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Dantooine – Jedi Training
So began my Jedi training, it was both different and like my Covert Ops training. Physically less emphasis was placed on sheer strength and more on precise control and dexterity. Weapons training focused on melee combat, an area I thought I knew well but quickly came to find out that I still had much to learn about.
I had told Master Zhar and Bastila about my implants early in the training and Bastila had commented that she had thought it had to be something like that but why hadn't I just told her on Taris. I pointed out that the regeneration implant I had was far superior to what was generally available and that I didn't want anyone cutting into me to get my implants. Presented with that possibility, she had to agree that that it was probably wise and that we should continue to keep the existence of my implants a secret. I think that she felt better knowing about them, it explained why I was so dexterous and where I got my strength in combat.
I knew that none of the Jedi were pleased that I could choose to terminate my life. I suspected that the wonderful holo of a captured Covert Ops soldier taking just that choice had something to do with it. I watched rather impassively, proud of the noble choice the man had made rather than betray the Republic, but the Masters and Bastila appeared rather shaken afterwards. It wasn't the neatest of deaths I had to admit, but it was quite sudden and unstoppable once it began. I remembered in training that we had gotten a moment of satisfaction out of the futile attempts of the Sith interrogators to stop the man from dying, they had undoubtedly been disciplined harshly for the failure. Since the implants essentially exploded there was also nothing left for them to find in an autopsy. I had come to find the option rather comforting, but Bastila stared at me like I was insane when I told her that. I just shrugged and said that I was quite certain there were things worse than death to be found in the hands of the Sith. She shuddered but I could see that my point had been made.
I learned how to meditate to connect with the Force, and I realized that I had made attempts in the past to do so. Maybe I had been able to speak to Ricco, I thought.
I read the teachings of the Masters of the Order and tried to understand their meaning. Some things I agreed with and some things I disagreed with. Love was one of them, while I understood their concern that it could lead to the dark side and I was more than willing to admit that love could turn into hate. I didn't think that shunning it was the correct answer. I could see why Bastila was avoiding our feelings for each other if she had been taught that to fall in love meant that you would fall to the dark side. I just couldn't see that one had to follow the other unless love soured and turned into hate.
Bastila became a good friend during my training, I had always been attracted to her but now we got to know one another. I told her a great deal about myself, that I could not remember anything before my fleet basic training, about the rescue camp. She seemed sad that I had no idea who my parents were other than the information I had on my military records. I said that it bothered me some but I didn't dwell on it.
She managed to get most of my history from me and was both shocked and amused by my tale of meeting Maraya. She shook her head at me and said that she didn't want to hear anymore after I made it clear that Maraya and I had been intimate with each other. I chuckled at her and got another one of her lectures. I wondered if she realized how much like Master Vrook she sounded, it wasn't surprising though given that he seemed to be her particular Master. I had been annoyed at first but now I only listened to her with half an ear when she started with them as they usually seemed to be as much for her own benefit as mine.
I learned about her life here at the Academy but she was unwilling to discuss much about her life before the Academy. I knew her father had been a hunter and that she had traveled around the galaxy with her farther and mother before she had been sent to the Academy. But that was all she was willing to say about her family.
I know she came to understand how close I was to my squad mates, how they were all the family I had and she said that she wished that I would come to think the same about my fellow Jedi. I glanced at her and chuckled and she blushed, but I held my tongue and didn't embarrass her further. It was fun to bait her sometimes but she would withdraw for hours after I had managed to annoy her so I only did it when she was being her most preachy.
I also had time to talk to the friends I had made on Taris, people that were rapidly becoming my new squad mates. I finally got Carth to open up about some of his troubles, his question to me of 'if you could not trust the best of the Jedi, meaning Revan and Malak, who could you trust?', was heart wrenching. I suspected, though , the Council would disagree with him, since Revan and Malak had disobeyed them by assisting the Republic in the first place. He seemed angriest over the non-Jedi who had joined the Sith; his statement that they deserved no mercy was full of anger. He did apologize to me though for taking out his problems on me while on Taris. I had to admit what he had gone through would have shaken my faith in people as well.
Canderous was a puzzle to me, he was full of darkness but he was also honorable in his own Mandalorian way. I decided to try and get him to open up by talking about his battles. He spoke of honor and glory in combat, of how that was how you proved your worth. I guess it was oddly flattering that the Mandalorians thought the Republic was worthy of battle, though it was an honor we could have done without. He spoke of weeping for the loss of his violent past and I guess I could see how being Davik's thug was a bit of a step down from his battles for worlds.
I learned quickly and began to understand the use of my Force powers, and was rewarded by Master Zhar saying one day "In all my years I have never seen one who has mastered all the initial training so quickly. You have done in weeks what many cannot do in years."
He told me my apprenticeship would end soon and I would be granted the title of Padawan, the lowest rank in the Jedi Order. But first I must prove myself worthy. I asked how I would do this and he said that I must pass three tests. The first of which was to prove that I knew and understood the Code of the Jedi Order.
I had talked with Master Zhar before about the code and he had commented that my military training gave me a unique perspective. My adrenal training had taught me that I could be calm no matter what my emotions. So my perspective was not so much that there is no emotion... there is peace. As no matter the storm of emotions you might find yourself in there was peace in the midst of them. I don't know if he agreed but he understood my meaning.
There is no ignorance, there is knowledge did not make much sense to me until he explained it as understand the will of the Force. I allowed that perhaps that was one I needed to grow into understanding. I think he appreciated my honesty, in admitting I didn't fully understand the meaning of it.
There is no passion... there is serenity. I always assumed this was another stating of the first line. And Master Zhar agreed that they were very similar in nature.
There is no chaos... There is harmony. This was another difficult one for me unless he meant that what appeared to be chaotic was only a small part of a greater harmony.
There is no death, there is the Force simply sounded to me like an affirmation that there was something beyond death for everyone.
I don't know if my understanding of the code was correct but I gathered it was good enough for me to continue to the next test. A greater understanding would come in time Master Zhar said to me.
My next test was to pick my Jedi path, and though Master Dorak thought I was best suited to be a Jedi Consular. I felt a more balanced path would suit me better so I picked Jedi Sentinel as it seemed a middle path between the Consular and Guardian. I took my yellow focus crystal from Master Dorak and returned to Master Zhar. Master Zhar instructed as to how to make a lightsaber and then told me to go and make my own. When I was done Master Zhar commented on how well I had done setting the focus crystal.
My last task was to cleanse an ancient meditation grove to the northwest of a dark taint that had come over it. The kath hounds in the area had become savage and ruthless and were attacking people. I asked for more information and Master Zhar said for me to remember that not all who are on a dark path are lost forever. Upon hearing that I had a strong suspicion that I knew what was in the grove, a fallen Jedi. It would fit that I needed to see the corruption of the dark side for myself and I knew my task was to bring them back to the light if at all possible.
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Carth, Canderous and I exited the Jedi Enclave and decided to explore some instead of heading directly toward the grove. I decided ask around the Enclave to see what information I could gather about Dantooine before we went out looking for the taint in the grove. An old Jedi by the name of Nemo did give me some valuable information about force crystal caves, though he didn't say where they were located. He said they were dangerous to enter because they were inhabited by Kinrath spiders attracted by the crystals.
We were stopped on the way out of the Enclave by a man who accused the Jedi of sitting safe in their enclave while Mandalorian raiders stole and killed them. From what he said the raiders had come to their home demanding all they had and his daughter had defied them and been killed. Canderous said to him "You should have protected her better. And you call yourself her father." I knew enough about Mandalorians from my training to know that in their twisted way they had honored the daughter by killing her and the fact her father was alive meant they thought he was a coward. It wasn't my place to judge his actions though, and as he said the only thing he could have done was get himself killed. These people were farmers not warriors, and I had to wonder about the honor of these Mandalorians trying to provoke farmers. Somehow I couldn't see Canderous stooping so low. I told him I would see what I could do about the raiders and he calmed down enough to let us pass.
The next person I spoke to was an older woman standing by a speeder looking anxiously toward the enclave, I walked up to her and she asked if I could help her find her companion who she had lost. I thought it an odd choice of words but inquired further, and found out that her missing companion was a droid. She seemed oddly attached to it, apparently it had been made by her late husband as a personal assistance droid. I was bothered by something in her emotions but I said that if I saw her droid I would send it back to her.
The kath hounds were aggressive; a small pack of them attacked us just outside of the enclave, and as we explored any that we saw quickly attacked us as well. We had quite a few nice battles as we wandered about and I could see that Carth and Canderous were enjoying their outing. Bastila would have been complaining over the pace and why we were just wandering about but the two of them seemed to understand we were playing hooky for the day even if it was rather dangerous play. Carth did grumble though since he was the only one needing med paks. I replied telling him he should get is own regenerative implant like Canderous and I. I hadn't mentioned any of my other implants but the regeneration one was too obvious and it was just easier to admit I had one rather than continue to try and hide it.
Furthur on we came upon a group of Mandalorians threatening an old man; to my shock the old man offered the Mandalorian his wife and child in exchange for his life. The Mandalorian laughed and killed the old man before I could intervene and then said something to his Duros friends about taking the wife and child. I was upon him then and though he was a challenging opponent he went down quickly. I was a better melee fighter now than I had ever been and I had gotten used to fighting with the lightsaber more quickly than I thought I would.
I walked over to the body of the old man and wondered what his wife would have thought had she known he cared about them so little he was willing to turn her and his child over to them in exchange for his own life. I shook my head and we moved on.
We came across than albino horned kath hound that had us all battling seriously for our lives, after we finally killed it; we rested in the shadow of an overhang and made sure we were all okay before moving on.
We found the woman's droid being attacked by kath hounds. He had sought them out trying to destroy himself. It seemed as if she had been treating the droid like it was her dead husband. I could tell the guys were looking at the droid, and we were all thinking the same question, but I decided some questions were best left unasked. The droid asked if we would be kind enough to destroy him so that Elsie would be able to move on and live a more normal life. I pondered the request and finally agreed.
Near where we found the droid we found the entrance to the cavern that contained the force crystal formations. The spiders were not much of a problem for the three of us and after we had cleared the cavern of the adults I collected a few lightsaber crystals and we left the cave.
We finally decided we had dawdled enough and were making our way to the grove when I came across another Jedi, Master Bolook. He asked if I would be interested in assisting him with a murder investigation. I agreed and started questioning the two suspects. It was an interesting puzzle; I quickly realized both men were lying about several things and that both had motives for the killing. Finally I put all the clues together and realized what must have happened. Handon had killed the victim for cheating on his wife. Rikard who had also been out looking for the victim to murder for swindling money from him, mistook Handon for the dead man and shot him from a distance, injuring Handon which was how his blood got on the blaster. Handon had dropped his blaster and called the Enclave hoping to place the blame on Rikard. Master Bolook was pleased with my findings and said he would let the Council know of my progress.
We approached the ancient grove and I motioned Canderous and Carth to stay behind while I checked out the situation. As I suspected there was someone there in Jedi robes, her thoughts filled with darkness and emotional turmoil. I assessed the situation and realized the woman was a Cathar; they were unusual to see as the Mandalorians had all but wiped them out. I watched her some more and realized how young she was, maybe as young as eighteen I thought.
She challenged me and attacked when I approached her. She was a good fighter, but her anger made her sloppy and weak in her defense, the fight was difficult only because I would not seriously wound her. Finally I was able to disarm her and she retreated. I asked her why she had attacked me and she told me this grove was her place of dark power, where she had went to have solace, after killing her master Quatra. I thought to myself, this poor youngster, she means she went here to mourn after thinking that she had killed her master. I hadn't heard anything about any student killing their teacher at the enclave, and I was pretty sure that would be unusual enough that I would have heard something. I also realized what she had gone through was rather like my first experience with the adrenals, I too had totally lost control, but I had ended up on the mat stunned and pinned. She had ended up here; there was a lesson to be learned here for the both of us.
I told her I had been sent to cleanse the grove of its dark taint and she asked why I hadn't killed her, wasn't it apparent she couldn't be saved? I shook my head and told her I had no desire to kill her. She argued with me for a bit and it became apparent to me that the young woman had some serious self-esteem problems. I told her that I saw a beautiful young woman who had a lot of talent in front of me. She blushed and I became aware that I might have just misstepped when she said that I seemed to know what affected her. Opps I thought to myself, Bastila no matter how uninterested she acted would be very hurt if she thought I was attracted to another woman. I decided to use less emotional appeals after that, and stuck to the Code to persuade her to turn back to the light and ask the Council for forgiveness. As she left for the Enclave I realized was time for us to return as well.
Before entering the Enclave grounds I told Elsie that her droid had asked to be destroyed and that I had honored it's request. She looked at me stricken and I told her the droid's last request was that she find other people to meet and interact with. She cried that she could not bear to live without her droid and I was worried when she ran off but then I saw that she was headed to the Enclave. I resolved to give her some time to herself but to check up on her in a few days to see how she was doing.
Juhari was waiting in the Enclave and I paused to ask her how the Council meeting went. She told me that she was once again welcome within the Jedi Order, that Quatra's injuries were not as severe as she had believed. The confrontation had been nothing more than a part of her training, that her teacher had wanted her to understand how easy it was to fall from the path of light. Once again I noted how she disparaged herself and grimaced. I said "Don't think so badly of yourself, sometime when I'm not on busy remind me to tell you of the time I went into a killing rage and tried to kill my Instructor during training." She stared at me astonished and I grinned at her and waved and left to report to Master Zhar.
Master Zhar said "You have done well, my pupil. The ancient grove has been purified, and Juhani's journey down the dark path has been halted. Because of you she walks in the light." He told me to not dismiss what happened to her and I nodded, then he finished "Congratulations, apprentice. Or should I say congratulations, Padawan? You have proven yourself worthy of joining the Jedi. Let me be the first to welcome you as a full-fledged member of our Order." He then indicated that I should follow him in to see the Council.
Master Vandar greeted me and commended me for my role in returning Juhari; he then said "Your training is now complete, young Padawan. And perhaps now is the time we dealt with the matter of the dream you and Bastila shared. When we heard of the ruins in your dream, Master Dorak recognized it as one of a series of ancient structures here on Dantoonie. This one in particular lies to the east of the Enclave. We sent a Jedi to investigate... but he has not returned. Perhaps sending him in the first place was a mistake. The Force is guiding you through your visions; it may be that exploring the ruins is a task tied to your destiny. That is why the Council has now decided you should be the one to investigate this. Be sure to take Bastila with you. There is a powerful link between you, and you will need to draw strength from each other during the trials ahead."
Suddenly a older man burst into the Council area shouting "I demand justice! The Sandral family is blight on Dantooine! They must be punished!"
Master Vandar said that the council would look into the matter, but that his accusations had no proof. The man said "Mistake? My son Shen is missing! How can there be any doubt the Sandral's are to blame?"
Master Vrook stated that there were other possible explanations and the man stormed out threatening that he would only wait so long before taking action on his own. Master Vandar sighed and turned to Bastila and I and told us that the Jedi could not abandon their other responsibilities, no matter how dangerous the threat of Malak. He asked that if we had time we should look into this matter between Nurik Sandral and Ahlan Matale, and I said I would do so at once.
As we left Bastila said to me "This task has its own importance. It may also serve to divert our minds for a short time... something which carries its own rewards." I had been aware that several things had been troubling Bastila as the end of my training approached. The bond between us had grown and I suspected she was more than a bit unhappy with that.
I told her I would like to discuss the dream we had shared now that the time for actually finding the place had come. Bastila nodded, she had been unwilling to talk much about it before now and our conversations had focused more on our pasts and my training. I had been puzzled as to what exactly the bond was, everyone had given me the standard answer that it formed sometimes between Master and pupil but I knew that was not the relationship I had with Bastila, even if she did try and take that role.
I said "I still don't understand why we shared this vision." She said "Are you wondering why we shared the vision? Or why we even received it in the first place? To the first I can only repeat the answer that the Council gave us. Our fates are linked, and for two as strong as we are in the Force that amounts to a near-physical bond." She looked troubled as she said it and I could sense her continuing distress with how strong the bond had become. Bastila continued "As to the second, I don't truly have an answer for you. The Force works as it will, and perhaps we should be grateful for what we have been given."
I said what I had really been wondering "But how did our fates become linked?" Bastila looked at me and said "I... I don't know. Believe me, I certainly don't find the prospect of being joined to you enjoyable in any fashion." I blinked at her hurt by the words and turned away saying "Well, thanks a lot." She grabbed my arm and pulled me back, I could see the pain I was feeling reflected in her eyes and she said pleadingly "Please forgive me. I did not mean to imply that you were repulsive in any sense of the word." I looked at her and I could see she meant what she said, she finished "That we share something so personal is just not something I'm used to." She still held my arm and I could tell that she wanted me to say something. I covered her hand with mine and said "I understand it's not easy for me sometimes as well. And I forgive you." She blushed slightly and freed her hand from mine and said something about going to investigate the disappearance of Shen Mantrel.
I looked at her for a moment longer and though to myself, no the bond isn't easy for either of us to deal with sometimes. It's damn uncomfortable to feel how nervous and afraid of her feelings for me she is. And I can imagine my steady pursuit of her is just as wearing as her dogged determination to resist is on me. What a pair we are.
I had picked up one of the new Jedi robes for myself earlier in the day, I had chosen a white robe with a black belt and shoulder pads. I had went ahead and picked out a dark maroon robe for Bastila that I hoped she would like. I had set it down outside the Council chamber when I had gone in with Master Zhar.
Now I got it and gave it to her, she seemed pleased and admired it. I breathed a sigh of relief when she tried it on over her bodysuit, while I really liked the bodysuit she favored I always wanted to walk a few paces behind her to admire the view. I knew it drove her nuts but I couldn't help myself. The robe was less form fitting and actually made it easier to concentrate on something besides that lovely rear of hers.
She had a small smile playing about her lips and asked me if I hadn't liked what she usually wore. The minx, I thought to myself, she knew the entire time. She must have realized what she had just revealed to me because she suddenly flushed and said she had to go to her room and change into the new robe before we set out. I watched her leave and shook my head, what mixed messages she constantly sent. I couldn't figure the woman out, she constantly pushed me away, but at the same time she did things to make sure that I would stay interested. How amazingly frustrating she was, and how very desirable.
So began my Jedi training, it was both different and like my Covert Ops training. Physically less emphasis was placed on sheer strength and more on precise control and dexterity. Weapons training focused on melee combat, an area I thought I knew well but quickly came to find out that I still had much to learn about.
I had told Master Zhar and Bastila about my implants early in the training and Bastila had commented that she had thought it had to be something like that but why hadn't I just told her on Taris. I pointed out that the regeneration implant I had was far superior to what was generally available and that I didn't want anyone cutting into me to get my implants. Presented with that possibility, she had to agree that that it was probably wise and that we should continue to keep the existence of my implants a secret. I think that she felt better knowing about them, it explained why I was so dexterous and where I got my strength in combat.
I knew that none of the Jedi were pleased that I could choose to terminate my life. I suspected that the wonderful holo of a captured Covert Ops soldier taking just that choice had something to do with it. I watched rather impassively, proud of the noble choice the man had made rather than betray the Republic, but the Masters and Bastila appeared rather shaken afterwards. It wasn't the neatest of deaths I had to admit, but it was quite sudden and unstoppable once it began. I remembered in training that we had gotten a moment of satisfaction out of the futile attempts of the Sith interrogators to stop the man from dying, they had undoubtedly been disciplined harshly for the failure. Since the implants essentially exploded there was also nothing left for them to find in an autopsy. I had come to find the option rather comforting, but Bastila stared at me like I was insane when I told her that. I just shrugged and said that I was quite certain there were things worse than death to be found in the hands of the Sith. She shuddered but I could see that my point had been made.
I learned how to meditate to connect with the Force, and I realized that I had made attempts in the past to do so. Maybe I had been able to speak to Ricco, I thought.
I read the teachings of the Masters of the Order and tried to understand their meaning. Some things I agreed with and some things I disagreed with. Love was one of them, while I understood their concern that it could lead to the dark side and I was more than willing to admit that love could turn into hate. I didn't think that shunning it was the correct answer. I could see why Bastila was avoiding our feelings for each other if she had been taught that to fall in love meant that you would fall to the dark side. I just couldn't see that one had to follow the other unless love soured and turned into hate.
Bastila became a good friend during my training, I had always been attracted to her but now we got to know one another. I told her a great deal about myself, that I could not remember anything before my fleet basic training, about the rescue camp. She seemed sad that I had no idea who my parents were other than the information I had on my military records. I said that it bothered me some but I didn't dwell on it.
She managed to get most of my history from me and was both shocked and amused by my tale of meeting Maraya. She shook her head at me and said that she didn't want to hear anymore after I made it clear that Maraya and I had been intimate with each other. I chuckled at her and got another one of her lectures. I wondered if she realized how much like Master Vrook she sounded, it wasn't surprising though given that he seemed to be her particular Master. I had been annoyed at first but now I only listened to her with half an ear when she started with them as they usually seemed to be as much for her own benefit as mine.
I learned about her life here at the Academy but she was unwilling to discuss much about her life before the Academy. I knew her father had been a hunter and that she had traveled around the galaxy with her farther and mother before she had been sent to the Academy. But that was all she was willing to say about her family.
I know she came to understand how close I was to my squad mates, how they were all the family I had and she said that she wished that I would come to think the same about my fellow Jedi. I glanced at her and chuckled and she blushed, but I held my tongue and didn't embarrass her further. It was fun to bait her sometimes but she would withdraw for hours after I had managed to annoy her so I only did it when she was being her most preachy.
I also had time to talk to the friends I had made on Taris, people that were rapidly becoming my new squad mates. I finally got Carth to open up about some of his troubles, his question to me of 'if you could not trust the best of the Jedi, meaning Revan and Malak, who could you trust?', was heart wrenching. I suspected, though , the Council would disagree with him, since Revan and Malak had disobeyed them by assisting the Republic in the first place. He seemed angriest over the non-Jedi who had joined the Sith; his statement that they deserved no mercy was full of anger. He did apologize to me though for taking out his problems on me while on Taris. I had to admit what he had gone through would have shaken my faith in people as well.
Canderous was a puzzle to me, he was full of darkness but he was also honorable in his own Mandalorian way. I decided to try and get him to open up by talking about his battles. He spoke of honor and glory in combat, of how that was how you proved your worth. I guess it was oddly flattering that the Mandalorians thought the Republic was worthy of battle, though it was an honor we could have done without. He spoke of weeping for the loss of his violent past and I guess I could see how being Davik's thug was a bit of a step down from his battles for worlds.
I learned quickly and began to understand the use of my Force powers, and was rewarded by Master Zhar saying one day "In all my years I have never seen one who has mastered all the initial training so quickly. You have done in weeks what many cannot do in years."
He told me my apprenticeship would end soon and I would be granted the title of Padawan, the lowest rank in the Jedi Order. But first I must prove myself worthy. I asked how I would do this and he said that I must pass three tests. The first of which was to prove that I knew and understood the Code of the Jedi Order.
I had talked with Master Zhar before about the code and he had commented that my military training gave me a unique perspective. My adrenal training had taught me that I could be calm no matter what my emotions. So my perspective was not so much that there is no emotion... there is peace. As no matter the storm of emotions you might find yourself in there was peace in the midst of them. I don't know if he agreed but he understood my meaning.
There is no ignorance, there is knowledge did not make much sense to me until he explained it as understand the will of the Force. I allowed that perhaps that was one I needed to grow into understanding. I think he appreciated my honesty, in admitting I didn't fully understand the meaning of it.
There is no passion... there is serenity. I always assumed this was another stating of the first line. And Master Zhar agreed that they were very similar in nature.
There is no chaos... There is harmony. This was another difficult one for me unless he meant that what appeared to be chaotic was only a small part of a greater harmony.
There is no death, there is the Force simply sounded to me like an affirmation that there was something beyond death for everyone.
I don't know if my understanding of the code was correct but I gathered it was good enough for me to continue to the next test. A greater understanding would come in time Master Zhar said to me.
My next test was to pick my Jedi path, and though Master Dorak thought I was best suited to be a Jedi Consular. I felt a more balanced path would suit me better so I picked Jedi Sentinel as it seemed a middle path between the Consular and Guardian. I took my yellow focus crystal from Master Dorak and returned to Master Zhar. Master Zhar instructed as to how to make a lightsaber and then told me to go and make my own. When I was done Master Zhar commented on how well I had done setting the focus crystal.
My last task was to cleanse an ancient meditation grove to the northwest of a dark taint that had come over it. The kath hounds in the area had become savage and ruthless and were attacking people. I asked for more information and Master Zhar said for me to remember that not all who are on a dark path are lost forever. Upon hearing that I had a strong suspicion that I knew what was in the grove, a fallen Jedi. It would fit that I needed to see the corruption of the dark side for myself and I knew my task was to bring them back to the light if at all possible.
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Carth, Canderous and I exited the Jedi Enclave and decided to explore some instead of heading directly toward the grove. I decided ask around the Enclave to see what information I could gather about Dantooine before we went out looking for the taint in the grove. An old Jedi by the name of Nemo did give me some valuable information about force crystal caves, though he didn't say where they were located. He said they were dangerous to enter because they were inhabited by Kinrath spiders attracted by the crystals.
We were stopped on the way out of the Enclave by a man who accused the Jedi of sitting safe in their enclave while Mandalorian raiders stole and killed them. From what he said the raiders had come to their home demanding all they had and his daughter had defied them and been killed. Canderous said to him "You should have protected her better. And you call yourself her father." I knew enough about Mandalorians from my training to know that in their twisted way they had honored the daughter by killing her and the fact her father was alive meant they thought he was a coward. It wasn't my place to judge his actions though, and as he said the only thing he could have done was get himself killed. These people were farmers not warriors, and I had to wonder about the honor of these Mandalorians trying to provoke farmers. Somehow I couldn't see Canderous stooping so low. I told him I would see what I could do about the raiders and he calmed down enough to let us pass.
The next person I spoke to was an older woman standing by a speeder looking anxiously toward the enclave, I walked up to her and she asked if I could help her find her companion who she had lost. I thought it an odd choice of words but inquired further, and found out that her missing companion was a droid. She seemed oddly attached to it, apparently it had been made by her late husband as a personal assistance droid. I was bothered by something in her emotions but I said that if I saw her droid I would send it back to her.
The kath hounds were aggressive; a small pack of them attacked us just outside of the enclave, and as we explored any that we saw quickly attacked us as well. We had quite a few nice battles as we wandered about and I could see that Carth and Canderous were enjoying their outing. Bastila would have been complaining over the pace and why we were just wandering about but the two of them seemed to understand we were playing hooky for the day even if it was rather dangerous play. Carth did grumble though since he was the only one needing med paks. I replied telling him he should get is own regenerative implant like Canderous and I. I hadn't mentioned any of my other implants but the regeneration one was too obvious and it was just easier to admit I had one rather than continue to try and hide it.
Furthur on we came upon a group of Mandalorians threatening an old man; to my shock the old man offered the Mandalorian his wife and child in exchange for his life. The Mandalorian laughed and killed the old man before I could intervene and then said something to his Duros friends about taking the wife and child. I was upon him then and though he was a challenging opponent he went down quickly. I was a better melee fighter now than I had ever been and I had gotten used to fighting with the lightsaber more quickly than I thought I would.
I walked over to the body of the old man and wondered what his wife would have thought had she known he cared about them so little he was willing to turn her and his child over to them in exchange for his own life. I shook my head and we moved on.
We came across than albino horned kath hound that had us all battling seriously for our lives, after we finally killed it; we rested in the shadow of an overhang and made sure we were all okay before moving on.
We found the woman's droid being attacked by kath hounds. He had sought them out trying to destroy himself. It seemed as if she had been treating the droid like it was her dead husband. I could tell the guys were looking at the droid, and we were all thinking the same question, but I decided some questions were best left unasked. The droid asked if we would be kind enough to destroy him so that Elsie would be able to move on and live a more normal life. I pondered the request and finally agreed.
Near where we found the droid we found the entrance to the cavern that contained the force crystal formations. The spiders were not much of a problem for the three of us and after we had cleared the cavern of the adults I collected a few lightsaber crystals and we left the cave.
We finally decided we had dawdled enough and were making our way to the grove when I came across another Jedi, Master Bolook. He asked if I would be interested in assisting him with a murder investigation. I agreed and started questioning the two suspects. It was an interesting puzzle; I quickly realized both men were lying about several things and that both had motives for the killing. Finally I put all the clues together and realized what must have happened. Handon had killed the victim for cheating on his wife. Rikard who had also been out looking for the victim to murder for swindling money from him, mistook Handon for the dead man and shot him from a distance, injuring Handon which was how his blood got on the blaster. Handon had dropped his blaster and called the Enclave hoping to place the blame on Rikard. Master Bolook was pleased with my findings and said he would let the Council know of my progress.
We approached the ancient grove and I motioned Canderous and Carth to stay behind while I checked out the situation. As I suspected there was someone there in Jedi robes, her thoughts filled with darkness and emotional turmoil. I assessed the situation and realized the woman was a Cathar; they were unusual to see as the Mandalorians had all but wiped them out. I watched her some more and realized how young she was, maybe as young as eighteen I thought.
She challenged me and attacked when I approached her. She was a good fighter, but her anger made her sloppy and weak in her defense, the fight was difficult only because I would not seriously wound her. Finally I was able to disarm her and she retreated. I asked her why she had attacked me and she told me this grove was her place of dark power, where she had went to have solace, after killing her master Quatra. I thought to myself, this poor youngster, she means she went here to mourn after thinking that she had killed her master. I hadn't heard anything about any student killing their teacher at the enclave, and I was pretty sure that would be unusual enough that I would have heard something. I also realized what she had gone through was rather like my first experience with the adrenals, I too had totally lost control, but I had ended up on the mat stunned and pinned. She had ended up here; there was a lesson to be learned here for the both of us.
I told her I had been sent to cleanse the grove of its dark taint and she asked why I hadn't killed her, wasn't it apparent she couldn't be saved? I shook my head and told her I had no desire to kill her. She argued with me for a bit and it became apparent to me that the young woman had some serious self-esteem problems. I told her that I saw a beautiful young woman who had a lot of talent in front of me. She blushed and I became aware that I might have just misstepped when she said that I seemed to know what affected her. Opps I thought to myself, Bastila no matter how uninterested she acted would be very hurt if she thought I was attracted to another woman. I decided to use less emotional appeals after that, and stuck to the Code to persuade her to turn back to the light and ask the Council for forgiveness. As she left for the Enclave I realized was time for us to return as well.
Before entering the Enclave grounds I told Elsie that her droid had asked to be destroyed and that I had honored it's request. She looked at me stricken and I told her the droid's last request was that she find other people to meet and interact with. She cried that she could not bear to live without her droid and I was worried when she ran off but then I saw that she was headed to the Enclave. I resolved to give her some time to herself but to check up on her in a few days to see how she was doing.
Juhari was waiting in the Enclave and I paused to ask her how the Council meeting went. She told me that she was once again welcome within the Jedi Order, that Quatra's injuries were not as severe as she had believed. The confrontation had been nothing more than a part of her training, that her teacher had wanted her to understand how easy it was to fall from the path of light. Once again I noted how she disparaged herself and grimaced. I said "Don't think so badly of yourself, sometime when I'm not on busy remind me to tell you of the time I went into a killing rage and tried to kill my Instructor during training." She stared at me astonished and I grinned at her and waved and left to report to Master Zhar.
Master Zhar said "You have done well, my pupil. The ancient grove has been purified, and Juhani's journey down the dark path has been halted. Because of you she walks in the light." He told me to not dismiss what happened to her and I nodded, then he finished "Congratulations, apprentice. Or should I say congratulations, Padawan? You have proven yourself worthy of joining the Jedi. Let me be the first to welcome you as a full-fledged member of our Order." He then indicated that I should follow him in to see the Council.
Master Vandar greeted me and commended me for my role in returning Juhari; he then said "Your training is now complete, young Padawan. And perhaps now is the time we dealt with the matter of the dream you and Bastila shared. When we heard of the ruins in your dream, Master Dorak recognized it as one of a series of ancient structures here on Dantoonie. This one in particular lies to the east of the Enclave. We sent a Jedi to investigate... but he has not returned. Perhaps sending him in the first place was a mistake. The Force is guiding you through your visions; it may be that exploring the ruins is a task tied to your destiny. That is why the Council has now decided you should be the one to investigate this. Be sure to take Bastila with you. There is a powerful link between you, and you will need to draw strength from each other during the trials ahead."
Suddenly a older man burst into the Council area shouting "I demand justice! The Sandral family is blight on Dantooine! They must be punished!"
Master Vandar said that the council would look into the matter, but that his accusations had no proof. The man said "Mistake? My son Shen is missing! How can there be any doubt the Sandral's are to blame?"
Master Vrook stated that there were other possible explanations and the man stormed out threatening that he would only wait so long before taking action on his own. Master Vandar sighed and turned to Bastila and I and told us that the Jedi could not abandon their other responsibilities, no matter how dangerous the threat of Malak. He asked that if we had time we should look into this matter between Nurik Sandral and Ahlan Matale, and I said I would do so at once.
As we left Bastila said to me "This task has its own importance. It may also serve to divert our minds for a short time... something which carries its own rewards." I had been aware that several things had been troubling Bastila as the end of my training approached. The bond between us had grown and I suspected she was more than a bit unhappy with that.
I told her I would like to discuss the dream we had shared now that the time for actually finding the place had come. Bastila nodded, she had been unwilling to talk much about it before now and our conversations had focused more on our pasts and my training. I had been puzzled as to what exactly the bond was, everyone had given me the standard answer that it formed sometimes between Master and pupil but I knew that was not the relationship I had with Bastila, even if she did try and take that role.
I said "I still don't understand why we shared this vision." She said "Are you wondering why we shared the vision? Or why we even received it in the first place? To the first I can only repeat the answer that the Council gave us. Our fates are linked, and for two as strong as we are in the Force that amounts to a near-physical bond." She looked troubled as she said it and I could sense her continuing distress with how strong the bond had become. Bastila continued "As to the second, I don't truly have an answer for you. The Force works as it will, and perhaps we should be grateful for what we have been given."
I said what I had really been wondering "But how did our fates become linked?" Bastila looked at me and said "I... I don't know. Believe me, I certainly don't find the prospect of being joined to you enjoyable in any fashion." I blinked at her hurt by the words and turned away saying "Well, thanks a lot." She grabbed my arm and pulled me back, I could see the pain I was feeling reflected in her eyes and she said pleadingly "Please forgive me. I did not mean to imply that you were repulsive in any sense of the word." I looked at her and I could see she meant what she said, she finished "That we share something so personal is just not something I'm used to." She still held my arm and I could tell that she wanted me to say something. I covered her hand with mine and said "I understand it's not easy for me sometimes as well. And I forgive you." She blushed slightly and freed her hand from mine and said something about going to investigate the disappearance of Shen Mantrel.
I looked at her for a moment longer and though to myself, no the bond isn't easy for either of us to deal with sometimes. It's damn uncomfortable to feel how nervous and afraid of her feelings for me she is. And I can imagine my steady pursuit of her is just as wearing as her dogged determination to resist is on me. What a pair we are.
I had picked up one of the new Jedi robes for myself earlier in the day, I had chosen a white robe with a black belt and shoulder pads. I had went ahead and picked out a dark maroon robe for Bastila that I hoped she would like. I had set it down outside the Council chamber when I had gone in with Master Zhar.
Now I got it and gave it to her, she seemed pleased and admired it. I breathed a sigh of relief when she tried it on over her bodysuit, while I really liked the bodysuit she favored I always wanted to walk a few paces behind her to admire the view. I knew it drove her nuts but I couldn't help myself. The robe was less form fitting and actually made it easier to concentrate on something besides that lovely rear of hers.
She had a small smile playing about her lips and asked me if I hadn't liked what she usually wore. The minx, I thought to myself, she knew the entire time. She must have realized what she had just revealed to me because she suddenly flushed and said she had to go to her room and change into the new robe before we set out. I watched her leave and shook my head, what mixed messages she constantly sent. I couldn't figure the woman out, she constantly pushed me away, but at the same time she did things to make sure that I would stay interested. How amazingly frustrating she was, and how very desirable.