Notes: Chapter 3! Woo! One more chapter, then we get into the completely new stuff! Once again, not too much new here, except for a load of grammatical corrections, along with a little flashback to Aquel's past. As for Qui training Aquel… yes, they are around the same age J Only 5 years apart, actually. However, Aquel's past gets pretty convoluted after her first master dies… but never fear, all will be revealed in time ^^ Anyway, enough jabbering. Enjoy the chapter!
Aquel's first impression of Kal had been a fairly shallow one – after seeing her duel, and noting her raptorial features, she assumed the young Padawan was dangerous, hotheaded, and fierce. Though she didn't expect her to be dimwitted, she also didn't expect much in the way of wisdom. Then again, wisdom was easily built through long years of hard work and training, and Aquel was quite ready to help Kal'Take along. However, when the silver-haired master stepped into the Council audience chamber to meet with her new apprentice before the council, her opinion changed slightly.
Kal'Take had obviously spent several hours grooming herself that morning. Her silvery mane of head feathers glittered like polished durasteel, and the blue-gray crest feathers that highlighted her eyes like eyebrows had been brushed out to a smooth sheen. Her savagely hooked beak glittered like copper, reflecting in her bright green eyes. She had worn her full ceremonial tunic, consisting of a white under tunic of soft linen, a pale gray homespun over tunic, and a stiffer brown surcoat, all belted with a gray sash and sturdy leather utility belt. The two hilts of her sabers, one a polished opal black and the other, a pale bone white, hung on opposite sides of the belt within easy reach of her claws. She also wore her durable dark-brown Jedi robe, the wide hood hanging down her back. The gray feathers of her legs and arms were also well-combed, those on her legs brushing like soft down over her scaly amber feet and deadly black talons. An emerald-green scaled tail like that of a lizard twitched nervously below the hem of the robe.
The graceful Kyri bowed low to Aquel as the master entered the room. She seemed serene, but not overconfident. Aquel sensed a sharp wit and intelligence behind the young one's eyes, and also a deep thirst to prove herself. She seemed terribly afraid that Aquel would not choose her…
"Welcome, Jedi Knight Faemir and Apprentice Chanre," Yoda said as the two took their place before the council. "Welcome you, we do."
"We are honored," Aquel said politely, nodding her head. This was probably not the best time to show her disregard for the council. Kal'Take bowed deeply beside her, obviously in awe of the many Jedi Masters.
"Already you know, Master Faemir, why it is we have called you here," Yoda said. "Kal'Take Chanre, know you why you have come?"
"I do not, Master," Kal'Take replied respectfully. "I trust the wisdom of the Council." It was obvious from the tone in her voice that she did wholly trust the council, and Aquel made a mental note of it.
Mace spoke next. "Master Faemir has expressed an interest in taking you on as her Padawan learner." Kal'Take stared at Mace for a moment, jaw hanging open with disbelief, then turned to Aquel.
"You… you wish to train me?" she asked, forgetting for a moment that she was supposed to remain quiet and speak only when spoken to. Aquel nodded, smiling.
"That was my intent, yes."
"Accept you, Master Faemir as your master?" Yoda asked Kal'Take. The short green master fixed the Kyri with his piercing gaze, and it seemed as if he could see straight through her thoughts into her innermost feelings.
"Gladly," Kal'Take said quietly, still half disbelieving what she had just heard. "I would be honored to be taught by such a Knight!"
"And you, Master Faemir, accept this apprentice as your Padawan?"
"Well, that's what I'm here for," Aquel smiled. "If she is willing to learn, then I am willing to teach."
"Long and difficult, the road of Master and Apprentice is," Yoda cautioned. "Face many trials, you will, and many paths to be chosen. Tempted, you both will be, by the Dark Side."
"Never forget, though, that an Apprentice makes a Knight whole, and vice versa," Mace added. "If you both are willing to accept the trials you will face, then you have our consent."
Kal'Take looked to Aquel to see if the Knight would speak first, but Aquel nodded for her to go first. "All my life I have faced trials," Kal'Take said quietly. "I would gladly face any danger – physical, mental, or otherwise – for just the chance to become a Jedi Knight and defend the order. I pledge myself entirely to learning what Master Faemir has to teach me, and the Force willing, I may give something back in return."
"And I am willing to teach all that I have learned in my life to Kal'Take, regardless of the dangers we both may face. We all learn from our hardships," Aquel said. "I can't promise I'll be able to prepare her for every danger lurking in this galaxy, but what mortal creature can? I'll teach her the ways of the Jedi and prepare her for a life of service to the order."
"Then accept Kal'Take as your Padawan learner we do, Aquel Faemir," Yoda said. "And bestow upon you, the title of Jedi Master. May the Force be with you both!"
~-~-~-
Aquel felt quite exhilarated as she strode down the broad main temple hallway. She'd found her Padawan! Qui-Gon had been right in his assessment of the situation, and Aquel deemed it necessary to inform him of that. No one would suggest she was merely going to see him… but, that was what she was doing. Qui-Gon knew he was right about the Force Strings. Wasn't he always?
"Your suggestion was right, Qui," she grinned as she trotted swiftly to catch up with the tall Jedi knight. Qui-Gon turned around and smiled back. "Of course I was. Who's your apprentice?"
"A Kyri named Kal'Take. Have you heard of her, Ben?" Aquel asked, turning to Obi-Wan.
"I've heard she's excellent with a saber, but other than that, no," Obi-Wan replied with a slight shrug of his shoulders.
"A saber master? Well, that should be a bonus for you, Aquel," Qui-Gon said. "You know plenty about dueling."
"Not as much as you," Aquel replied. "I was only trained by him for three years. You were under his tutelage for much longer."
"Yet his saber program for you was much more intense." Qui-Gon quirked another smile. "I'm sure you remember those dueling exercises with… fondness."
"And pain," Aquel grimaced. Of course she remembered the exercises. Dooku had been a hard master, but fair. At the time Aquel had thought he was terribly cruel, but looking back, it didn't seem so bad…
~-~-~-
"Come now, Aquel, you can do better." Dooku's cultured voice floated to Aquel from a transmitter mounted on the wall behind her, and for a brief moment, the young apprentice considered dismantling the small box and forcibly shoving it in a trash compactor. "Use your emotions to gain strength."
"I thought emotion led to the dark side," she panted, eyeing her opponents warily. The boxy training droid had seen better days, but its scuffed and scorched interior housed a very elaborate dueling program that could best even the most skilled of lightsaber masters. At the moment the droid was unmoving, its blue lightsaber held up in a classic defensive position.
"Only anger leads towards evil," Dooku replied. "There are other emotions, just as potent, that you can harness to your advantage."
"Like what?" Sweat was trickling into Aquel's eyes, and it stung. She felt irritation rising in her, and swiftly squashed it. Irritation led to anger, and even Dooku admitted that anger was dangerous.
"Like your irritation, for example," Dooku replied. "You want this exercise to be over. Control that irritation and use it to your advantage."
"Irritation… right." Aquel ignited her lightsaber again and took a ready stance. "Ok, begin."
The droid drove in swiftly, the blue saber lancing forward for Aquel's throat. She blocked upward, straining to push her opponent backwards. Her feet slid on the stone floor as the droid shoved forward, its mechanical circuits undamaged by her. She narrowed her eyes and focused, concentrating on getting this duel over with as soon as possible. She ducked suddenly and whirled under the droid's arm with Force-enhanced speed, then struck upwards with her emerald lightsaber. She smelled burning wires as the droid screeched in alarm, blowing billowing white foam from its fire-extinguisher hoses. Aquel's lightsaber was turned down to low power, and she was unable to do any real damage to the battle-scarred metal hulk, but the singing heat was enough to end the droid's assault program. Its arms dropped limply to its side, and its lightsaber extinguished itself. Aquel straightened up and pushed sweat-soaked strands of hair out of her eyes.
"How was that?" she asked, directing her voice towards the small speaker box.
"It was better than your first attempt," Dooku conceded. "Qui-Gon wishes me to tell you that he thinks you did a magnificent job-" Aquel grinned broadly- "However, that only shows how little he knows." The young woman scowled at that and attached her lightsaber hilt to her belt with huffy irritation.
"Can I go shower off now?"
"Well…"
"Come on, Master. I've been at this for hours."
"All right. Go rinse off. I expect you to be finished within one standard time part. You have a lot more work to do."
Aquel grimaced as she stumbled out of the dueling room. It seemed like she'd been dueling for three weeks straight. Then again, Qui-Gon had warned her about Dooku's obsession with dueling… and when Aquel had agreed to accompany the Count as an unofficial Padawan learner, she had agreed to both the good and the bad. At least she was around Qui-Gon…
~-~-~-
Kal'Take was still in a daze as she walked back to her dorm room to pack her things. Just hours ago she had felt she would never get the chance to become a Knight, and now she had one of the most reputable Jedi in the galaxy as her master! Yoda's warning of danger had stirred a sense of trouble in the Kyri, but she knew that now she would have the skills and the will to face anything. Perhaps with Aquel's help, she could overcome the obstacles that she had been born with…
"Kal! I heard the good news!" Ferlo said as Kal entered the student hallway. "Congratulations, my friend!"
"I can barely believe it," Kal murmured as Ferlo patted her shoulder. "I wonder if she knows I have the lowest Midi-Chlorian count of any apprentice here?"
"If she does, then it must not matter to her. If she doesn't, it shouldn't matter anyway," Ferlo rumbled. "You are the greatest duelist alive, and that must make up for any other weaknesses."
"I hope so," Kal sighed. "Master Faemir told me to pack up my essential items and meet her outside the hanger."
"Your first mission," Ferlo grinned. "Let me know how it turns out!"
"Aye, and let me know what happens here," Kal replied.
"I will, you know that," Ferlo assured her. "The Force willing, we may go on a mission together someday soon!"
Kal'Take smiled at that. "Indeed, the Force willing. I'll see you again soon, Ferlo, my friend. Keep training!"
"Take care, featherbrain," Ferlo chuffed.
Kal'Take laughed, gave Ferlo a brief hug, and continued down the hall to her room. The Wookiee was a great friend, and as excited as she was to finally be leaving the temple, she would miss him.
~-~-~-
Not for the first time was Aquel extremely grateful for her starship. The trim, polished red ship looked refined and especially lovely next to the rusty bulk cruisers that were docked beside it. She had told Kal'Take about the Shield Dodger, and Kal's eyes had lit up – apparently the young Kyri had a great interest in starships and flying them. As the Master and Apprentice entered the hanger, Kal's eyes immediately fixed on the Shield Dodger.
"Which of these is yours, Master?" she asked respectfully, trying not to show her obvious interest in the red ship.
"I own that red one over there, beside the transport," Aquel smiled, pointing her ship out. Kal's eyes widened slightly and her jaw dropped.
"It's beautiful," she breathed. "What is it, an N-1?"
"Modified," Aquel replied. "I've added a more durable hyperdrive unit to it, as well as a few extras that the council might not approve of."
"Is she fast?" Kal asked eagerly.
"Only the fastest legal ship I've ever heard of."
"Master Faemir!" called a voice from the right of them, and Aquel turned to face the speaker. "We were afraid you might not come down to see us off."
"You need to have more faith in me, Ben," Aquel laughed as Obi-Wan trotted up to them. "I would never let you two leave without saying goodbye."
"Forgive my error, Master." Obi-Wan gave a low bow.
"Why such courtesy?" Aquel asked, raising an eyebrow.
"It's practice," Obi-Wan shrugged with a smile. "These Nemoidians have quite an ego, if what I've heard is correct."
"The Trade Federation in general thinks a little too highly of itself," Qui-Gon said as he turned the corner to greet Aquel. "I'm glad you made it."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Aquel said cheekily, embracing Qui-Gon. "You both act as if you hadn't seen me just yesterday."
"You're the one showing overt affection with all this hugging," Obi-Wan pointed out with a trace of humor.
Aquel put on a look of mock surprise. "Well, so I am! Ah, my manners are lacking. I haven't introduced you all yet." She turned to her apprentice. "Kal'Take, this is Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Gentlemen, this is my apprentice, Kal'Take Chanre."
"Pleased to meet you, Kal'Take," Qui-Gon said, returning the Kyri's respectful bow.
"Master, our transport is set to leave," Obi-Wan said, indicating the gaudy pink-and-white diplomatic shuttle behind them.
"Then we had better get a move on." Qui-Gon turned to face Aquel again and smiled. "May the Force be with you and guard your spirit until we meet again, my dearest Aquel."
"Aye, may the Force be with you also," Aquel replied, taking his hand. "Until you return to me, keep safe." Qui-Gon held her gaze for a moment in the silence, and she squeezed his hand reassuringly. "Safe journeys to you both. Don't let your master get into trouble, my Ben," she laughed.
"Safe journeys to you, Master Faemir," Obi-Wan returned. "Watch out for her, Kal'Take. She's a danger magnet."
"I can tell. After all, she's friends with you both," Kal'Take grinned.
"Nice one, my young apprentice," Aquel muttered, smiling. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan gave one last bow, which was dutifully returned by Aquel and her apprentice. The silver-haired Jedi watched them walk towards their transport with a hint of sadness in her stance.
"I take it you and Qui-Gon have known each other for a very long time," Kal'Take said.
Aquel nodded. "We grew up here together. We've been on many missions together… it's brought us close." The woman sighed and watched the transport rise from the hanger into the hazy Coruscant sunlight. "I can't help but worry for them both."
"They look quite competent. I'm sure their mission will be successful," Kal said reassuringly.
Aquel smiled gratefully and placed a hand on Kal'Take's shoulder. "I'm sure they will, too. Now, I saw your interest in my ship… care to see her up close?"
"That's like asking a Gungan if they like the water, Master," Kal laughed.