Chapter 10
Talra, Gray, James and I ran through the walls of the academy like ravenous tach. I lead the way to Master Skywalker's Quarters, my new robes flowing behind me. We reached the lift and waited for it to come down. When it did, Gray and I shoved and pushed to get in.
"Would you two stop? I swear by the Force, the two of you should be going out."
Gray and I looked at each other, then at James. James shrugged. "Hey. By the will of the Force-" the lift began to rise.
"I'll kill you!" I smacked James on the head. Gray looked emotionally hurt.
"I was just kidding." James slipped his hand into Gray's. That seemed to work.
"Oh, for the love of… disturbance." A waft of Force energy surged through me.
"Disturbance? Why do you love disturbance?" James said.
"There's a disturbance in the Force." I corrected him
The lift stopped. "I …" Talra stammered.
"Come on. Rish is just paranoid, as always." James released Grays hand walked to the doors of Master Skywalker's Quarters and knocked. The doors slid open and Talra and I walked in, with Gray and James behind.
Master Skywalker's Quarters was a huge room with three walls. The space opposite the entrance was made of huge pillars that overlooked the treetops of Yavin 4. A wide staircase lead up to the platform, were the giant window was. A table and a set of Chairs were in the center of the platform, were Master Skywalker and another man sat. The man had long white hair that trailed down to his lower back. He wore gray, tattered robes, and a cane was propped up against his chair. When he turned to me and smiled, something made me like him. Something about him made me want to come closer to him. I couldn't see his eyes because they were behind an old blindfold, but I felt them. He turned back to his tea and took a drink.
"Rish, nice to see you up and about. Nurse Frost wasn't too firm with the schedule, I see. Come, come, don't be shy. All of you." Master Skywalker rose from his seat. He looked like a hero from a holovid, with the light from the window pouring in behind him. We all stepped up the flight of stairs onto the platform.
"May I present to you, your new instructor after tonight's ceremony, Master Will Oneida." The man in the blindfold stood and bowed.
They all bowed, except for me, who knelt on one knee. Master Oneida chuckled.
"A gentleman, as you said, Alex. That is a good trait to have as an ambassador. But that is neither here nor there. Join us, have some tea." Talra and Gray sat on the side facing the pillars. James and I sat on the other side.
On the table, a teapot sat in the middle. A few dishes and a plate with pastries on them were scattered across the table. I reached for the closest plate and began eating.
"I hear that you are entering the Jedi tournament. Very impressive that a Padawan would even rank in the qualification tests, let alone be the top contender." Master Oneida smiled again as he sipped his tea.
"Oh… eah I humted uww hsk uww huboud dat." I said with a mouth stuffed with food. I poured some tea, and drank to clear my mouth. "Sorry."
"Gamorrean." Talra snickered. I mocked her and made a face.
"Have you eaten of late?" Master Skywalker scoffed.
"I wouldn't eat the medical bay food if a plague wiped out the crops on all the planets in five systems." I said, after swallowing. "No offense to Nurse Frost's cooking, but the food is worst then Hutt sweat."
Everyone found this very funny and laughed.
"Interesting stories I've heard of you Rish… and an interesting style of hair." Master Oneida smiled in a way that looked like he was giving and compliment sarcastically. In the week I'd been in the Medical Bay, I hadn't fix my hair from it's stand up position after my electrical experience. I reached into my under robes and searched of a comb that I always kept with me in case of a fashion emergency. A Jedi must always look presentable. I found it and excused myself from the table and began to comb my hair.
"No Rish, you took it the wrong way. It's an interesting style." Master Oneida reach out and a mirror from Master Skywalker's desk floated over to me. When I looked into the mirror I was a little shocked. My skin was now the color of a toasted nut instead of its pale milky ness. My hair where no longer in dreadlocks, but hung down and looked wet, as if I had just gotten out of a bath. In fact, my hair had a new shine to it. It was pretty interesting, so much so that I put my comb away and continued to gaze at myself.
As I played with different ways to let my hair lay the door to Master Skywalker's chamber opened. I felt a small wave of frustration and worry come from Master Oneida, but when I looked at him he was in the middle of a belly laugh. I looked to see who had come in, and to my surprise, I saw both Master Ters and Master Arn staring at Master Oneida with a look of surprise. They looked at each other and Master Arn turned away nudging Ters' shoulder. They whispered to each other briefly then turned back to Master Oneida with smiles on their faces. I couldn't help but feel odd after this because I was the only one to notice it. Everyone else was still chatting or eating and hadn't noticed the two Jedi Masters come in let alone whisper to themselves.
"Master Skywalker, the Senate is requesting your input on a debate. They sent a representative and she is waiting for you in the main hall."
"Thank you Master Arn. Master Oneida, will accompany me? Perhaps you can lend a us a different perspective."
"Of course. I am at your service." Master Oneida and Master Skywalker rose from their seats and walked down the stairs to the other two Jedi.
"Rish, you and the others report to the Council this evening at sunset… and comb your hair. It's a mess." Master Arn led the Masters out of the room.
