A month later, Ry-Gaul sat in the training room, scanning the ten Padawan-hopefuls with anxiety over being chosen. He sat with several other Jedi in elevated seats in a line along one wall of the room, each hoping that this day would be the day they would come away with a Padawan. This was the final Padawan Trial, and the day that Padawans would be chosen.

He looked down at the young Jedi learners, and suddenly realized that all but one of them was acting nervously. He leaned forward, with his left elbow on his knee and his hand on his chin, and studied that individual, a boy, carefully.

Okay, about 1.3 meters tall, maybe 12 years old, dirty brown hair, shiny dark eyes…

The boy stood up and activated his training lightsaber.

Oh, and left-handed… interesting. Hmm, I wonder who he is?

Ry-Gaul looked at the roster in his hand, and quickly deduced that the boy's name was Emeth L'aroi, a humanoid of Cloud City, a brilliant student, a jack-of-all-trades but especially skilled in mechanics, and a considerable athlete and warrior. Emeth had also scored a near-perfect score on his Padawan Trials Test.

Buzz, Hmm. The boy practiced with swift, sure strokes, doing an outstandingly fast rundown of all the moves he'd learned.

Relaxed yet alert, fast but not rushed, completely sure of each step he takes, intensely focused but not emotionless… and looks oddly familiar… No Way!

Ry-Gaul stood, so fast and with such power that heads turned from all around the room. He smiled sheepishly and sat down. In a few seconds, the room returned to its previous state.

Anakin! The boy is Anakin/Tru reincarnate!

He furrowed his eyebrows thoughtfully. If there ever was such a thing as Tru Veld and Anakin Skywalker combined, Emeth was undeniably the full embodiment.

Is this possible? He looks exactly like Anakin, but his manner is precisely Tru's! What is this?

With wide eyes, he shook his head in disbelief. But before he had time to ponder how this could be, the thick durasteel doors whooshed open, and in walked Master Yoda, Master Mace Windu, and several other Council Members.

Instantly, the room was silent. The expectant Jedi waiting for Padawans sat stone-faced alongside one wall, and the Padawan hopefuls lined up against the adjacent wall.

"Let the Padawan Trials begin," boomed Mace.

"Ready to be tested, you are," declared Yoda.

A protocol droid, all shiny and polished, emerged from behind the Council Members, with blue and orange tunics in its robotic hands. It handed out blue tunics to five of the learners, and orange tunics to the other five.

Windu explained, "You are now divided into two teams. Blue, destroy all orange droids. Orange, destroy all blue droids."

Master Yoda pressed several buttons on a control panel, and the wall facing the Padawans opened.

Vwoom! All the learners quickly activated their lightsabers. Ry-Gaul was impressed that Emeth's saber was the first to ignite, though he was still more poised and relaxed than the rest.

Beep! Beep! Bwoop! Though looking a bit odd after being painted blue and orange, the still-functional typical training droids flew out of the wall, and hovered in a small cluster.

Windu continued, "Your objective is to score as many points as possible for your team. You will score one point for each droid your team destroys. However, if you destroy a droid in your team's color, you will lose a point. You will also lose a point for each hit your team receives. Be warned, the droids are programmed to shoot each and every one of you, regardless of your tunic color. Therefore, destroy all droids of your opposite color, and evade the rest. You will have three minutes. May the Force be with you."

Customary bows were exchanged, and the teams fanned out, each learner with his lightsaber held ready.

Ry-Gaul noticed that most of the young Jedi were poised in attack position, while only Emeth and his teammate on the Orange side held their lightsabers in a defensive stance.

Interesting… I wonder how this is going to turn out?

Yoda gave the cue to commence, and both droids and learners sprang into action.

Ry-Gaul watched all of the combat intently, but focused mainly on Emeth and the Orange group. Interestingly enough, Emeth only destroyed one or two droids, though he obviously could've destroyed more. It seemed that he had devoted all his energy into protecting his team.

A team fighter… remarkable.

Hmm, Bzeew! Emeth deflected laser after laser from his team, and directed them cleverly to the Blue. In this manner, several of the Blue received jolts in inconvenient places from unexpected locations.

Smoke filled the air in seconds, fogging the vision of the Jedi learners. Of course, the Masters and Knights had no trouble seeing the exercise, but the learners obviously did.

Impressive… he's still doing well.

In fact, the smoke apparently had not impaired Emeth's vision or focus in the least. To the untrained eye, Emeth would've appeared to deflect faster.

When the three minutes had expired, the smoke slowly cleared, revealing three Blue members writhing and groaning on the floor, with singed clothes and sore bodies, and trying to hold their arms, legs, and backsides all at once. The remaining two Blue were shooting darts at Emeth with their eyes, obviously angry about his strategy.

On the other hand, the Orange had only taken two hits, courtesy of a Blue member that had finally picked up Emeth's strategy in the last few seconds.

All eyes turned to Mace Windu, who was about to announce the results.

The stern Jedi Master cleared his throat, then announced, "Blue: 25 droids and 15 hits; final score, 10 points. Orange: 18 droids and 2 hits; final score, 16 points. Congratulations, Orange, you are the victors."

Four members of the Orange erupted in cheers, but Emeth strode over to the sulking members of the Blue.

"Good work. I'm sorry you couldn't win."

The last phrase was spoken not gloatingly, but with sincerity, and caused the Blue members some shock. The remaining Orange, inspired by Emeth's example, followed suit, educing inspired looks from the seated Masters.

Well, I think I know my Padawan to be. I'll be seeing you, Emeth L'aroi.

Yoda addressed the learners.

"Good work, you have done. Passed your examinations, all of you have. Become Padawans, you all may be. Been most noble, your conduct has been."

With the last remark, Ry-Gaul could've sworn that Yoda had winked at Emeth.

Windu addressed the seated Jedi.

"You have thirteen days to become acquainted with these young Jedi. At the end of that time, you must submit your future Padawan's name, along with your reason for your selection. Otherwise, you will not have a Padawan."

The seated Jedi nodded in understanding response.

Bows were exchanged, and the Jedi were dismissed.

Thirteen days? Huh, my choice is made.

XXX

At the end of thirteen days, the Masters and Padawan-hopefuls gathered in the Council Room. The hopefuls stood twitching, obviously struggling to keep their anxiety and anticipation under control. Ry-Gaul noticed that amongst the young Jedi, only Emeth L'aroi was perfectly balanced and still.

Master Windu read off the names of the Masters who had selected Padawans, then the names of the Padawans who had been chosen. After several names had been called, the Master said, "Jedi Master Ry-Gaul?"

"Present."

"Emeth L'aroi?"

"Present." The boy stepped forward, smiling.

The dark-faced Master looked the boy in the eye, causing the normally composed boy to shrink back a little; but somehow, the boy managed to hold his gaze.

Windu queried, "Emeth L'aroi, will you accept your apprenticeship to Master Ry-Gaul?"

"Yes," was the immediate reply.

And with that, there became another Master/Padawan duo in the Jedi Order.

Ry-Gaul sighed a sigh of contentment.

Ah, here we go again…