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Jedi Master

"So, Jinx, what do you intend to do now?"

The older Jedi's musical, accented voice woke him from a very troubled reverie. Blinking, he glanced briefly toward her, before focusing on the panoramic view of Trandosha outside the Star Cruiser's bridge windows.

"I don't know. The Masters have allowed me to retake the Initiate Trials, but I think I'll end up in one of the Service Corps."

Aayla regarded him with one perfectly formed eyebrow raised. "Is that what you want?"

He smirked bitterly, an action that made her wince. "No," he said in a tone too cynical and jaded to belong to a boy his age. "But since when does what I want figure into the equation at all?"

She did not rise to the bait of his combative question, opting instead to mildly gaze out at the stars. "Well, if there was a Jedi who was willing to take you on…and there should be a few, you were quite well trained before your capture…I'm sure you could continue your training as a Padawan."

"Oh, pray tell, what Master would have me, a sixteen-year-old Initiate three years past the cut-off point? I'm just too old and too…damaged to become a Padawan now, so I might as well get used to the fact."

Too damaged. That was eerily similar to how the Council had described her long ago, when she'd fallen under the influence of a Dark Jedi before her training was complete. But her Master had never given up on her, had he?

She was sure someone would give her an earful when she presented her claim to the Council upon their arrival on Coruscant. She'd be warned against taking such an influential step in haste, encouraged to meditate more before taking her first apprentice. But she had meditated, and was meditating on the notion right now, and this felt…right. As right as it had felt the day Master Vos had informed her that he would be training her, so very many years ago.

Jinx was a risk, yes, but he was one she was willing to take. After all, once upon a time, she had been the risk.

"If you wish, I could be your Master," she said quietly.

He turned to her, his expression unreadable in its turmoil. "But only if you wish," Aayla amended, hoping she had not overstepped her boundaries.

He surprised her with a tight hug around her waist, which she returned swiftly, caring not about the prying eyes of the clone navigators going about their business. This was the right choice, and both of them knew it. No Council could deny it now.