Way of the Guardian: Chapter 3
It was an unwritten tradition for the Jedi Council that, whenever given the opportunity to do so, they would sit together in silence before meeting with anyone, giving each of them a moment to let their minds become tranquil in order to allow their perceptions to view a matter in a whole. Now was no different as the heads of the Enclave waited for the presence of the summoned.
Within this moment, uncertainties were taken into great consideration, allowing each Master to find a state of mind beyond their preconceptions, giving them the chance to be prepared to ask what was needed with utmost clarity.
Much had been said between the Council members in the short time they have had to discuss this most unconventional situation. Opinions had been stated. Fears and concerns had been expressed. And a decision had been reached. Though it was safe to say that despite this the doubts of some remained ever lingering, and in the end it would all come down to what they would perceive in the next few minutes.
"You summoned us, Masters."
The eyes of every Council member turned to greet the forms of the three that entered the chamber, each taking a moment longer to look upon one in particular…
Again, Master Quatra found herself uncomfortable as once more the eyes of the other Council members looked upon her, making her silently wish that they had only summoned for the two guests from Coruscant instead of calling for her presence as well. She would have moved to take her seat among them if she were not sure that they were judging her right then as much as the other two.
Atris, on the other hand, felt no sense of insecurity within the least. Life as both a noble and a Jedi Protégé had often made her the center of attention for many sets of eyes, to which she had grown accustomed to very quickly.
Kai, on the other hand, found himself much in the same boat as Master Quatra was in right then, wishing to be somewhere else. He did not like being within the presence of so many Masters at once, as he found that often they proved to be very opinionated about him, as if something about what he was assaulted them in a personal manner. From the way the Master in the center of the Council glared at him with dark eyes, the young Guardian saw that the tension within the room was already on the rise.
However, as Kai looked to the right of the elderly man, he quickly found a reprise from that discomfort, and even a sense of joy.
It had been many years since the young Guardian had last laid eyes upon the one that had saved him, and the many orphans like him, from a better-off forgotten life long ago. But despite the desire to personally greet Master Vandar, Kai kept his respective silence while in the presence of the Council. Beyond Vandar, Lugo did not know any of the other Masters that sat before him, watching him and his counterparts with calculative stares.
"Knight Atris, Padawan Kai," called out the elderly man with the trial of time and hardships reflecting clearly within his expression and eyes, "step forward."
In silent concession, the two teenagers did as told, with Master Quatra staying behind to watch the other Council members carefully for any sign of what possible decision they had reached, unable to guess.
"I am Master Vrook," the Council member continued on, "with me are Master Dorak, the Archive Chronicler, Master Vandar, Head of the Enclave, and Master Zhar. You have already met Master Quatra…"
"Masters…" Atris responded in a very respective tone, one which Kai was unused to hearing. As the Echani girl lightly bowed her head to the Council, the raven-haired teenager mimicked his counterpart as to avoid seeming rude.
It was strange, Kai noted, every one of the Masters, even Vandar, were looking upon them as if they had seen something strange about them. His eyes stealing a glance over at Atris, the young Padawan was hardly surprised. The Historian, as always, stood with her dignity worn clearly on her sleeves. Whites robes, well-kept appearance, a monotone gaze, perhaps such things were the traits the Masters desired among their number, in which case Kai was in for a world of trouble.
Never mind the fact that he had woken up less than an hour ago with no time to really clean up his appearance, the young Guardian had no idea as to how he should be presenting himself or even how to speak directly to the Council. He may have been able to get away with sarcasm when it came to Master Kavar and Quatra, but when it came to groups of judgmental, old men, Lugo found his tongue retreating into his throat, afraid of letting it slip out and say something it shouldn't.
Fortunately the Master that had first addressed them finally continued, and even more fortunate, he was addressing the Echani.
"Knight Atris…" a rather passive voice pronounced, "you're Master has sent you here to research the local artifacts, correct?"
"Yes, Master Vrook."
Yes Master Vrook? That's it? Both Kai and Quatra had expected the usual tone of superiority out of the noble girl. Something along the lines of "that is correct…" with an annoyed undertone to display her irritation at being questioned.
Yes Master Vrook?
"Do you think you are qualified for such an endeavor by yourself?"
"Yes, Master Vrook."
Again? No high-and-mighty words. No demeaning tone. She answered both simply and respectively. What was she up to?
Apparently satisfied, Vrook lightly nodded his head. "Very well, Knight Atris. The Council will be interested in whatever findings you may have. Have a copy of your report prepared for us when you are finished. That is all."
Well, that was quick, and relatively painless, the young Guardian noted. Hopefully the same will be true for when they got around to him.
"Before I am dismissed, Masters," the Historian suddenly spoke up. "I have a request to make. I desire to be as thorough within my work as I can possibly be. And while I have access to the records in the Public Archives, from what I have already seen, I do not believe the information I will find there will be as… meticulous as what the Jedi Archives hold."
And there it was… Neither Kai nor Quatra had actually expected her to make such a request. But then again, neither of them had expected her to be so… nice about it either.
Yet this paled in comparison to the shock the two onlookers felt by the response the Council gave onto the Historian: utter silence.
It should have been simple: none but the Masters were allowed to partake of the Jedi Archives. Such had been the rule since long before any of those currently sitting within this room were even born, and none had ever heard of it ever being overlooked.
Yet by the way they seemed to pause… Were they actually contemplating it?
Was her case really that strong?
Eventually, Master Vrook spoke up again, yet by asking a question rather than giving an answer. "You are aware that the Jedi Archives are forbidden to all but the Masters of the Order?"
"Yes Master Vrook, but I am not asking for unsupervised nor uninhibited access. I would only have access to what I am limited to, and I only have interest in information related to my task, nothing more."
She was choosing her words carefully, reinforcing her position and yet remaining un-aggressive. Kai had no idea that she could play a character so effectively…
Or perhaps this was a side of Atris the Padawan had never seen before…
He was more ready to believe the former than the latter…
Regardless, did the Council really believe it? Would it matter?
In an act that caused Master Quatra to choke on her own breath, Vrook, rather than giving an outright rejection, turned to Master Dorak. "Though I would be hesitant in allowing even a well-reputed Knight to have access, the decision nevertheless falls to the Chronicler of the Jedi Archives."
A stiff wind probably could have knocked Quatra over right then.
Dorak lightly rubbed his chin as he silently contemplated to himself. It was a difficult decision, one no Master had ever made before. Why would he consider it? Yes, he was more lenient in his methods as a Master than some of the others, and it was not exactly a rule that said that none save the Masters had access to the archives. But still, it was a tradition that spanned back several thousand generations. Why would he contemplate it simply at the request of one Knight, even if Atris' intentions were simple and honorable?
The Master eventually lowered his hand and raised his eyes back upon the Echani Knight. "It should first be noted that I am but a fill-in at this moment for Master Bala Nisi, as she has been sent to deal with affairs off world. While she and I may not share each other's views on every situation, I respect the fact that this is truly her role and responsibility, and as such I am force to consider what her choice would be in every decision I have made while here. And I believe she would be quick in reminding you that we do not follow our traditions simply out of otherwise uncertainty or skepticism, young Atris. Past experiences and history have taught the Jedi the dangers of when powerful knowledge is left unprohibited. Though I do not believe you would take advantage of access to such knowledge for personal gain, or even seek beyond the limits of your assignment, the risk of you simply stumbling onto something that you are not yet ready to see or know is too great."
"I understand, Master Dorak," Atris responded humbly.
That was it? No raging ego, no arrogant words lashing out. She accepted the choice with no refute or retaliation. Kai did not know Atris could be so… humble.
Quatra, on the other hand, found it aggravating to see the Historian treating the other Masters with a tad more respect. She was a Master too! Not only that, she was also a Council Member! Yes, she was younger than the others and young in general, but that should not make a difference!
Closing her eyes for a moment, the Master breathed out her aggravation slowly. She knew better than to let her emotions get the better of her. And besides, she knew that by carrying the title of Jedi Master and being appointed teacher for so many hopefuls and Padawans that she had already proven herself worthy of her position. She need not prove it to the Echani. Perhaps being denied now was exactly the kind of thing the young Historian needed to remind her that she had yet proven herself to them.
"However…"
All eyes quickly shot back upon Master Dorak.
"I have no desire to hinder you in your research, young Knight, and I do not believe Master Bala would desire that as well. So rather than give you direct access to our records, I am willing to bring you any desired information you want from the Jedi Archives, so long as I deem such desire reasonable and the information un-hazardous."
Though everyone in the room could imagine the gratification Atris must have been feeling at the time, her monotone disposition showed no hint of it, even as she bowed lightly towards the Keeper of the Archives. "Thank you for placing your trust in me."
Dorak returned a simple nod. "We will be interested in seeing what your reports turn up, young Knight. Please wait outside until we are done here, and may the Force be with you."
With one last bow towards the Council, Atris turned and stepped away, walking out of the room without a word or look with anyone, and leaving Kai to stand alone before the Masters.
Needless to say, he was a bit uncomfortable at suddenly having so much attention upon him.
"Padawan Kai Lugo, step forward," Master Vrook called out.
Slowly but surely, Kai approached the Council, hesitance making each of his steps heavy.
As Master Quatra stood off to the side, silently watching the scene play out, she found her self feeling sympathetic towards the young boy. Who could blame him for being stressed with so many powerful figures watching him like hawks, probing at him with their eyes like a research specimen?
And they would continue to watch him as such if he stayed on Dantooine. Perhaps returning to Coruscant would be the best thing for him after all…
Luckily Quatra was not the only sympathetic Master within the room.
"Ah, young Kai," Master Vandar suddenly spoke with a warm smile, much to the surprise of the other Council Members. "It is good to see you again. Your Jedi training on Coruscant has been going well, yes?"
Most of those present were a bit caught off guard by the elderly Master's tone, which while being formal enough for a Master to use when speaking to a Padawan, was hinted with a touch of the familiarity between the little green alien and the young Guardian.
Kai was appreciative at the sound of a familiar, warm voice while in such a cold position. "Yes, Master Vandar. The Masters on Coruscant have been most assistive in teaching me the ways of the Jedi."
"That is good to know, Padawan Kai. We've also heard that you have undertaken the role of a Jedi Guardian, and that Master Kavar has taken it upon himself to teach you the ways of lightsaber combat, correct?"
The raven-haired youth nodded softly. "Yes he has. He has been a tremendous help to me over the years with many things. I owe him a great debt for what he has given unto me."
Though Kai could not say that being asked such things bothered him, he also could not help but be curious as to why the Council would desire to hear such trivial things. Surely they would have more important matters to worry about than how his training was going…
Still, he enjoyed speaking to Master Vandar again after so long that he did not think much of why he was being asked such questions.
"Padawan Lugo."
Master Vrook's voice cut into Kai with an unwelcomed result; placing him mentally back on that pedestal of judgment Vandar had mercifully tried to spare him from. But there was no mercy for him now…
Vrook stared hard at the young boy. "You have been sent here on a mission to guard Knight Atris while she is studying on in the ruins, correct?"
"…Yes, Master Vrook, that is correct," Kai responded, un-surety filling his voice, both of his own position and of the Master's intent.
"Are you aware that the Council was not informed of this arrogant decision made to send you here, before you even left Coruscant?"
Kai suddenly found his tongue choking as he felt a wave of accusation suddenly focused on him. Still, he managed to speak the truth as he knew it. "N-no, Master Vrook… I am… was not aware of this…"
What was Master Vrook doing, Quatra wondered as she watched the scene playing out before her? Why did he not simply tell Kai the Council's decision to let him stay or send him back? Why was he suddenly questioning him?
It suddenly hit the young Master…
Vrook was interrogating the kid…
"You were not aware?" the old Master echoed back at the boy as if he suspected him of lying. "Are you saying you did not think it strange that Kavar sent you along with Atris at the last second? Did you not question why you were being sent on such an unusual assignment?"
"I…yes… I mean…!" Kai continued to stumble, taking a moment to close his eyes and clear his thoughts. "I… thought it strange, yes… But I saw no reason to question Master Kavar…"
Vrook suddenly leaned back in his chair, as if partly satisfied by this answer. "Being negligible in your role does not make you any less responsible for your actions. Know the reason for everything you do or risk being led by dark powers."
Damn him! Quatra's eyes went dark as she stared daggers at the elderly Master, cursing him for forcing the situation on Lugo as if he had some fault in this! And even worse, was Vrook actually lecturing him at the same time?
Looking over to Master Vandar, Quatra silently hoped that he would speak up again and at least spare the kid from such harsh questioning. But by the way the elderly Master sat silently looking upon the young Guardian, it was apparent that he had no intention of stepping in.
Was this what they had decided on? That Kai would be questioned and condemned like a criminal?
She wanted to interject at this point and save Kai from having to suffer this meeting that had suddenly become an interrogation, but knew that doing so now would not change anything. And also, she knew that she was just as much in the hot seat as apparently Kai now was. Silently, Quatra remained on the sideline, watching Kai intently and hoping that he pulled through this okay.
And just as quickly as Kai was put to the test did the Council suddenly find themselves put on the stand, as the young Guardian asked a question.
"Master Vrook… forgive me for asking, but why is it so critical that Master Kavar did not inform the Council of this decision? I am given assignments by the Masters of Coruscant on a daily basis, and have assisted Master Kavar in guarding others on several occasions. Albeit that this is my first time doing so by myself-"
"-And do you believe you are ready for such?" Vrook leaned forward as he immediately shot a question back at the green-eyed teenager. "Do you believe that, as a Guardian, you are ready for serious duty and commitment to your role, with none to provide you haven should things go wrong?"
Kai immediately believed that was what all this was really about. Everyone else there knew otherwise…
Vrook had his sharp moments, Quatra had to admit…
The young Guardian hardened his features and eyes, looking straight at the Master with absolution. "Yes… I believe I am…"
For a long moment, the room went silent. The Council simply continued to look at the young Guardian, studying his sudden change in stature for sincerity.
Despite what doubts some of them may still have had, none in the room could deny that there was a strength within the youth that one did not expect to see in someone so young. It was neither arrogance nor ego. There was genuine experience and self assurance within his eyes and thoughts. And even Master Vrook could not deny it.
A heavy sigh escaped from old man as he leaned back in his seat. He then turned to look at each of the Masters one-by-one.
Not Zhar.
Not Dorak.
Not Vandar.
None of them had any objections left.
Finally, Vrook nodded in consent. "Very well, young Padawan. You are responsible for Atris' safety for as long as she is on Dantooine. Be devoted to the responsibility you have been given and put it above all else."
Though perhaps it was out of place, an appreciative smile crossed the young teenager's lips as he made one last bow. "Thank you, Masters. I will not fail you."
"Be sure that you don't," Vrook responded firmly, "May the Force be with you."
With one last nod, Kai turned on his heel and headed for the exit, stopping just before he passed Quatra.
"I'll be with Mical if you need me…"
A strong concern quickly built up within the young Master, tempting her to order the Padawan to wait outside for her. After what she had felt, placing Mical anywhere near this one was …
No…
She must not allow herself to be so presumptuous in what Kai was capable of involuntarily doing. She had to be overreacting to this…
After giving Lugo a slight nod of approval, the teenager disappeared beyond the room's entrance, leaving the Masters to their own.
"Master Quatra…"
A painful ache traveled through Quatra's thoughts as Vrook called out her name.
"Step forward…"
- - -
Swing, swing, thrust, recoil, guard, parry.
Swing, swing, thrust, recoil, guard, parry.
Mical went through the movements as he had practiced countless times before. The dulled vibroblade fit snuggly in his hands, a bit too heavy for his tiny arms. A light sweat dotted his forehead with little beads threatening to drip into his eyes, constantly forcing him to wipe them away.
Why did he have to do this for an hour every day? Combat practice only served to distract him from his studies, as he perceived it. Never once had he showed any interest in developing martial skills, and yet still he found himself forced onto the training grounds everyday, lest he risk becoming forbidden from entering the Public Archives.
As per his usual routine, young Mical found a quiet corner within the room away from the other students, where he could spend his needed hour of practice and then leave quietly. Unfortunately the knights currently assigned to watching over the students within the training grounds had the eyes of hawks, watching the Padawans intently. Meaning that poor Mical was not going to be able to spend the hour just standing around.
With an aggravated grunt, the small boy once again fell within his combat stance and traversed the movements.
Swing, swing, thrust, recoil, guard, parry.
Swing, swing, thrust, recoil, guard, parry.
Swing, swing-
Like a fish through water, the blade flew straight out of Mical's slippery hands as he slashed too hard, sending it swirling wildly towards one the training groups.
"Argh!"
A Padawan several years Mical's senior screamed out as the hilt of the blade smashed hard into his shoulder, causing all eyes within the room to quickly turned upon him, then upon the vibroblades that clamored to the floor, and then upon the young boy who obviously threw it.
Like a vice, every muscle within Mical's body tightened up as he suddenly found himself the focus of well over thirty pairs of eyes. He looked among them nervously for some sign of relief, but found that none came to him.
"Hey!" All eyes quickly shot to the owner of the voice, the Padawan Mical's blade had hit, as he angrily approached the little kid. Every step that the older boy took towards him forced little Mical to look up that much higher, to the point where he was bending his neck far back as the teenager now stood right in front of him. "What the hell did you hit me for!?"
Mical's jaw clamped shut as he looked up at the guy with trembling eyes. He was not used to attention in a calm environment, let alone when so much violent emotion was suddenly lashing out at him.
"Did the Force suddenly make you deaf!?" The guy yelled out, then grabbing at Mical's collar and yanking him up the tips of his boots. "Why the hell did you throw that at me!?"
"That's enough, Padawan," one of the Knights finally called out, though too calmly for the needed sense of authority. "It was an accident. Stem your anger and let the boy go."
"I'll let him go once he apologizes to me!" The boy yelled in response, never taking his eyes away from the youth he gripped tightly. "So… apologize to me already!"
Mical continued to look blankly up at him, unable to find the strength of will to make his tongue work. "I…I, uh…"
"What!?" the older Padawan screamed in his face, giving him a hard jerk on his shirt. "You what!?"
"I, I… uh…"
"Say it already!"
A gloved hand suddenly shot out of nowhere and grabbed at the Padawan's wrist, clasping down on it painfully and forcing it to release the cloth caught in its fingers, causing Mical to drop backwards on the ground.
In a swift motion, the Padawan's arm was yanked behind his back and pushed upward, sending a wave of pain jolting through it that forced another painful yell out of him.
"I'll apologize for him," Kai calmly spoke as he held the guy's arm firmly in a lock, twisting it just enough to make sure the pain was constant. "He lost his grip on the sword and accidentally flung it in your direction. Careless, I know, but unintentional. Do you accept his apology?"
The Padawan strained his neck to look behind him at the green-eyed individual, giving him a wrathful look that was met only by indifference. "Who the hell are y-"
A hard jerk on his wrist caused his voice to choke.
"Do you accept his apology," Kai asked again, unresponsive the many shocked stares the other Padawans, and even the Knights, were giving him.
"Argh! Yes, now let me go!"
Completely within control, Kai let go and quickly stepped back as the Padawan swung about, the anger just seeming to grow more and more within his eyes. Lugo remained calm, yet tightened his legs up a bit, just in case this guy suddenly decided to lunge at him.
And by the way the dark fire continued to burn within the Padawan's eyes, it seemed as if he intended to do just that.
"Enough…"
The voice, though calm, shattered through the moment like a rock through glass, forcing all within the room to give it heed.
All eyes turned to greet the speaker, who walked out from among the crowd like a champion among peons, which was strange considering he was no taller or older than almost anyone else there. His layered, light-brown hair, complemented by deep-brown eyes, fell down the length of his neck, adding to his youngish, yet oddly mature look.
There was something about him that demanded both attention and respect, with even Kai finding himself noticing his charismatic stature that seemed to stem from something beyond the physical.
"You're done here, Bandon…"
The angered Padawan quickly found his drive again. "This has nothing to do with you! I will not stand by while I am made out to be a fool!"
"You're anger is making you the fool, not him," the unnamed one countered with surety in his words. "You have much left to learn in the ways of the Jedi, Bandon. Do not prove yourself to be subservient to mere pride and pettiness."
Whether such words actually reached Bandon, none could say, but for whatever reason it was, the Padawan visibly suppressed the anger within him. Without looking at either Kai or Mical, Bandon walked away, aggression visible in every step, with the whole of the room watching him as he left.
The brown-haired teenager looked about as if just noticing the many idle spectators. "I am sure all of you have something better to do right now…"
Though slow to act, everyone returned to their occupations without a word as if the whole scene before had not occurred.
Rather than leave for his own endeavors, the brown-eyed Jedi turned back about to look anonymously upon the raven-haired Padawan as he walked over to assist the youngling that remained scrounged on the floor.
"It was lucky that you left me a note in the Archives, telling me to find you here," Kai commented as he yanked the small boy back up to his feet. "You chose the wrong Padawan to throw your sword at."
"It… it was an accident…" Mical kept his eyes turned downwards, still a bit shaken by the incident, or rather ashamed.
"I know," Lugo assured him as he walked over to where Bandon had once been practicing and picked up the vibroblade. "But even accidents have causes that place responsibility. Why were you swinging so hard with the risk of losing your grasp?"
"I don't like fighting," Mical quickly shot back in defense. "I'm no good at it, and have never shown an interest in learning. Why am I forced to do this everyday if it serves me no purpose?"
Kai paused and eyed the youngling with an arched eyebrow, then continued forward chuckling lightly behind a smile as he offered the hilt of the blade to the kid. "You sound like an acquaintance of mine… She too sees everything in a black-and-white perspective."
"I am not narrow-minded," Mical shot back as he took the offering. "I just don't believe I will gain anything by this in the long run…"
"Is that so…" Kai remarked passively as he walked over to one of the wall stands and yanked a blade free. He then walked back over to little Mical, twirling the weapon within his right hand a little bit as to get a feel for its form and balance.
Now standing calmly a good five feet away from the boy, Kai held the blade to his side with his feet firmly place. "Attack me."
Mical's eyes went crooked with confusion. "What?"
"Attack me."
"You want to practice your guards?"
"No… I want you to attack me."
Mical continued to stare in confusion. "I don't want to hurt you."
"Appreciate it, though I doubt you will be that lucky today," the green-eyed Padawan retorted to the youngling. "Now, are you going to come at me already, or am I going to have to take the initiative here?"
Kai, taking one step forward, brought Mical to an alert state, and he immediately fell into his stance and brought his weapon before him with both hands.
"Alright," the young boy muttered with a slight sense of assurance. Focusing hard on Kai, Mical dashed forward with the sword out in front. As he got in close, he immediately thrusted the blade with all the strength of his arms, sure that he would make contact with his apparently unresponsive opponent.
A quick, downward slash completely knocked the weapon out of the youngling's hands, sending it bouncing along the ground and leaving Mical speechless as he now stood unarmed.
The raven-haired teenager managed to keep his smile to a minimum as he lightly laughed behind his lips, attempting to avoid Mical's notice.
"You mustn't hold your weapon so tightly," Kai instructed as he walked over and picked up the weapon again. "If your hands are rigid, then they will be taking the brunt of every attack."
Again, he handed off the sword to Mical, whom took it this time with a bit more humility on his face. "How can I have a loose grip if it causes me to throw my blade?"
"Simple, don't act stronger than you really are," Kai responded as he walked away then turned back around to again face Mical from about the same distance before. "Remember: a controlled attack that fails is better than an uncontrolled attack that succeeds…"
Taking in a deep breath to calm his nerves, Mical once again focused on Kai. He wouldn't mess up this time, he was sure of it.
As the two trained quietly among the other students, the unnamed Padawan continued to watch the pair from a distance, making note of the raven-haired teenager's actions and motions, and finding himself fascinated by what he was seeing.
And he was not the only one watching the strange visitor…