Chapter 8
Obi-Wan could feel the council members' gaze follow him from the doorway to the center of the room. His heart started to accelerate despite his resolve to stay impassive. He was in a room with 12 powerful beings that can kill him, without even touching his, plus the fact that they will decide his future. Of course, he should not be nervous.
Obi-Wan, I need you to calm down. Qui-Gon's said in Obi-Wan's mind. Obi-Wan was kind of use to Qui-Gon talking to him through the Force now, although he had never tried talking back and now does not seem like a good time to try. He took a deep breath and looked up. Yoda was straight in-front of him and the others are all watching every move he makes.
"Well, this is Obi-Wan Kenobi. The youngling I have in mind to train as my own apprentice." Qui-Gon said, he looking around the room.
Obi-Wan was taught proper Jedi curtsy, so he bowed and muttered his greeting. He was glad his voice wasn't shaking. The gaze from around the room seem to penetrate his mind.
"Been looking through your materials, I have." Yoda said, nodding at Obi-Wan. "Very strong they are."
"Umm… thank you, Master Yoda." Obi-Wan said, he tried to smile, but it seemed like he forgot how to.
"Alright, Obi-Wan. Here's what we'll do. Master Yoda and I will ask you a few questions. Try and answer them as honestly as you can. Then, we will be doing some tests with you relating to Force use." Mace Windu said, looking into Obi-Wan's eyes.
"Okay." Obi-Wan answered as he wondered how honest is honest. Does he have to tell them everything?
"Let's start then." Mace Windu said, he thought for a moment. "How do feel?"
Typical start. Obi-Wan thought to himself. He needed to be honest so he thought hard.
"Umm…nervous," he thought harder, "and hungry?" Obi-Wan finished, he could feel Qui-Gon repressing a smile.
"Unknown the future is, Obi-Wan. On the future, you mind dwells." Yoda observed. It was not a question though, so Obi-Wan did not know what to say. He merely nodded. Then Mace continued.
"What would you say are your greatest fears?" Mace Windu asked.
"Falling. I'm araid of falling from the sky while piloting a ship or falling from somewhere high. Umm…I also fear getting my arms and legs cut off by a lightsaber, so I can only lie there helplessly, waiting for death." Obi-Wan said, but without much thought this time.
"That was quite descriptive." A master said to Obi-Wan's left. Yoda nodded.
"Descriptive it is. Disturbing, it is not. Realizing exactly what our fear is, a Jedi must. Overcome it we must. Let it cloud our judgements and actions, we must not." Yoda commented, glancing at Obi-Wan with a touch more interest.
"If you remember, Obi-Wan, three years ago, you were caught fighting with another youngling of your age. How do you feel about that incident now?" Mace Windu asked.
"I feel I did something really stupid and pointless. I shouldn't have started it, because I didn't have any good reason to. I just wanted to provoke him, but then I regretted doing so. But I still don't think he was right to call me names I don't deserve." Obi-Wan said, saying everything that surfaces to the top of his mind. Some masters in the room smiled and some exchanged looks. They obviously remembered the incident too, as half of the main corridor was destroyed due to the fighting.
"Alright. Last question Obi-Wan, Master Yoda specifically asked us to include this question. We were all very interested to know how did you know Yoda told the Order of the Republic 300 years ago to screw themselves when we made sure that information is modified and re worded in every textbook and archive?"
Obi-Wan's head went blank at that question. Qui-Gon weren't supposed to have helped him do the essay. Yet, he could not think of anything as to where else he could have gotten the information. The room was silent as every pair eyes is cast upon him. Obi-Wan blushed in spite of himself. He could not see Qui-Gon's barely concealed smile behind him.
"A little bird to me." Obi-Wan whispered, still looking at the floor. There was second of silence, then everyone in the room started laughing, including Yoda. When the laughter eventually died, Obi-Wan looked up. He felt much braver.
"Of course, Obi-Wan. We'll take that answer for now. Although there are no birds here on Corusant." A master said, still chuckling.
"Indeed. Yet, details are often irrelevant. Now, I want to lift this ball here, using the Force. This is fairly simple, I trust?" Mace Windu said. The ball was suspended in midair the second he had finished talking.
"You did well, Obi-Wan." Mace smiled.
"Thank you, Master Windu." Obi-Wan said and smiled back.
"Train this boy you shall, Qui-Gon Jinn." Yoda said, nodding. "Because he apprentice you shall, Obi-Wan."
"Thank you, Master Yoda." Qui-Gon stepped forward and bowed. Then, setting a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder, he huided the boy out of the room, signaling the end of the council meeting.
….
"You did well, my apprentice." Qui-Gon said when they reached the elevator.
"Thank you, master." Obi-Wan said cheerfully.
"Hmm, maybe not so well for the bird part, come to think of it." Qui-Gon said with a teasing smile.
"I couldn't think of a better idea…" Obi-Wan groaned.
"Well, you could have answered that I told you about it. They probably knew it and just wanted to see your reaction." Qui-Gon said.
"I wasn't about to betray you, master, and I didn't want to lie to them either. So…" Obi-Wan said with a grimace.
"That's good to know." Qui-Gon laughed.
"Where are we going?" Obi-Wan asked when they are in the elevator.
"To my quatars, I have something for you. I have a feeling you will like it."
Master of Mystery…. Obi-Wan's thought came to Qui-Gon easily through the Force.
You should really get use to that, my young apprentice. Qui-Gon smiled staring at the doors of the elevator as the shot upward toward his quarters.
Can you actually here me? Obi-Wan focus as hard as he can on his thought, then looked up at Qui-Gon.
Yes. A little to clearly, Obi-Wan. You don't have to focus that hard. Qui-Gon advised.
Okay… like this?
That's better.
Qui-Gon led Obi-Wan out of the elevator and into his quarters. Obi-Wan trialed behind him as they entered. The apartment was clean, everything looked in place. Qui-Gon had a feeling that this will be the last time he will see it like this.
"Right, my young apprentice. I think you are going to like this, but do be careful. You've never held a real one before, so, don't kill yourself, or me for that matter." Qui-Gon said, as he walked over to the living room table and picked up something.
He turned and Obi-Wan gasped with delight as he saw the lightsaber. Qui-Gon passed the lightsaber to Obi-Wan and took three steps backward quickly for his own safety. Obi-Wan's eyes lit up and grinned as he ignited the blade. The sky-blue blade blazed to life in front of Obi-Wan.
"Wow, I'd never had a real one before. I only had the practice ones they give us each class." Obi-Wan exclaimed.
"And you will keep it, young one. Try not to lose it, as that weapon is your life. Plus, I will be very pissed off if you do." Qui-Gon said, watching Obi-Wan handling his lightsaber.
"Does it actually work?" Obi-Wan said absentmindedly.
"I hope you don't test that on yourself. Take a swing, maybe?" Qui-Gon suggested, telling himself what's coming will come sooner or later. He preferred it to be sooner.
Crash
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…" Obi-Wan started, staring at the splintered sofa in the living room. The sofa laid in two halves on the floor.
"Oh, no need to apologize. It's a tradition. A Jedi could never truly become a master until his apprentice breaks one of his furniture." Qui-Gon shrugged.
"Oh…" Obi-Wan muttered, still feeling guilty.
"I've heard of an apprentice who swung his lightsaber into the wrong pipe in the kitchen that caused a fire when his master gave him his first lightsaber." Qui-Gon commented, drawing out his lightsaber and cut the sofa into four halves.
"umm…I think that was Adley…" Obi-Wan muttered.
"Yes, I thought the name was something like that." Qui-Gon said, swinging his lightsaber once more. The sofa is now cut into 8 halves. Obi-Wan watched in utter disbelief as he watched Qui-Gon swung his lightsaber at the remaining pieces of sofa on the floor.
"Umm… master, are you sure about cutting that thing more?" Obi-Wan asked tentatively.
"Oh yes, I haven't had the enjoyment of destroying furniture in some years. The trick, my young apprentice, is to make sure you cut through the wood, but not the floor. Come here, I'll show you." Qui-Gon said, gesturing for Obi-Wan to come over.
". Now, you need to control your lightsaber, because your master doesn't want a hole on the floor of his quarters. Right, see, the control has a lot to do with your height, so you have to adjust…."
Crash, Crash, Came the sound of splintered wood, then came the laughter of a young boy and the chuckles of a Jedi Master.
