Shadows in the Light

by Romania Black

Third chapter's up! yay! It's taken awhile, but here it is! Thanks for all the support! Oh, and I own nothing of Star Wars basically...LOL

Romania Black

Chapter Three: New Master, New Day

The Jedi Temple Council Room was unlike any I'd ever seen. The walls draped with purple hues of tapestries and dark green lamps that circled the room. The room was lit well, the emerald lanterns streaming white light into all corners of the room. It was a sight I was certain I soon would not forget.

There had been hardly any conversation between the three of us on our way to the room. Master Dooku was quite chatty, constantly asking Master Jinx if her trip was well, how she was, and what she had been up to. Things of that matter. All those questions at once would've overloaded my mind, but every one of her answers was calm and cool. She had no hint of annoyance in her voice. I was amazed and had more respect for Master C'Ton than ever.

She said she had been fine. I learned she was from Elementia, obviously a planet far far away, for she said it took years to get to it. I was shocked at first, because my former Master had told me she was from Tatooine. She stated casually that she had been stationed there before, and that my master must have assumed that she was from there. She also said that she had been there tending to the Jedi training facilities on Elementia for the past century. Apparently, she was the head of that area there. She gave no complaints, only that she had not the time spent there that she meant to. She had wanted to stay a little bit longer, but duties in the Order called, and she was not about to let her fellow companions down. She ran a hand to see if her hair was slicked back enough into her bun right before we went into the Council Room and gave me a swift look to me before we went into those doors. I couldn't tell if she winked or not, because the doors opened and light flooded us in that dark hallway as we stepped inside.

The Council was not all present, for there were several chairs that sat empty, not even a hologram projection of them. Those that were there gave Master Jinx an immediate bow of their heads and another to Master Dooku. Then their eyes fell on me.

I knew the smallest one there. That was Yoda, I was certain, the green and leathery creature with those intense eyes of the same color. The man next to him was much bigger, with a lean, dark face and brown eyes that seemed beyond his years with wisdom. The creature on the other side of the room was a pretty humanoid with long green tentacles that were covered by a large deep purple hood and contained a long face of hazel eyes and a warm, young smile. The other Jedi I knew, it was Kit Fisto; his green tentacles on the back of his chair, his large maroon eyes and youthful face casting a warm glow upon me. I knew him because he had worked closely alongside my former master, Migdon Quailmorth. The final Jedi was a very, very young looking Jedi sitting next to the tall dark man. He had brown hair and a forlorn, saddened stare. He seemed very serious, despite his obvious youth. He did not acknowledge me as the others did. He only gave me a half smile and then turned back to the Jedi beside him.

"Welcome, you are, Master C'Ton. As well are you, Master Dooku," Yoda said, his wizened green face looking at us with a sleepy gaze. "Waited for you, we have. And now, here you are." He lifted up a gnarled cane and waved it to us.

"We are sorry not all the Jedi could come to see you Master Jinx and Dooku, but situations have...kept us busy." The tall dark skinned man said with a expressive wave of his hand.

"Not at all a problem, Master Windu," Master Jinx said curtiously. "It was not necessary for all the Jedi to be here tonight in any case."

The man named Windu smiled and nodded his head. "Good."

"Is this young Gui-Gon?" The woman sitting by Kit said in a gentle, yet firm voice.

"Yes, Master Lunara, it is," Dooku replied for me, placing a hand on my shoulder. It still felt odd. "Aren't you?" He smiled at me. I could only smile back, I was so clueless as to what to say.

"Yes, sir," Was all I could muster.

"Wise, Master Quailmorth was," Yoda piped in unexpectedly. "Wise in the ways of the Living Force." He looked directly at me and I felt a cool rush of air at the back of my neck.

"Master Quailmorth was not a warrior however," Windu said uneasily. "He did not know how to combat others."

Master Jinx gave Master Windu a skeptical look. The Jedi Lunara threw him an equal expression.

"It is shameful for the boy's master to be critisized in his own presence, Master Windu," Lunara said firmly.

"This is not a criticism, Lunara, merely an observation," He turned to me. "Master Quailmorth is an excellent Jedi. Try not to think that we're insulting him, young Padawan Jinn." He raised hands to his chin and folded them under his face, staring at me with hard stone black pools of eyes. I felt myself swallow loudly.

"Of course not, Master Windu," Was all I could manage. It was like talking to a wall; blank, and with a face of stone.

Master Jinx cleared her throat softly. "If it is the council's will, the boy will need a new Master to be trained to withstand the possible upcoming attack of the Sith--"

"There is no proof of that, Master C'Ton," Master Dooku interrupted her quickly. The council's eyes all shot directly to Dooku. Obviously, this was a very inappropriate thing to have done. Dooku took all the council's glares in a wink. "Well, really! The council has already determined that there is not a Sith threat! The fate of this boy stems solely from--"

"Enough that will be!" Yoda stomped his staff angrily onto the floor, and a ringing silence fell onto the Council. I had never felt so awkward, and also so confused. What was the real reason I was switching masters? "Rude it is, Dooku, for you to interrupt so."

Dooku bowed his head in apology. "Forgive me Masters," He mumbled loudly.

"My main point is that this matter, Sith or not," Master Jinx started again as she shot a slight glance to Dooku, but a glare was barely hinted in her solemn features, "Should still be looked into."

"That," Master Windu stated grimly, "Is not for you alone to decide, I'm afraid. We must have an unanymous decision by the coucil to be able to conclude a way of dealing with such matters."

Master C'Ton seemed to almost flinch for a second. "What? What would qualify as unanymous?" She asked, though it was obviously a rhetorical question.

The youngest Jedi sitting, the forlorn looking boy sat up seriously and spoke just as he looked. "It means we need all twelve council mem--"

"She knows, Tolme, she knows," Master Windu said with a slight smile as he patted the boys shoulder. "She was merely inquiring to agitate." Windu's face gave off a hint of annoyance that was barely visible, but noticable to the three of us all the same.

"I most certainly was not, Master Windu," Jinx said with a certain bite to her tone. Master Yoda gave her a surprised look.

"So rude, must you be? A Jedi Master, you are talking to Jinx C'Ton," His ears perked up as he said this. There was a certain blush that entered her cheeks as she looked to the floor.

"I apologize, Master," She said with solemn regret. "It shall not happen again." She raised her head slowly.

"Do you feel this strongly about the situation, Master C'Ton?" Master Fisto inquired skeptically, with slight admiration in his voice.

Jinx nodded, "Of course. I usually will not argue a case with any of the council members. Never have. But I feel an urgency in the air, as if we can eradicate something now, if only we act now." She pushed urgency into the last two words.

The young Jedi Tolme shifted in his seat a little bit, and Yoda placed his chin upon his Grimer Stick. "Odd that felt this presence, you have, when the other council members have not. Strange, it is. Perhaps a will of the Dark Side, it may be."

"With all due respect, Master Yoda, I do not think so," Master C'Ton nodded to him. "I have personally been to Naboo with several comrades on many occasions, and there is a dark feeling there that does not leave with each visit, but grows stronger. I believe it is the presence of a Sith."

"Until the council is fully gathered, Master C'Ton, we will hold off on decisions for the matter," Master Windu lifted his hands from under his chin and back onto the arms of his seat.

"If that is the case, Master Windu, may I have the council's permission to investigate the matter personally?" She sounded bound and determined to have some action taken on this matter. The council members presence all stirred slightly, but made no immediate responses. Master Dooku merely gazed at the council and Master Jinx with a calm, emotionless expression.

"Decide that we will," Yoda said softly, "When gathered, more council members are. Thank you, we do, for bringing light to this matter." He nodded his head slowly with a certain finality to his voice. Master C'Ton bowed curtly.

"Thank you, council Masters," There was obvious sadness in her voice. "I await your decision patiently." She turned and slowly backed the door, but did not leave; merely lurked out of the Council's Circle.

Master Dooku placed a hand upon my shoulder and spoke up with sofistication in his voice, "Masters, I believe we came here to find this boy a Master, and yet, it has not been done yet."

"True you are, Master Dooku," The mysterious Lunara said firmly. "We should conclude that matter before adjourning." She looked the other council members.

"Yes," Yoda said, his ears perking up and a small smiled playing on his wizened face. "A new Master, young Qui-Gon will require."

"Does anyone have a Jedi in mind?" Windu asked curiously.

There were several murmurs throughout the room.

"I would take you on myself, young one," Master Fisto said softly, smiling at me. I felt a feeling of warmth spread through me. "Migdon is one of my dearest friends, but I'm sorry. I already have an apprentice of my own." The warmth drained from me just as quick as it had arrived. I tried my hardest not to frown.

"My Padawan has just been knighted," Lunara said quickly, "But alas, I have another woman who I've promised to take her child and train."

"I would take you Qui-Gon," The bold, dark skinned Mace Windu said solemnly, "But Tolme is not fully ready for the trials as of yet." He motioned to the sad looking boy next to him. A slight feeling of relief spread through me. I was not sure I wanted Master Mace to teach me. But still, I worried. What if no one takes me?

"Needing an apprentice, Master C'Ton may be," Yoda chimed in, motioning to the Jedi by the door. I looked again at her with a look of hope. Please take me! Please! I don't know why, but I wanted her to be my new Master so badly, and did not know why.

"I'm sorry, Young Qui-Gon," She said firmly, a frown playing on her face, "Due to certain situations I may be placed under, I'm afraid risking your life with me is something unacceptable. I'm sorry, but I cannot accept any Padawan at the moment." She turned and looked at Yoda curiously. "Do you have a Padawan currently, Master?"

Yoda leaned on his grimer stick again and looked at her and me with eyes that were not sad, but weary. "Too old, I am getting, to take on a Padawan. Too old, and too frail, to teach I am."

"I hardly believe that," Jinx said immediately. "It was not long ago that you finished training Master Dooku!" She gave Dooku an approving look.

"A Padawan, I may take someday. But like you, I am. Too much, I'm afraid, would my duties be for a Padawan." He closed his eyes and sighed softly. He seemed much frailer than before to me.

"Excuse me," Master Dooku coughed slightly, clearing his throat. "I have no Padawans at the moment, and if it is not a problem to the council, I will take the boy and train him." He suddenly seemed more father-like, as he placed a hand on my shoulder. The odd feeling I had had for him before was no longer quiter as strong.

All of the council members nodded in unison. "A better fate, the boy could not have," Yoda said smiling slightly as he opened his eyes again. "Trust you, we do, Dooku. Train him well, you will." The council members all nodded in unison.

"So it is settled then," Master Windu said as he stood up slowly. "Master Dooku will take charge of young Qui-Gon Jinn and train him in the ways of the Force." He nodded to the two of us. "This meeting of the Jedi Council is concluded. Adjourned."

It was not two seconds later it seemed, that me and my new master, Dooku, were out in the hallway with Master C'Ton. The other council members had already taken their leave, even Master Yoda, but the two Masters, mine and the one I had originally wanted, had stayed. I stood next to the wall, as the two conversed.

"It is hard to believe," Master Dooku said with slight surprise, "That Master Yoda did not approve of your offers towards the information of the Sith."

"It is not hard to believe," Master C'Ton said softly. "Merely disappointing. I did not think that Master Yoda would approve of the situation anyway."

"He is still lost in the old tales of the Sith still being destroyed?" Dooku shifted his weight as he stood, his eyebrows raised minimumly, amusement in his voice.

"You know he is," Jinx smiled softly. "When he was my Master, he believed it, and so did I until now. I assume he told you the same story?" I was slightly shocked that the two Masters who seemed so powerful had both been taught by Master Yoda.

"Oh yes," Dooku smiled. "His ways and beliefs haven't changed, even in eight hundred years!"

"You mean eight hundred-and-twelve?" C'Ton giggled in a most unusual fashion. Obviously, it was an inside joke, because I didn't understand the humor in it.

Dooku chuckled. "Fine. Eight hundred-and-twelve it is. I'm afraid I have to take my leave. My new apprentice and I," He placed a hand on my shoulder again. "Have to get settled in." He started to lead me away, and I turned to look back at Master Jinx, who was waving slightly with her thin hand. "Farwell, Master Jinx!" Dooku said eagerly as we were about to round the corner of the hallway.

"Goodbye, Master Dooku! Goodbye, Young Qui-Gon! I'll be seeing you soon!" She waved and smiled at me and Master Dooku as we rounded the corner. All I could do was wave back, the words wouldn't escape my throat.

Deja Vu entered my mind as we turned that corner. Had it not been less than twenty-four hours ago when I turned the same corner from my old Master Migdon Quailmorth, to go to the Council with Master C'Ton whom I had hoped would be my new master? Now I was leaving her, with my new Master, Master Dooku. Another part of me seemed to die there and then once more, but I remembered the words both Jedi had told me. They would see me again. All I could do was wait for that day and time. For now, It was just a new day, with a New Master.