The sun was blazingly hot as it beat down on the various Masters and their Padawans as they sparred furiously. Dust hung in the air from the tracks they were kicking up, and the dirt clung to their sweaty bodies. Ana was off to the side on a bench, sipping water from a small cup. Her dark green eyes were roving over the arena floor that she had only recently decapitated with a training droid. Her face was expressionless as she watched them, and then she spat out of the corner of her mouth. Normally she would be training with her Master at this time, or they would be meditating in the gardens, but now she was alone. And it was a slight fear that gnawed at her, the fear of being alone. She massaged her temples and folded her hands over her mouth, closing her eyes as if in prayer. She dwelled in the little place inside her head that she so often retreated to, a place where her fondest memories of her Master were stored. He had been more than a Master: He was a brother, a father, a friend, a confidante. She trusted him explicitly.
She had no idea that two people were watching her intently. Master Mace Windu and Master Qui-Gon Jinn were both studying the dark haired girl closely as they sat in the shade of a spreading oak. The large gnarled oak tree was one of the very few plants that grew on the almost entirely metal planet, and it was very dear to the Jedi Temple. Qui-Gon felt the craggy grooves of the bark underneath his fingers as he watched the distant shape of La'Ana, the girl he was supposed to meet. From this distance, he could only make out the barest details, but he could tell she had a mop of curly, unruly black hair that was shorn quite short, lacking the traditional Padawan braid in back. "She has been through much," Master Windu said after a moment of peaceful silence. "Three times she has been before the Council, and each time she has not been able to tell us how Wathearu died."
"You do not know how he died?" Qui-Gon asked, surprised. "What about the rest of her report?" he inquired. Mace shrugged, his flat brown eyes watching the girl who was still sitting by herself on the edge of the training arena. She had not moved from her earlier position, and he wondered privately what she was doing.
"We know from his body that it was blaster fire, and we gathered from the report she gave us that they walked into an ambush. However, when she was questioned on why they were in the encampment, she could not continue. Master Yoda believes the girl harbors some guilt over the matter. Most Padawans would, but the two of them were especially close. Expect some resistance when you begin training her." Mace warned. Qui-Gon's eyes never left Ana's still form.
"What was the mission about?" he asked quietly. Mace sighed.
"They were going to planet Al-Kahrid to restore peace to the trading order. Apparently corrupt politicians were monopolizing the trade route on the planet. Master Wathearu and Padawan Shaddem were strictly liaisons. There was no combat expected." Mace answered.
"And yet there was," Qui-Gon murmured to himself. "I suspect the girl was at some fault. It is the most likely reason she will not give a full report." Mace nodded solemnly and folded his hands into his robes.
"Master Yoda and the rest of the Council - myself included - believe the same. We fear for La'Ana's safety. Her guilt and anger will lead her path dangerously close to the Dark Side. It is crucial that she begin a training regime at once, to help her cope with her emotions. Will you take her as an apprentice?" Mace asked. Doubt was still fluttering at the edges of Qui-Gon's mind, and he didn't answer for a long moment.
"I must speak with her first. If the Force is with me, I will accept her. However, I am wondering why Master Yoda contacted me instead of another Knight. I can think of several who would be better adapted to suit a short-term Padawan than myself." Qui-Gon said. Mace looked at Qui-Gon with a slight aura of surprise.
"I thought it was obvious, my friend. You have both failed in some way; you with your Padawan, and she with her Master. You are both broken and weary of the Order. There are similarities between the two of you that are uncanny. Master Yoda and I thought it best that you take on another Padawan to relieved your guilt, and she needs a Master as soon as possible to ease hers. Three weeks have already eclipsed for La'Ana, and time is running short. She must begin training as soon as possible." Mace answered.
Their attention was drawn to Ana down at the arena, who was finally making a move. A small, stocky Twi'Lek was talking to her. Even with their keen hearing, it was too far away to understand their conversation. However, the Twi'Lek must have said something that convinced Ana not to sit and mope, because the black-haired girl got up and the pair of them moved to the center of the arena. They unsheathed their lightsabers and bowed to each other. The Twi'Lek had an orange 'saber, and La'Ana had a blue one. After a brief moment of talk - most likely discussing the mode of spar - the duel began.
They were suited to one another very well. La'Ana was fast and she parried and struck with eerie elegance, while the stocky Twi'Lek was more powerful and slightly slower. Their blades met in a shuddering charge and Ana twisted her blade to the left, ripping it free from the Twi'Lek's lightsaber parry. The two Jedi Masters had to admire their footwork; both of the women's feet never stayed in one place for long. They danced around each other, twisting and ducking in a strange dance that only ones in battle can dance to. Ana's feet jumped clear off the ground and she somersaulted between the Twi'Lek's legs as she blocked yet another blow from the small alien. However, Clah'Diam was ready for her and spun around swiftly, feinting to the right and then striking out at the slim girl.
Then, just as quickly as it had ensued, it was over. Clah'Diam's orange lightsaber made sizzling contact with Ana's upper arm, searing a crackling stripe of red onto her skin. Ana yelped slightly, and lowered her blade. "You win," the girl conceded, examining the welt. "Good strike. I thought I had you when I somersaulted." Clah'Diam wiped the sweat off her pale blue brow and smiled at her friend.
"So did I. When did you learn that? It was most incredible. You must teach me sometime, it was the last thing I expected." Clah'Diam said. Ana got to her feet and clicked off her lightsaber, then dusted off her hands on her outer robe. Usually Ana took off her outer robe, but she hadn't expected a long fight. Clah'Diam was a very talented duelist, and Ana was still struggling with it.
"Master taught it to me just before the mission. It was a rather unnecessary move in a friendly battle, but sometimes in a firefight an unexpected maneuver can save your life. He always used to say that the best duelist can be defeated by a trick he doesn't know. Besides, it wasn't that fancy." Ana said after a moment. "Just a kick and a slide. We can practice, if you want."
"You ought to talk to those gentlemen first," the small blue Twi'Lek said. "They've done nothing but stare at you for a half an hour." Ana twisted and looked at Master Windu and Master Jinn who were both still under the oak tree. She then turned away from them dismissively.
"They haven't called me yet. For all I know, they're talking about you. I have no desire to interrupt their conversation when it might not even concern me." Ana reasoned. It was a very lame excuse, and Clah'Diam knew it, but the stocky alien wisely said nothing. Changing the subject, Ana headed over to the water cooler and in search of shade. "Does your Master think you are ready for the Trials yet?"
"I think I am ready, but Master Duam thinks I need more time," Clah'Diam admitted. "I need to learn to control the Force better, is what I think he said." Ana snorted and dumped a cup of water over her head. The droplets of water glistened for a moment in her thick black hair, then evaporated in the blistering heat.
"Perhaps, but I believe you're ready. You're more talented than anybody I know, and I think Master Duam is going blind. How old is he, nearly seventy?" Ana said scornfully. The deep, rumbling voice behind her nearly made her jump out of her skin.
"Sixty eight, I believe," said the growl behind her. The rumble was spiked with a note of amusement. "Which is a perfectly acceptable age for a Jedi Knight of Master Duam's stature and confidence." Ana spun around and was met face to face with Qui-Gon Jinn for the first time in her life. Her eyes narrowed as she sized him up.
He was handsome, in an older way, with a clean profile and a slight beard circling his jaw. His hair was tied back and descended to his shoulders, and his hands were tucked thoughtfully into his sleeves. A pair of striking blue orbs looked back at her, and one eyebrow was arched in an expression of slight good humor. His eyes were really quite remarkable; smoky blue discs of dark cerulean, ringed with a cloudy layer of gray. The roomy robes he wore was of the traditional garb of a Jedi Knight, but she could see the size of his biceps through the material. He was a hulking man, nearly six foot three, with a barrel chest and large, well defined muscles. She bowed to him in a gesture of respect that was a beat behind Clah'Diam's solemn bow.
"Of course, Master Jinn," Clah'Diam said, recovering her wits. "I am very pleased with Master Duam's teaching. I could not ask for a better teacher." Qui-Gon nodded, his dark blue-gray eyes focused on the slim black-haired girl in front of him who was now regarding with something akin to suspicion.
She was slim, with long legs and a tapered waist, but she lacked the curvaceous form that belonged to her Twi'Lek friend. Her black hair was mussed and damp from the liquid she had dumped over her head, yet this had done nothing to tame the wild tangle of curls that didn't even touch her ears. Her dark green eyes were the color of evergreens in winter, and right at this moment there was a spark of defiance in them. She was very short, hardly coming up to Qui-Gon's bulky chest, but somehow she managed to give the appearance of height. Her wrists and ankles were very small, and supplied a definition to the word 'petite'. "Can I help you, Master Jinn?" La'Ana said with a subtle note of frosty anger in her voice. Qui-Gon could practically see the icicle covered words.
"I merely wished to make your acquaintance. I saw you and your friend sparring. You suit each other quite well. May I duel you?" he asked politely. He was pleased to see the surprise that registered in her eyes, and then it was covered by an unfathomable mask that he remembered seeing on several war victims. Her eyes were nothing but glossy blank discs now, but her eyebrows raised slightly to give the air of interest.
"I'm afraid my experience in dueling does not extend to battling Jedi Knights. The only person I have dueled with other than my master would be Clah'Diam, my friend over here." Ana said, gesturing lazily to the stocky Twi'Lek that was now looking almost horrified at her friend's insolent tone. "Clah'Diam and I have dueled each other for years. We know each other well, and that is why you were impressed by what you saw. Our forms and statures fit one another while we duel, and my late Master and I were also a good match. If you'll excuse me, I must be going. I have a class that I must study for before the bell." she swept off without formally bidding him goodbye.
He watched her go for a minute, and he felt the smoking anger and grief in the Force that was surrounding her. He was saddened for a moment; the girl had no wish to be trained. Then he heard the small voice of the short Twi'Lek at his elbow. "Master Jinn, this is not my business, and I know you have no reason to share this information with me…but are you seeking to instruct Ana?"
He smiled slightly at the inquisitive little alien, admiring her gold-coin eyes that were blinking slowly. The fiery Ana and the cool-blooded Clah'Diam made a most unlikely match. "You are not out of line, Clah'Diam. Yes, I am considering taking La'Ana as my Padawan. The Council asked if I would meet her and ask her to be my apprentice." he said.
There was a long silence as Clah'Diam struggled with herself for a moment, then sighed and turned back to Qui-Gon. "Master Jinn, you will not win her with words. She is hurt and guilty, and she will not bend to your wishes easily. Her respect is not easily won. I have been hard pressed just to remain her friend, and I can only imagine the battle you will undertake to make her your apprentice. May the Force be with you, Master Jinn." Clah'Diam said, then left.
"Thank you, Clah'Diam," Qui-Gon murmured to himself. "I have a feeling I am going to need it."
A/N: Thank you SO MUCH to my two lovely reviewers! You both get a chocolate covered cookie with a scoop of ripple-fudge ice cream. Oh, and trust me. There WILL be romance, and probably smut in later chapters. :)