In Love and War - Part Two
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Anakin grimaced as he recited the Fifth Codification of the Ninth Treatise on the Nature of the Force as written by the Venerable Jedi Master Iztwot Tul'mak. He struggled to keep the resentment out of his voice, but he was certain Master Nygee could hear it.
He was standing at attention in Nygee's stark, austere quarters within the Jedi Temple, his arms folded tightly behind his back, his legs apart, his chin up in what Nygee had taught him was the proper stance when addressing one's master. It was evening, just after sunset, and Anakin could hear the bells chiming in the distance, signaling the start of the meditation hour. He was glad he wasn't required to meditate just now. The way he was feeling, he wasn't sure he could summon the proper amount of peace and serenity.
Master Nygee, his pale yellow eyes regarding Anakin with a displeased look, the forehead of his bald, green-skinned head furrowed, sat in a chair facing Anakin. He had made his apprentice memorize the Fifth Codification, as discipline for his having argued with Nygee in front of others during a lightsaber practice.
The subject of their dispute had been Nygee's discovery that Anakin was studying Form V of the seven forms of lightsaber combat. Each form represented a distinct approach or philosophy, and each had its particular strengths. Form V arose when the Jedi, called upon more and more down the centuries to actively maintain peace in the galaxy, felt the need for a more powerful form of lightsaber combat.
Form V focused on strength and attack moves that allowed one to not only deflect a blaster bolt with a lightsaber's blade, but deliberately redirect it back towards an opponent. The maxim of Form V's philosophy was "peace through superior firepower." Master Nygee had expressed his disapproval of Anakin's allegiance to this more aggressive form, informing his new apprentice that Form V fostered an inappropriate focus on the domination of others.
Anakin had countered by saying that Form V was a worthy discipline, that it prepared a Jedi for any possible threat, and, with the increasingly dangerous state of affairs in the Republic, such threats were becoming more commonplace. Obi-Wan had been fully aware that Anakin had taken up the study of Form V and, although warning Anakin to be careful not to focus on anger and aggression when using it, had not forbade him from studying it.
Although Obi-Wan was familiar with Form V, he, his former master Qui-Gon, and Yoda had all been adherents of Form IV, which was the more acrobatic of the forms, emphasizing running, jumping and spinning. After the death of Qui-Gon, however, Obi-Wan took up Form III. He told Anakin Form IV had proven an insufficient defense against the Sith who killed his master. As a result, Obi-Wan had switched to Form III, a more highly refined expression of non-aggressive Jedi philosophy. It maximized defense over offense and was characterized by tight, efficient movements that exposed minimal target area.
Anakin and Nygee's dispute had escalated to such a fevered pitch Master Luminara Unduli, who had been working out in the gymnasium, had had to step in between the two to calm the situation down.
As a result of their argument, Master Nygee had ordered Anakin to memorize the codification to the treatise, which, upon reading, Anakin had discovered was a discourse on the dangers of indulging in passion and anger when wielding the Force. Although Anakin had taken exception to this, in his opinion, unjustified punishment, he had also been both fascinated and troubled by the writings of Venerable Master Tul'mak.
Much of what Tul'mak had written was applicable, not only to Anakin, but to Obi-Wan. The Venerable Master had been especially zealous regarding Jedi avoiding any kind of romantic love, because he believed the passion such love engendered was a two-edged sword. Exhilarating, but dangerous. Especially to a Jedi. Romantic love was like fire, Tul'mak had written over a thousand years ago. It could warm and nurture, but it could also burn and destroy.
Anakin finished the last line of his recitation. He looked at Master Nygee, waiting for his assessment of his efforts.
"You memorized that very well, Padawan Skywalker," Nygee said, his voice too deep and low to come from such a narrow chest. Like all Nehaun, Nygee was very tall and thin, but he was a powerful Jedi. His slight form belied his true strength for he was a formidable opponent in battle, as Anakin had learned during their lightsaber practice duel.
"Thank you, Master," Anakin said, bowing his head.
"But, do you understand it?"
"Understand it?"
Nygee nodded, his yellow eyes boring into Anakin's.
Anakin almost shrugged, but, instead, frowned. "I guess I do. Romantic love, sexual passion, anger, fear. All are dangerous to a Jedi. That appears to be the basic premise of the Ninth Treatise." A premise that, especially the part about romantic love being dangerous, Anakin did not entirely agree with.
"Yes, quite dangerous," Nygee said, nodding sagely. He tilted his head. "A doctrine that, unfortunately, your former master failed to heed."
Anakin felt a slow rage building inside him. For the past two weeks, since Anakin had been assigned to him as his apprentice, the Nehaun had seemed to go out of his way to criticize Obi-Wan in one way or another. If he wasn't condemning his behavior as it related to Onara, Nygee usually found something, often trivial and petty, regarding Obi-Wan's training of Anakin to find fault with. Anakin had struggled these past two weeks to hold his tongue, for he understood all too well that if he ever hoped to take the Trials in order to become a Jedi Knight, Nygee would now be the one to recommend he do so.
"My master did what he thought was right," Anakin said through gritted teeth.
"Yes, what he _thought_ was right, but not what was right." Nygee corrected him.
Anakin was about to respond, but Nygee suddenly waved his long, thin hand. "You may go now, Padawan Skywalker."
Anakin bowed, then turned, deliberately not saying good evening to Nygee, but he stopped when he heard the Nehaun's voice.
"Make sure you meditate, Padawan Skywalker. I sense much anger in you."
Really? How astute of you, Anakin sneered to himself as he nodded, his back still towards Nygee. He went out into the corridor and strode down it, his hands clenched. He'd only been Nygee's apprentice for two weeks, and the way the Nehaun seemed to constantly find something to criticize or censure him about, it could be months, even years, before Nygee recommended him for the Trials. How was he supposed to deal with his new master until then?
Turning a corner, Anakin almost bumped into a padawan. He muttered an apology, not even looking at the padawan who hurried past him. Sith, but he missed Obi-Wan. As Anakin went into his quarters and plopped down on his meditation cushion, he hoped his former master was doing better than he was.
To be continued.....
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Anakin grimaced as he recited the Fifth Codification of the Ninth Treatise on the Nature of the Force as written by the Venerable Jedi Master Iztwot Tul'mak. He struggled to keep the resentment out of his voice, but he was certain Master Nygee could hear it.
He was standing at attention in Nygee's stark, austere quarters within the Jedi Temple, his arms folded tightly behind his back, his legs apart, his chin up in what Nygee had taught him was the proper stance when addressing one's master. It was evening, just after sunset, and Anakin could hear the bells chiming in the distance, signaling the start of the meditation hour. He was glad he wasn't required to meditate just now. The way he was feeling, he wasn't sure he could summon the proper amount of peace and serenity.
Master Nygee, his pale yellow eyes regarding Anakin with a displeased look, the forehead of his bald, green-skinned head furrowed, sat in a chair facing Anakin. He had made his apprentice memorize the Fifth Codification, as discipline for his having argued with Nygee in front of others during a lightsaber practice.
The subject of their dispute had been Nygee's discovery that Anakin was studying Form V of the seven forms of lightsaber combat. Each form represented a distinct approach or philosophy, and each had its particular strengths. Form V arose when the Jedi, called upon more and more down the centuries to actively maintain peace in the galaxy, felt the need for a more powerful form of lightsaber combat.
Form V focused on strength and attack moves that allowed one to not only deflect a blaster bolt with a lightsaber's blade, but deliberately redirect it back towards an opponent. The maxim of Form V's philosophy was "peace through superior firepower." Master Nygee had expressed his disapproval of Anakin's allegiance to this more aggressive form, informing his new apprentice that Form V fostered an inappropriate focus on the domination of others.
Anakin had countered by saying that Form V was a worthy discipline, that it prepared a Jedi for any possible threat, and, with the increasingly dangerous state of affairs in the Republic, such threats were becoming more commonplace. Obi-Wan had been fully aware that Anakin had taken up the study of Form V and, although warning Anakin to be careful not to focus on anger and aggression when using it, had not forbade him from studying it.
Although Obi-Wan was familiar with Form V, he, his former master Qui-Gon, and Yoda had all been adherents of Form IV, which was the more acrobatic of the forms, emphasizing running, jumping and spinning. After the death of Qui-Gon, however, Obi-Wan took up Form III. He told Anakin Form IV had proven an insufficient defense against the Sith who killed his master. As a result, Obi-Wan had switched to Form III, a more highly refined expression of non-aggressive Jedi philosophy. It maximized defense over offense and was characterized by tight, efficient movements that exposed minimal target area.
Anakin and Nygee's dispute had escalated to such a fevered pitch Master Luminara Unduli, who had been working out in the gymnasium, had had to step in between the two to calm the situation down.
As a result of their argument, Master Nygee had ordered Anakin to memorize the codification to the treatise, which, upon reading, Anakin had discovered was a discourse on the dangers of indulging in passion and anger when wielding the Force. Although Anakin had taken exception to this, in his opinion, unjustified punishment, he had also been both fascinated and troubled by the writings of Venerable Master Tul'mak.
Much of what Tul'mak had written was applicable, not only to Anakin, but to Obi-Wan. The Venerable Master had been especially zealous regarding Jedi avoiding any kind of romantic love, because he believed the passion such love engendered was a two-edged sword. Exhilarating, but dangerous. Especially to a Jedi. Romantic love was like fire, Tul'mak had written over a thousand years ago. It could warm and nurture, but it could also burn and destroy.
Anakin finished the last line of his recitation. He looked at Master Nygee, waiting for his assessment of his efforts.
"You memorized that very well, Padawan Skywalker," Nygee said, his voice too deep and low to come from such a narrow chest. Like all Nehaun, Nygee was very tall and thin, but he was a powerful Jedi. His slight form belied his true strength for he was a formidable opponent in battle, as Anakin had learned during their lightsaber practice duel.
"Thank you, Master," Anakin said, bowing his head.
"But, do you understand it?"
"Understand it?"
Nygee nodded, his yellow eyes boring into Anakin's.
Anakin almost shrugged, but, instead, frowned. "I guess I do. Romantic love, sexual passion, anger, fear. All are dangerous to a Jedi. That appears to be the basic premise of the Ninth Treatise." A premise that, especially the part about romantic love being dangerous, Anakin did not entirely agree with.
"Yes, quite dangerous," Nygee said, nodding sagely. He tilted his head. "A doctrine that, unfortunately, your former master failed to heed."
Anakin felt a slow rage building inside him. For the past two weeks, since Anakin had been assigned to him as his apprentice, the Nehaun had seemed to go out of his way to criticize Obi-Wan in one way or another. If he wasn't condemning his behavior as it related to Onara, Nygee usually found something, often trivial and petty, regarding Obi-Wan's training of Anakin to find fault with. Anakin had struggled these past two weeks to hold his tongue, for he understood all too well that if he ever hoped to take the Trials in order to become a Jedi Knight, Nygee would now be the one to recommend he do so.
"My master did what he thought was right," Anakin said through gritted teeth.
"Yes, what he _thought_ was right, but not what was right." Nygee corrected him.
Anakin was about to respond, but Nygee suddenly waved his long, thin hand. "You may go now, Padawan Skywalker."
Anakin bowed, then turned, deliberately not saying good evening to Nygee, but he stopped when he heard the Nehaun's voice.
"Make sure you meditate, Padawan Skywalker. I sense much anger in you."
Really? How astute of you, Anakin sneered to himself as he nodded, his back still towards Nygee. He went out into the corridor and strode down it, his hands clenched. He'd only been Nygee's apprentice for two weeks, and the way the Nehaun seemed to constantly find something to criticize or censure him about, it could be months, even years, before Nygee recommended him for the Trials. How was he supposed to deal with his new master until then?
Turning a corner, Anakin almost bumped into a padawan. He muttered an apology, not even looking at the padawan who hurried past him. Sith, but he missed Obi-Wan. As Anakin went into his quarters and plopped down on his meditation cushion, he hoped his former master was doing better than he was.
To be continued.....
