The Hidden Ingredient - Part two
Written by Jemmiah
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"Wait 'til I get my hands on that little squid!" Mace pouted, rubbing the newly acquired lump on his head from where he'd hit the floor. "What a hilarious joke! Really had me in stitches!"
"Sarcasm's one of your strongest suits, isn't it." Qui-Gon mumbled.
"I'll get him back, don't you worry." Mace said vengefully. "You just wait."
"You might not get the chance." Replied Qui-Gon with a sigh.
"What do you mean?"
"He's practically on his last warning as it is. I don't know what's going to happen this time." Jinn shrugged.
"It's his own fault."
"Oh, pipe down Windu! Leave the kid alone. He's good fun and he's never got a bad word to say about anyone…well, rarely. You're just sore because all the girls think he's cute."
"I am not!" Mace looked uncomfortable. "You really think they'll send him away somewhere?"
Qui-Gon didn't know.
"I'll be sorry to see him go if he is sent packing." He replied eventually. "But I can't see anyone wanting to take him into their home, can you?"
"I always believe in looking on the bright side." Mace tried to console his friend.
"There's a bright side?"
"Sure there is." Mace answered perkily. "If Berlingside goes I'll have won my bet!"
***************************
A pair of black eyes set at either side of a rodent-like face flicked round the room in agitation. Rhuziat-Nam-Onnath, or Zia as she was affectionately known by the many children in her care was a Chikavi, a species of squirrel from the giant trees of Kavia Prime. Standing at barely four feet high there were some of her crèche children taller than she was, but her friendly nature and warm, fuzzy hair made her a favorite with her numerous charges. Of all the crèche masters to be judged by, Dex thought in relief, Zia was probably the one who would look most understandingly upon his misdemeanours.
The whiskers swivelled about from side to side as she considered the whole sorry tale.
"What am I to do with you?" she asked finally.
"You could get the healers to look at my ear." Dex rubbed at his painful lobe.
"I meant in the long term." Clarified Zia, her teeth grinding slightly against one another. "Why do you insist on being so disruptive? You are an intelligent, bright little boy. You are skilled and talented for your age. So why?"
Dex put his hands in his pockets and raised and lowered his shoulders in a don't-know-don't care attitude.
"How do you expect to get a master if you don't try to behave nicely?"
"I don't mean any harm." Dex protested.
Tuurith made a choking noise.
"Master Wending, could you return to your class? I'll deal with this."
"But I thought…"
"That you should have a say in his punishment?" Zia chittered in her high voice, causing Tuurith to flinch. "Well, I'm interested in your opinion. Please do suggest something suitable."
Wending was tempted to shout 'cast him out!' at the top of her voice but managed to restrain herself somehow.
"Bread and water only for the next day." Tuurith sniffed.
"Well, young Dexter. What do you say to that?" Zia turned to the boy.
"You mean no refectory food for a day?" he asked in amazement.
"Yes." Wending said triumphantly.
"I have a question." Dex said excitedly.
"And what would that be?"
Dex looked hopefully at Tuurith Wending.
"Can you make it two?"
************************
"A whole week?" Qui-Gon asked sympathetically.
Dex nodded and picked up and empty plasti cup, placing it on a tray beside several others.
"A week of cleaning up in the refectory?"
Berlingside nodded.
"Old sour knickers told Zia she could do with some help in the kitchen."
"And when do you get to eat?" asked Mace.
"After everyone else has gone." Dex said in a lonely little voice. "All by myself."
"Cheer up." Qui-Gon smiled. "A week is nothing really. It will pass quickly enough."
"But I hate being by myself." Dex whined. "I have nobody to speak to."
"You're speaking to us." Mace pointed out.
Almost as soon as the words were out his mouth a shadow loomed over the three boys like a solar eclipse, dampening their mood immediately.
"No time to be chatting." Tuurith snapped. "There's a pile of cups over there in the corner. Go pick them up."
Dex felt like telling her to pick up her own cups but bit back the remark. Instead he looked forlornly at his feet.
"Yes, Master Wending." He parroted.
The rest of the initiates started to file out in small groups and Dex watched them miserably as they left him behind. He hated being without any company. Zia had known this and that was why she had taken up Wending's punishment suggestion. Vernice Ashdal smiled as he winked at her and Gilda Amaline giggled to herself. As usual, Lydia Shiel waved.
Everyone liked Dex.
"We've got to go." Qui-Gon stood up. "The knights and masters will be in shortly for their lunch. Infact, there's one of them over there already."
Mace craned his head.
"Who is it, do you know?" he asked.
"Never seen him before." Jinn answered, as Dex turned round to see who his friends were talking about.
It was him. The knight he'd seen earlier when he'd been marched away by Dragon Lady.
Dex paused for a moment, plasti cup in hand and stared at the knight, taking his measure. He had somewhat dishevelled, wavy brown hair that looked as if he'd just recovered from an unexpected lightening strike. Grey blue eyes stared back at him, the same expression of surprise that he had seen present earlier that day once more evident in the glittering orbs. It was a young and angular face, free from lines or stress. Not exactly handsome but not unattractive either, in a striking sort of way. It was the visage of a relaxed, if almost lazy young man.
Still the wondering eyes stared at Dex and his two companions.
"You two, move along." Tuurith said sharply, before turning to Dex. "You've got fifteen minutes to eat your lunch. Then you can join the others."
"But I thought…" Dex said in confusion.
"Well, you thought wrong." Master Wending replied archly. "Master Yoda has requested that all initiates are available this afternoon. There's going to be a display. Some knights and masters are going to chose padawans."
Dex's face lit up.
"I don't imagine you will have any luck, but as Yoda has requested all the initiates from your class I'll have to let you off this once."
"I might have a master tomorrow." Berlingside said airily. "I might not have to come back here and clear away your dirty dishes."
"Ha!" Tuurith laughed. "There isn't anyone insane enough to take you on. Now pick up those cups and have your lunch."
Berlingside nodded gratefully and did as he was told, happy to be free to rejoin his classmates, even if only for a day. As he sat wolfing down his own indescribable food for fear of being late for the viewing he felt the grey-blue eyes of the knight bore into the back of his head causing the hairs on his neck to stand on end.
Dex resisted the temptation to turn round.
The knight said nothing, stood up with a scrape of chair against floor and sauntered out of the room.
*********************
"Is Dex coming here today?" asked Mace as all the other children assembled around him.
"I don't know." Qui-Gon felt sorry for his friend. It would be a crying shame if he missed out on the chance to have a master because the old stoat in the kitchens wouldn't let him away.
"Do you think you can beat me with a sabre yet?" Mace challenged.
"That's not for me to say, is it?" Qui-Gon answered cryptically. "We shall have to see."
The younger children had been given simpler exercises to complete, such as basic levitation and manual skills, whilst the older children were practising with the lightsabre. Qui-Gon shook his head at the unfairness of it all. For his age, Dex was miles ahead of the other children. The tests would be so easy to him…
He heard the sound of pounding feet running against the floor surface.
"Am I late?" puffed Dex as he barged in through the door, sliding along the newly polished surface and straight into a row of initiates. They fell over like skittles hit by a ball at high speed so that within the space of a minute there was nothing to be seen except for waving arms and legs.
Qui-Gon groaned and closed his eyes.
"Oh, Sith! I'm sorry everyone." Dex apologized, running over to help disentangle Vernice. "I know I shouldn't have been running like that…"
"Then why did you?" frowned Master Gideon Lee.
Dex looked up and saw a collection of knights and masters all staring down at him. Obviously, they didn't like what they saw.
"Well, I…er. Didn't want to be late." Dex answered truthfully.
"And why would you be late?" Lee enquired.
"Because I…I was helping Master Wending clear away the dishes." Dex replied.
"Obviously a helpful boy, if a clumsy and non punctual one." Lee murmured.
Dex felt embarrassed, and Yoda turned to look at him, as did Yaddle.
"Well, actually no. I was helping her because I was ordered to do it for punishment." He admitted.
"Then an honest boy you are, if not helpful, clumsy and punctual." Yaddle smiled.
"Line up with the others, you will." Yoda said, his face not giving away his feelings.
Mouthing a 'sorry' at an indignant Mace, Dex took his place amongst the younger initiates. He felt slightly upset that he was amongst the children of his age group when he knew fine well that he was far more advanced then all of them, but knew it was pointless to argue. It would only make him appear in a bad light. And anyhow, maybe they would all make him look really good in comparison…
As the sabre practise went on in one half of the training rooms Dex sat in the other, wondering how Qui-Gon and Mace were getting on. It was so frustrating not being able to see! These exercises were for babies! Bored with levitating various sizes of rocks and training weights, Dex let his mind wander. What he needed was a more inviting target. Something that was worthy of his skills…
He saw some of the knights and masters looking at the fights, including Yaddle and Yoda. This would be really, really fun. If he could just pull it off…
Dex stretched out with the force and snatched Yoda's stick away from him just as the troll was about to lean on it. This time it was Yoda who fell over, pitching forward on his face.
Part of Dex shouted inwardly 'Yeeehaaa!' The other part screamed 'You idiot!' just seconds later.
The knights and padawans all gathered round Yoda, fussing and brushing down the dust from his robe.
"Fine, I am!" Yoda snapped. "Need assistance I do not! Think you a baby I am?"
"Snugglebuns, certain you are that hurt you are not?" Yaddle asked.
"My own council will I keep on when hurt I am!" Yoda replied, casting his eye through towards the initiates.
Dex froze.
"Know who did this, I do." Yoda said. "Step forward."
"It was me, Master Yoda." Dex hung his head. "I'm sorry."
"Your reason for attacking an old man I would like to hear." Yoda's eyes widened.
"I…I didn't attack you. I just sorta got bored."
"No concentration do you possess." Yoda shook his head. "Much talent but little commitment. Return to the crèche masters you will."
Berlingside nodded dumbly and turned on his heel, stopping only to hold the door open for one of the female knights as she left the training rooms. This time he was unaware of the same grey-blue eyes that followed his every move before the boy closed the door behind him.
******************
"The crèche masters are at their wits end, frankly." Samir the Togorian member of the council reported to Yoda. The boy's been advanced too soon from the crèche to his present level, if you ask me. He's too immature. Yes, he has the skill but not the patience and dedication that only time brings to an initiate."
"Much to learn, he has." Yoda smiled. "Learn it as an initiate he will not."
"You think to send the boy away?" Samir rumbled in his feline voice.
"Say that I did not." Yoda remarked. "Find a tutor for him we should."
"A master?" Yaddle queried. "Take on such a boy, nobody would."
"Wait and see, we shall." Yoda said sagely. "A shame it would be to lose one such as this for lack of instruction. Needs someone like him to teach him what is right and wrong. Attention he seeks."
Samir nodded in deference and Yaddle conceded Yoda's point.
"Other business you have to discuss?" Yoda asked.
"He is back."
"Know this I do." Yoda smiled again.
"Four years he has been away and learned nothing he has, it would seem." Samir growled.
"Judge him you should not." Yoda replied succinctly. "Spoken to him, I have. Changed he is. Compassion he has learned. Looks to himself he does not."
"He's just the same as ever." Samir shook his head. "So laid back that you have to pour him into his robe. I saw him at the demonstration today. I thought he was asleep."
"He WAS asleep." Yaddle chuckled.
"In some respects he is unchanged." Yoda joined in. "Speak to him first, you should. Then see you will the man he has become."
"Master Yoda!" a voice hailed them from the behind them.
The three of them stopped just short of the council chamber doors and slowly turned round.
"Master Sheedi." Yoda acknowledged with a slight bow. "To what do we owe this pleasure?"
Yma Sheedi looked somewhat flustered.
"My friend here has an interesting proposition to put to you." The crèche master said in an astonished tone.
The robed figure that followed the crèche master garnered yet another smile from Yoda, the familiar glistening eyes beaming from beneath the hood.
"Again we meet." Yoda tapped the floor with his stick. "Come. Discuss this in the chamber we shall."
*********************
Qui-Gon tried to console Dex but he'd long since given this up as a hopeless task. The boy was utterly wretched and sat twiddling his thumbs as he sat on the edge of his bed.
"I don't want to go, Qui. I'm scared." He admitted.
"Whatever they decide, you know they won't let anything bad happen to you." He smiled thinly.
"They'll send me away for sure." Dex buried his head in his hands.
"That's what you get for picking on Yoda." Mace replied.
"Shut up, Windu!" Qui-Gon aimed a kick at Mace's feet.
"Hey, just stating the obvious!" Mace jumped away with his hands raised in defence.
"He's right." Groaned Dex.
"I always am."
There was a knock at the door, followed by the sound of legs walking towards him. Dex knew who it was but didn't want to open his eyes. As long as he didn't there was still a chance…
"Dex, the council wish to see you. Now, if you please." Yma Sheedi said in an indifferent tone. "If you could just follow me now."
Qui-Gon gave Dex's shoulder a comforting squeeze.
"Good luck." He said.
"Corellian's make there own luck." He stood up and finally opened his eyes. "I think mine's just run out."
Qui-Gon and Mace watched the blonde haired boy as he gave them a final, backward glance at the door before following Master Sheedi towards the council chambers.
"Well," Mace smirked, "I can sleep in the top bunk tonight!"
This time Jinn succeeded in kicking him.
*****************
Dex had never seen the inside of the council chambers and his first impression was one of disappointment. He'd expected something much more grand than the stark simplicity of the polished floor and the panoramic view of Coruscant's multi storied buildings. He bowed deeply to each of the masters on the council, some of them regarding him with amusement, others with completely blank expressions.
Yoda's face was inscrutable.
"Summoned you we did." Yoda stated. "Talk to you we would."
"Your antics this afternoon were disgraceful, you do know this." Samir leaned forwards in his chair.
"Yes, Master."
"And still you persist in these childish pranks."
"A child he still is, forget this we must not." Yoda pointed at Dex with his stick. "Learned from your mistake, you have?"
"Yes, Master." Dex swallowed.
"And what have you learned?" asked Samir.
"That when I want to pull someone's stick away from them with the force to make sure that it isn't Master Yoda's." Dex said in a shaky voice.
An amused laugh from just inside the doorway caused Dex to whip round. A hooded figure stood, watching him. Even though he couldn't see the eyes, Berlingside knew it was the knight who'd been regarding him as he worked in the refectory.
"This," Samir said with a frown, "is Knight Quirida-Xac Montal."
"A proposition he has." Yoda stepped in. "Take you as his padawan, he would."
Dex felt the world stop in its tracks. Everything seemed to stop infact, including all rational thoughts. Even his heart for a moment seemed to cease beating.
"I…I don't understand." He managed to squeak.
"Seen in you the hidden ingredient, he has. The thing that makes one different from another." Yoda looked fondly at the tousled haired young man as he pulled back his hood. "Well matched you are. Learn much from each other you will, if accept you do."
Dex's stunned expression melted into radiance.
He had a master.
HE HAD A MASTER!!!
********************
"Looks like the council did kick him out." Mace said a touch too smugly. "It's nearly time for bed and there's no sign of him."
"There's still time." Qui-Gon refused to give in.
"Yeah, right…" Mace began.
He stopped abruptly when a small figure crept back towards his old bunk. Windu almost reeled in shock.
"Dex!" exclaimed Qui-Gon happily.
"I'm just collecting my things." The solemn voice replied.
Qui-Gon's face fell.
"They…kicked you out?" he asked in a shocked tone. "They really did?"
"I knew it." Mace said quietly, although he was no longer crowing.
Dex climbed up to his old bunk and felt under the pillow for the book chip he had been using.
"Nope." He said.
"What do you mean, nope? They must have done!" Windu frowned. "If you're not kicked out then why are you removing your stuff?"
Dex inched along the bed until he was staring Mace directly in the eyes.
"Because I'm not an initiate any more." He pinched Mace's cheek. "I've been padawaned!"
"WHAT!" screeched Mace in disbelief.
"As of tomorrow I am a padawan. At least when they can hold the ceremony."
"Dex, that's fantastic!" Qui-Gon grinned.
"Who's your master?" Windu asked.
"Quirida-Xac."
"Who?" Qui-Gon frowned. "Nevermind. This is truly wonderful news. That means you are the first of us to find a master!"
Dex sat back on his haunches and grinned evilly.
"I know. I won the bet, Mace."
"I don't believed we named the penalty." Windu felt a slight shiver go down his spine. Corellian's could be VERY inventive.
"I haven't considered it yet." Berlingside laughed.
"But be sure of one thing Windu, if it takes me forty years to think of something, I'll be waiting to collect!"