Now that my Knight realized I resembled an adult and would need to fight now and then, he trained me in the other techniques. Makashi had me flouncing across the floor like a Twi'lek dancer; Soresu tired my arms and hurt my back. Ataru… by the Force, I couldn't even back flip without hitting my head on the mat. Shien was exhausting. Niman was refreshing. It was low impact and adequate for my field of work. My Knight smiled approval.
"It combines the five other Forms into a moderate combat style."
"So I won't have much training?"
"That is its other benefit. You may now concentrate on Force, negotiation and political techniques."
I blanched. Years of book beating and soul-destroying ennui loomed before me.
"Uh… how about Shii-Cho and Niman?"
"Don't wriggle out of your duty, padawan," he chuckled as he walked around me, "Your midi-chlorian count is higher than mine."
"So because of some biological accident I'm following your footsteps?"
He held my shoulders to hold my eyes.
"I tell you this because none else can hear."
That hint of conspiracy received my full interest.
"Do not be chained by the teachings of the Council, Stargazer. There are other ways of life, other paths to follow."
I was too stunned to form a thought.
"The Force is everywhere, Stargazer. All that separates us from the Dark Side is that we, the Jedi, choose to serve its purpose instead of using it to serve us. You are yet young and are not bound by either faith."
He released my shoulders and paced.
"I tell you this… because I believe you are different from the rest. You aren't… submissive to the Jedi teachings, yet you have a strong sense of what you are. Other than that you aren't very good at anything, really."
"Hey."
He laughed shortly.
"I do not say this idly."
He lowered his head, eyes slanted upward at me.
"You can be anything you want to be. So few are given this freedom. Cherish it."
For the first time, I respected him. I stood upright and proud.
"I will. I swear by my name… I will gaze at the stars until the Force shows me the true path."
"Good."
His sigh was one of a man who had found rest at the end of a long and weary road.
"I have fulfilled what you have spoken of all these years."
"What…"
I narrowed my eyes and looked inward.
"You."
"Indeed."
888
My Knight sat me down in the Temple archives on Coruscant and left me there for about a month or so in the care of the Librarian. He had gone to Ithor on a bureaucratic mission. Apparently, the loud-throats had a falling-out with the Iridonians because the latter were dodging payment for a large shipment of power cells. The Ithorians had held an innocent captain and crew as 'collateral' until payment was made. I read in the updated files, Ithor's economy could not suffer giving – or lacking – credit. I followed my Knight's progress through the Temple archives, as emissaries visited daily to update galactic history.
During the first week his careful persuasion liberated the captain and crew. The next week brought successful settlement for fair trade – the captain's ship in exchange for the power cells. Puzzled, I jumped to Iridonia's data, because a ship was worth its weight in the selfsame cells. Months ago, the economy had witnessed a huge boost of plasteel and duratanium production upon discovery of alloy mines. That prompted the Iridonians to trade for hyperdrives and navigation systems, resulting in surplus ships. I was impressed – my Knight had chosen this mission because he had already known how to resolve it. Being several steps ahead of the opponent is the key to success in any conflict, and my Knight had proven to be a world-class dejarik player.
888
I wandered out of the archives and away from the tunnel vision associated with prolonged reading. The Librarian permitted my sojourns, as I was skilled enough to fend for myself in normal society. I went there, to the glittering city within the city of Coruscant. I tasted my first alcoholic drink (burned my throat all the way down) and was offered my first death-stick. They could name the thing better if they want to sell it in a public forum! I invisibly nudged the stick-swindler off his parapet. He fell onto an equally shifty weapons dealer on the lower level with a satisfying crash.
"That's no way for a Consular to act."
"Oh, shut up."
I received my comeuppance when I saw a pretty Twi'lek onstage and the Force moved a stray chair leg across my boot. I fell face first through her legs and received the kicking of my life. Thrown into the garbage heap outside the bar, I returned to the Temple for a thorough cleansing while that thrice-damned voice tittered in my ear.
888
When my Knight returned I asked him what other business had kept him an extra fortnight. He took me to the target practice room. When we approached the target range unarmed I reminded him, "There are other rooms for Force training."
He held up one finger for silence. Sucking in a breath that distended his chest, he released a booming Force Scream that dented the blast shield at thirty yards! Soldiers and padawans stared, most dropping their blasters in shock.
"It's all right. The Ithorian Jedi taught me."
"That is a Dark Side technique!" I protested.
"No. Their Jedi use it all the time."
"That's because they have the throats for it!"
"Calm down," he guided me by the shoulder out of the range, "It strains the vocal chords but it discourages cowards and disorients opponents."
"That sounds like the Dark Side's methods of mind control. You're saying that's all right, too?"
My Knight's bland tone acquired an edge.
"Don't be naïve, padawan. There are times when one is hemmed in on all sides, deep within enemy territory or hopelessly outnumbered. In such times, all the lightsaber flourishing in the galaxy won't save a single Jedi. Force Persuasion, however, influences the mind. Once the mind is tamed, the weapon is as well."
His wisdom silenced me as we walked the cool stone halls of the serene Temple. I was learning a 'weaker' lightsaber form, and we were Consulars; supposed masters of the Force.
"I will learn to scream as you do?"
His easy laugh returned.
"You're too young to lose your voice. Learn to dominate the mind. Train your Niman style to perfection and advance to Jar'Kai."
"The dual lightsaber technique?"
"Niman is a stepping stone to mastery of it, yes."
"Why even bother with Niman? What you said and what I read of it are unflattering."
"Still you fail to see past the imminent," he shook his head as we took center stage on a training mat, "You must see transcendence in imminence, Stargazer. Nothing, absolutely nothing that you perceive with all your senses is exactly as it appears to be."
I flipped my lightsaber in circles about a single hand, spinning it on the palm before igniting it in Shii-Cho starting stance.
"Do you enjoy showing off, padawan?"
"I admit it lends satisfaction to one's training."
"Very well then. I will now demonstrate the most powerful lightsaber form of them all."
I automatically adopted the Soresu feint and he laughed.
"Fear not for your life. Observe!"
He dropped both arms to his side and stood still. I relaxed my stance.
"Well?"
"This is it, Stargazer: Form Zero. A lightsaber that is not ignited."
I chuckled condescendingly.
"Not even a Master can defend against a lightsaber and another Force user."
My Knight stood at ease and lifted his chin.
"Come."
Taking one precaution, I lowered the blade power. It wouldn't cut, but it would sting like the seven hells. I Force Jumped him, slamming the green beam into the floor where he once stood. He kicked my shoulder and I rolled into Niman stance. As it combined the previous forms to some degree, I used Makashi fencing. He shifted left and right to avoid the darts, rolling aside when I slashed wide. I attempted an Ataru leap, lightsaber swinging at his head, but a quick jung swept him out of the way. His footwork was extraordinary. When had my quiet, unassuming Knight learnt to dance? I regressed to simpler Shii-Cho, attacking the arms and legs. When I lunged too deep he grabbed my lower sword arm, yanked me forward so that the saber passed harmlessly underarm, and struck me full in the chest with his open palm.
Lightning had struck. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't see, I couldn't hear. Even my motor functions were awkward as my rear end found the floor.
"By the Force, padawan, I thought you were made of sterner stuff."
"Uh guh bluh?" I was drunk, breathing as a fish might in loud gulps. My head cleared and I was aware of an acute burning sensation in my chest.
"Did the Ithorians…?"
"No, that was my Master. I was unconscious for half an hour after she did that, but my arms aren't as strong."
He handed me my lightsaber that I had forgotten during my near-death experience.
"Form Zero," I hummed, "The empty hand."
"Never empty," my Knight corrected, "Remember what is with you."
"You better recognize."
"Oh hush."
888
During weeklong archive study sessions and between meditations, Niman and Form Zero were my constant friends. I bloomed and blossomed in the Force, because I couldn't get the thing out of my head anyway, and my body acquired a pleasing V-shape. But I still couldn't defeat my Knight's Form Zero.
"Now do you appreciate Niman?" he asked after releasing me from a headlock with both my arms pinned against my neck.
"Yes. Its moderate strength and multi-form discipline improved my overall performance instead of focusing exclusively on a single pattern."
"Correct. It is a utilitarian form that works well with widely-traveled Consulars who must be prepared for anything."
"You make it sound like we're better than Guardians."
"We are only superior in adeptness of Force. A Guardian padawan at your age could floor me in hand-to-hand combat."
"Which reminds me. Why do you call it 'Form' Zero when you don't use your lightsaber?"
"Form Zero never uses a lightsaber. It is the basic ideal of a Jedi – nonviolence."
"Yet you tumble me around."
"But of course. How else would you learn to rely on the Force and not some crude weapon?"
"I say it is the stepping stone to Tràkata."
He nodded.
"You are sharp. When Form Zero fails, the Jedi switches form, or uses the insidious Tràkata to mislead the opponent."
"Aha! I have found you out. Hypocrite."
He arched an eyebrow.
"Heed my words, padawan. A lightsaber is nothing more than an implement of destruction. Even worse, this galaxy has never known lasting peace. Kindness, compassion, and tolerance… these are the ideals Form Zero promotes. Someone who sees no weapon tends to be more receptive to peaceful persuasion. In time you will discover that people are tired of all the fighting and want someone different, something gentler, easier than killing. However…"
He ignited his fatal instrument.
"If this is all you know, padawan, then I will use it to train you."
A door opened in my mind. I switched off my lightsaber, hung it by my belt and stilled my body. My Knight flew at me in a fluid deadly movement, but I saw there was more than the Jedi and the blade. I saw transcendence in imminence.
I saw with the Force.
"Form Zero!"
Diving upward, between his arms, slipping past the wrist that reflexively turned to block me, my palm came upward into his jaw. He sailed onto the mat, landing on his feet. We bowed to each other across the room.
"You are ready for the Trials."