Welcome to the Jedi Order.
"Surely you're mistaken." The dark skinned man spoke intensely, and Ben listened with interest. They knew about Xanatos too? Just how did this all link together?
"You know me Mace. I'm not mistaken. Not about this." Qui-Gon said firmly and clenched his fist tightly. "He nearly killed Ben and myself. Luckily we were able to escape. Of course…so was he." Qui-Gon said and sighed. "I know he went off planet. He would have had to since Tri-Net is going to be shut down." Qui-Gon explained until Mace rose a hand to stop him.
"Perhaps we should take Ben to a place to wait." He suggested and Qui-Gon nodded slowly. Ben didn't want to go, but wouldn't protest. "Just go outside and to the right. There will be a young woman there who will help you." Mace informed and Ben nodded slowly. He cast one last glance towards Qui-Gon, but it seemed the man was paying him no attention. So he slowly turned and left the room.
He looked to the right and slowly walked down the hall further until he saw the woman sitting behind a desk. "Excuse me…Master…" He paused, not knowing Mace's last name. "Master Mace told me to come out here and wait." He informed and she smiled and nodded.
"Oh, well right this way Young One." She said swiftly and motioned him behind the desk. Ben was a bit relieved that this woman was also human. He didn't think he could handle alone time with a new species.
"Xanatos attacked you both?" Mace asked, raising an eyebrow and Qui-Gon nodded slowly.
"He kidnapped Ben in order to lure me after him. He trapped us and poisoned us. I was able to get away and rescue Ben, and find an antidote. Unfortunately, it allowed him to escape." Qui-Gon informed, and Yoda looked at him intensely.
"Unfortunate, it is not. Saved Ben's life you did. Saved your own, you did. Revenge you should not seek." He stated softly and Qui-Gon stood a bit stiffer.
"I'm not seeking revenge, Master Yoda. Simply justice." He said, though wasn't completely sold on the honesty of that statement.
"Well at least the Prime Minister got his planet back in balance. We'll just have to wait for Xanatos to reveal himself once more. Who knows where he went." He stated and Qui-Gon nodded slowly. He had no idea where Xanatos went after leaving Ne'Arna. He wanted to find him, but he could search the galaxy and make no progress.
"Wise it was, to bring young Kenobi with you. Strong in the force, he is. Full of light, he is." Yoda spoke softly and Qui-Gon nodded.
"I had hoped that you could overlook his age, and give him a chance to be trained. He is uneducated, but smart and hardworking. He has already developed many skills and shows a natural talent in harnessing the Force." Qui-Gon spoke firmly.
"Perhaps train him yourself, you will?" Yoda asked, and Qui-Gon stiffened even more.
"Of course not." He stated, though something in his heart told him that he wanted to. He didn't want to trust Ben, or be drawn to him, but the child had shown extreme skill. "I do not want another apprentice. And he is far too young to be a Padawan. He would need time to adjust to the life of an initiate. He doesn't even know how to read." Qui-Gon pointed out, suddenly trying to insult Ben so he wouldn't have to take him.
"If you're so sure he should be trained, why aren't you willing?" Mace asked curiously, and Qui-Gon looked at him with a tight expression.
"You know perfectly well I am not fit to be a Master to anyone, let alone to a child who needs special care."
"We will see. We still need to decide if he is even staying or not. Eight is rather old." Mace said and Qui-Gon nodded.
"He had no family. No connections to any one." 'Except me.' He thought to himself afterwards. Or rather, the Force thought to him. He ignored it.
"We will see." Mace repeated and Qui-Gon nodded slowly. "Send the boy back in and we will interview him. You are free to go." He explained and Qui-Gon nodded again, relieved that he didn't have to stay for the interview. He was so conflicted, he just wanted out of the situation. Hopefully leaving would ensure he didn't see Ben again. He could ask for another mission and be sent away by tomorrow.
He nodded, bowed, and turned to leave the room to collect Ben and send him back inside. The door closed behind him, allowing the councilors to look at each other in interest.
"Well you were right." Mace spoke, turning to Yoda. "He did find someone. Now how do we make sure that he pays attention to how important little Ben Kenobi is?" He asked and Yoda was silent as he thought.
"Unsure, I am." He admitted. "Stubborn, Jinn is. But much light I sense in Kenobi. Bright enough to cast away the shadows on Qui-Gon's heart, he is." The Grand Master said as he leaned back against the chair.
"Ben would have a lot of catching up to do though. If he can't read that will set him back rather far." Master Plu Koon spoke, not trying to dissuade any decisions, but speaking out none-the-less.
"We will see." Mace said again, hoping that Yoda was right and this boy really would help bring Qui-Gon back to who he used to be. He would teach the boy to read himself if it meant Qui-Gon would be healed. The door opened and Ben slipped in, casting an uncertain glance towards Qui-Gon's retreating form. "It's alright." Mace spoke loudly as he ushered Ben deeper into the room. "Come in." He urged and Ben looked to him and nodded.
Ben walked to the middle of the room and stood obediently, with his hands linked behind his back. "Where is Qui-Gon going?" He asked, his voice still uncertain. Master Windu and Master Yoda exchanged a quick glance and looked back at Ben.
"He has some personal matters to attend to." Mace explained and Ben nodded slowly. Master Windu cleared his throat and tried to make Ben feel more comfortable. "I'm sure you feel rather out of place. Perhaps introductions are in order." He said and Ben nodded, and turned as each council member introduced themselves. He found it rather easy to remember their names, as almost each one was a different species.
"It's nice to meet you all." Ben said softly, his Ne'Arnian accent thick.
"You as well, Young Kenobi. Would you like to tell us a bit about your life before you met Master Jinn?" Mace asked, raising an eyebrow, and Ben gave a bit of a shrug.
"There isn't much to say." He admitted with a bashful smile. "Ever since I remember I've been living on the streets. I never had a family I guess. Every day it's just the same thing. I tried to find food and stay out of the way. It was like that every day until I stole from Qui – I mean Master Jinn." He explained, and an amused look danced across each council member's features.
"You stole from him?" Master Windu, very interested to hear how his oldest friend was robbed by an eight year old boy with no force training.
Ben nodded, picking up on their curiosity. "Well I was coming out of an alley way and I spotted him walking down the street. I saw he kind of seemed out of place, I thought he must be from the upper side of town. Then I saw his Freeds pouch and it was fully loaded, so I ran into him and snatched it." He admitted, smiling as the event seemed so long ago now. Though it had only been a few days. "He didn't realize at first, but then he started chasing me. At the time I didn't know he could do…the things he can do. I pegged him for an old man who wouldn't be able to keep up. But he did. He caught me about 10 blocks later."
"10 blocks?" Master Windu asked impressed. That was still a fair distance. Ben nodded.
"I don't know how, either. I hid in this container before he saw me, but he just walked right up to it and pulled me right out. It was like he saw me another way." Ben explained and Master Windu nodded in understand.
"He did. What happened after that?" He asked and Ben's smile faded.
"Well he paid me to go on this really boring tour so he could find out what the inside of the Tri-Net building looked like. Then he gave me money for food and we separated."
"Did you know he was going to break in?" Ki-Adi-Mundi asked and Ben turned and then nodded obediently. "Why didn't you tell someone? Surely someone at Tri-Net would have rewarded you for the tip." The master finished and Ben shrugged.
"It didn't feel right." He answered as honestly as he could. "It was like something was telling me that he was doing the right thing. Besides, I already had the Freeds that he gave me. I'd gotten by fine stealing so I wasn't worried about when they ran out." He explained, turning back to Master Windu and Master Yoda.
"After we separated I didn't see him until the next day." Ben continued explaining, assuming they wanted to hear the rest of the story. "I was at a park, and Xanatos came and started asking me about Qui-Gon. I don't know how he knew I met him, but I didn't tell him anything because he felt wrong. So he knocked me out. When I woke up he was dragging me down a mining quarry and strapped me to a wall. I don't know how, but the chain unlocked itself after a few hours and-."
"What were you thinking about when it unlocked itself?" Master Windu asked swiftly, cutting off Ben.
"Well I wanted to get out. I was just wishing the chain wasn't locked, then all of a sudden it fell to the floor." He explained and the Masters exchanged another look. Clearly Ben had used the force to undue the lock without realizing it. Qui-Gon was right when he said the boy had a natural gift. Master Windu gave him a motion to continue, so he did.
"After the chain unlocked I tried getting out. I started getting sick, and tired, and stumbled my way into a drop off. I managed to hold onto the side and then Qui-Gon – Master Jinn – was suddenly there. He told me to trust him and to let go, so I did. He explained to me later that he used the Force to bring me to him on the other side. After he got me we started trying to escape, but I kept getting sicker, so he carried me. I blacked out, and the next thing I remember is waking up in a room sitting on a counter." He finished, as the most exciting part of the story was over.
The room was silent for a moment, and Master Yoda and Master Windu seemed to be having a silent conversation. Suddenly, Master Windu pulled out a datapad and held it facing himself. "Ben, I'd like to ask you to identify a few things for me. Can you do that?" He asked, and Ben nodded with a shrug.
"Sure." He said, and was surprised when suddenly Master Windu seemed waiting for an answer. He paused, he hadn't been shown anything, and how was he supposed to -. Something was whispering to him again. "A ring?" He asked uncertainly and was surprised when Mace Windu nodded his approval. The feeling shifted and so he stated, "A building." He stated with more confidence, and then felt the feeling shift again. "A piece of fruit." Then it shifted once more. "A speeder." He said, unsure of what it was he was doing, but by the looks on the two Master's faces, he had done well.
He let his hands fall to his side and the room filled with more silence as they seemed to having a rather long silent conversation. He wanted to learn how to do that for sure. "Ben, would you like to stay here?" Master Windu suddenly asked, and Ben looked rather hopeful.
"You mean to be a Jedi?" He asked and the Master nodded. Ben smiled and nodded swiftly. "I would very much." He said and then looked a little nervous. "Do you know I can't read?" He asked, suddenly afraid that that might change everything.
"Don't worry…We'll take care of that." Master Windu said confidently. "So welcome, Initiate Kenobi, to the Jedi Order."
"These will be your quarters. The room is not yours, and the items inside are not either. The Jedi do not own possessions, but, should you need more blankets, new clothes, or anything really, all you must do is ask and they will be provided." The same woman who had entertained Ben while he waited for the Council explained as she stood at the entrance to a room.
"Don't worry. I'm definitely used to not owning anything." He said lightly and she flashed an affectionate smile. She motioned him inside and pointed out a few objects.
"This controls the room temperature; you can set it to make yourself comfortable. Also, this dial here controls the lighting. It's on a dimmer, so you can make it as low or high as you wish." She explained by dimming and then lighting the room at full power. As that was rather bright she let it dim back down to a normal level and walked towards the window. "This will let you block out the window to certain levels." She demonstrated that by turning the knob to the three different levels, one completely allowing the Coruscant sky line to be shown, the second slightly dimmed, and the third completely blocking it out.
"The council is arranging for you to meet privately with several instructors about catching up to your age-mates." She continued explaining as she set some clothes and blankets down for Ben on the bed. She then pulled out a data-pad. "And this is very important. You mustn't lose it. It is special for you since you can't read. It will announce all of your messages for you, until you're able to read. Just ask it anything and it will speak the answer. Also it will act as a sort of guide around the Temple until you learn your way. It's smaller than it seems, I promise. Aaand…" She said, feeling as if she was forgetting something. "Oh! Dinner is in an hour for your age-mates. I'm sure that will be a good time for you to meet some new friends. What else…" She said, looking at him, and feeling oddly compassionate.
It was hard for a student to live in the temple. However, he was unique in that most people his age already had friends with deep connections. They already knew their way around. "I guess that's it…Once you meet with the instructors they'll set up a schedule for you and things will be more set then. I wish you luck, Initiate Kenobi." She said, winking at him and smiling when he seemed to stand a bit straighter with pride as she said that.
"Thank you." He said, suddenly realizing he didn't even know her name. He looked rather distraught and his eyes widened.
"Mira. Padawan Mira." She said, giving a little bow.
"Padawan? Master Jinn told me a little bit about ranks but…" He trailed off with a shrug, obviously unaware of many of the intricacies of Jedi culture.
"Well then, I suppose I will educate you." She said with a smile as she place her hand on her heart. "You see, a student who is still learning general studies is an Initiate, like you. Then, around the ages 11 to 13 they are chosen by a Knight or Master for one on one training. That is when they become a Padawan, like me. After a Padawan studies for a very long time, and pass their trials, they become a Knight. Like…well…I suppose you haven't met one yet, but they're every where." She said waving her hand dismissively. "After a Knight comes a Master. That is someone who has raised a Padawan to Knighthood themselves, and proven that they're very wise and good and all those things that make a Jedi great." She explained with a wide grin. "All the Jedi on the Council are Masters."
"And Qui-Gon." Ben said swiftly, and Mira nodded.
"Yes, Master Jinn is one of the most revered Jedi in the entire Order. Everyone thinks he's some kind of Legend really." She said lightly, and noted the spark in Ben's eyes. "You know…It seems he's taken a liking to you. You must be very special." She said gently, seeming to think that he needed a confidence boost now that he was in all new surroundings. Ben smiled sheepishly.
His thoughts were on Qui-Gon, however. The man had seemed normal when he met him. Special, but still somewhat normal. Around all of Qui-Gon's friends, however, it seemed the man was much more important than he thought. Much more powerful. Ben decided right then and there he wanted to be just like Qui-Gon some day.
"Thank you." He said again, smiling a bit. "Now I know that one day I will be a Jedi Master." He said and looked her in the eyes. "And you will too." He said and she giggled a bit and nodded as she ruffled his hair.
"We sure will." She promised, and then headed back to his door. "Remember, don't lose that datapad. And if you have any questions, or need any help, all you have to do is ask it and it will contact the right people for you." She promised and Ben nodded, holding it firmly.
"I won't lose it." He assured and she nodded, gave a small bow, and left.
Ben heaved a heavy sigh and sat on the bed. The room looked emptier than his home on Ne'Arna. But it felt better. It was warmer, both physically and aesthetically. It also was a symbol of his new life. He was no longer some unwanted Street-Rat, forgotten and unloved. He was Jedi Initiate Ben Kenobi. And though he knew little about Jedi, he knew it was something to be proud of.
He laid back on the bed and looked at the datapad in his hand. He hadn't thought about making friends. He had never really had any friends until he met Qui-Gon. And he was suspecting the man didn't really return the affection. Still, Ben owed him a lot, and would always see him as a hero and an icon.
He pressed a button on the side of the datapad and it hummed up to life brightly. "What can you tell me about Master Qui-Gon Jinn?" He asked and the datapad was silent for a moment, then gave a sad beep.
"Personal files are restricted on this device." It informed him in a mechanic voice. Ben frowned, and shrugged.
"What can you tell me about…" He hesitated; he wanted to know so many things. He wanted to know about Coruscant. He wanted to know about the Jedi. It all seemed so over whelming.
"Please restate the question." The datapad requested in the same mechanic voice. Ben frowned and rolled his eyes.
"Never mind." He muttered and sat up from the bed. He looked at the pile of clothes and blankets and set the datapad aside. He quickly put the clothes away in the dresser and spread the blanket out on the bed. Then, he turned to the window and looked out at the sky line again. He was still amazed that a planet could be so busy! It was astounding. Rieslia was nothing compared to this. Ne'Arna as a whole was mostly countryside. The people were fiercely protective of their nature. Apparently the people here were much less concerned.
He felt like he could watch it for hours, but his stomach gave a grumble. His first instinct was to go find something to steal, and then he reminded himself he didn't have to do that anymore. "Never again." He promised himself happily. He turned back to the datapad and gained its attention. "Can you direct me to the…place they serve food?" He asked, suddenly realizing he wasn't sure what the Jedi called it.
"Would you like to go to the commissary?" It asked him, and Ben nodded swiftly.
"Yes. The commissary." He said assuredly. Suddenly the machine began spouting off directions, much too quickly for Ben to keep track. He darted from his room and quickly started carrying out its directions. At least trying to.
"Ok, not what I had in mind…but not bad." Ben muttered in amazement as he stood in the entrance to the Room of a Thousand Fountains. He momentarily forgot about food and stepped deeper inside to explore this awe inspiring room a bit longer. When he arrived at the Temple Qui-Gon told him there would be places that took his breath away, this was definitely one of them.
He walked along a path slowly, taking time to look at each tree, and bush as he past it. He could spend days, weeks, in this room taking in all of its beauty. And the feeling…the feeling of perfection. Of absolute rightness. It radiated in this room like a powerful beacon. He suspected he would find an excuse to come back to this room on a regular basis.
"Are you lost, Young One?" A voice suddenly asked behind him. Ben spun around and faced one of the most terrifying Jedi he had seen yet. Spikes stuck out of the man's head and his mouth bore an unsettling snarl. "I'm sorry, did I startle you?" The man asked with genuine sincerity. Ben slowly nodded.
"Yes. Sorry…I was looking for the commissary." He said slowly and the man smiled.
"Well you're clearly in the wrong place. Come, I'll show you." He said, beckoning Ben over to him. Ben followed, deciding not to tell him he could simply ask his datapad for directions. It was nice to talk to more people, no matter how frightening they looked. "You seem unfamiliar of this place." The man commented, and Ben nodded once more.
"This is my first day here. The Council has allowed me stay to be trained, even though I'm a bit old." Ben explained, finding it easy to talk to this man, regardless of his appearance.
"How kind of them." The man said, and put a hand on his chest. "My name is Tash Rorg. I'm a gardener here, among other things." He explained, and Ben gave him a dubious look.
'A gardener? Surely this man is a warrior of some kind.' Ben thought to himself, and the man let out a harsh laugh.
"You think that because I am a Zabrak that I cannot be in touch with the greener side of the Force?" He asked rhetorically. "The plants are full of life, and someone must tend to them." He explained and Ben felt a sense of irony to his statements. Though he didn't know what a Zabrak was, he knew this man didn't look like a gardener. Though, he seemed genuine in his care for plants. "What is your name, Young One?"
"Ben Kenobi." He said, and then shrugged. "I'm from Ne'Arna." He said, and Tash looked impressed.
"I have heard of that planet. You are the first Arnian to grace the Temple walls I believe. Perhaps that is why the Council let you stay. How did you sneak off your planet though?" Tash asked curiously as he walked Ben towards the cafeteria. Ben knew they were getting close, for he could hear loud chatter of young people.
"Master Qui-Gon Jinn was there and found me. He brought me back with him afterwards." Ben explained lightly, surprised by the shock that came to Tash's face.
"Qui-Gon Jinn? Willingly brought you to the temple? You didn't stow away? He didn't push you out the window in the middle of hyper drive?" He asked, as if he truly suspected Qui-Gon might do such a thing.
Ben slowly shook his head. "No…He didn't." He said slowly, confused by the reaction. Mira had said Qui-Gon was a legend. But now Ben was beginning to wonder what his reputation was really for. "He said I was strong in the Force and should be trained." He explained and Tash grew a small smile.
"Well good." He said and patted Ben's shoulder. "Welcome to the Order, Initiate Kenobi. Good luck. The commissary is right in there. And if you need anything, you know where to find me. I'm almost always in those gardens, if not, just send a messenger droid." He said sincerely and Ben nodded.
"I will." He promised and gave a tentative bow as Tash walked away. Qui-Gon was right about one thing, the Jedi were nice. No matter how frightening they might appear to be.
Ben took a deep breath and faced the large swinging doors. He almost felt as nervous going to dinner as he did meeting the Council. Would any one talk to him? Would any one want to be his friend? For a boy who had never really had friends his own age, he was suddenly really doubtful of his ability to make any. They had all left after they used him, anyways. 'But the Jedi are different.' He reminded himself.
With one last deep breath, Ben pushed opened the door, and knocked someone right in the face.