A/N: Sorry for so long time passed since previous chapter—it's all Manul's (and his laziness) fault. Your reviews are always greatly appreciated! Sometimes, they literally make keep writing =)

Obi-Wan was was possibly wrong: he surely had to wake up early the next morning, and nevertheless, he was lying in the dark and thought over his current position.

On the one hand, he certainly should not figure on easy life with such a severe Master. On the other hand, Dooku's firm character definitely made Kenobi feel calm and confidently. Altogether, Obi-Wan had just not to let his Master down in order to keep the situation stable.

There were some less important considerations, too. Kenobi had to admit that his primary luck was the fact the Council had not only let him stay in the Order, but also gave him a chance Obi-Wan start from scratch with Dooku. Establishing relations with Qui-Gon could be rather difficult and time-consuming. Of course, the Masters would watch him closely—but Obi-Wan was sure he would be able to return their favour. He had learnt the lesson from this all, hadn't he? Any experience was invaluable; it made Kenobi wiser and he really had a chance to become the best among Dooku's Padawans. Even better, than Qui-Gon himself had been! (Although it seemed, the old Jedi was rather cold with the former Apprentice.) Also, Kenobi had to learn more about that Komari Vosa…

Kenobi woke up suddenly: he had heard, sleeping, that Dooku had been coughing politely, but after that Master considered that insufficient and he just threw away his Padawan's cover.

"Wake up!" Dooku ordered Kenobi impatiently. "Why didn't you turn the alarm on? You've terribly got out of hand with Qui-Gon. Hurry up!"

When Obi-Wan got dressed and entered the living room, the older Jedi was already finishing his meal. The table appeared to be extensible and very long. Dooku was sitting at the farthest side of it; he was cleaning the last egg with a remarkable skill. At the other side of the table there was a plate, containing three eggs—it seemed, they were reptilian: almost round and speckled ones—for Obi-Wan.

"I have no time to wait for you," Dooku said busily, rising from the table. "Have your breakfast quickly and wash the dishes while I'll go to Qui-Gon. We need to talk a little."

"Yef, Mafta!" Kenobi said, intensively chewing the egg, which appeared to be much more viscous than he had expected.

The Master rolled up his eyes and pursed up his lips. "Our first lesson will be fully dedicated to the way of behaving," he promised.

Dooku had to knock at least three times before Jinn, who could hardly help yawning, opened the door.

"Nice to meet you," he greeted the guest, inviting him to come in. "Though I haven't expected you to return here so soon. Let me guess… Padawan misbehaves?"

Jinn's voice was fulfilled with calmness and kindliness; Dooku decided that Qui-Gon had not got very attached to the former Padawan and, perhaps, he was having his rest lightly now.

"Someone!" Dooku emphasized that word: "Someone didn't teach him to wake up on time. However, now his habits are out of your concern. Besides, are you planning to keep training the young?" The elder Jedi hurried up to change the topic when he saw some signs of disgust on Jinn's face.

"Honestly, I don't think I'll ever take another Padawan," the former Apprentice answered for serious. "The matter isn't even in this Kenobi, although I must admit that I had a hell of a lot of trouble because of him. No. However, Xanatos' betrayal and one more now… It's enough for me, isn't it? And you were right finally: I have to be always alone—there's no one I can trust all the time."

"Brilliant! And how I only could train you, and—" Dooku stammered, because he had just been in a step from naming dead Komari. He had been avoiding talking about her since she died, and now it had already become the habit he had fallen in. "…and how am I training young Kenobi? If you don't like total disbelief, you have to raise Knight's you'll be able to rely on."

"Do you mean I failed at doing so?" Qui-Gon murmured, louring at his former Master. "Maybe, you're right. That's why I'm not going to make such a mistake anymore. I'll just stop teaching."

"Where's your always annoying stubbornness now, when you need it, eh?" Dooku called upon him.

"And moreover," Jinn continued, ignoring Dooku's words: "your face leaves no doubt for me that our conversation pleases you; however, I know you well enough to ask: what's happened?"

"Ah, it's you with your annoying plain dealing again!" Dooku winced, giving up. "I've myself failed at teaching you good manners, I must admit. However, I naturally came only to talk about your Padawans and Padawans in general. It's a great morning for discussions, don't you feel so?"

"Not even a bit," Qui-Gon answered in the same cold intonation. "As for Padawans, each next one is lazier and less obedient than previous ones."

"You're kidding," Dooku continued his tries to relieve the tension. "I'm sure, one who's chosen be the Force is able to learn its secrets—we only need to find a key to his talent."

"Talent is nothing without training," Jinn groaned. "Have you studied that Kenobi's lightsaber? It's made… unprofessionally."

Dooku revealed the weapon in his mind (of course, he had studied it carefully!), but found no way to dispute Qui-Gon's opinion—this distressed him.

"At least, we'll be able to keep our weapons on one shelf and never confuse," he concluded.

"Ha-ha", Qui-Gon pronounced unhappily. "But how should we teach such… talents?"

"Nevertheless, I say: solve your business with Xanatos, think carefully on what do you really want, and find a Padawan—you have much to give your future Apprentice, it's my opinion as your former Master's one." The Jedi did not want to leave Qui-Gon any chance to argue, so that he said so and immediately turned to the exit.

"Xanatos!" The older Jedi heard from the back. "As if I had nothing other to do."

Dooku froze suddenly. Then, he uttered sharply and with threat in his voice:

"This is your trial, Jinn. Yes, it is! And please, remember who made me teach you not to rely on anyone. Remember who that person was and what he had done…"

With these words, he came out. Qui-Gon closed the door behind him, sighed heavily, and shook his head disapprovingly.

Despite having a lecture on good manners given to Obi-Wan, Dooku decided to dedicate his Padawan's day to battle practices. Before lunch, he had been examining Kenobi's abilities of getting over obstacle course; the rest of the day was planned to be used for lightsaber fighting. However, in the middle of the meal Dooku's comlink beeped; Dooku murmured something disapprovingly, then he told Obi-Wan to practice fighting on his own until supper, and went somewhere for business.

Obi-Wan always loved lightsaber sparring. It was the element to which he could give himself completely; Kenobi often noticed that at the middle of the fight he felt as if he was not controlling his actions, but was flowing in some Force twister, which directed him. There were a few big gyms in the Temple for Younglings and Padawans without Masters to practice. The halls had no windows—sunlight irritated the visitors, there were soft mats on the floor, and anyone could easily find an appropriate opponent there. It's needless to say that after half-a-day of training Kenobi was extremely pleasant, despite being quite tired.

The last Kenobi's sparring session with a Togruta Padawan was quite long, that's why he had to collect the mats and put them into the corner, when the training was finished and the light turned off. He had almost finished with this when he heard some cautious footsteps from the back.

"It's worth doing, isn't it?"

Obi-Wan turned and discovered Bruck in a few steps from himself. He was a little younger than Kenobi, a bit less talented, and—a long-standing concurrent. Some time ago they had been confronting for the right of being Qui-Gon's Padawan; Kenobi had even defeated Bruck at the Challenge, although it almost did not help him.

"You'd better help me, than chatter!" Obi-Wan snarled in mind, but answered rather politely:

"What do you mean?"

"I was talking about you doing the things above your abilities. You not only waste your own lifetime, but you distract good Masters from training those, who deserves it, too. Why..?"

"Can I help you?" Obi-Wan asked once more time most politely. "My Master is waiting for me."

"So pompous we are..!" Bruck pulled his face. "Once again: why do you hope so much to become a Knight? What do you expect from it? As a Knight, you'll have to work hard—feel the difference to 'Master's waiting'—always, not once a year at the Challenge," he stated firmly, standing in Kenobi's way to the exit.

"Oh, really?" Kenobi reacted coldly, leaning his elbows upon the pile of mats. "And who, do you think, knows this better: a Padawan already or someone else?"

"You call yourself a Padawan?" Bruck hissed, but quickly calmed himself—or just pretended he had done so. "So, if you're so confident, you must admit that your place is in the Agricorps and ask the Council to send you there, don't you?"

"Why do you say so?" Obi-Wan felt really hurt. "The Masters chose me themselves, the Council—" he stammered, "they've forgiven me. I'm not going to let Dooku down and once I'll become a Knight. Besides, you're still Youngling, am I right?" he stroke back.

This made Bruck lose his control:

"You took my place!" He cried. "If only Yoda and Qui-Gon hadn't noticed you… Any other Youngling could become a better Padawan then you did. And now Jinn won't take another Padawan, Dooku is wasting his time on you—whose fault is it? You… you've stolen my chance!"

With these words, he suddenly activated his lightsaber—it flushed extraordinary brightly in the hollow, dark training hall—but still did not attack.

"Well," he croaked, "let's see, what do you worth!"

Kenobi noticed Bruck clenching the handle of his weapon: the opponent was significantly strung-up. It seemed there was no hope that someone would come and prevent the fight: it would be considered a normal thing for the training hall. Obi-Wan activated his own lightsaber smoothly but resolutely.

Bruck attacked at once. His fighting style had changed (or maybe, just Kenobi's enemy was furious): at past, he had used quick lunges and avoided the blows artfully; now Bruck was almost only slashing rudely and heavily. In contrast, Obi-Wan was already rather tired after a day filled with trainings, so that he was waiting for the enemy to make a mistake, maneuvering, evading the blows, and striking at unpredictable moments. They were fighting with no word, being concentrated on the fight itself.

However, Kenobi had no chance to win with such a tactic—he had to act more offensive. He blocked another blow such that their lightsabers were crossed. The strength did matter now and Bruck's fighting style had to tire him out much. But everything went against Obi-Wan's plan. Something like a little rainbow appeared at the crossing of the blades; a sharp squeak, similar to one from broken devices, hit the ears, and then… Kenobi pulled his arm away purely instinctively; only after a second he realized that Bruck's blade had passed through his own one. Belated pain seared his midarm and Obi-Wan had to use the Force to keep his lightsaber. He stepped backwards, swinging his weapon desperately.

"What the..?"

Indeed, what has happened? The training lightsaber could not overheat; the Force told Obi-Wan that the weapon was fine, too. He revealed the scene in his mind again: lightsabers are crossing with sharp crack, his hands are feeling the ductility of the force field, and then—Kenobi's weapon appears to be smother, thinner, the tremor passed through the handle, and the shining white blade goes through the blue one…

Bruck's lightsaber power was increased!

Obi-Wan had not fully recovered from shock when he already had to reflect strong, frequent blows. He wasn't able to block the enemy's strikes adequately and he was just drawing them aside. The Jedi were outnumbered at their missions, but this case was of the other, very special, kind. He was returned to his previous tactic, but now he had poor hope to succeed.

Obi-Wan's burned midarm smarted—Bruck's training lightsaber was almost a real weapon. The opponent understood this; what did he want? He was hardly going to kill Obi-Wan, of course, but Bruck could still hurt Kenobi, disarm him, and make him surrender. However, there was high risk for an unfair, that is, unsatisfying, victory, which no one would see, too. "Bruck's despaired," Obi-Wan thought. "He'd lost the hope of being taken as a Padawan. He has neither a plan, nor a goal—he wants only revenge."

Meanwhile, Bruck managed to drive Kenobi in the corner: being wounded, Obi-Wan fought uncertainly and clumsy. From time to time, Padawan could see Bruck's mad face, lightened by the blade of the weapon. "I have to stop him," a sudden thought came to Kenobi's mind. Unexpectedly, the idea encouraged him. It was Bruck who yielded to the fear of being rejected until the time he could be sent to the Agricorps; and it was Obi-Wan who understood his enemy—and was not afraid. This meant: Kenobi deserved to be a Padawan. Bruck didn't. Obi-Wan would stop the Youngling—for the latter's own good.

Right now! Obi-Wan chose the moment and made a lightning stroke. Despite of his advantage, the opponent had to stop. Meanwhile, Kenobi turned the tight regulator ring on the handle to maximum; his blade became brighter too. It was necessary, and what is necessary is also fair, isn't it?

After that, they fought on equal. It was difficult for Bruck, whacked with fight and fury, to stand against Kenobi—the latter's glory of the Challenge winner was genuine and deserved, and burned midarm was not a big problem for him. Obi-Wan even thought about offering Bruck to surrender, but he realized that it would only embitter the enemy, making him fight until the end.

There was no choice for Kenobi: he pretended to be going to make a blow from the down; when Bruck lowered his lightsaber, protecting himself, Obi-Wan suddenly turned blade to make a curve with its blade—and ran it through the enemy's fingers. Bruck cried enormously loud; echo repeated it several times. His weapon hit the floor, but Kenobi had been still keeping his lightsaber active: who knew, what could the Youngling do now? It was his light in the darkness, too.

Bruck slowly raised his eyes from his burned fingers to the enemy: "S-sith!"

The next moment Obi-Wan felt just as if someone smashed his face with a wet cloth. It was not that painful, but discouraged him. Even without the weapon, Bruck could use the Force. The fact was obvious, but not the way he did so!

So, Kenobi could not protract anymore; he attacked Bruck with bare hands. When it was only a step between him and the Youngling, Obi-Wan waved his weapon, but did not hit, of course. He just tripped up Bruck, although the enemy continued fighting even when he was on the floor. However, Kenobi's victory was not just a matter of time. Besides, what would he…

"Stop this!"

Both Obi-Wan and Bruck were blinded with standard lighting after the darkness they had been fighting in. Then, they saw Mace Windu in a couple of steps from them; the Master looked angry.

A small sheet of paper, a bill—one from the batch the Master dropped, when he saw the boys—landed to the floor silently.

"What's happening here? Fight?" Windu asked, his voice emitting menace. "The training has ended long ago and I— Hey, what's this? Show me your hands!"

Kenobi's wound had already begun bleeding and Bruck's black-burned fingers looked frightening. Windu pulled their weapons, using the Force, checked the regulators, gave a quiet whistle of surprise, and looked at Padawan and Youngling again:

"Have you both gone mad? And these are our future Jedi, ah! I could expect such a thing from anyone except you two… Leave Bruck at last, Kenobi! Stand up."

It was very difficult for Obi-Wan to unclench his fists to release the enemy's tunic. Bruck stood up, staggering and trembling, he could hardly keep on his legs. Master Windu sighed, took a tube from his utility belt, and gave it to the Youngling:

"It's bacta, use it to cure your burns. After that, go to the Halls of Healing and then return to the Youngling's quarters. We'll call for you." Windu turned to Obi-Wan. "Kenobi, gather these papers and follow me."

It took only a couple of minutes of gloomy walking after Master Windu for Obi-Wan to reach an unremarkable door in a corridor wall. Mace opened it and told Kenobi by a gesture to come in first.

The room they entered was rather small. There were a few chairs, a long bookshelf, filled with signed files, and a big bureau with a lot of papers on it. Saesee Tiin was sitting on a chair behind it and Master Yoda found a corner, cleared from documents, right on the bureau. They both were deep in their business and did not expect to see Kenobi.

"Just look at this, I dare say, Padawan!" Windu announced loudly, passing Obi-Wan by to sit onto one of the chairs: "I've just caught him and Youngling Bruck fighting with enforced training lightsabers. How do you like this?"

"Anything to say, you have, Padawan Kenobi?" Yoda asked strictly.

Saesee Tiin settled back on the chair, crossed his arms and looked at Obi-Wan searchingly.

"I tried to stop Bruck," Kenobi answered. He decided not to panic and to tell everything clearly: anyway, he acted honestly. "The training had been finished when… Well, he wasn't himself," Obi-Wan thought it would be silly to accuse Bruck in his own position. "I had to fight with enforced lightsaber… in fact, Bruck did that first—"

"…And you decided to beat him," Windu interrupted the Padawan. "You see," he turned to the Masters, "I came to the hall just in time to see Kenobi breaking the Youngling's nose with his bare hands; and the victim's fingers had already been terribly burned."

Suddenly, Obi-Wan lost his self-control: to be blamed, after all that happened?

"It was Bruck who increased his lightsaber power first!" He cried. "His fingers? Just look at my arm! And you haven't seen his face: he—"

However, his short tirade was stopped by a silent, but extremely focused Yoda's look.

"Things happen." Windu heavily shook his head after a long pause.

"Truth to us, Padawan Kenobi tells. But obviously, guilty, both of the students are," Yoda said.

"For now, we must decide what to do with this one," Master Tiin suggested. "Qui-Gon Jinn is your teacher, isn't he?"

"Dooku is."

"Dooku is!" Windu mocked quietly from the corner. "Master Dooku is!"

"Ah, so, we don't have to decide, what to do with you," Saesee Tiin grinned badly. "Remember, Mace: I was against retaining Kenobi as a Padawan!"

"That you misbehaved, recognize, do you?" Yoda asked Obi-Wan instructively. "Fight against the fellow, younger especially, you should not."

"Such a behavior is completely unacceptable for a Padawan," Windu joined them. "As I can see, you didn't value the chance we gave to you."

"…And we did it wrong, I must add!" Master Tiin exclaimed. "I naturally feel sorry for Dooku."

"To your quarters, return now," Yoda concluded, unlocking the door by means of the Force. "Come soon, Dooku will. Learning what's happened hurt him—"

Yoda suddenly silenced. Kenobi turned around and flinched. There was Dooku standing in the doorway his face showing his great interest what was his Padawan doing there. Perhaps, the Jedi had just returned to the Temple from some kind of official meeting: Dooku's usual black cloak covered a fashioned suit.

"Bad news for you, we have, Master Dooku," Yoda started. "A cruel fight with a Youngling, your Padawan had."

"A… a Youngling..?" Kenobi's Master could find no words.

"We are sorry," Saesee Tiin groaned.

Obi-Wan felt that he needed to say something to Dooku: it did not seem that anyone was going to protect him, except himself.

"Master—"

"Go… out my sight… now… to the quarters," the old Jedi interrupted him impolitely.

His voice left Kenobi no chance to disobey the order.

Their shared quarters looked strange, being lit by one of the setting suns: there was something from the Sith design style in black furniture, colored with maroon. Such a menacing, disturbing, silent interior perfectly fitted Obi-Wan's mood now. He did not go to his room and sat himself into one of the deep leather armchairs in the living room.

What could he tell the Master when the latter came back? Since Dooku had met Windu, he knew quite much about the incident, but only from the Councilors' point of view. Obi-Wan could try to persuade Dooku to listen to him and then the old Jedi could decide to justify his Padawan in front of the Masters. But what if Dooku would not like to do so, for example, considering Kenobi's fault too big? Obi-Wan had been being a Padawan to Dooku only for a few days and it was easy for the Master to get rid of such an Apprentice. Indeed, the old Jedi did not seem to be the one who forgave easily and Kenobi's own reputation was rather bad already...

Then, Obi-Wan's thoughts turned to Bruck. He had no guess what would the Youngling tell the Council. On the one hand, it was clear, especially for the Masters, who had begun the fight and nervous Bruck himself could fire up, too; on the other hand, as a Youngling, he had better chances to be pardoned. But anyway, Bruck's fault did not belittle Kenobi's one.

Also, it was the opponent's phrase right before the fight what troubled him. Although Obi-Wan could not admit accuses of the lack of talent, was it true that his mates had been disliking him since becoming a Padawan? Indeed, neither Bant, nor Garren saluted him today, for example... It would be awful to lose all the friends, especially if the Master was as strict as Dooku was.

Saesee Tiin taught the Younglings: "Use your feelings when dealing with concrete and material; when guessing, like in a fog, calm down your mind". Kenobi had made a tough decision now: to be expelled from the Jedi Order (even not thinking about what would come then) or to stay a Padawan with bad reputation and always alone. Obi-Wan shuddered and his burned midarm hurt sharply. Padawan remembered that Master Windu offered bacta only to Bruck—did this mean nobody would care about Obi-Wan's state in the future too? Such a perspective looked like a very unpleasant one.

Something touched Kenobi's fingers. He looked down: it was Mari; she climbed to the armchair and now she was staring her minute eyes at the Padawan strictly and, as it seemed to him, with blame and distrust too. That was a bit too thick! Kenobi attempted to drive her away with a knock—and jumped up, screaming: the lizard bit his finger painfully and disappeared somewhere.

Enough! To the Force with this all!

Obi-Wan ran to his room. He would not become a Knight, there would not be any adventures in his life (besides, was it wrong?), it would be difficult for him to rely only on himself at first. But he would never expose himself for enemy's blows; dozens of mortal dangers would bypass him. He was a Force-user at last; he could surely arrange his life any way he wanted. So, to the freedom!

He would not be a Jedi anymore. What should he take with him? Utility belt, his tunic, and travel bag definitely were Kenobi's own things. The comlink had to be left: it could easily be tracked. Obi-Wan took a few items from his bedside cabinet into the bag, too. Then, he went to the kitchen to look for some food, but there was nothing except tea and sugar in the cupboard—the Jedi usually took their meal at the Temple canteen. Kenobi thought a little and had to conclude that he had no more possessions. Well, no more but one thing…

Obi-Wan unclipped his lightsaber from the belt. Of course, it could still serve its owner well, even when the latter would not be a Jedi. However, anyone could get it somehow in the future and use in any improper way, which would compromise both its creator and his Master. Also, lightsaber was a thing which clearly showed its owner being a Jedi. That's why Kenobi carefully placed his precious weapon at the shelf so that it could be easily found: he had nothing to do with the Order. Out of here!

He turned around in the doors. However, there was nothing he could forget here, except his past. Mari appeared on the leather armrest like a little green spot; she insidiously put her tongue out. Kenobi threatened Mari and the lizard hid at once. Away from the Order!

A/N: Reviews?..