Chapter 8: The Winner
Jedi were calm and composed. They were stoic and never showed excess feelings in public. Or at least that was what people thought - if they ever contemplated the jedi lifestyle at all. And they were right. Jedi were all that. Mostly.
What happened inside the walls of the Jedi Temple nobody knew except its inhabitants. The outsider's assumptions would usually have been right if he or she could peek inside the massive front doors. Mostly. But not today.
The day when the older initiates were to show their skills in 'saber duels and maybe, just maybe, be chosen as a padawan for some lucky (or not so lucky) Master was one of the exceptions to the rule.
The gallery in the large dojo #1 was crowded and the cheering when one initiate or the other won a duel down on the mats was very un-jedi like. Masters and older padawans alike filled the gallery and stood leaning towards the wall ringside the duel area. It was an air of festivity over the entire room.
Everyone focused on the duels so nobody saw the two small cloak clad figures sneaking in the door, tiptoeing along the wall and curling down behind one vent duct placed discreetly in a corner of the gallery.
"I told you we could see everything from here," one of them whispered.
His companion, a red headed smaller boy just nodded. His green-blue eyes shone with anticipation. One day he would be down there, swinging his laser sword and make the others look at him in awe. One day, but not yet. He couldn't wait until they were allowed to have their first lesson of 'saber combat.
He had been a bit sceptical when his friend Garen had made the suggestion last evening. They both knew fully well that initiates weren't allowed in the dojo unless accompanied by a Master until they had passed the magical threshold of six years. At first he had been tempted to refuse. No way could they sneak in there without being seen but after a few minutes of Garen expertly persuading him he gave in. It would be a big benefit knowing the procedure when their time came, right? So after all Garen's suggestion made perfectly sense. It was… just preparing for the future.
They had escaped Master Ali-Alann's watchful eye immediately after morning meal and since today was a day of free play for the younger initiates it would hopefully take some time before their absence in the creche was noticed, and even more time until they were tracked down.
Another pair of duellants had finished and the brown haired girl with a bright green saber had defeated her counterpart. The cheering from the audience rang out loud and clear, and then silenced as the door to the dojo opened. The applause was substituted by silent whispers and Garen stretched out his head to get a better position to peek down to the floor. Obi-Wan did the same from the other side of the vent.
The man who had entered the dojo was about a head taller than most of the other humans in the crowd. His long brown hair flowed over the hood of his robe and he bore himself with an almost regal stature. The robe had obviously seen better days and if the boys had been hiding down on the floor instead of on the gallery they would have noticed that his well used leather boots witnessed of a man who spent much of his time out in the field.
"It's Jinn," they heard someone whisper. "Maybe he's out to find a padawan this year?"
Garen and Obi-Wan exchanged glances. Even they had heard stories about Master Qui-Gon Jinn who was well known for his deep understanding of the living Force, but among the younger Jedi even more known for his 'saber skills. Rumors had it that he was one of the very few Jedi who were able to beat Master Windu in duel. Some even said that he almost had defeated Master Yoda once.
A soft chill ran down Obi-Wan's spine. It was something about the tall master that made him shudder. A strange feeling of something to come, something…unpleasant, and at the same time a feeling of…a distant memory perhaps? But as far as he could remember he had never ever met Master Jinn in his entire four-and-a-half year old life. He shook the unwelcome feeling off and focused once more on what was going on in the dojo.
A new pair of initiates entered the mat and Obi-Wan's eyes narrowed a bit. This had to be the day for bad feelings. One of the initiates was a sturdy Bothan, the other was a black haired human boy.
"Next pair out is Choar Ach'tan and Xanatos DuCrion", the sword master, Cin Drallig announced.
The crowd tensed and Obi-Wan could see Master Jinn's seemingly relaxed stance change into something more alert. A new chill, stronger this time went through his body. This wasn't right. Something horrible would happen. He just didn't know what or even when. The duel began and it was clear from the first parries that the duelists were unevenly paired. The Bothan fought well but was no real match for the elegant DuCrion kid. The Bothan's lightsaber flew over the mat and he found himself with DuCrion's 'saber pressed so close to his throat that he could literally feel the heat.
The applause rose again, as Xanatos DuCrion was declared the winner of the morning duels.
Garen tugged Obi-Wan's sleeve: "Come on, Obi. Let's get back before Master Ali Alann notices that we're away. It's almost time for mid day meal."
Obi-Wan nodded silently and as they slipped out the same way as they had come he cast a glance over his shoulder and could see that Master Jinn had approached young DuCrion and had laid a huge hand on the boy's slim shoulder.
A last chill washed over Obi-Wan. Whatever was going on between the tall Master and the initiate would not end well. He just knew it. He had a seriously bad feeling about them.