Disclaimer: All belongs to the great and powerful Mouse.
Summary: The Force moves in mysterious ways and all are bound to its ultimate will, especially the Jedi.
A/N: It should be noted that for my series I treat the aspects of the unifying and living Force as fairly discrete banks of power. Though they both come from the same source each has different properties and manifestations among its adepts.
A/N 2: Italics indicate emphasis, visions, personal thoughts and flashbacks. Context should illustrate which device is being used. / / indicates mindspeak.
Thanks:
Capurnia: You wanted more, here's more!
Geri K: Yes, this will definitely be my personal take on the JA story and the further it gets the more AU it will become, but it always seems to start with the stubbornness of master...
Guest: Glad you liked it. As for what happened, guess you will have to keep reading to find out!
Please R&R!
Chapter 2 – For the Asking
"What is a lightsaber?"
"Master?"
"What is a lightsaber?"
"A lightsaber is the main defensive tool of a Jedi. It is the focus point for our Force sense."
"Nothing more?"
"It... um... it...," the young Felinoid stammered. Her master finally took pity on her and knelt before her, resting a hand on her slender shoulder.
"A lightsaber," he began as he placed his own unlit saber in her small paw. "Is more than a weapon. It is more than a tool. It is even more than a focus point. It is an extension of ourselves in everyway. It is an extension of our Force abilities. It is an extension of our will and..." he said as he stretched out the short arm that cradled his saber hilt. "It is an extension of our bodies. Your arm is merely extended by the blade, it is no less a part of you."
"A really cool part of you that can cut through almost anything," she said with a toothy grin. Her master answered with a half smile of his own.
"Indeed, you little scamp," he replied as he brushed against her whiskers; an obvious sign of affection among her species. "This hilt," he began again, "is an extension of me. When I wield it, it becomes a part of myself as integral as a hand or a foot. When you build your own saber you will learn to think of it the same way."
"So it is true?" a baritone voice rang out from within the training salle. Both master and apprentice glanced up to see the tall form of a Jedi Master approach. The young girl's master smiled and rose to his feet. He reached out and eagerly embraced the new arrival.
"Qui-Gon, you old scoundrel! When did you get back?"
"Just yesterday," Qui-Gon replied as the two old friends separated, each giving the other a once over. The other master was as tall as Qui-Gon, but with short white hair and golden skin. He had startling silver eyes and a deep scar that gave all of his expressions a rakish quality. Indeed, this was the man Qui-Gon remembered, a little older, a little more worn around the edges, but still the same soul he had known from the crèche. Qui-Gon finally let his eyes drift to the small child quietly holding a hilt much too large for her.
"So, it is true?" he repeated. The other master's smile grew wider as he placed an arm around the girl's shoulders.
"It is. Qui, allow me to introduce you to my padawan, Lantis Mir. Lani," he said turning to the girl, "this is Master Qui-Gon Jinn, one of my oldest friends."
"Master Jinn," the Felinoid purred with a deep bow. Qui-Gon returned the gesture with a small smile.
"Padawan Mir, it is a pleasure," the long haired master spoke in his most melodic tones.
"Now you stop that right now, Qui. No charming of my padawan. Get your own," the other master laughed, but immediately he saw the slight stiffening in his friend at his words. "Ah, so he's after you again."
"Vresh, you have no idea."
"Well, actually I have some," the shorter haired master answered, but before Qui-Gon could comment, Vresh turned to his small charge. "Lani, would you mind if I interrupted your lesson to spar with Master Qui-Gon?" he asked then he turned to Qui-Gon. "That is if you're feeling up to it?"
"If your student has no objections to seeing her master get thoroughly trounced, I am amenable," Qui-Gon retorted. Lantis watched the byplay between the two masters with a grin and barely suppressed giggle.
"What say you, Padawan?"
"Go get him, Master!" Lantis exclaimed as she handed Vresh back his lightsaber which he took with a bow and flourish. He watched Lantis take a seat on a bench as Qui-Gon removed his cloak, robe, and outer tunic.
"Now, remember, no embarrassing me in front of my padawan," Vresh said as he and Qui-Gon took opposing positions on the mat. Qui-Gon unclipped his saber and dialed down the intensity to training level.
"Perhaps you should have considered that before you chose to challenge me in front of your apprentice," he smirked. Vresh's eyes grew wide.
"You wouldn't...," he said, but Qui-Gon's smirk only deepened. "Sith hells, I should have practiced more," he mumbled then he lit his saber and the two began their dance.
Though Qui-Gon was technically the better swordsman, Vresh was no slouch. The two masters were well acquainted with each other's style and could anticipate one another's maneuvers with precision creating a bout that to most appearances was fairly evenly matched, but that was only the appearance. Vresh was more than aware that Qui-Gon was enjoying the match and was therefore endeavoring to make it last as long as possible, but when both masters began to tire, the long haired master went in for the kill. Qui-Gon, though trained in Ataru, often did not employ the more acrobatic of the form's moves in his sparring, so when the rangy master somersaulted handily over his opponent's head, Vresh was quite expectedly surprised. Qui-Gon landed lightly behind the master, preformed a front sweep taking Vresh off his feet and placing his glowing green saber at the man's throat.
"So much for not embarrassing me in front of the kid," Vresh smirked as he looked up at his friend from the floor. Qui-Gon chuckled and disengaged his saber before offering him a hand up. As Vresh got to his feet the two masters suddenly heard applause erupt around them. Belatedly the two Jedi realized that an entire class of initiates had witnessed the duel and were now staring at the masters with open expressions of awe and amazement. With a touch of both humor and humility, the masters gave a shallow nod to their unexpected audience. Soon the children were being gently herded into their lessons by the training masters, but not before Qui-Gon noticed a small huddle still staring in his direction. A young Mon Calamari girl elbowed an auburn haired boy ushering him forward. The boy moved ahead reluctantly crossing the empty floor between his class and the two masters. Vresh looked up from where his padawan was handing him two towels. He passed one to Qui-Gon before addressing their guest.
"Obi-Wan!" he greeted enthusiastically. "How are you?"
"I am well, Master Vresh," the boy answered with a brilliant smile that suddenly turned shy as he glanced at Qui-Gon. Vresh looked to the boy to his friend and back again, a sly grin passing over his thin lips.
"Ah, Qui-Gon, allow me to introduce you to my friend Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan, this is,"
"Master Qui-Gon Jinn," Obi-Wan interrupted then he suddenly blushed. "Everyone knows who you are, sir."
"I hadn't realized I was so popular," Qui-Gon answered dryly.
"You're one of the best swordsmen in the Order and now everyone knows why!" the child answered his excitement from watching the match beginning to overtake his initial shyness.
"Hey, Master Vresh did pretty good too!" Lantis suddenly interjected.
"Thank you, Padawan," he said with the air of the slightly wounded. "I hope your old master hasn't fallen too far off his pedestal."
"Never, Master," Lantis smiled up at him, her bright eyes shinning.
"Well, I did say he was one of the best swordsmen, Lantis and Master Vresh is pretty amazing," Obi-Wan replied. Vresh turned his attention back to the young boy, his expression more serious.
"How have you been, Obi-Wan?"
"The same," was the boy's only response, but his tone inferred that there was much more hidden behind those words, things that Qui-Gon could only guess at. Obi-Wan then turned his attention back to Qui-Gon.
"Master Jinn, my... um... friends and I were wondering if perhaps you and Master Vresh would be willing to do another demonstration for us sometime... I mean... if you wouldn't mind," he asked hesitantly. Qui-Gon frowned, but Vresh beat him to the punch.
"We would be honored, Obi-Wan," the short haired master answered warmly. All eyes were suddenly on Qui-Gon whose frown only deepened.
"I thank you for the invitation, Initiate Kenobi, however, I must decline. Perhaps some other knight or master would be available," he intoned. Lantis seemed surprised, Vresh was disappointed, but it was Obi-Wan's crestfallen expression that held the four Jedi in a tense moment of silence. Obi-Wan then slipped on the typical Jedi mask of serenity before bowing to both masters.
"I understand, Master Jinn. Thank you both for considering my request," he spoke formally. Vresh stepped forward and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Obi-Wan," he started, but was interrupted.
"I should get back to my class. It was nice to see you again, Master Vresh. You too, Lantis," he said then he turned and walked back to join the initiate saber class already underway. Vresh turned to his friend and sighed.
"That was unnecessary."
"The boy seemed to take it well enough," Qui-Gon answered. Vresh turned his attention back to Obi-Wan who was moving through the steps of a Shii-Cho form with his classmates and shook his head.
"He's fine," Qui-Gon said as he crossed over to the bench to retrieve his things. Vresh stood there a moment longer looking at Obi-Wan.
"No. He's not."
Master Yoda made his way slowly down the stoned lined path through one of the many gardens in the Room of a Thousand Fountains. Before he even entered the sacred space he had felt the small disturbance in the Force emanating from a lone figure sitting by a reflecting pool. The ancient master wandered over to the huddled form and took a seat beside him with a grunt. He placed his gimer stick across his lap and closed his eyes, taking in the great presence of the Living Force around him. However, even the tranquility of the space could not hide the pain swirling around the one beside him.
"Alone you think you are, but alone you are not," the master intoned as he looked deep into the reflecting pool. The figure beside him lifted his head slightly from where he had buried it in the protective embrace of his knees and arms, but he did not look at the master, only straight ahead focused on some distant point to nowhere.
"Perhaps not, but I will be soon," a small voice answered. Yoda then turned to the child seated beside him.
"Why say that you?"
"Because I'll be thirteen in less than a tenday, Master Yoda, and then I'll be sent away. Alone."
"So certain of this you are," Yoda grumped. "Perhaps so certain you should not be."
Obi-Wan finally turned his attention to the wizened master, his eyes red from recently shed tears.
"How can you say that?" he shouted, forgetting for a moment to whom he was speaking. "No one wants me. I'm broken. I'm defective. I'm a freak and I will never be a Jedi!" he yelled as he jumped to his feet and ran out of the garden. Master Yoda did not attempt to stop the child or pursue him. He knew the reason for the child's pain and the reason for the boy's fear. What the master didn't know was what he could do to fix it, but he had an idea where to start.
"You summoned me, Master?"
"Yes, yes. Come in. Sit down you will and tea I will bring," called a gravelly voice from somewhere in the kitchen. Qui-Gon stepped into the balmy quarters of the Order's Grand Master and took a seat on one of the many cushions strewn about the floor. After a few moments, an adroitly levitated tray of tea and cookies floated past him and then settled on the low table nearby. Master Yoda followed slowly behind the tray, taking a seat across from the tall master and pouring them both steaming cups before speaking.
"A request of you I have," the diminutive master spoke after a sip of his tea. Qui-Gon held his cup, but did not drink.
"A mission?"
"A favor," Yoda replied simply. Suspicious, but intrigued, Qui-Gon took a sip from his tea cup. When the elder master offered nothing more he quirked an eyebrow, but still said nothing, merely sipped his tea quietly. His patience finally rewarded him with more words.
"The Annual Initiate Exhibition in two days is."
"It is," Qui-Gon answered simply taking another long sip of tea.
"For you to attend I would like," Yoda added. Qui-Gon sat down his cup.
"We have already spoken of this, Master," he said gruffly. Yoda too placed his cup down.
"Asking you to take a padawan I am not. Only to attend."
"Why?" Qui-Gon asked his eyes narrowing. Yoda's ears dipped down slightly as he answered.
"Concerned I am for one of the initiates. For your help I am asking."
"And that is all?" Qui-Gon pressed still mistrustful of the elder master's motives. Yoda sighed deeply, his large ears drooping even further.
"No more of you will I ask if help him you will," the master intoned softly. Taken aback slightly by the uncharacteristically despondent posture of his mentor, Qui-Gon was compelled to agree to help this unknown child... and if it meant that he would no longer be pressured to take another padawan all the better. Qui-Gon nodded to his former mentor.
"I will attend."