Disclaimer: George rules...he is far more creative than I.
Undomiel
As Obi-Wan turns and leaves the room, I find myself grinning wildly and feeling rather giddy; Cienanos looks at me, and waves a hand in front of my face, trying to pry my gaze away from the departing Padawan.
"Hello!" she says, giving my head a gentle rap. "Domie! Anyone in there?"
I shake my head and snap back to reality, feeling rather sheepish, but still delirious nonetheless.
"I have to know where he got his arguments for his Bothan Revolution Thesis." I say dazedly. "Some of those manuscripts must have been ages old! And not to mention, they . . ." I stop as I hear Cienanos chuckle again and get up from her seat.
"Domie. I think you need help." She says, as she gives me a friendly swat on the back. "See you around." She adds as she swings her leg over the bench and strides off towards the door.
I bristle slightly at the remark and look back down at my plate, fiddling with my fork; the young lad from earlier seems to be quite wary . . . he moves over slightly as I jab the utensil repeatedly onto the plate in front of me. After the handle cracks in half, I give it up as a useless effort, and stand to leave, picking up the tray and sighing.
As I step over the bench that served as our seats, my cloak catches on a piece of splintered wood, and I crash down face first; I lose my grip on the tray and it falls to the ground as I feel the wind leave my lungs in a rush. All the eyes in the common room are on me while I rush to pick up the cracked dishes and my datapads, and head towards the exit; keeping my head down, I shove the large oak door open and sprint through into the hallway.
Early morning light fills the corridor, giving it a decidedly jovial warmth; were it not for my decidedly grey mood, I would have found the sight welcoming, but as it was, it only made me feel worse. I lean back against the wall, letting myself fall to a seat on the floor.
"Stupid cloak!" I mutter as I take the coarse material into my hands and pull at it frantically; the datapads slip to the ground and I let my head hit the wall with a soft thud, not really caring who is around to see.
I sit there a few moments, not really paying attention to anything, or anyone, and it is in precisely this state that another young Padawan by the name of Aeryn finds me. Smirking, she bends down and picks up the datapads.
"I believe these are yours, Undomiel?" She says, mockery dripping from every word. Her eyes flash a shade of red as she tosses her hair out of her face and throws the datapads into my lap. "I'd be more careful with these if I were you." She adds as she saunters down the hall.
"Do you even know what these are used for?" I say under my breath as I pick myself up off the floor. Dusting myself off and resituating my cloak, I look out into the courtyard below; a group of students sits in a circle, whispering and chattering amongst themselves as one of the Masters inspects their lightsabers.
"Oh Great!" I cry, dashing down the hall towards the stairwell. I was going to be late for training exercises again . . .
Cienanos
What a wonderful morning! Started off with a good meal, a good conversation and my early morning training exercise went really well. I had even run into my friends MM and Amatou on the way to the library. MM is another padawan with a great sense of humor and a very fun nature. Her real name isn't MM. That's just a nickname I gave her when we were children because I could never actually pronounce her real name. She once told me that for my species to actually pronounce it correctly…we would need two additional tongues or something like that. Amatou and I go way back. She and I have been friends forever. She is tall, athletic and if I'm not mistaken will probably pass her trials within the next year or so. I was glad to see her because more and more she is away on missions with her master. We were in the middle of discussing potential missions when I heard a voice call my name. I turned to see Master Siron striding down the hall and if looks could kill the one he was giving me could put me on the endangered species list. MM and Amatou exchanged glances.
"Nano, we better go on without you…it looks like you may be here for a little while," said MM. Amatou snorted, "Did you mess with Kenobi again? I told you to leave that boy alone. See you later Nano." And with that they left. Lucky.
As I watched my friends in their hasty retreat, Master Siron reached me and looked down with his sternest look.
"Nano…"
"Yes Master?"
"It has come to my attention that you have been messing with the environmental controls again."
I looked down. It's amazing how interesting ones shoes become when you are getting lectured.
"Is that true?"
"Yes…. but…."
"No buts Nano…I don't mind the occasional prank but flooding young Kenobi's room was uncalled for. Now you head to the library and do the research I requested. I don't want to hear of anything of this nature happening again." And with that, he strode away.
What a horrible morning….
I walked into the massive library…the Jedi Archives. Here one can find any information on any topic. It is larger than any other body of knowledge in the galaxy. Naturally, I want nothing to do with it.
I sat down at one of the station and began trying to find the information that my master requested. As I was searching, Jocasta Nu, the Jedi Archivist, joined me.
"Cienanos, I usually don't see you here…are you lost?" she smiled as she asked.
"I'm in here…...every once in a while…...when I have to be. Actually, I'm here doing research for Master Siron. However, I'm not getting very far."
"Well, it helps if you know how to work the data pads properly. They turn on like this." She pressed a small point on the bottom of the large station and it sprang to life and she quickly retrieved the first piece of information I needed. I tried to look composed.
"I knew that…..uh...can you do it again?" I asked sheepishly.
She smiled at me and quickly showed me some fast ways to retrieve the information. She left me to finish my work and I quickly became engrossed in finding the histories, political backgrounds, and culture of several planets. Well, you learn something new everyday. When I finished, I gathered up all the datapads containing the information I had retrieved from the system and left. I passed Jedi Nu one final time and she smiled again…
"Hope to see you soon Cienanos. Knowledge is never something to be feared."
"Thank you for your assistance," I replied.
Okay…so maybe the day won't be that bad after all…
Undomiel
As I run at full speed towards the courtyard, I can't help but wonder, once again, how on earth I had been chosen to attend the Academy; I had been living on Coruscant since my second birthday, and still felt ill at ease in the planet city.
You stood just staring at all the buildings. Tralayn had once told me. It took us a half hour just to get you off the landing pad and onto the transport. And trying to get you to leave Corellia . . . I didn't know a two year old could put up such a fight.
Corellia: my home. Our last mission had taken Tralayn and I there, to the capitol city; but even then I felt as if I had been thrown into a whirlwind.
Well, what did you expect? I hear Tralayn in my mind again. Your family were farmers. When we found you, you were out in the field dusting crops with your father and brother. . . a big city is going to be different from a row of corn.
Either way, I'm shorter than everything around me . . . I think to myself as I finally reach the entrance to the courtyard. I stop briefly at the white marble archway, inspecting the scene and hoping I am not too late. I heave a sigh of relief as I see the Master's back turned, investigating one of my fellow student's lightsabers; the sigh turns into a smile as my gaze continues around the circle.
Just to the left of the master, a young Padawan sits holding his lightsaber gently, his head bowed in concentration; his curly, sandy blond locks fall into his eyes as he rolls the hilt back and forth in his hands. As he looks up and notices me standing in the archway, he smiles and waves, motioning to the empty space next to him. His green eyes glint as I rush over and deposit myself on the floor beside him.
"Hello Domie. Late again?" the Padawan says, a chuckle in his voice.
"Hi Gabe." I respond, shaking my head; leave it to one of my best friends to make a crack like that. "If you must know, I had a run in . . ." I add as I nod my head to my now bruised knee.
"Oh. I do apologize. How did the bench fare? I hear it's a toughie you know . . ." Gabe says, throwing me a sideways glance.
"Why you!" I say, giving him a swat to the shoulder; I am laughing so hard that I don't even notice the master approach from my left.
"Undomiel! Your lightsaber please." I hear through my chuckling; it was Master Nim! I take in a deep breath and collect myself as I unclasp my lightsaber from my belt and hand it to her. After a moments' inspection, she hands it back to me. "Good. Everything is in order." She says, smiling. "And try to be on time next time Undomiel." she adds quietly as she walks to the center of the group.
The early morning light envelopes her small frame as she reaches the center of the courtyard and turns to face the Padawans; from the look on her face, it is evident that the day's lesson will be no easy task.
"Today we will be sparring." Master Nim says, looking at each of us in turn. "Now, I am going to be placing you with your sparring partner . . ."
A chorus of groans and grumbling erupts as all the Padawans object to the proposed plan. Master Nim just smiles and continues, her voice carrying over everything else.
"I will place you with your sparring partner." She repeats. "Now, listen carefully. Gabe, I want you with Noron . . ."
Gabe shoots me a furtive look as he walks over to the young Bothan on the opposite side of the courtyard. I just smile and mouth "you know I could take you anyway . . . so it's probably for the best." He rolls his eyes and shakes his head as he and his partner get into ready position. I pay little attention as Master Nim rattles off the names of the other students; another young Bothan and a Carnassian are placed together, as are another human and her friend from Tatooine. I am just about to think that perhaps I had been forgotten when I hear my name.
"Undomiel, I want you with Aeryn." Master Nim says. My eyes go wide and I begin to protest as I see the little blonde appear from behind the master, smirking.
"No buts." Master Nim says. I groan as I pull my lightsaber into ready position and approach Aeryn; every part of me wants to just run for the hills, but that unfortunately is not an option. I opt for concentrating on the Force and trying to calm my nerves instead.
"BEGIN!" Master Nim shouts; within seconds the air is filled with the crash and crackle of the blades. I tense as I feel the pressure of Aeryn's lighsaber against my own, pushing me back into the wall.
This is no time to be clumsy OR weak. I think to myself, breathing deeply and trying to let the Force control my actions instead of my head. You can do this. You know you can. Just concentrate . . .
Before I know what I am doing, I advance on Aeryn, blade flying madly; a series of parries and thrusts sends her flailing back into the opposite wall. I stand in shock for a moment as I see her fall to her knees, gasping for breath and looking at me with blazing eyes. Gabe looks on astonished as Master Nim approaches from behind.
"Very nice Undomiel." She says, smiling. "That is all for today!" She announces; Gabe comes rushing over as Aeryn stands and glares.
"Lucky shot." Aeryn says, stalking off under the archway with her friends.
Gabe sticks out his tongue at her vanishing form as I reclasp my lightsaber to my belt, feeling somewhat dazed and just a little confused. I stand for a moment, thinking, and Gabe takes the opportunity to speak his mind.
"Wow! I've never seen blade work like that! That was incredible!" He cries, picking me up with a fierce hug. "You should have seen the look on her face!"
"Gabe! Put me down!" I shriek, swatting at his shoulders. "And I did see the look on her face." I add as he unceremoniously dumps me on my rear; I roll my eyes as I extend a hand up to him. "A little help here?" I ask. Gabe's eyes sparkle as he helps me up and I dust myself off.
"Come on!" He says, pulling at my arm. "I have something in the Library I want to show you!" I can't help but be curious as the two of us bolt down the hallway towards the Library, my arm stretched as far as it can go and my feet moving as fast as they can.
Cienanos
I stood outside Master Siron's room with the data pads. I pressed the button that activates the chime. He opened the door with a smile on his face.
"Ah...Nano!" he said. "I have good news! I have been granted permission to take you on a training mission!"
This was good news. Really good news. I hadn't been allowed on a training mission since that horrible accident three years ago. It was horrible but the other Jedi team was with us is doing much better now. They should be released from the medical ward any day now. Fire is such an unpredictable thing...anyway...
I looked at him with excitement. "Are we going with another team?"
His smile widened even more...
"Yes we are..."
YES! ANOTHER TEAM!
"And we may even get flame retardant clothing."
EVEN BETTER!
"Really?" I asked. "Who are we going with? Master Yoda? Master Windu? Master Nim?"
"No...we are going with Master Qui-gon and Obi-wan."
NO! Now this isn't fair!
"So you better be on your best behavior Nano...this could be very important."
"Yes Master..."
I knew I should have stayed in bed today...