CHAPTER FOUR
Del-Mon Wesia watched as the two boys fought. He did not sit with the Masters. Not only could he be closer to the arena, but he did not have to listen to them as they commented to each other. He wanted to be sure he only had his own opinion.
Del-Mon was really focusing on the one with brown hair. He believed his name was Aro-Ken Rumos.
At the start of the battle, the other boy, Dahn Lokraft, attacked furiously, and he could tell that Aro-Ken was allowing him to. He was clever, he had to admit that.
All of the sudden, Aro-Ken lunged forward, relentlessly attacking Dahn. Del- Mon could sense fear and anger combined.
Finally, Dahn was on the ground, reaching for his lightsaber. But Aro-Ken must have used the Force to spin around his weapon, and the blade hit Dahn's hand.
Del-Mon watched as Aro-Ken hit Dahn in the chest with his lightsaber, a killing blow.
He had to admit, both boys were talented. But neither of them seemed connected enough. Both were full of anger, but Aro-Ken had not succeeded in holding his in very well. Dahn hadn't displayed much of a connection to the Force during any of his bouts.
Del-Mon rose and walked away, making his way through the huge crowds of excited students. He would leave the Temple without a Padawan this time.
He had to admit, he was disappointed. Aro-Ken was the one he'd really had his eye on, but after the lack of control he had displayed, Del-Mon had made his decision.
As he walked, the wise Jedi Master known as Ni'Bekk approached him. Ni'Bekk was a tall, slender alien from the planet Jaa'Moor. He had blue skin and long arms and legs, and no hair. His voice was smooth and almost liquid sounding. He towered over Del-Mon about half a meter.
"Will you take an apprentice, Master Del-Mon?" he asked.
"No, Ni'Bekk. I have chosen to leave without one," Del-Mon said.
"No? Would you please explain this decision to me? I can make no sense of it," commented Ni'Bekk.
"Certainly. Most of the students I saw today were not very strong with the Force. The one I had my eye on-" Del-Mon began.
"Aro-Ken Rumos," said Ni'Bekk.
"What?"
"Please do not be elusive with me. I could sense the quick connection you made with him before his bout. Use his name when you speak of him," Ni'Bekk explained.
Del-Mon rolled his eyes. "There's no fooling you, is there, Ni'Bekk?"
Ni'Bekk blinked and smiled down at him.
"I admit, Aro-Ken was the one I was watching. I knew his mother, Kariba very well. She was very controlled. Her connection to the living Force was strong. I remember envying her lightsaber skills," Del-Mon said.
"Yes, I remember that. But she is not the focus of this conversation," Ni'Bekk said.
"Ah, yes. But Aro-Ken is so much different from his mother. He has a problem controlling his anger. I could sense him struggling with it in his earlier bouts, and he did lose control in his final match against Dahn. I do not want to risk having a Padawan like him," Del-Mon confessed.
"Really? Why is this? You most often pick the students that the Council has decided have difficulties like Aro-Ken's," commented Ni'Bekk.
"Ni'Bekk, I am unsure of this boy. His future is clouded. The students I have picked are often the ones who show great potential. I could not sense it around Aro-Ken as I did my other apprentices," Del-Mon said.
Ni'Bekk nodded and stared at him calmly.
"You don't need to rub it in. I feel as badly as you do, but surely another master will take him," Del-Mon said in defense.
"The chances of that happening are not very great. He is to be sent to join the Agricultural Corpse. He turns thirteen within the month," said Ni'Bekk.
"A month? Then why are you sending him to the Agricultural Corpse now?" asked Del-Mon.
"Because another transport will not be coming for another two standard months," replied Ni'Bekk.
"But surely another master will take him. Most do not look at little details as I do," said Del-Mon.
"Perhaps that is so. But we'll never know, will we?" asked Ni'Bekk.
Del-Mon thought for a moment.
"I sense that you are reconsidering, Master Del-Mon," said Ni'Bekk.
"No, Ni'Bekk. I cannot take the boy," Del-Mon firmly said. He turned and walked away down the corridor.
Ni'Bekk made no effort to stop him.
* * *
The Shadowraith was on the move. He stalked down the hallway, going right through everyone around him.
He was closing in on the boy. There were not many people around, and he could easily deal with the ones that were.
The boy picked up his pace. He could sense the Shadowraith following him. An evil grin on its face, the Shadowraith went faster as well until both were at a full run.
The boy weaved about in the hallways, knowing exactly where he was going.
He ducked through the arena door and ran through the locker room, the Shadowraith still following him.
He finally halted at the doors to the arena. The Shadowraith froze. There was someone else in the arena, a Master.
Instantly he turned and left.
It was not a problem. The Shadowraith could wait.
* * *
A few minutes later, Del-Mon was inside the arena. The stands were empty.
Calmly, he drew his lightsaber, the blade casting a green glow over the uneven ground.
Then he used slow, graceful movements, agilely positioning his body as he performed the simple Jedi exercise.
He would move into a new position and freeze for a moment, and would then move once more.
As he cleared his mind, focusing on the moment, he sensed another person enter the arena. "Yes, Aro-Ken Rumos?" he asked.
He could sense the boy's surprise when his name was spoken, but he regained his composure quickly.
"I… I just heard someone in here, and I came to see-" Aro-Ken began.
"You mean you were looking for me," said Del-Mon. He still did not turn to face him as he continued his exercise.
"Er, yes. That's right," Aro-Ken replied.
Del-Mon turned off his lightsaber and clipped it to his belt.
"Now let me guess. You want to be my Padawan," he said finally turning to look at Aro-Ken.
"Yes, I was hoping you would… You know, take me with you," the boy answered.
"You were counting on it also, correct?" asked Del-Mon.
"Correct," Aro-Ken admitted. He looked at him with hopeful eyes.
"Tell me, who taught you to fight like that?" Del-Mon inquired.
"What?" asked Aro-Ken.
"I am very familiar with Temple training. The students are told to defend themselves rather than lash out as you did in your bout," Del-Mon said.
"I… I was scared, that I wouldn't be a Padawan before I turn thirteen next month," Aro-Ken said, trying to hint Del-Mon that he needed an apprenticeship fast.
Del-Mon noticed the attempt, but ignored it. "I sensed a great amount of fear and anger around you when you fought. Such a student could turn to the Dark Side," he said.
"A good master could teach me better," Aro-Ken suggested.
"Perhaps," Del-Mon nodded.
"Del-Mon, please, take me with you. This is my last chance, I leave for the Agricultural Corpse tomorrow!" he begged.
Del-Mon took a deep breath and let it out. "I am sorry, but I cannot grant your request," he said.
Aro-Ken just looked at him, his eyes full of desperation and his mouth slightly agape.
"I must be going," said Del-Mon. He turned and walked away from Aro-Ken.
He could feel the boy's eyes watching him, hoping he'd change his mind, but he did not look back, and he did not slow down.
Del-Mon Wesia watched as the two boys fought. He did not sit with the Masters. Not only could he be closer to the arena, but he did not have to listen to them as they commented to each other. He wanted to be sure he only had his own opinion.
Del-Mon was really focusing on the one with brown hair. He believed his name was Aro-Ken Rumos.
At the start of the battle, the other boy, Dahn Lokraft, attacked furiously, and he could tell that Aro-Ken was allowing him to. He was clever, he had to admit that.
All of the sudden, Aro-Ken lunged forward, relentlessly attacking Dahn. Del- Mon could sense fear and anger combined.
Finally, Dahn was on the ground, reaching for his lightsaber. But Aro-Ken must have used the Force to spin around his weapon, and the blade hit Dahn's hand.
Del-Mon watched as Aro-Ken hit Dahn in the chest with his lightsaber, a killing blow.
He had to admit, both boys were talented. But neither of them seemed connected enough. Both were full of anger, but Aro-Ken had not succeeded in holding his in very well. Dahn hadn't displayed much of a connection to the Force during any of his bouts.
Del-Mon rose and walked away, making his way through the huge crowds of excited students. He would leave the Temple without a Padawan this time.
He had to admit, he was disappointed. Aro-Ken was the one he'd really had his eye on, but after the lack of control he had displayed, Del-Mon had made his decision.
As he walked, the wise Jedi Master known as Ni'Bekk approached him. Ni'Bekk was a tall, slender alien from the planet Jaa'Moor. He had blue skin and long arms and legs, and no hair. His voice was smooth and almost liquid sounding. He towered over Del-Mon about half a meter.
"Will you take an apprentice, Master Del-Mon?" he asked.
"No, Ni'Bekk. I have chosen to leave without one," Del-Mon said.
"No? Would you please explain this decision to me? I can make no sense of it," commented Ni'Bekk.
"Certainly. Most of the students I saw today were not very strong with the Force. The one I had my eye on-" Del-Mon began.
"Aro-Ken Rumos," said Ni'Bekk.
"What?"
"Please do not be elusive with me. I could sense the quick connection you made with him before his bout. Use his name when you speak of him," Ni'Bekk explained.
Del-Mon rolled his eyes. "There's no fooling you, is there, Ni'Bekk?"
Ni'Bekk blinked and smiled down at him.
"I admit, Aro-Ken was the one I was watching. I knew his mother, Kariba very well. She was very controlled. Her connection to the living Force was strong. I remember envying her lightsaber skills," Del-Mon said.
"Yes, I remember that. But she is not the focus of this conversation," Ni'Bekk said.
"Ah, yes. But Aro-Ken is so much different from his mother. He has a problem controlling his anger. I could sense him struggling with it in his earlier bouts, and he did lose control in his final match against Dahn. I do not want to risk having a Padawan like him," Del-Mon confessed.
"Really? Why is this? You most often pick the students that the Council has decided have difficulties like Aro-Ken's," commented Ni'Bekk.
"Ni'Bekk, I am unsure of this boy. His future is clouded. The students I have picked are often the ones who show great potential. I could not sense it around Aro-Ken as I did my other apprentices," Del-Mon said.
Ni'Bekk nodded and stared at him calmly.
"You don't need to rub it in. I feel as badly as you do, but surely another master will take him," Del-Mon said in defense.
"The chances of that happening are not very great. He is to be sent to join the Agricultural Corpse. He turns thirteen within the month," said Ni'Bekk.
"A month? Then why are you sending him to the Agricultural Corpse now?" asked Del-Mon.
"Because another transport will not be coming for another two standard months," replied Ni'Bekk.
"But surely another master will take him. Most do not look at little details as I do," said Del-Mon.
"Perhaps that is so. But we'll never know, will we?" asked Ni'Bekk.
Del-Mon thought for a moment.
"I sense that you are reconsidering, Master Del-Mon," said Ni'Bekk.
"No, Ni'Bekk. I cannot take the boy," Del-Mon firmly said. He turned and walked away down the corridor.
Ni'Bekk made no effort to stop him.
* * *
The Shadowraith was on the move. He stalked down the hallway, going right through everyone around him.
He was closing in on the boy. There were not many people around, and he could easily deal with the ones that were.
The boy picked up his pace. He could sense the Shadowraith following him. An evil grin on its face, the Shadowraith went faster as well until both were at a full run.
The boy weaved about in the hallways, knowing exactly where he was going.
He ducked through the arena door and ran through the locker room, the Shadowraith still following him.
He finally halted at the doors to the arena. The Shadowraith froze. There was someone else in the arena, a Master.
Instantly he turned and left.
It was not a problem. The Shadowraith could wait.
* * *
A few minutes later, Del-Mon was inside the arena. The stands were empty.
Calmly, he drew his lightsaber, the blade casting a green glow over the uneven ground.
Then he used slow, graceful movements, agilely positioning his body as he performed the simple Jedi exercise.
He would move into a new position and freeze for a moment, and would then move once more.
As he cleared his mind, focusing on the moment, he sensed another person enter the arena. "Yes, Aro-Ken Rumos?" he asked.
He could sense the boy's surprise when his name was spoken, but he regained his composure quickly.
"I… I just heard someone in here, and I came to see-" Aro-Ken began.
"You mean you were looking for me," said Del-Mon. He still did not turn to face him as he continued his exercise.
"Er, yes. That's right," Aro-Ken replied.
Del-Mon turned off his lightsaber and clipped it to his belt.
"Now let me guess. You want to be my Padawan," he said finally turning to look at Aro-Ken.
"Yes, I was hoping you would… You know, take me with you," the boy answered.
"You were counting on it also, correct?" asked Del-Mon.
"Correct," Aro-Ken admitted. He looked at him with hopeful eyes.
"Tell me, who taught you to fight like that?" Del-Mon inquired.
"What?" asked Aro-Ken.
"I am very familiar with Temple training. The students are told to defend themselves rather than lash out as you did in your bout," Del-Mon said.
"I… I was scared, that I wouldn't be a Padawan before I turn thirteen next month," Aro-Ken said, trying to hint Del-Mon that he needed an apprenticeship fast.
Del-Mon noticed the attempt, but ignored it. "I sensed a great amount of fear and anger around you when you fought. Such a student could turn to the Dark Side," he said.
"A good master could teach me better," Aro-Ken suggested.
"Perhaps," Del-Mon nodded.
"Del-Mon, please, take me with you. This is my last chance, I leave for the Agricultural Corpse tomorrow!" he begged.
Del-Mon took a deep breath and let it out. "I am sorry, but I cannot grant your request," he said.
Aro-Ken just looked at him, his eyes full of desperation and his mouth slightly agape.
"I must be going," said Del-Mon. He turned and walked away from Aro-Ken.
He could feel the boy's eyes watching him, hoping he'd change his mind, but he did not look back, and he did not slow down.