Note: From this chapter I'm going to try and do the classic Star Wars: The Clone wars intro, which basically involves one statement and the "general" feel of the chapter.
- Confusion within! After the containment of Jedi Temple bomber's wife Letta Trumond the general consensus of the Jedi is that the danger is gone. However, there are those within its ranks that support the opposing idea. Who will be proven right in these tension subsiding times? -
Chapter 2. An unlikely meeting
Suddenly lightsabers clash, sparkles of light start flaring from the connected area.
"Should we continue, Kelan?"
"I'm not ready to stop yet, Oswald."
"Very well."
Through his strength he brakes the lightsaber lock and swiftly plunges its end to Kelan's chest. She manages to divert it past her right shoulder, which means the attack completely misses her body. Immediately Oswald moves his body back to a good stance. A couple of feet now separate their bodies.
"You never quit with your fast attacks."
"There is no point in me waiting around in a battle."
He senses an incoming attack from his right side, a blue blade comes baring down on his right wrist. The padawan repels the incoming strike and pushed his opponent back with his blade.
"Your reflexes are getting better, friend."
"Thanks, Zane."
"Anyway, I still have one more attack."
"Then what are you waiting for? I'm not going to yield."
Suddenly Kelan uses a force push to the ground to propel her faster. Her blue saber tries to slash at the neck, but to no avail. Oswald blocks it and counter attacks with his blade to her chest. It takes extreme concentration and determination to withstand it. Soon she is breathing heavily, while trying to process as much information through her eyes as possible.
"Are we done now?"
"Yes" – she answers hardly.
"Good. Then it's a successful practice session."
Few seconds later all three of them deactivate their sabers. In addition, they come closer near one of the walls. The room that they were in was beautifully lit, yellow lamps transmitted light into the space. Now a bit more about the two beings that Oswald was training with. First up is Zane Farnos, a male, white chocolate resembling, skin colored human, 18 years old, wields a single, blue lightsaber as his weapon. Second up is Kelan Elanesquil, a female, orange skinned twi'lek, 17 years old, also wields a single, blue lightsaber as her weapon. As a contrast, Oswald wields a dual, green lightsaber. Zane amuses the other two of how frequently he reminds them of this fact.
"It's good to have options in a duel. You can choose to activate one or both ends of your weapon."
"Yeah."
Menson has felt numb to his comments about his weapon for a while now, just simple remarks can be heard on this topic.
"Anyway. Your blocking was good."
"I appreciate that, Kelan."
The three smile for a bit.
"You did enhance your speed, at which you came at me."
"A Jedi must be able to take advantage of his surroundings."
"I don't doubt that. Yet I for one wish to avoid a … duel, where the odds are far more stacked in my opponents favor."
"That might not be in your control, young padawan." – said a man.
First Oswald, then Zane & Kelan turned their heads to the voices travel origin. There were standing two familiar faces of the Order.
"Master Koth, Master Mundi. What a surprise. What are you doing in such a place at near midday?"
"A silly question to ask, my padawan." – replied Mundi.
This made Oswald a bit irritated. Since he couldn't show his loathing in front of his master, there had to be another way to squash it. He chose to grind his teeth behind a closed mouth.
"So I guess both of you are just checking up on us? That's all?"
"Correct."
"We were walking close by, when we heard a lightsaber clash. It peaked our interest, so we decide to investigate." – Koth continued.
"Sadly, the show is over masters." – said Zane.
"How unfortunate."
"Yes. Unfortunate."
"About your last statement before we joined, padawan Menson."
"Yes, Master Koth?"
"Do not be so certain of what your encounters might be. An unfavorable position is what may show you, what kind of great Jedi you can become."
He sighs as quietly as possible.
"Remember, padawan. The future is not set in stone."
"Yes, Master Koth."
"We'll leave you to your business, padawans. We have a meeting to get to."
Mundi stuck his eyes on Menson.
"Padawan, try not to overstress your brain. Be mindful, but not obsessed with your surroundings."
"Will do, Master."
"Then we bid you farewell." – stated Koth.
The Masters turn around and walk out of the room. All three of the Padawans felt different emotions: Zane – a bit of sympathy, Kelan – confusion, Oswald – confusion mixed with irritation.
"Always on the alert. Always have to be prepared for a meeting."
"Which usually leads to them leaving on a mission in the Mid or Outer Rim of the Galaxy" – added Kelan.
Both of them notice that Oswald is again in deep though about something. This was nothing new to them, they've known each other for over a year. For them, deep thinking was the essential part of Oswald's character, Kelan sometimes envisioned him meditating in a cruiser on a hyperspace route to battle. This fact often left Kelan a bit lost, since she knew that Oswald & Ahsoka were friends. Their habits, hobbies made for quite a polarity. How did she deal with this perplexity? Quite easily. The cliché statement of: "The Force works in mysterious ways" came into action here. Zane just attributed it to his friends fondness of her. Tano was the padawan of Anakin Skywalker, a warrior, who almost never lost a battle & was labeled by Quai Gon Jinn as "The Chosen One". This created a certain aura around him, a lot of padawans wanted to know, how he handled the most daunting tasks in battle. Fortunately, Ahsoka got the chance to see, what most of her peers lusted for in the lightest of senses.
"Are you alright, Oswald?" – asked Kelan.
"I … have … to go and relax in a surreal setting."
"Want some company?"
"Thanks, Zane, but I got to clear my head a bit."
"I understand. Take as much time as you need."
"I'm with Zane here. Your brain needs some relaxation."
Oswald comes over and hugs Zane, then – Kelan. Before he gets far enough from them, so they can't hear him, he states one last thing.
"Keep me posted on any groundbreaking news."
"Will do." – answer both.
He nods and head out of the training room.
The Room of a Thousand Fountains was just the setting he was looking for. The waterfalls were the main makers of his surreal experience, they alleviated the most amount of tension from his mind. Therefore, he found a corner of one of them, looked around. The chances of being spotted by someone were very low.
"Exactly, how I want it."
He gets up on the partition of the pool, looks around again, throws his cloaks hood over his head, moves himself into the Turkish sitting position. Few seconds pass and eyes close shut. Nothing other than the fall of drops of water into the pool was picked up by the sound organs. Much like Ahsoka Tano, Oswald did not settle for a boring, dark grey cloak as his attire. Instead, he chose one that was cacao brown, having yellow stripes running down from his neck sideways to his elbows. The padawan sat there for a good half an hour before an unexpected event occurred.
"Oswald?"
He immediately opened his eyes to find the being that uttered his name. It didn't take long. Although, the being in question was not, who he expected.
"Katooni."
The tholotian girl's face gave a feel of fear, lost and, weirdly, warmth.
"I assume you saw me meditating?"
"Yes."
"I suspect you did not approach me without good reason?"
"No, I didn't."
Mundi's padawan reassess his tone. Although Katooni had experienced a great adventure involving her and other younglings in a rescue operation of Ahsoka Tano from the pirate lord Hando, she was still a child in the grand midst of life. Making a child, especially Force-sensitive, more afraid than he already was is not a good idea, if you are expecting to get to the core reason of the fear's existence. Understanding this reality, the padawan changes his seating position. Now his legs make a 90 degree angle with the partition, feet touching the stone ground.
"What has got you so troubled, Katooni?"
"I'm … not … sure."
"Not a good place to start. Come over here and sit next to me. Maybe the more explicit sound of water falling will calm you down."
He shows a spot next to him with his left hand. Quite nervously the tholotian girl manages to reach the specified place, slowly turns her face to Oswald. The fear still looked prominent within her, this accession was made without the use of the Force.
"It's … hard … to say that it's working."
"Give it time."
A quick glance around the area is completed.
"So, Katooni. What seems to be troubling you so much?"
"I don't know if it's … my right … to speak on this thing."
"Why not?"
"It could be seen as paranoia."
Oswald doesn't waste time in thinking through the possibilities. Yet only one possibility was worth mentioning.
"Is it about the bombing?" – he asks very silently.
This action gives Katooni more confidence in herself.
"Yes. How did you figure it out?"
"It was the only possibility I considered worthy."
"Good job, Oswald."
He nods.
"Fine, I'll tell you. There was this … feeling I noticed at the farewell event."
"Really? What kind?"
"Someone in that room … felt … somewhat …"
"Somewhat?"
"Indecisive?"
"Indecisive. Could you explain more?"
"Of course, Oswald. It felt … like … the person did not truly know … what emotion he was feeling."
"He was not emotionally clear?"
"Not at all. But that is not the worst part."
The padawan sensed an uneasiness increasing at the end of the sentence. She did expect him to.
"What was worse?"
The girl's eyes begin to twitch.
"Come on, Katooni. We've made it this far."
After a very short silence her eyes stopped moving so much, she exhaled and mentioned the most painful part of her sensing.
"The Dark Side."
He rubbed his palm against his clothes.
"Someone was tainted by the Dark Side?"
"Yes."
"How much?"
"More big than small."
The time of resting one's brain was over. This new development in the Jedi Temple's bombing meant that he and his friends were more likely on the side of the truth, while the Jedi Council, which includes such beings as Master Yoda or Master Windu, were more likely on the side of falsehood. Maybe this was what Barriss realized as well? Maybe there was a Jedi working from within the shadows? If that was true, how high was his status in the Temple? All of these questions brought back Oswald to studying, reflection, assessment and reassessment of as much information surrounding the attack as he can manage.