A moment later, Jax, Nelkf and Cail stood at the ramp of the Casino, looking around them, expecting someone to have come greet them. For some reason, they had pictured some sort of formal greeting. Come to think of it, that doesn't make much sense. These are Jedi, not diplomats.
At last, a pretty blue lizard creature bounded towards them. Only her face and hands peered through the robe that hung awkwardly around her odd frame. Her scales reflected unevenly in the light. It was dawn here, and the gas giant Yavin was tinting the skies red and orange. The lizard dipped her head slightly and smiled. "Hello," she said, blinking a very strange looking set of doubly slit eyes. "Welcome to the Jedi Academy. My name is Kaolin."
"Hello," Nelkf said cautiously. "I'm Nelkf, and this is Jax, and this is Cail."
"You want to become Jedi?"
"That's why we're here."
Kaolin nodded. "You think you can make it?" she asked. "Not everyone has what it takes."
Jax grinned. "Thanks for the warning, but I think we can make it."
Kaolin smiled, as much as a lizard can be said to smile. Nelkf wondered for a moment why Kaolin had not asked if they had Force powers, but caught herself. Why would they be here otherwise? And couldn't a Jedi sense the Force in others? Now that Nelkf thought of it, that would have been even a more pointless question then asking the lizard if she had fur!
"It's good to hear that. I don't know if Master Skywalker is here right now, but we'll get you introduced to him as soon as we can." Kaolin said. "Follow me, I'll see if I can get you introduced to some of the other students."
Nelkf, Jax and Cail exchanged glances, but followed Kaolin into the Great Temple without asking any questions.
The Temple was big from the outside, but that was nothing as compared to the inside. One would expect the halls to be the size of a normal buildings', but by Nelkf's standards, a Sklinthi building could fit into one of these hallways. It was really not that they were tall, but wide. The Sklinth figured at least seven people could fit across it, and still have room for a smaller being.
The sides of the walls were so smooth, not so much as an insect could have caught purchase. All three marveled. Had the workers, or years of curious hands rubbing against the stone smoothed these walls? This was not called the Great Temple simply because it was the largest. It was an amazing place, undoubtable different from the others on this world. Incredible, the trio's minds whispered.
The hallway opened up into a room in which the Sklinth's nose could smell food. Nothing was being eaten here now, but her systems could wait. So long as they had things here with high concentrates of vitamin C, she could survive.
Some long wooden benches and tables sat helter-skelter about the chamber. There were few beings here now, and they seemed to be speaking amongst themselves.
One Human with brown hair turned to look over her shoulder and notice them there. Turning back around, she tapped the shoulder of one of her companions and stood up. The Human came towards them quickly, grinning. Her companion followed her. Kaolin introduced them. "Jax, Nelkf, Cail, this is Meda, one of the newer students. Like yourselves."
Meda smiled kindly. "Hi." she said. When her companion said nothing, she elbowed him sharply in the ribs. The other looked as if he was going to say something nasty to her, but restrained himself. "Yeah, hi." he said softly.
"This is Victo," Meda told them. "Hard to believe we're both from the same planet. Victo's a shy one, aren't you?" she shoved Victo roughly, but he did not seem to enjoy the motion.
"Yeah, right." he said nearly silently.
Kaolin clapped a claw on Jax's shoulder. "Meda will show you where your rooms are. Don't hesitate to look around. Either Streen or Master Skywalker will find you sooner or later."
"Thanks," Jax said, nodding. "Thanks for showing us this far Kaolin."
"Oh, don't mention it," the lizard said, preparing to go. "I enjoyed making your acquaintance. I guess I'll see you around then. So long friends."
Cail looked puzzled as Kaolin left. "I didn't know," he said, watching the being go, "That there could be all different kinds of Jedi."
Meda laughed. "Then you've got a lot to learn, pal."
"Meda," Nelkf asked, "what planet are you and Victo from?" Immediately she felt foolish. The question had nothing to do with the conversation, and Meda had thought they would know. But Nelkf had always assumed Humans stuck to one or two planets. Apparently this was not so. Nelkf was getting quite annoyed with her ignorance of the Human race.
The young Jedi looked at the Sklinth, seeming to be just about as puzzled as Nelkf on why she had asked that question. The Sklinth thought the Human looked almost exactly the same as she did, save Nelkf's tail and her glowing eyes. Their hair was the same shade of brown, and they were exactly the same height. Nelkf felt as if she was looking into a mirror. It was so strange, Meda was at least seven years younger then Nelkf, but they looked exactly alike.
"Actually," Meda said, "I was going to ask you the same question."
Both the Sklinth and the Human laughed. "Corellia," Meda said, holding out her hand.
Nelkf shook it. "Exlan twelve, nice to meet you." Again, both beings laughed.
