Chapter 11
When we returned to our room, James and I were assaulted with congratulations. Talra had apparently let it slip that we were graduating in the span of two hours and set up a surprise party.
"I will never understand the way you girls can set up events so fast and take triple to time to get ready to for it." James said after shaking hands with a Bith from his history class.
"It's a trade secret." A girl said from behind him. James turned and smiled.
"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the makes Rish squirm?"
"That doesn't rhyme." The girl said she turned to me and sighed. "Every time I see you, there is something different."
"Well, you should come see me more often Jay." I stammered. Jay Starwind was a girl that graduated a year ago. She was a little taller then me even when I wore my boots. She kept her blonde hair up in a loose bun with a bronze clip with the new republic insignia imprinted on it so that strands of hair came out when ever she ran or shook her head. Her skin was a beautiful pale tan. No one would have ever guessed that she was a weathered Jedi Knight. She had no visible scars or sunburns. She was breathtaking.
"The life of a Jedi Knight is a busy one, as you'll soon find out Rish."
"So what brings you back to Yavin, beautiful… I mean, uh beautiful Yavin." I looked at James who slapped his forehead. Talra silently giggled. Jay acted like she didn't hear my blunder but she blushed a bit before she answered.
"I'm escorting the Senators from Corasant who wish to speak to Chancellor Skywalker. It's rather dull just sitting around, listening to political squabbling so I thought I would crash the party. This year has been kind to you Rish. I've heard about your entrance in the tournament. Do you think you can beat my record?"
"It's not about beating records; it's about showing yourself how capable you are. And yes, yes I can beat your record."
Everyone who was paying attention to the conversation laughed. Jay laughed too as she stepped forward.
"Well good luck either way Master Jedi." She bent down a bit and kissed my cheek. "I'll be rooting for you if the Senators decide to stay for the tournament." She walked out the room, her brown robe fluttering with each step.
"Smooth." James said in my ear.
"Shut up." I swatted him away feeling myself blush.
So that is Rish… interesting… thoughts swam through my head as the Senators from Corasant talked about the issue with Skywalker. There is nothing stable about him. Even his stance is wavering. Yet he is the strongest student here. "I don't understand." I murmured.
"Oh it is quite simple Master Ambassador. The situation is that the Representative from the system of Onderon wishes to negotiate a new treaty. We can't do that because the old treaty hasn't expired yet so they are-"
"That's not what I meant. I am sorry, but this seems a little silly. The Rep from Onderon is trying to get over on the Republic. It's just a mater of how far you are willing to 'lengthen the leash' as they say."
The Senators stared at me. "Interesting views for a Jedi."
I smiled and nodded. Pompous fool. "One looses the delicate touches of all the Jedi ways when one travels the Galaxy as I do Senator…"
"I'm sure." And that was the last time they paid me any attention, until it was over. Now I only have one problem. Misera and the other. Rish felt my concern when they came in… perhaps… "Senators, I must insist that you stay for the Jedi Tournament. Not many outsiders have seen it and I'm sure you will enjoy it." I put a little Force behind my words just to seal their minds.
"That sounds like a good idea. Everyone wants to see a Jedi in action." The senator who questioned me said.
"Perhaps Master Starwind would like to compete." Another Senator said.
"Although she is one of the top ranked record holders, I very much doubt she will be willing to enter at such short notice." Master Skywalker said. I felt his concern but no suspicion through the Force.
"I agree. With only a week to prepare, she wouldn't fair too well." I said.
The senators grumbled to themselves. "I suppose so."
The last rays of sunlight light the empty hall as Gray, James and I walked side by side to the Council. None of us spoke, but were all in agreement. This was the end. Nothing would ever be the same again. James and Gray would most likely stay together because of the bond that is so evident between them, but I would probably never see them again…
We reached the door to the Council.
"Well?" I sighed
"Well." James said
"Open the damn door." Gray said. I stepped forward so that the sensor picked up and opened the door.
The room was dark. The smell of incense filled the air. We walked in the room and saw all the chairs that lined the circular wall empty. A single holocron sat in the center of the room atop a stone table. We gathered around it.
"So should we turn it on?" James asked. I shrugged. Gray rolled his eyes and opened the holocron.
A burst of blue light filled the room, making us back away. When we looked around, all the chairs were occupied by their respected masters and behind Master Skywalker's chair Master Arn, Ters, and Master Witoqa. The door slid shut and locked.
"The time has come to prove yourselves." The voice of all the Masters said at once. A burst of the Force tossed Gray, James, and I in different directions. Stone walls slid down from the ceiling to separate us. All was dark except the wavering image of Master Skywalker in his chair…
Trial of the Flesh:
I rose from the floor and dusted myself off furiously. "James!" My voice fell flat on the stone walls. "Gray!" I received no response. Hope they're alright. I looked at the image of Master Skywalker. He was gazing right at me.
"Time test my young student. Prepare yourself." The image flickered for a moment and vanished.
I sighed. I sat in the middle of my cell. Breathing slowly I began to center myself. As time went on a drop of sweat fell on my hand from my forehead. I wiped it off and returned to my meditation. I took a breath, and then coughed. The air in the room had become thick and humid. I tried to ignore it, but my face was now dripping. I shrugged off my outer robes and continued to meditate.
My under robes were drenched within 5 minutes. The room was beginning to swirl. Not the room, me. The heat was getting to me. I felt my neck getting stiff from fatigue. I straightened my posture, then tapped into the Force. I brought whatever cool, dry air that was left in the dark room and formed a barrier around myself. It helped a bit, but I still felt the heat. I couldn't take is anymore. My concentration broke as I unfolded my legs and stretched out on the floor. The grains of sand stuck to my moist body. Moist… water… cools.
I summoned the remainder of my energy and focused on my sweat. All the sweat on my skin and in my clothes floated up above me. When it all leveled out, I used the Force to pull it down to me as close as possible, then pulled the very edge of the bottom so that waves washed over my upper body. I laid there for a long time, letting my waves moisten my face like a sea breeze. Suddenly the walls began to rumble. They slid up back into the ceiling. A cool dawn breeze blew my moister barrier away as I sat up gasping. The widow let in the moonlight and the light from the rising sun.
I was alone in the room, but I could see the remnant of the others. Gray's sash and James' outer robes lay side by side. The holocron was also missing but the image of another Jedi Master sat in the Grand Master's seat. Master Oneida looked up from a piece of paper and smiled at me.
Trial of Courage:
"You have done well student. But your friends…" He gestured to the far corner. Gray and James sat back to back, tied in thick ropes and muffles.
"Do you know what happens to failures in the Sith Order?"
"The Sith? This is the Jedi order, not the-"
The image stood slowly. As he stood Master Oneida became solid. I stepped back. There was something dark about him. The kind face was now twisted with inner darkness. The gray robes he wore earlier were now thick and black. He walked over to me, his cane hitting with rhythm. We stood face to face, him looking at me from behind his tattered blindfold. "They die." A strange smile creased his face. "Kneel before me, and take up the place at my side."
"No." I said calmly.
"Do not fail me. I will spare your pathetic friends. Come to the Dark side."
"No."
"Don't be a fool!"
"You're the fool if you think I can be manipulated like this."
Master Oneida sighed and shook his head. "Then you must die." He backed away and raised his cane. He twisted the sphere handle and pulled. His cane is his light saber holder. He raised his light saber hilt and pushed the power nub.
