedi's, such as Relena Selene, William O'Conner, Itai Ryuu, Jaja Gainsborough…but Dragon was something different. He was unquestionably the most skilled Jedi to ever pass through the Academy, but to see him as a great Jedi was clouded, the aura of uncertainty flowed imminently through him. He would prove his uncertainty to himself and the Order on this mission.
"You've summoned us Master Neo." Master Sandra addressed me, as she and her Padawan stood before the council. I waited to see that Master Benoit had taken his seat by my side before I began to speak.
"Yes, you and your Padawan are aware of the current situation, are you not?" I asked Master Sandra.
"If you are referring to the retaliation against the Sith, yes Master we are."
"You've been called before the council to execute one of these key missions." I then stared into the green eyes of Master Sandra's Padawan. "This is a dangerous mission, indeed. You are to be sent to the planet of Faun…" I paused to read their reaction thus far. "As I can sense, neither of you are aware of Faun. As you can easily conclude, Faun is not a planet part of the Republic. It's on the outer rim, controlled nearly entirely by the Mandalorians. They are a growing population in league with the Sith. Illegal trading, prostitution, and slavery are the main source of income on this world."
"I see, sounds like a paradise vacation so far." Master Sandra joked.
"Yes, well as I stated earlier, these Mandalorians are in league with the Sith. There are many Sith bases scattered across this vast world, yet in Renavel, the capital of Faun, there is the Sith main headquarters for that planet. Within this base, we know from Master Jove-Quo, that there are concealed documents that reveal whereabouts on an important witch by the name of Christi Hemmington II, hopefully whereabouts that will reveal her location or patters of her previous locations so we can find her. The girl was kidnapped following her mothers death. It's vital that we find her, if the daughter of the Golden Witch is turned to the Dark side, she could with time destroy our entire Order."
"That powerful?" Master Sandra asked in disbelief. Dragon too looked at me in disbelief.
"Yes, her blood is rich. I doubt I have to inform you of the unparalleled strength her mother wielded, if Christi is even half as strong as her, we'd all be doomed if she turned against us." I looked out at the concerned Jedi Masters sitting around me. "Our current beliefs indicate that this sixteen year old girl is being held hostage by such high names as General Taurus, the military General of the entire Sith military fleet. Saint Vuru the notorious Black Wizard of the Magic Order. Darth Predoric, the unholy Apprentice of evil. Or even Darth Nefirius himself, Ultimate Lord of the Sith…" I paused as I sensed the uneasiness flowing through Master Sandra as I merely stated the name, 'Darth Nefirius.'
"You are to first rendezvous with Master Jove-Quo, who will thoroughly brief you on the Sith base that holds the key documentation on her. Then you are to recover these documents anyway possible. It's obvious that the Sith will not simply hand these documents over. The girl means more to them than you could ever imagine. As unnatural to your previous circumstances as it is, you may want to be discreet in your methods of retrieving these documents. I would advise that you hide your identity as Jedi's. Not only are you going against a large population of Sith, you are also going against gangs who would benefit greatly for killing a Jedi, though I doubt they could." I held back a smirk. "Not to mention the countless amount of Mandalorians inhabiting the planet. You must know that Mandalorians are some of the most battle efficient species in the galaxy, they strive from finding a good fight. Regardless whether they lose or not, they live on respect and honor from battling worthy opponents."
Reaching in my cloak, I took out a holo-pad which displayed an image of the young girl. She was smiling in a field of blue grass and wore a light green dress. I handed it to Dragon, "this is Christi…she's been missing for several months now."
I could sense an unusual feeling in Dragon, one of possible 'interest in the physical specifications of the girl.' It was too momentary to judge though, he handed the holo-pad to his Master immediately and looked back at me, clearing his mind.
"Be thorough in this mission, this girls life depends on it." I paused to sense the young Padawan's eagerness and focus lingering on every word I spoke. "You will leave a week from today's date, just before sunrise on the east transport. Master Benoit will accompany you to the planet, further briefing you along the way. This mission will take several weeks to accomplish, but I am more than confident you two will be able to complete this task." I now stared at the Padawan. "Be wise of your actions, and be aware of the ever Dark side that will surely try to sway you on this mission. Consult with your Master, and trust any order she gives you. They may appear odd, but she is wise and knows what she's doing." Looking at the both of them now, "Prepare for your journey and continue your practices until your departure, may the force be with you."
As they bowed and left the room, I sensed Master Benoit's uneasiness in the way Master Sandra reacted to the name, 'Darth Nefirius.' Unknown to many, there was much tragic history between the Twi'lek Jedi Master and the Dark Lord of the Sith. One way or another in time, it would surely parallel the same way it had twenty years ago.