Chapter 7
There was no time to rest. As soon as she had step foot back inside the Jedi Temple, Zafii was notified that she was to appear in front of the Jedi Council at 09:00 hours. She looked at a digital chrono nearby and decided she didn't have time to freshen up or splash some water on her face. Instead she began her ascent up to the top of the temple.
Padawan's and knights alike were bustling about the hallways, in and out of doors. Zafii passed by the library and saw several younglings studying. Before she realized, she was standing just outside the door of the council chambers. She was escorted by Master Windu who seemed to be running late into the circular room.
As Master Windu took his seat next to Master Yoda, Zafii stood in the center of the room surrounded by the Masters of the Council.
"Master Tine updated us on the events that occurred on Ennth shortly before takeoff." Windu said, starting the proceedings.
Zafii did not speak, this was not a question and she knew more was coming.
"Impressive were your feats, yes?" Master Yoda asked, staring at her.
Zafii took a breath; recalling the horrors she had been witnessed to on Ennth wasn't something she could so fondly bring back to her mind's forefront. She used the Force to calm her, she knew everyone in the room could sense her doing so.
"I'm not exactly sure I would consider it a feat, Master Yoda." Zafii retorted finally.
"I see," Yoda nodded.
The Jedi Master to Yoda's right, Ki-Adi Mundi spoke up. "How exactly would you classify your actions on Ennth then, young padawan?"
"Necessary." Zafii said simply.
"Indeed," Windu nodded, impressed more with her now than he had been when he first heard Master Tine's report on Ennth.
"It was nothing short of a tragedy, unfortunately there was nothing more we could do. The Force was the only ally that day for us. No one else could have helped." Zafii explained.
Yoda looked to Mundi and then to Windu before speaking directly to Zafii once more.
"Sent more Jedi on the mission, you would have?" Yoda asked.
"I think we were properly staffed to execute the mission, we just didn't act fast enough." Zafii said without hesitation.
"Master Tine also informed us that you felt a disturbance in the Force before the events transpired." Windu cut in. "Had the others listened to your warnings, perhaps things would have moved faster."
Zafii did not speak or move. She did not even offer a shrug to the Jedi Master.
"Certain of this, you are." Yoda pointed out. "Sense your feelings, we can."
"Although your loyalties to Master Tine won't allow you to undermine his authority." Mundi pointed out.
A quizzical look came over the padawan's face. She was utterly baffled to why they were tearing down your barriers and interrogating her in such a manner.
"Passed a trial on your way to becoming a Jedi Knight, you have." Yoda informed her.
"You are wise and powerful beyond your years, young one." Windu agreed. "The Council is in full agreement; you are ready to become a Jedi Knight."
Zafii was taken aback but tried her best not to show it.
"I've only been under Master Tine's tutelage for a little over four years now." Zafii reminded them.
"You've also learned a great deal in that time," Mundi reminded her. "We believe you are ready for more of a leadership role. Your instincts have always served you well; it's unfortunate that some do not take your instincts as seriously as they should."
"So that's it?" Zafii asked.
Yoda shook his head, "One task remains. Clarity of your lineage you need. Trust in the Council you must learn."
Zafii once again found herself confused, had Master Tine also informed them of her research about her parents.
"You are to discover everything you can about your family. We feel that for you, this is an important issue." Windu instructed. "You are to leave immediately. You are to take as much time as it takes. You will know when you are to return to Coruscant and then you will come before us once again."
"I will know?" Zafii asked.
"The Force will guide you, but you already know that." Mundi nodded.
"The next time you step foot in the Jedi Temple, a Jedi Knight you will be." Yoda added.
Zafii stood before the Council and bowed graciously.
"May the Force be with you," Master Windu said.
"And with you Masters." Zafii replied before taking her leave.
As she began her descent, Zafii began to wonder many things. Why would this be her final trial to becoming a fully-fledged Jedi Knight? As far as she ever knew, she trusted the Council. They had never given her a reason not to trust her. And the way they talked of Master Tine, even though they didn't want to say his name directly as one of the people who would not listen to her premonition, she could sense their feelings just as well as they could sense hers. In just a matter of minutes she had grown wary of the Jedi Council, something she would have never thought possible until they actually had broached the subject themselves. What did they know? What would she find on Naboo? She had found every public record available about her parents and there wasn't much to speak of. Was their more? The only way to find out would be to go straight to the Queen herself. She was sure that certain things about the Separatist attack a little more than a standard year ago had caused Naboo to seal certain records from wandering eyes.
Her concentration was broken as she entered the hangar bay. A young padawan's voice was growing louder and louder as he spoke to a service droid.
"No, that one goes here and that one goes there! Sheesh!" He rolled his eyes.
He was dirty and disheveled, his robes, hands, and face covered in black grease. It was the young celebrity of the Jedi Temple, Anakin Skywalker working on a transport.
"I swear my protocol droid is more useful than these service droids." Skywalker grumbled as he turned a tool in hand and began inspecting something else once the droid had figured out what it was doing.
Zafii stepped fully into the hangar bay and motioned towards an astromech she was familiar with, "R7, come on."
The astromech bleeped and blooped as he raced from its stationary position against the wall to join his old friend.
"Belop boop!" R7 chimed, as it rolled just behind Zafii.
"Want to go to Naboo with me?" Zafii asked the droid.
The astromech hummed and chimed and shook a little bit and she took this to mean yes. They approached a starfighter that had already been fueled up for her trip and well as equipped with a few changes of garment and grooming supplies. R7-Z3 was hoisted up into his navigator position.
"Naboo?" Skywalker's voice carried.
The young padawan began to walk over towards Zafii's fighter.
"You're going to Naboo?" Skywalker repeated the question.
Zafii stood a good six or seven inches over Anakin in height, "Yes."
"What's going on? No more trouble with the Separatists I hope? The Queen isn't in trouble is she?" Anakin rambled.
Zafii shook her head, "Nothing like that. I'm actually going there to complete my trials to become a knight."
Zafii wasn't sure why she had told him this, yet it had slipped out.
"A knight huh?" Anakin frowned a bit, as he polished a metal part in his hand with a dirty rag. "A little young aren't you?"
Zafii raised a brow at him, "You're one to talk."
"Sorry, I just didn't think people got out of this padawan thing until they were like… an adult." Anakin backtracked.
"I guess I matured faster than most." Zafii retorted.
Anakin turned around as she said this, looking back towards the ship he had been working on.
"NO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Anakin yelled at the service droid.
Anakin ran back towards the ship and Zafii watched as he hit himself upside the forehead in frustration. She shook her head at his antics and primed the starfighter for takeoff.
"Ready, R7?" She asked.
"Boop Beep!"
And on little sleep and no real rest, Zafii and R7 were off to Naboo just like that.
The apartment was small, but it would suit the Fuller family's needs. It had three small bedrooms, one refresher unit, kitchen and sitting room. Cole stayed long enough to drop off his belongings, and then left for the Republic Military Testing Center. Rayna took Kyn and Kyra to the closest school and enrolled them. Tyon set about unpacking.
The first week was hectic for the family. Cole was accepted into the Republic Military Training Academy. He had already passed most of the basic education tests back on Ennth. He left at the end of the week to stay at the Academy's campus on-planet.
Rayna began working at a local diner. She loved talking to the various customers, relating tales of travel and sights unseen. The refugee committee helped Tyon obtain a job at the Jedi Temple, fixing fighters and speeders. He didn't mind the work. The Jedi were mostly considerate and quiet.
At the end of the week, Kyra found herself sitting on a bench on a rooftop park by the Jedi Temple. She was waiting for her father to finish his shift. Kyn sat next to her, reading a comic adventure on a datapad. Kyra's legs swung back in forth in boredom. She had hoped to catch a glimpse of a Jedi, particularly Zafii, while waiting for her father.
"How much longer?" Kyra asked impatiently.
"He said he'd be done at 1600," Kyn responded, not looking up.
"What's that over there?" Kyra asked, pointing to a tall building down the way.
"500 Republica. All the important people live there," Kyn explained after glancing up to see where she was pointing.
"So the Jedi live over there and the senators live over there," Kyra concluded.
"Mhm," Kyn mumbled.
"Hey, kids," Tyon's voiced called from behind. Kyra hopped off the bench and hugged her father.
"Did you see any Jedi?" she asked excitedly.
Tyon chuckled, "All the time, but not the one you met."
"Oh," Kyra said, glancing back at the Temple, "Well if you see her, tell her I said hi."
"I will, now come on, let's get home," Tyon said to his children and led them towards his used speeder in the park's lot.
"Can I drive?" Kyn asked.
"Absolutely not," Tyon stated, "not with your sister here."
"Fine," he grumbled.