CHAPTER 2
High vaults---
Noor was seized by an unexpected dizziness gazing up at the impressive ceiling and through the bay window in front of her. It took her a minute to recollect and situate herself.
"The Temple," she murmured, amazed. She was lying on a bed in the sickbay. She closed her eyes, tried to put together the confused elements rushing in her mind and give a sense to the whole chain of events.
She was no prisoner then. Still, the conditions of her arrival here were all the more mysterious.
One moment she was in Israel on the archaeological site of Caesarea, North of the modern Tel-Aviv, taking a breath of the night after a particularly tough day of digging and next, without any conscious transition, she was back to the Jedi's headquarters on Coruscant, a place she had left almost ten years ago. her home?
Something tightened in her chest.
She felt another presence in the room, this one was wide, imposing yet caring and familiar. Her eyes flew open.
"Master!" she cried out sitting up abruptly. The stern chiseled face beside her relaxed into a faint smile.
Master Mace Windu, one of the high figures of the Jedi Council, sat quietly at his former padawan's side. Noor was suddenly too struck to voice the myriad of questions she harbored, her mind had gone blank, somewhat calmed.
A slightly awkward silence settled between them as they surveyed each other. Another ghost of a smile warmed his dark eyes as he finally spoke.
"You grew up."
There was a world of bittersweet feelings behind this simple commonplace statement---
The deep sound of his voice startled her out her reserve, hushed emotions welling up:
"Why am here? How did you manage to bring me back? How? How did you dare to bring me back?!"
When he simply raised an eyebrow at her outburst she gave a exasperate sigh. "Why do the Jedi always think they're wise enough to just overlook people's will? Are you so bloody superior that you're beyond asking?!"
He tilted his head, a discreet glint of amusement in his gaze, he knew Noor's explosive temper.
"Maybe we are indeed."
He could tell that his placid answer had her very close to rip his throat open in the most unladylike manner. Toying with her was maybe not the best idea for the moment, but the normally dignified Jedi master could not help it, his padawan had always managed to bring out the most unexpected sides of his personality. Her sudden angers, her abrupt rushes of affection had always secretly made his stoic heart beat a little faster. Today he had found his lost apprentice and, although he might never admit it, a lost daughter after ten years.
"You were not forced into this," he said, growing serious.
"No?" Noor countered sarcastically, crossing her arms on her chest in a defiant attitude.
"All your questions will find an answer in due time."
"Oh please, spare me the Jedi sidetracking decorum. I mean, with all due respect sir, I know the trick, remember? I am one of yours."
He smiled to this. Damn! He had her there!
"Just say when." She mumbled gruffly.
"In a few minutes. You are to meet the council, they will tell you everything you need to know."
He put his hand on hers. She knew what he was doing, it was an instinctive gesture to restore the ageless link which mutely joined a master to his padawan. She took in the polished edges of his face that had somewhat blurred in her memory along the years, noting with tenderness how time had scratched the corner of his eyes. Noor was certain that at that minute, she had caught a glimpse of his soul.
She smiled. He had missed her.
*****
High vaults---
Noor was seized by an unexpected dizziness gazing up at the impressive ceiling and through the bay window in front of her. It took her a minute to recollect and situate herself.
"The Temple," she murmured, amazed. She was lying on a bed in the sickbay. She closed her eyes, tried to put together the confused elements rushing in her mind and give a sense to the whole chain of events.
She was no prisoner then. Still, the conditions of her arrival here were all the more mysterious.
One moment she was in Israel on the archaeological site of Caesarea, North of the modern Tel-Aviv, taking a breath of the night after a particularly tough day of digging and next, without any conscious transition, she was back to the Jedi's headquarters on Coruscant, a place she had left almost ten years ago. her home?
Something tightened in her chest.
She felt another presence in the room, this one was wide, imposing yet caring and familiar. Her eyes flew open.
"Master!" she cried out sitting up abruptly. The stern chiseled face beside her relaxed into a faint smile.
Master Mace Windu, one of the high figures of the Jedi Council, sat quietly at his former padawan's side. Noor was suddenly too struck to voice the myriad of questions she harbored, her mind had gone blank, somewhat calmed.
A slightly awkward silence settled between them as they surveyed each other. Another ghost of a smile warmed his dark eyes as he finally spoke.
"You grew up."
There was a world of bittersweet feelings behind this simple commonplace statement---
The deep sound of his voice startled her out her reserve, hushed emotions welling up:
"Why am here? How did you manage to bring me back? How? How did you dare to bring me back?!"
When he simply raised an eyebrow at her outburst she gave a exasperate sigh. "Why do the Jedi always think they're wise enough to just overlook people's will? Are you so bloody superior that you're beyond asking?!"
He tilted his head, a discreet glint of amusement in his gaze, he knew Noor's explosive temper.
"Maybe we are indeed."
He could tell that his placid answer had her very close to rip his throat open in the most unladylike manner. Toying with her was maybe not the best idea for the moment, but the normally dignified Jedi master could not help it, his padawan had always managed to bring out the most unexpected sides of his personality. Her sudden angers, her abrupt rushes of affection had always secretly made his stoic heart beat a little faster. Today he had found his lost apprentice and, although he might never admit it, a lost daughter after ten years.
"You were not forced into this," he said, growing serious.
"No?" Noor countered sarcastically, crossing her arms on her chest in a defiant attitude.
"All your questions will find an answer in due time."
"Oh please, spare me the Jedi sidetracking decorum. I mean, with all due respect sir, I know the trick, remember? I am one of yours."
He smiled to this. Damn! He had her there!
"Just say when." She mumbled gruffly.
"In a few minutes. You are to meet the council, they will tell you everything you need to know."
He put his hand on hers. She knew what he was doing, it was an instinctive gesture to restore the ageless link which mutely joined a master to his padawan. She took in the polished edges of his face that had somewhat blurred in her memory along the years, noting with tenderness how time had scratched the corner of his eyes. Noor was certain that at that minute, she had caught a glimpse of his soul.
She smiled. He had missed her.
*****