Chapter 11

Anakin and Tru soon arrived at Master Yoda's quarters and knocked on the door.

"Open the door is." Yoda told them from inside his quarters.

Tru opened the door and they walked inside.

Anakin thought the living space was much too big for the Jedi Master as he noted the almost child sized furniture. The living room had eleven small cushions on the floor in a circle and in one corner was a regular sized chair. The walls were covered with tiny handprints, all different colors, and there were several shelves that held various items on one side of the room. Below the shelves were ten small sleeping mats and pillows.

They walked into the kitchen that was also a miniature in its contents. There they found Yoda cooking some sort of stew.

Anakin and Tru bowed their heads as Yoda turned around to greet them.

"In time for noonmeal you both are." Yoda told them.

Tru managed a weak smile. "Actually, my Master wants to have a talk with me so I won't be staying long."

Anakin looked at Tru questioningly, wondering why the sudden excuse.

Tru gave a short bow at Yoda and nodded at Anakin. "I'll see you around Anakin." Tru said and left the room.

Yoda looked at Anakin and saw the young man was deep in thought about something. "Questions you have?" Yoda said knowingly.

Anakin focused on the small Master and nodded. "I was hoping that you could answer them."

"Answer them I can but first eat we must." Yoda replied, going to a cabinet and pulling out two bowls.

Anakin sat down on the floor next to a low small table and watched as Yoda brought two bowls of some kind of stew to the table. Anakin took one and an offered spoon and took his first taste of the green, chunky stew. The stew was bland, yet it quickly eased Anakin's grumbling stomach. Now I know why Tru didn't want to stay. Anakin chuckled to himself as he took another small bite of the stew. This tastes like it came from a swamp.

"How feel you?" Yoda inquired, studying Anakin's reaction closely.

"What do you mean?" Anakin asked, not understanding.

"At peace are you?" Yoda continued.

Anakin swallowed another bite of stew before he answered. "I still feel confused."

Yoda nodded his head. "Time it will take. What questions have you?"

"Since I've been here, I've begun to realize how wrong some of my views on the Jedi were. I also noticed that there is unrest here too." Anakin responded.

"Right you are. Much unrest there has been since left Obi-Wan has." Yoda confirmed.

Anakin placed his spoon in the bowl and put his hand in his lap. "Why does Obi-Wan seem so important to everyone here?"

"Know the answer to that you do." Yoda stated.

Anakin looked at Yoda confused. "I do? I only know what Tru told me."

"Know Tru I do. Told you everything he did."

"I don't understand. He told me that Obi-Wan created this..sect..but that can't be the reason that everyone saw him as important."

"What know you about Kenshin?' Yoda questioned.

"Well, Kenshin presides over the sect in the Jedi Order. He is part of a prophecy, something about him being born of a shadow. That part I don't understand." Anakin informed him.

"A man the shadow is. Called shadow he is because of where born he was." Yoda explained.

Anakin's eyes widened as he felt a piece of the puzzle click into his mind. "Obi-Wan is the shadow."

"Leris 4 is a world torn by natural disasters and war. There hasn't been a war for about a hundred years because the last war convinced everyone that they would be better of living far away from other families. Even the families were divided. When a child got married, the new couple would be forced to go find a home for themselves, away from other people."

"Why don't they try to get along?" Eleven-year-old Anakin asked.

Darth Redav gave Anakin a sad smile. "Because they won't speak to each other even if they get stuck on the same safe hut during a flood or volcanic eruption. Those who aren't married and still living with their parents will only talk to those who are not married."

"That's dumb." Anakin remarked, scrunching up his face in distaste.

"It does sound like it, but to them it was a way of protecting themselves." Redav answered.

"Well, why didn't some try to leave the planet then?" Anakin questioned.

Redav gave a weak smile. "If they could then I'm sure they would have. Because of the constant wars and inability to get along, technology never advanced past wagons."

"Well, could someone from off-planet get them off." Anakin inquired, tilting his head as Redav turned his face a tiny bit away from him.

"Yes if the people living on Leris 4 would trust them." Redav replied. "One did make it off Leris 4. He calls himself a shadow because he was the only one who had the ability to trust completely. A shadow of what could have been."

"Oh." Anakin said in response.

"Right you are. The shadow Obi-Wan is." Yoda replied, a hint of sadness in his voice.

Anakin's gazed traveled from the wall he had been staring as at as he remember something from the past and slowly looked at Yoda. Understanding began to dawn as things became clearer. "So if Obi-Wan is the shadow, then that means Kenshin is Obi-Wan's son." Anakin responded, reeling slightly from the realization. "And Tru said that you think I can help him."

"Not think. Know." Yoda corrected.

Anakin shook his head. "How can I help him if I'm still unsure of my place in the Force?"

Yoda nodded. "Help you I can, if let me you will."

"I..I would be grateful for your help." Anakin responded.

"Begin we will after noonmeal." Yoda told him, taking another bite of the stew.

"I'm hungry." Nev-Kwellen complained.

Raven looked at him in irritation. "You're the whiniest guy I've ever met."

Nev-Kwellen glared at her as she went back to whatever she was doing. "Well, can you stop what you're doing for awhile so we can go eat?"

Raven retained her focus on the child as she sent waves of Force healing to Asha's body.

This only infuriated Nev-Kwellen even more when she didn't respond. I would be doing my mission by now if it wasn't for that girl! I don't like it here, in fact I hate it. I hate this room, Temple, planet, the Jedi and most of all I hate her! She's pretty for a Jedi but she's so blasted frustrating! A spark of electricity momentarily left his fingertips as he watched Raven sing to the child. I'll get her back dearly for this, he swore. Why did I have to wind up with her out of all the Jedi here?

Raven planted a kiss on Asha's forehead, whispered something into the half-asleep child's ear and then stood up. She walked over to Drengin and stared down at him. "All right, if you want to eat then let's go." She told him, her voice emotionless.

Nev-Kwellen smiled at victory. "Finally."

Raven ignored his comment as she headed for the cafeteria.

Once they were inside the cafeteria, Nev-Kwellen made a Force sweep of the room in an attempt to locate Anakin. He hissed between his teeth when he failed to locate Anakin and looked at Raven. "Are there any other cafeterias?"

"Nope, just this one. There is a miniature one but that's for those who are eleven years old and younger." Raven told him as she grabbed a tray.

"Do you ever have problems locating your friends? This place is vast." Nev-Kwellen asked, attempting to find a different approach to finding Anakin.

"Nope. When you've lived here most of your life, things are less complicated then they seem." Raven explained. "It also helps when you known someone for a long time to sense where they are."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Nev-Kwellen asked, the hairs on his neck bristling at Raven's hidden accusation.

"Don't play dumb, you know what I mean. You would have found Anakin already if he was really your friend." Raven responded, taking a moment to give him an icy look. In a low voice she continued. "I don't know the real reason you're here, but know that I'm keeping my eyes on you. If you do anything suspicious, I'll make sure they toss you in a cell and throw away the key. Understand?"

Nev-Kwellen gave her a cool, steady look, hiding his rage behind his mask. "Perfectly."

Raven turned away from him and continued on down the cafeteria line, choosing from a sample of fruit. So he wants to play? Well, then let the games begin. I'll discover why he's here, and when I do, I'll make him confess before the council..the Orcin council.

Drengin and his new friends sat at a round table, happily eating their noon meal. Kalen was digging into a vegetable casserole. Yentuwa was eating soup that contained vegetables, meat, and fruit. Kabbacca had a slab of rare meat on his plate that he seemed to be really enjoying. Salanda was enjoying an assortment of fruit with a side of purple seeds. Drengin was eating a small piece of Bantha steak, some vegetables and a piece of fruit.

"So, what do you guys do after lunch?" Drengin ventured, taking another bite of his food.

Kalen finished taking a sip from his blue milk and answered. "We divide into our clan groups and our instructor takes us places. My clan gets to see one of the council members today."

"What's a clan?" Drengin asked, causing Yentuwa sputter in mid-sip of his water.

Salanda shook her head, managing not to laugh at Yentuwa's reaction.

Kabbacca slapped Yentuwa's back several times until Yentuwa stopped coughing on his water.

"Sorry, Yentuwa croaked out, "it went down the wrong way." He turned his head to Kabbacca. "Will you please not do that? I'll fall into my food one of these days if you keep that up."

Kabbacca woofed something that sounded like laughter and soon everyone at the table was laughing.

After they had calmed themselves down, Kalen answered Drengin's question. "A clan is a small group agemates who do activities together. It may be a history lesson, a lesson on the Force, watching practice duels or something. We meet together for two to three hours after noonmeal every day."

Each clan has a name. My clan is the Bantha clan. Kabbacca added, looking down at his translator droid when it made an odd beep.

"Mine is the Muskwell clan." Yentuwa added.

"What happens when everyone in the clan becomes an apprentice?" Drengin questioned curiously.

"Well, each clan is divided into subdivisions. For example, there is, Little Muskwell, Youngling Muskwell, Growing Muskwell, and Mature Muskwell. Little Muskwell's age range is newborn to four years old. Youngling is five to nine, Growing is ten to twelve, and Mature is for thirteen-year-olds and up. They have a clan for thirteen-year-olds to help those who have not been chosen as an apprentice yet." Yentuwa explained.

Drengin scratched the back of his head as he adsorbed this new information. "I think I get it."

"Kalen, since Drengin is new here, why don't we let him come with our clan today?" Salanda suggested.

Drengin's face lit up with excitement.

"That sounds like a great idea. I'm sure our instructor won't mind." Kalen said, noticing Drengin's happy expression.

"So, what's your clan name?" Drengin asked.

"Well, it's kind of a weird one. Salanda and I belong to the Youngling Shadow Watcher clan." Kalen told Drengin.

"What's so weird about that?" Drengin pressed.

Yentuwa twitched his nose before answering. "First, every clan name is an animal name. Shadow is not an animal. Second, there are no three word clan names other than this one." He gave a small snort. "Some say the Shadow Watcher clan is watched by a Sith just waiting to capture the perfect apprentice for himself."

Kalen rolled his eyes and looked at Drengin. "That's just a made-up story. No Sith are even near this planet. If they were, the Sith would be locked-up or killed already." He said with confidence.

Drengin nearly choked on his Juri juice when Kalen said "killed".

"Hey, are you all right?" Salanda asked in concern.

Drengin coughed one more time before answering. "Yes."

After the meal, they parted into clan groups. Drengin went with Kalen and Salanda and soon met up with the other clan members.

Kalen went to the instructor, gave a small bow of respect and introduced Drengin. "Master Ruuka, this is Drengin. He's new here and I wondered if he could join us for today."

Ruuka looked at Drengin with her bright green reptilian eyes and smiled warmly at him. "I'm glad that you could join us. Are you enjoying it here?"

Drengin nodded. "Yes, I am. It's a lot better than... ." He paused for just a second as he hurried to cover his near mistake, "than being on a ship all day."

"Indeed it is." Ruuka agreed. She turned away to count her charges and when she was satisfied that they were all here she instructed them to follow in double lines.

"Which council member are we going to see?" Drengin asked Kalen, who was walking beside him.

"I don't know. It wouldn't be a surprise if we knew." Kalen pointed out.

"True. Do you think we'll get to see Master Yoda?" Drengin inquired.

"I told you, I don't know." Kalen responded. "Why do you ask?"

"Anakin was going to go see Master Yoda earlier today and I was wondering if he is still there." Drengin explained.

Kalen shrugged his shoulders. "Perhaps. It depends on why Anakin went to see Master Yoda."

"Oh." Drengin responded.

Minutes later they were in front of a doorway and Master Ruuka knocked on the door. The door opened and they all walked inside to the living area here they found Master Yoda and Anakin.

Drengin smiled widely when he saw Anakin. He wanted to run to him but saw that Anakin was listening to Master Yoda and knew that he shouldn't interrupt.

Yoda turned away from Anakin, who was meditating, and stepped forward to meet his visitors. "Greetings younglings. Find a cushion and be with you shortly I will."

The children nodded quietly and each claimed a cushion to sit on.

Yoda returned to Anakin who was sitting near the corner of the room. "Trouble meditating you are." sounding more like a statement than a question.

Anakin opened his eyes and looked into Yoda's wizened face. "Yes." He admitted, defeat in his voice. "I can't do it. It's too hard."

Yoda poked Anakin's leg with his gimmer stick. "Impossible it is not, only in your mind it is."

"The Dark Side is easier." Anakin said under his breath, earning another jab by Yoda's stick.

"Yes, easier it is, seductive the Dark Side is. Body, mind, and soul it destroys. Strengthens the body mind, and soul the light side does. Easy the light side path is not, work hard you must and rewarded you will be." Yoda told Anakin and gestured to the children who were chatting to each other on the cushions. "Listen as I instruct them, learn some things you will." Yoda finished before hobbling off.

Anakin looked at the children and noticed Drengin among them. Drengin seemed to be enjoying himself, Anakin observed, feeling as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Why do things seem less complicated for Drengin? He seems have adapted to the change of his environment pretty well. He was interrupted from his musings as Yoda began to speak.

"Ready to begin are you all?" Yoda asked, receiving many nods. "Good. With meditation we will start. Tell me who can, what meditation is?"

Salanda raised her hand and Yoda nodded to her to answer. "Meditation is when you relax your body and free your mind of thoughts."

"Right you are. Add on does anyone else to what Salanda said?" Yoda asked, looking at all of the younglings with a reassuring gaze.

A young Bothan boy broke the silence as he spoke. "Meditation helps you to center yourself with the Force and to relax."

Kalen immediately jumped in after the Bothan boy was finished. "Meditation can help you be able to seek answers within the Force and also to expand your horizons."

"Correct you all are. Anyone else?" Yoda inquired. When no one else spoke up, Yoda gave a nod. "Important meditation is. Without meditation, unfocused we become and prone more to bad decisions. Tell me, meditate how do we?"

A Twi'lek girl raised her hand before she spoke. "We sit cross-legged in a quiet place that will help us to meditate."

The Bothan boy hurriedly added his own thoughts. "The place has to have at least some sort of noise."

"Does not!" The Twi'lek responded instantly.

"Right both of you are." Yoda quickly intervened. "Different opinions have we all."

The two younglings remained quiet as they took in this lesson.

Kalen raised his hand and waited for Yoda to let him speak. "Everyone meditates in different ways but the thing that remains the same is how we reach out to the Force." Yoda nodded for him to continue. "We can't force it to us, we have to let it come to us, then once we grab hold of it and accept it, we can truly meditate."

"Well said." Yoda said in approval. "Meditate you all will now. Assist those who are having trouble Master Ruuka and I will."

Anakin closed his eyes and tried again. He cleared his mind of thoughts and this time didn't concentrate on forcing the light side of the Force to him. Instead he relaxed his body and mind and slowly opened himself up to the light side. Anakin gasped in surprise as the light filled him, comforting and refreshing. It was so much different to the Dark Side touch where Anakin had to focus his anger and hate. With the light side, he felt calm, at peace. He let the light wash over him in waves and slowly drew it to himself. He felt all the beings in the room with him, blazing with light. He lightly touched Drengin's presence and felt the boy react with curiosity. Each presence in the room seemed to have their own tinge of color on their Force signature, Anakin noted. He continued with his observations as he saw things in a totally new and refreshing perspective.

"How feel you?" the familiar voice of Master Yoda asked.

With his eyes still closed Anakin answered. "At ease."

Yoda nodded in approval and let Anakin continue his meditation.