Author's Notes: I decided to expand upon Syfo-Dias a bit, and I've given him a name too. I tried to think of a name, and thought of a little chain:
Dooku - Christopher Lee - Vincent Price - Vance
So I called him 'Vance', similar to 'Vincent', the name of the late actor who had been one of Christopher Lee's old acting friends.
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A Test of Faith
Chapter 4
It was a rapid turn of events. No sooner had the three left the chamber, then they'd had to prepare to leave, and were now readying their craft for travel to Colla IV.
Dooku stood on the platform of one of the Jedi Temple's largest docking bays, watching as a large Republic cruiser was moved toward the bay doors, ready for the usage of him and his comrades. Jinn was talking to one of the Jedi who worked often in the docking bay - some Jedi proved mechanically minded in their skills, so occasionally gave their time to do jobs as such. Jinn loved talking to others, and hearing about the assorted leases of Jedi life.
Jiao entered the bay, and walked up behind Serenn, a small bag of clothes and necessities hung over her back ready for the expedition; Jedi owned little, so travel at least never proved too hectic as far as selecting outfits was concerned.
Dooku sensed her coming, and turned about, monitoring her closely as she approached him.
Allyaah smiled toward him, and placed her bag down by her feet as she reached him; "Master Dooku," she nodded in a typical Jedi welcome manner. He merely nodded silently in return, before turning back to watch the cruiser once again.
Jiao caught the edge to his mood already from that dismissive gesture; "Is something wrong?" she asked him.
He looked down toward his feet, replying, "Yes... but there's nothing you can do to help."
Allyaah was sceptical, "So sure, are you?" she asked, purposely mimicking Yoda's sentence constructions to get Serenn's full attention.
Serenn turned to her swiftly, eyeballing her hard; Allyaah could tell from his expression that he had taken slight offence at her impersonation; "Yes, I am sure," he growled, the whites of his pupils seeming to become livid in his slender wrath. He turned abruptly away from her again.
Allyaah rolled her eyes, "You're not helping yourself by being a loner all the time," she said firmly, picking up her bag of things, and walking over toward Qui-Gon. Dooku cocked his head up a little, his eyebrows rising once she had spoken as he briefly considered her words.
Jinn noticed Master Jiao approaching him, and he gestured a farewell to the mechanic Jedi he'd been conversing with, before bounding over to meet her; "Greetings, my master!" he said politely as he skidded short of her to a stop, "Not long now! I can't believe how quickly things are happening!"
"I know," she smiled, finding Jinn's youthful excitement uplifting; it really hit her then that it might be about time that she took on her own Padawan, and had the benefit of a companion as well as a student during her Jedi life. Jinn seemed to be a bit of a handful, but she was enjoying seeing him often – it made her happy to watch another Jedi grow up, respecting the tutelage of their peers. And after having hard days where one had to deal with 'unpredictable' Jedi Knights and Masters (like Dooku), the prospects of having a Padawan to counter balance that seemed even more appealing.
Allyaah turned briefly back to look at Dooku – he was still stood staring in the far direction, a lone, tall and foreboding figure in the distance.
Jinn recognised Jiao's brief glance toward Dooku; "My Master seems even more unhappy now then he was earlier," he said conservatively.
Jiao turned swiftly back to him, recognising that Jinn had a keen skill of observation and insight; he knew his master well. "I know," she said.
Jinn paused for a second, considering whether to voice his next opinion. He licked his lip as he thought about it, then decided to go ahead, and said, "I think it's to do with Master Syfo-Dias, don't you? He's always… 'taunting' my Master… though I'm at a loss as to why…"
Allyaah was surprised at Qui-Gon having made that point, but she nodded in agreement slowly; "I can't say I disagree with you, Qui-Gon," she replied honestly, "But I can't think that Master Syfo-Dias would purposely taunt Ser-… I mean, Master Dooku. I don't see why he should be allowed to be so petty…"
"He does it real discreetly, that's why," Jinn replied decisively.
Jiao remained silent, looking to her side in contemplation – Jinn indeed was adeptly perceptive.
"I want to ask my master about it… about this seeming 'rivalry'…" Jinn admitted, stepping closer to Allyaah, and staring toward Dooku cautiously, "But I daren't… I'll ask him about most things on my mind, but when I know something upsets him like this, I avoid it…"
"He's a fully grown man, Qui-Gon," Allyaah reminded him, "He shouldn't have to hide things like a temperamental child…"
"We can't see it from his perspective, though," Jinn somewhat rebuked Jiao, sounding like a master talking to his Padawan. Allyaah couldn't help but smile faintly at his manner, but kept her smirk hidden from him; he'd obviously learned from the master.
"Many truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view," he added enigmatically.
"Good point," she said, giving him some credit for his well learned Jedi lore, "But do you understand it?"
Jinn glanced to Jiao briefly, then looked back to his master; he shrugged lightly, "I guess not…" he admitted, smirking awkwardly, "But it sounds good, doesn't it?"
Allyaah laughed gently – she hoped that she'd be able to find a Padawan as entertaining as young Master Jinn here; "Well, just make sure that you get your master to explain it to you," she told him, patting his shoulder briefly, before beginning to briskly walk toward the Republic cruiser that they would be travelling in.
Jinn watched her go, maintaining his wry smirk.
* * * *
Syfo-Dias entered Yoda's meditation chamber slowly. The rays of light that fell hazily through the window blinds ran across his features and gave him a vaguely stripy appearance.
Master Yoda was sat cross-legged upon his meditation seat – a firm round cushion, alike many that Jedi had in their chambers across the Temple. The little green Jedi's eyes were shut, and he seemed at peace, one with the Force.
Syfo-Dias walked toward the diminutive Jedi, and sat upon an identical seat opposite Master Yoda, smoothly lowering down onto it in a typical cross-legged posture. He watched Yoda for several seconds, waiting for his presence to be acknowledged.
After a moment's pause, Yoda's eyes opened, and he turned to look upon his fellow Jedi Council member, "Master Syfo-Dias," he nodded in greeting. His tone of voice, however, was low, and that was not a good sign as far as Yoda went.
Dias nodded in return, "Master Yoda," he said sombrely.
"Something to say, have you?" Yoda asked him, keeping his unyielding eyes fixed upon him.
Syfo-Dias slowly nodded for a second time, "I do indeed, my master."
In spite of this, Yoda turned his head away again, and closed his eyes once more, "About Master Dooku?" he inquired knowingly.
Syfo-Dias hesitated, not expecting that response. He faltered before saying warily, "Yes… my master…"
Yoda sighed gruffly, thinking as much, "Many issues you have with him…" he stated, "And he with you…"
Syfo just watched Yoda attentively, his eyes cold and stern.
Yoda sighed again, a long silence passing. Then, after the pause, his eyelids lifted yet again, and he finally turned back to the other Jedi; "Deem him unfit for this mission, do you?" Yoda queried.
"I have done so since the start…" Dias replied steadily, "You know this, master…"
"But the Council stands against you… one voice in defiance against eleven. Unconfident in this decision, are you?"
"No," he retorted, "I know Master Dooku is a… a 'skilled' Jedi, but… he's not right for this mission. He doesn't even believe in it himself…"
"The mission I myself do not agree with, Master Syfo-Dias" Yoda went on astutely, "But the council stood against me in my verdict. You stood against me then. The Council and I stand against you in Master Dooku's department. Content we both must be when the judgement of the majority of the Council opposes our own…"
"But Dooku doesn't want to participate in this mission!" Dias went on resolutely, "How can one disillusioned by the mere prospect of his mission complete it effectively?"
"Master Dooku may not wish to participate," Yoda began in response, "But a well trained and sagacious Jedi is he. His utmost effort will he put into it, whether he deems it correct or not…"
Syfo-Dias sighed, his mistrust of Dooku contradicted by Yoda's confidence in his former Padawan.
"Personal issues you have with Master Dooku, and disappointed I am that you have merged these issues with your judgements in the Council," Yoda reprimanded Syfo-Dias again, "And sort these you must when your mind is cleared, Vance…"
The little Jedi turned from him in an act of finality, returning into his contemplative state. Syfo-Dias felt his lip twitch in a faint irritation, especially at being chided via use of his name. To be called upon personally felt like being a Padawan once again, not a Jedi Council member. He exhaled slowly, calming himself, before getting back to his feet, and leaving Yoda to his thoughts.
The doors hissed shut behind him as he left. Yoda turned to the doors once Dias had left, staring at the space for a moment; much to learn he still had…
To be continued…