Way of the Guardian: Chapter 4
The usual discomfort did not find its way into Quatra as she once again stood before the Council. Rather she found herself baring a strong sense of righteous anger towards the Council, and Vrook in particular, as she had little doubt that most of what Kai had been put through was because of him.
"Control your passion, Master Quatra," Vandar consoled to the woman with a sympathetic tone. He likely understood where the anger stemmed from, even possibly sharing a bit of it himself.
"You knew he had no knowledge of the circumstances behind his journey here," Quatra stated to the Council, most pointedly towards one member in particular. "Why did you presume to question him about it?"
"We couldn't be so sure about that," Vrook responded for the others, apparently unbothered by Quatra's anger. "With what we've already seen him capable of, we had to make sure that he truly had no role to play in the matter."
"How could he possibly have had a role in this?"
"Master Kavar on Coruscant has had much contact with him, correct? And he was the one who brought this matter into fruition, through your consent…"
Quatra's eyes narrowed sharply at the man. She did not appreciate the constant reminder of her role, as if he expected her to feel a sense of guilt because of it…
She did not.
"If you do not appreciate Kavar's and my decision, fine. If Kai truly is as dangerous as you fear he could be, then we will act accordingly to help him. But I will not concede to him being looked upon or treated like an enemy. He does not deserve that."
"We do not seek to ostracize him, Master Quatra," Zhar calmly responded, "but in order for us to help him, we must be sure that he is not driven by impulses that he cannot control, and that he is willing to concede to our ways. Only then can we guide him properly, or risk not only his well-being, but that of all those whom he might be connected with…"
"Right now he seeks to prove his worth," Vrook spoke up again, "It is a good position for someone of his age to take. And from what we've seen here, he is compliant enough that we are willing to risk his consistent presence among others."
Quatra found herself casting a confused look at the man. Was that it? They were looking to see how he would respond to their questions, not for his answers?
"You were testing his obedience?"
"And it will continued to be tested while he is here," Vrook replied in a demanding tone. "Until we can be sure that he is no threat to the other students, we must make sure he is kept in control."
He only said the other students, Quatra mentally noted. He made no mention about the Masters…
Did he really think himself and the others above Kai's influence? That they could control him even when they did not know the nature of his unique ability?
As Quatra thought upon the question, another found its way into her mind, one that stirred her from her position of defending the raven-haired Guardian.
Did she think herself above the Padawan's unique power?
She had not considered it before, as at first she not thought herself within the range of possibility.
But was it possible?
Could Kai unwillingly force his will upon her?
And worse, would she even be aware of it?
The young Master closed her eyes as she silenced her thoughts. She was a Jedi Master and a teacher of hundreds of students. She could not risk second-guessing her own motives, as such doubt would ripple among those around her that needed her absolution.
"We need not be so overly concerned," Master Vandar interjected, "Kai is not one to force himself on others, nor is he confrontational in nature. His… former life, I believe, has taught him much in the ways of self control, and from what we've seen here, he still bears strongly the experiences of his youth."
Every other Master looked upon Vandar for a moment, each considering his words differently. Since Vandar, of those present, knew the young Guardian the most, none could argue his views.
Knowledge of Kai's past was vague at best, with perhaps Vandar being the only Master who knew the whole story.
"Though we may not understand the nature of his powers as of yet," the little, green Master continued, "what has been noted by those who have watched over him is that he affects only those that are actively aware of his presence, those that watch his actions and listen to his words…"
Master Zhar silently rubbed his chin for a moment before raising his eyes back up upon his compatriots. "So as long as he remains anonymous, he should have no affect among the other students…?"
"We cannot be sure of that…" Master Vrook interjected, then looking back upon Quatra who stood silently, "however… such investigation would be for the best perhaps… Unless Master Kavar had something more specific in mind?"
The young woman slowly shook her head. "He asked me to watch him and make note of any unusual happenings, nothing more…"
"Reckless…" Vrook muttered under his breath, yet loud enough for Quatra to hear it. "Then we will be charging you in investigating how far his ability reaches. He is a fresh face to the other students, so undoubtedly he will receive their attention, but make sure that he does not receive too much."
"I cannot be responsible for watching over him all the time," Quatra shot back
"Then as much as you can will have to be sufficient," Vrook responded, with a hint of sounding disappointed. "We'll trust you with this responsibility, Master Quatra."
That was his way of telling her that if anything went wrong, it would be her that would receive the sharp end of the blame.
"Remember, Master Quatra," Dorak spoke up, "it is not him that you must watch so much as it is those around him."
Quatra looked upon the Master for a moment, and then took a heavy sigh as she suddenly realized that all the responsibility of this matter was falling on her. "Very well, I shall make the necessary arrangements so that I may monitor young Lugo as needed."
With that said, Quatra made a small bow of respect, and turned for the exit.
"One more thing, Master Quatra," Vrook's voice forced the woman to pause in her tracks, then turn to face him. "You wouldn't have happened to have noticed anything… peculiar already? Anything that we should be aware about…?"
Quatra managed to suppress her feelings as she felt an overwhelming sense of uncertainty wash over her.
The part of her that was a Jedi tempted her to speak the truth, to tell the other Council members of what had happened with young Mical in the Public Archives, and what Quatra had felt emanating from the raven-haired Guardian soon after. The thought of that sensation…that hollow presence… caused a very cold chill to travel up the woman's spine.
But if she were to speak, Kai would certainly be sent back to Coruscant, where he would most likely be subjugated to even more extreme measures of isolation until his enigmatic abilities were dealt with, or forgotten about.
The part of Quatra that was a teacher, that cared for her students and believed deeply within them, would not allow her to forsake young Lugo any more than she would any other. Never had she given up on one of her pupils. Would she do so now?
A teacher or a Jedi… for the first time, the two seemed so opposite to her.
Yet in the end, she knew her self and her loyalties.
"Well Master Quatra," Vrook reiterated, "have you noticed anything?"
"No," she answered. "Nothing at all…"
- - -
The third day on Dantooine was upon them, and already Kai was bored out of his mind. At first he had thought that guard duty on a foreign planet would have been more exciting, with all sorts of predatory beasts roaming about the fields, hunting for easy meals, but such was proving to have been a groundless fantasy. When they had first arrived at the ruins, the evident signs of a passing herd of kath hounds were seen everywhere: giant footprints, broken branches, leftover meals. Yet not once in the eight hours a day they spent out on the open field did Kai see so much as a kinrath pup.
Regardless, the young Guardian was assigned to kept vigilance over the Echani Historian as she went about the strange looking ruins, lightly touching upon them now and then and occasionally writing down a note or two in the datapad she kept in her arm.
Every now and then, Atris would look up from whatever she was studying upon and glare in the direction of where Kai laid comfortably in the grass on an overlooking hill, gazing back at her with half-closed eyes.
"You're not taking your duties seriously, Lugo," she yelled out.
"How serious do I have to be?" Kai responded as he held his arms up and out wide to point out the surrounding area. "We're in the middle of an open plain. There isn't so much as a field rat within a good ten miles or so from here. How much protection could you possibly need?"
For a moment, Atris simply glared coldly at the young Guardian, who continued to whole his hands out to emphasize his point, then the young Historian turned her head sharply away and back upon what she was looking at, making her frustration very noticeable to the green-eyed boy.
Closing his eyes and breathing out one of the many aggravated breaths Kai had made while accompanying the noble girl, the Padawan lifted his torso up and opened the pack sitting next to him.
"Hey Atris…"
"What?"
Kai pulled a durasteel container out of the pack. "Let's have lunch."
The young Echani once again looked upon the teenage boy, this time having an indifferent expression than one of frustration.
Kai was smiling warmly at her as he offered the container in her direction, even though she was a good thirty feet away. "I know you're hungry."
Atris immediately turned back away, seeming somewhat insulted that he would speak for her. "I am not."
"Liar."
Regardless of it being true, something about him saying it got her attention. "What did you say?"
"We've been out here since before sunrise," Kai pointed out, still smiling despite Atris now looking at him with anger in her eyes. "Neither of us has eaten a thing since yesterday. Unless you've got the metabolism of a bantha, I bet your stomach is giving you a few friendly kicks right about now."
For some reason that she could not understand, the young woman felt herself getting flustered as she continued to stare the Guardian, her eyes going a bit wide with disbelief.
"Come on…" Kai tempted towards her, waving the container about like a lure. "I won't tell anyone… Just give into the dark-si… I mean your hunger… These ruins aren't likely to be going anywhere anytime soon. You can finish up what you're doing later…"
Always with the sarcasm…
No one ever addressed her in such an insolent tone before.
Nor did anyone speak to her so calmly, with such a familiar feel…
She… she did not like it! And she did not like him…
Still, she was hungry, and she accepted that it was distracting her from her work, and they only had an half an hour left before they had to return to the Enclave…
She approached Kai in a purpose-driven stride, making the young Guardian wonder if perhaps she was going to walk right over him. Fortunately she chose to stop just in front of him instead, and reached out to take the container from his grasp.
Just as Atris was about to grab it, the small package was yanked beyond her reach. Confused, the young Knight looked upon Kai, who had a snide smile playing across his face, which she greeted with an angry glare.
"What are you doing?"
"Na-ah," Kai replied with a small shake of his head as he brought his arm out to his right side and indicated towards the ground with the container. "You're not getting this unless you sit down right here."
Atris looked upon him like he had just said something blasphemous. "I will not be led about like a child!"
"Then I guess you're not going to eat," the raven-haired boy responded evenly, looking away as if he did not care one way or the other. Making sure that she did not go for the other food container, Kai slid his pack behind him
Atris was getting tired of this. She thought of ordering Kai to give her the meal, but dismissed doing so immediately. She was a Jedi Knight! She would not use her higher rank over something so petty.
"I'll tell you what, Atris," Kai spoke up, submission audible in his voice. "If you just sit here with me, I promise I won't say a word. You don't have to say anything to me either. You don't have to even look at me. In return…"
Kai paused for a moment to consider his offer carefully. The first thing to pop into mind was that he would not be sarcastic towards Atris for the rest of the trip, but that would likely mean he would probably have to stop talking to her completely…
"If I concede…"
Atris' voice brought Kai's attention back upon her. There was a dark look in her eye that she managed to hide well behind a mask of indifference, but Kai could see it enough to know that she had something particular in mind. Something Kai was sure he wouldn't like.
"…then your have to agree to assist me back at the Enclave…"
Kai gave the girl a hard look. "Assist you?"
"Master Quatra has assigned me several extra tasks while we are here," Atris clarified. "I am to help train new hopefuls and Padawans in Force abilities, as well as provide a few lectures on Jedi history."
"And you need my help?"
"No," she quickly retorted, sounding almost insulted by the idea, "it would simply be more… efficient if I were to have some help with some of the younger students."
The green-eyed teenager remained silent for a moment, carefully considering the Historian's choice of words.
Younger students… children…
In truth, Kai was not sure how he felt about the idea. He had not been around many younglings since… well, then… It left him unsure of how he would respond to being around young ones again…
"Deal…"
What!?
Without a word of acknowledgement being said, Atris walked over to the Padawan's side and grabbed the food container from his grasp. Turning around to face downhill, she knelt slowly on the grass in a graceful motion. The container rested comfortably upon her lap as she opened it and started digging through its contents.
All the while, Kai remained staring forward, dumbfounded by his response.
What had just happened?
One minute he is having serious doubts as to whether he should accept Atris' returned offer, the next he found himself conceding?
"I still have to prepare my lectures," Atris commented as she continued to set up her meal. "I shall have them ready by tonight, so tomorrow, after I'm finished here, accompany me back at the Enclave. I will give you detailed instructions on what you will need to do."
What the hell has he gotten himself into!? He could only imagine the type of instructions Atris would force upon him. She already bosses him around like a machine, having her leaving him notes would only add to that horrid delight.
Letting out a sigh, Kai reached around into the pack behind him and pulled out the secondary food container. What was done was done. At least right now all he had to worry about was his appetite. And after they got back to the Enclave, he would be going to see-
Oh, that's right!
"I already have scheduled combat training with a friend right after," Kai remarked, now especially pleased that he had met young Mical. "It would be rude of me to-"
"-I thought we agreed that you would not speak," Atris interrupted as she took a small bite of her food. "Whatever scheduling conflicts you might have are not my concern, Padawan. Have them dealt with before tomorrow."
The little heartless…
Kai tightened his jaw and turned away from the Echani before he blurted out one of the many words that came to mind. He had thought that perhaps, since they had not had any problems with each other for the last day or two, they might have been able to enjoy each other's company for once, if only for the twenty minutes they sat together in silence while eating their meals.
Why was he surprised that things turned out like they always did between them: with him gritting his teeth in frustration, and her treating him like a tiresome obligation that she had to keep track of.
Tired of trying to fight it, Kai shook the matter from his mind, took a big bite of the stew mix within his ration, and stared forward blankly upon the golden terrain.
The scenery was nice at least…
Then Atris asked something that brought a dark shadow to rest over Kai's quiet moment, and possibly his day.
"Are the combat training facilities adequate?"
- - -
Swing, swing, thrust, uppercut, down-slash, parry, jab, dodge.
Thrust, swing, jab, parry, thrust, dodge, slash.
The motions flowed forth from Mical almost as if they were second nature to him. With every position he found himself in, another movement came forth to follow through.
The young boy never knew combat training could be so… artful. And where once, Mical only practiced the basic combat styles in poor form, he now found himself driven to improve.
And he was improving. It had taken him a while to learn exactly what Kai had meant by "not acting stronger than you really are," but once he did, the movements just seemed to come out of him with grace.
One of the Knights overlooking the training grounds had even remarked to him of his improvement; a compliment young Mical was unused to receiving lest it be in terms of his studies.
He also had managed to avoid throwing his sword since that day, which made him and the other students within the room exceptionally pleased.
As Mical was training close to the entrance of the room, he was able to notice everyone that came or left. And as the familiar figure of Kai appeared within the room, the young boy was quick to see him. And the white-haired girl accompanying him…
…
…Wait a minute…
"Getting any better, Mical?" the young Guardian remarked as he walked up to the kid, Atris silently following behind.
"A…a little," the small boy muttered, finding himself having trouble bearing the weight of the young woman's gaze, like her eyes were pieces of ice that sent a cold chill through his body. "Uh… who…"
"I don't believe you two have been introduced," Kai remarked, elaborately motioning back and forth with his hand between the silent pair. "Mical, this is Atris, a… colleague of mine from Coruscant, and one of my fill-in Masters for the next few days."
"Fill-in Masters…?"
"It's complicated."
"No, it isn't," Atris immediately countered, eyeing the young Guardian as if to say he was being childish. "I have been assigned a task here on Dantooine by my Master, and he has been ordered to assist me at my discretion."
She made it sound like he was more of a servant than a bodyguard. Of course she must have known how much that irritated him. For the life of him, Kai could not figure out why someone whom seemed to pride herself on being so apathetic to those around her also seemed so intent on being demeaning as well, particularly towards him.
And more unfathomable was the reason she had decided to accompany him here today.
"So, you are the one he trains with…" Atris stated, looking young Mical up and down and seeming unimpressed by what she saw. "Kai is going to be assisting me at this time from now on with more important endeavors."
That was why.
Of course she did not trust him, with his 'childish ways', to be responsible enough to tell his own friend that he had to change their training sessions.
She probably even thought she was doing him a favor…
It was another one of those countless moments where Kai had to hold his tongue back, no matter how much it wanted to scream out at the girl.
"Okay… that's fine," Mical idly responded, confused as to why this young Knight was telling him this, or why she had said it in such an irrespective way, as if to say Kai was wasting his time with him.
"How about three hours past the time we usually meet," Kai jumped in, taking the matter away from Atris.
"I have no problem with it," Mical responded, finding his voice came a lot easier when speaking to the older Padawan.
"Nor do I, unless…" the Guardian looked over to the young historian.
"Let us hope for the sake of the students you will be tending to that it does not take you so long to teach basic techniques." The Echani Knight turned from her counterparts and walked towards a vacated section of the room, where she proceeded to pull out and activate her lightsaber, one with an uncommon and strangely alluring cyan beam. Without pause, she fell into one of the many battle stances and proceeded to traverse the motions, practicing several forms of attacks, parries, and defenses that she had trained in her whole life. No single motion stood out from the rest as the momentum of her energy was never out of her control.
"She's rather rude…" Mical remarked, watching the young woman as she went about her training. As he looked upon her though, the youngling could not help but be impressed by the fluidity of her movements and the sheer control of her body. It was as if she were dancing. "Though…she's not bad with a lightsaber…"
The youngling then turned back to look upon his friend, who remained gazing upon Atris with calm eyes that seemed to be staring off far beyond her, as if he were lost in thought.
Confused was a more accurate word for what Kai was at the moment. He was confused by what Atris had done within the last hour or so. Looking past all the verbal slander she had given, the young Guardian thought upon her actions.
Back at the ruins, she did not have to accept his ultimatum of sitting next to him in order to eat her meal. She could just as easily have ordered him to give it to her.
And then there was what she had asked for in return. Why would she desire his assistance? She did not even want him accompanying her to Dantooine. Why would she want anything further from him?
It was possible that her reasons were as simple as she had told him, that she simply desired some assistance in her responsibilities, in which case Kai's skepticism was fruitless.
But then again the way she had acquired his help, by forcing it in return for offering a friendly gesture, was causing young Lugo to question the matter.
She could have simply asked for his support. Demanded it even…
Yet for her to offer it as a trade-off was almost… playful…
A suggestive smile crossed Mical's lips as he glared with teasing eyes at the Guardian, as though he had just uncovered a big secret. "She is kinda pretty too, don't you think…?"
Lugo's eyes immediately jumped from Atris to the little boy, not sure he had heard the kid correctly.
"Must be a real hassle for you…" Mical remarked, acting passive in his manner, "having to be close to her all the time. I doubt the Masters would condone a lot of the thoughts you probably have about her…"
Kai simply stared blankly at the young boy for a moment, unsure how he should respond.
First of all, the kid did not know what he was talking about. Yes, the Masters probably would not condone many of Kai's thoughts towards Atris, but such thoughts were definitely not the kind Mical was suggesting them to be.
Secondly, where was Mical's sudden confidence coming from? When Lugo had first met him, the kid could barely get out a straight sentence, let alone say anything so daring in nature.
And thirdly… who the hell did this kid think he was?!
"I'm sorry Mical, I seem to be having a problem hearing you," Kai responded as he scratched inside his ear. "For a moment, I thought I heard you saying something that would require me to whack you over the back of your head."
The young Padawan doubted there to be any sincerity behind the threat, but took the hint for what it was worth.
"No, I didn't say anything."
"Right… let's get-" As Kai started to walk over to the nearby wall to grab one of the training blades, he noticed the other students training in the room for the first time, or rather the lack of.
Instead he found that most of the Padawans, and apparently the only Knight presently assigned to monitor the students at this time, had congregated about a massive, stone platform in the far back of the training grounds, upon which two individuals stood facing each other, vibroblades gripped tightly within their hands.
"What's going on over there?"
"Huh?" Mical followed the older Padawan's gaze to its destination. "Oh that. It's just a training exercise."
"Training exercise?" Kai echoed as he watched the pair of students suddenly advance upon each other, the sound of their clashing weapons echoing throughout the entire room. "It looks like dueling to me."
"It is, in a sense. It's meant to help teach Padawans about the less obvious travails of combat: reading your opponents movements, responding to their assaults and defense while maintaining balance, being in a high-stress situation, that sort of stuff. The other Padawans are allowed to observe in order learn by studying the actions of those who partake of the training."
"I see," Kai responded, becoming very interested in what he was observing. It was not everyday that Padawans received the chance to partake of any form of actual combat. "Let's go watch."
"W-what? Why?" Mical immediately seemed to tighten up after hearing the suggestion. "I thought we were going to train like we have been."
"We can do that later," Kai responded as he took a few steps in the direction of the gathers Padawans. "I'm curious to see what kind of techniques the students here are trained in, and how effective they are in actual combat.
Mical did not look convinced. He did not like being around so many people at once, finding the loud noise and close presence of so many made him anxious.
Though he hid it well, Kai shared a bit within that same uneasiness he could see within Mical. He was still… uncomfortable with being in the presence of so many individuals. Still, right now his intrigued easily outweighed any fear he might have.
"Come on, Mical," Lugo called out to the young boy. "We'll just watch a few quick matches, okay?"
Breathing out a heavy sigh, Mical finally nodded his head in consent, though his expression made it clear that he was still not pleased with the idea.
Slowly the pair made their way over to the crowd, watching the dueling Padawans as they drew closer. No sooner than when Kai and Mical found themselves standing at the edge of the crowded spectators did the match that had been occurring appear to be over, with one of the Padawans, presumably the one who lost, slowly walking down the stairways located on the side of the platform, leaving the victor to stand alone.
As this singular Padawan turned about on the platform, the curious pair recognized him almost immediately.
A cold chill of fear traveled through little Mical's small body, causing him to step in closer to Kai and grab at the cloth of his robe. Understanding the young boy's anxiety at seeing this individual again, Kai placed a comforting hand on Mical's shoulder, and watched in silence.
"Well done, Bandon," called out an older individual among the crowd, who stood not far off from where Kai and Mical were, apparently one of the watchful Knights that overlooked the place.
The aforementioned youth, showing neither exhilaration nor exhaustion from his previous match, bowed politely towards the Knight, with a rather arrogant smirk playing across his face. "Thank you, Knight Nemo."
Nemo, a blue-robed Knight of mid-age, lightly nodded his acceptance, and then turned his gaze upon the crowd of Padawans. "Will the next student who would like to test their combat expertise, please step up to the platform."
The room fell oddly quiet for one being filled with so many young ones, and Kai could understand why none were anxious to meet the challenge. There was something… aggressive in this particular Padawan who stood above them more like a conqueror than a champion.
As Bandon's eyes scanned across the crowd, seeming to be scouting for any sign of a challenge towards him, they spotted something that caused them to pause abruptly.
At that moment, Kai regretted his desire to watch.
- - -
The young Echani paid little heed to the presence of the others within the training chambers, desiring to put her attention to better use by focusing completely as she practiced her lightsaber techniques.
Atris had only partly noticed it when Kai and the young boy accompanying him had walked over to the crowd of Padawans that had been engaged in observing a training duel, something she had no interest in observing herself.
Yet even as she practiced her forms, the clairvoyant Knight could feel the sudden change in atmosphere within the room, emanating from the crowd of Padawans, and more so from Kai.
Regardless, she continued onward with her training.
- - -
"Well, well…" Bandon muttered in a loud voice as he continued to stare upon the young Guardian, smiling slightly. "If it isn't the mysterious stranger from the other day…"
Like a tach standing in the middle of a herd of carnivores, Kai suddenly found himself uncomfortably the center of attention as a couple dozen sets of eyes gazed upon him. Attempting to avoid letting the strong sense of anxiety he now felt from overwhelming him, the young Guardian remained looking directly back at Bandon, who smiled with anticipation.
"So, offworlder," Bandon spoke loudly, making sure all present could hear him. "I see you're still babysitting that little, butter-fingered runt."
Mical was too afraid to look up, too afraid to see all those faces that he knew were now staring at him. In his mind, he cursed himself for ever choosing to stepping foot into the training grounds.
But Bandon had no real interest in the young boy. The child already cowered in fear of him, and that was all the older Padawan needed from the pup.
No, what Bandon really wanted was the one that had the gull to stare straight back at him, unblinking and unintimidated by his persona.
How much it angered him…
"Control you emotions, young Bandon," Nemo counseled, sensing the Padawan's rage was building in pressure.
Bandon closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm the storm within; convincing him self that what he desired was not vengeance, but vindication for the wrongs that had been done to him, as he had when the younger one had striked him.
Opening up his eyes again, Bandon smiled cruelly, to which Kai only responded with the same hard look he was still giving.
"Come, stranger," Bandon declared in a loud voice, "let us see if you are able to defeat me without cowering behind my back!"
His words left a tenseness hanging in the air, causing the murmuring spectators to glance upon Kai, waiting for his response with anticipation.
Mical too looked up upon the older Padawan, fear and uncertainty causing a painful tightness in his chest as he felt that they had fallen into a trap from which they could not escape unscathed.
Yet the young Guardian simply stared blankly back at Bandon, his expression offering no form of anger, no sign of fear, and no hint of what his response would be.
Even Nemo found him self curious as he looked upon the youth, finding that even with the Force, he could not read the emotions of the raven-haired boy, who hid his feelings behind a wall more firm and stable than the Knight had ever seen in one so young.
"…Not interested…"
The words passed through Kai's lips with relative calmness, as if to show that all the intimidation of Bandon's dark stare and strong words had had no affect upon him whatsoever.
And sadly, this left many of the present students in a state of disappointment, vocalized with whiny moans, at having been denied the chance to see what could have been a very interesting… training exercise….
Bandon was the most visibly shocked of all, his eyes going wide with disbelief as the foreign Padawan turned and started to walk away with the tiny runt following closely. Yet more than shocked was he angry; angry at having been denied the chance to show everyone how superior he was to this… trespasser who had dared to cross his path! Angry at being dismissed so casually, as if he was nothing to be respected… nothing to be feared!
The prideful teenager clamped his jaw shut as he fought to stem the anger flowing out from him. The last thing he wanted was another lecture by a Knight on the ways of the Jedi and the Code and the travails of letting his hatred get the better of him.
No, he would not give into his anger… but he would have his pride back!
Looking back up upon the offworlder and his young companion, Bandon yelled out in a sarcastic tone. "So… this is the way of Padawans trained on other planets… You attack from behind and turn and flee when having to truly test your mettle!"
The crowd of students continued to watch the raven-haired individual as he proceeded to walk away. Perhaps there was still a chance…
Yet the enigmatic Padawan continued onward.
"Are all Padawans from offworld such cowards that they are too afraid to face an opponent face-to-face, or are you just someone who only finds courage when stabbing another in the back!?" Bandon continued to rant.
But Kai continued to walk away with young Mical following next to him.
Like before, Nemo was not ignorant of the possible implications of the situation, but again he felt it best to observe the matter and see if the Padawans had the knowledge to deal with it on their own. And by the way the foreign Padawan continued to walk away, he believed so. Still, he knew he should probably detain Bandon before the hot-tempered youth truly loss controlled.
And though he was still angered, Bandon began to give up his attempt to provoke the stranger and settled for insults. "Fine! Get out of here, coward!"
Kai continued to calmly depart, not seeming to even hear the other boy's remarks.
"The Jedi do not need butter-fingered wimps like your little fan!"
Kai continued walking.
"Or trash like you!"
…Kai stopped walking …
- - -
A gust of wind fell over the golden hills of Dantooine, causing graceful ripples in the grass and bringing a nice, cooling breeze to the group of Padawans sitting cross-legged on the ground under the bright sun, deep in meditation.
It was one of the times of day Master Quatra found she enjoyed the most as she walked quietly among the lot, watching the students with the keen eyes of a teacher.
These were her more advanced pupils, ones that were already capable of such forms of meditating where the Force overtook all their senses and placed them in a state of utter calmness.
Out here with them, miles away from the Enclaves walls, the stress of her daily life did not seem so taxing. No watchful eye hung over her here, judging her actions and intent. No sense of the duty or obligation bore down on her. No greater power than the Force itself grasped at her.
Here there was true serenity…
Like an ocean wave, pain and anguish fell upon the lot, causing all of the students to gasp and scream in fright as it filled their unfortified senses before they were able to pull themselves away from the Force.
Though Quatra's mind what not submersed at the time, the Jedi Master felt the anguished ripple just as potently, though her well-trained mind spared her from being overwhelmed by it.
Yet even more than just simply feeling it, the young Master knew where it stemmed from, as she had felt it once before.
"Oh no…"
- - -
"What… is it?" Vrook muttered in bewilderment as he stood within the Enclave courtyard, his eyes closed tightly as he barred the overpowering sensation from his mind.
"It… screams of pain…" Master Zhar responded, his face twisted in confusion and uncertainty, "yet… where it is coming from, I cannot see…"
"I know where…" muttered Vandar as he sat quietly on his hovering pedestal, a seemingly sorrow-filled look upon his face.
"I've felt it once before…"
- - -
"Master Quatra…" called out one of the younger Padawans in the group, a little, brown haired girl of no more than ten years, who had managed to stand up and stumble over to their teacher, the rest of the group busy tending to themselves and each other.
Quatra silently tended to one of the other students who apparently had been hit far worse than the rest and was now lying unconscious on the ground.
"Master Quatra…"
"Are you alright, Bastila?" Quatra responded without turning to face the child, instead resting her hand upon the forehead of the wounded Padawan and making sure that his condition was not serious.
"Yes, I'm fine but… what happened," the young girl asked, at a loss for reason. "It felt like… a wave of pain had screamed outwards from the Force, and filled my senses."
"I know, I felt it too, young one," the Master calmly responded.
Sure now that the Padawan was not in danger, Quatra stood up and turned towards the others in the group, most of which remained sitting while they rubbed at their eyes and temples, refocusing their senses after having been violently assaulted.
"Everyone, listen," Quatra firmly called out among the small crowd. "Please tend to each other and make your way back to the Enclave. I have to hurry ahead. And do not resume your meditations under any circumstance until I give you permission."
"But… Master Quatra," one of the older students spoke up, "whatever that presence was… I do not sense it anymore. Perhaps it was only a temporary occurrence."
"No… it is still there," Quatra retorted as she felt the tormented wave of pain lingering within the air.
Strange… as the young Master looked about the Padawans, she realized that none of them seemed to be able to feel the echo any more. Perhaps the only reason that they had felt it in the first place was because of their meditations within the Force.
If so, perhaps all was not lost for Lugo…
But this time, the other Masters, many of whom Quatra knew had a stronger affiliation with the Force than she did, will have felt it as well. And they would learn of its source…
"Students, do not speak of what you felt today with anyone," the young Master conveyed to the crowd, who responded to the order with uncertain stares. "I and the other Master will look into this matter. But we will require your discretion. Do not mention this to anyone."
With that last reinforcement of her command, Master Quatra head off in the direction of the Enclave, leaving the students dumbfounded as they prepped themselves for the long trip back.
- - -
Once again, the eyes of several students were upon Kai as he stood with his back towards the dueling ring. But not all looked upon him with anticipation of his response towards Bandon's jabs at him.
Atris had hoped to avoid interacting with anyone while she impatiently went about her physical training. But this time, she could not turn away as she felt the painful cries once again rippling out from her counterpart. The sound was stronger now, as if several new voices had congregated with the original. Or perhaps she had not been able to hear them last time…
Yet as the Echani Knight looked about the room, she realized something else. The students, the over-watching Knight, even the young boy who stood beside Lugo: none of them seemed to notice it. While the echo rung clearly within the Historian's mind, all others within the room stood about as if deaf to it.
As for Kai himself, Atris was at a loss for whether he was aware of it… whatever it was… The raven-haired Padawan hung his head with his deep-green eyes looking downward, as if a great burden had befallen him, or a great pain.
And indeed, a great torment had befallen the young Guardian, catalyzed by taunts that had not been meant to produce such a result.
Bandon's words had stirred a memory long-forgotten within its grave.
"Kai… are you alright? Come on… let's just go…" Mical called out to his friend. But Lugo's mind was too far gone to hear anything said to him. For only one word echoed through his ears now, the one that Bandon had used to insult him, which in the end brought about more pain than the arrogant teenager could have known.
Trash…
Trash…
- - -
"Trash!"
The old man yelled in a blind rage as he drove the tip of his boot hard into the chest of the young boy that lied cradled upon the ground in front of him, the impact knocking the wind out of the child's lungs, preventing him from screaming in pain as he felt a rib fracture.
A crowd of people stood about the scene, watching the old man as he lashed out at the youth, cheering and laughing, enjoying the sight and yelling for the man to kick him harder. None among them knew exactly why the old guy was beating on a child, and none of them really cared…
"Worthless! Thieving! Trash!" The elderly human thrusted his foot into the little boy with each proclamation.
"I'm… sorry…," the raven-haired child spoke out in a weak whisper of a voice as he lifted his head up a little from the ground, too disoriented from hunger, lack of breath, and the enormous amount of pain coursing through his body to be sure he had said anything at all. "They… need food… they-"
"Shut up!"
A bony fist knocked against the side of the boy's head, slamming it into the hard, concrete ground and nearly knocking him unconscious.
The crowd jumped and gasped a bit at the sudden ferocity of the old man's strike, but enjoyed it none the less.
The warm feel of blood now covered the left half of the boy's face as the jagged pieces of stone lying upon the ground cut into him, the right side beginning to become numb and swell up from the impact.
As he laid there, unsure that he would ever get up, painfully familiar sounds filled the youngling's ears.
Not the laughter and cheers of a sadistic crowd or the prideful taunts and yells of a bitter, old man, but the sounds of children…
He could hear their cries of fear as they sat alone in the dark, grasping at each other to fight back the coldness. He could hear their hungry moans as they went days without food. He could hear their pleas for him to save them as their malnutritioned bodies gave into illness, to death.
Though the young boy did not understand, the pain of those cries began to overpower the suffering coursing through his own body.
Reaching down, the elderly human lifted the boy up by his ragged tunic to face him, finding the child was apparently unable to even open his eyes.
"You're going to the slavers, boy!" The old man yelled in the child's face with a gleeful sound within his tone. "You're going to learn what it means to truly work for a living!"
Satisfied laughter bursted out from the old man as he had the beaten and broken child at his mercy.
The young boy's eyes jumped open.
The old man stopped laughing.
These eyes, full of pain and suffering and power, left the aged adult stricken with terror, unable to respond as the boy quickly drew a bothan stunner from underneath his cloak and jabbed it hard into the old man's chest.
Blinding pain coursed through his body, causing each and every muscle to spasm beyond his control as the powerful electric current burned through his flesh, reaching into his chest and attacking his heart. Within mere moments, the man blacked out and collapsed backwards on the ground, his arms and legs randomly convulsing.
The green-eyed boy, having very little energy left within him, managed to barely stand slouched over, his breathing little more than slow huffs as it now hurt when he tried to inhale fast. With but one slightly opened eye, his right now completely closed and swollen, the child looked down upon the old man. Yet even without having to look, the young one knew the elder to be dead.
The ever-watching crowd of onlookers had stepped back a bit from the scene, every one of them shocked to now find the young boy standing over the body of the old human. Yet even with the presence of so many watching eyes, the youth continued to stare down at the body that lay before him.
Despite the scrapes and swelling that now marked his face, the child's monotone expression was clear for all that observed; a subtle response to the sense of emptiness he was feeling yet did not understand.
Anger, rage, a sense of satisfaction for having killed this heartless monster that nearly forced the life of a slave upon him: the raven-haired boy could feel none of these. He wanted to feel such things; he felt he had a right to. Yet, as he stood over the elder man, his expression locked with a state of shock, the green-eyed child found that he could not hate him, no matter how much he wanted to. Why…?
…
…
It did not matter…
Accepting this, the boy turned about and started limping away.
The crowd of onlookers remained silent for only a moment longer as they watched the kid limp into a nearby alley. It was not everyday one sees a child kill an adult…
As easy as it would have been to have stopped the boy in his current condition, the bothan stunner still within his grasp kept the predators at bay.
And as the youth finally went beyond their sight, the crowd took a second before realizing the scope of what actually laid before them: an un-looted corpse.
As the child made his way into the dark corridor, he could make out the ruckus of the commotion he had left behind him. Like sewer rats, they tore into the remains of another's kill, ripping into the man and each other for what meager possessions the carcass had upon it.
Vermin… all of them! For the rags and belongings of a poor, wretched human, they would fight amongst each other, ripping and clawing like underfed beasts.
Was he truly just like them, the child wondered? Worthless trash…
The boy's mind flickered in and out of consciousness as he dragged himself along the alley wall, only managing to stay awake by sheer force of will and the thought of those who were waiting for him.
He needed to get back! There was no time for rest now; he had been apart from the others for too long!
In his current condition, he knew he could not risk another attempt for the sake of a few credits. He needed to return to the warehouse. Once there, a good hour of sleep would be enough… that's all he needed…
Move, damnit! The boy screamed at his body to obey, fighting against the numbness as pain and exhaustion worked against him. He had to get back now!
He managed to take a step forward. Then another. Then another. Then his legs gave out and he collapsed right there on the cold ground, his dirty clothes causing him to blend in with the pile of debris he fell upon.
Get up! With every inch of what he was, the boy yelled at himself, pleaded for his arms and legs to listen to him.
They need me! Please!
It was no use. His body was no longer listening to his cries. Soon even his one good eye came to no longer hear him as it slowly shut. It was too much. All of it was just too much…
As the child lied there, unmoving, his breath slowly becoming weaker and weaker, he suddenly realized the truth: he was dying.
He felt the touch of death, that cold empty sensation that he had managed to escape from by struggling day after day, month after month, finally falling upon him. There was nothing more he could do to stop it.
So many years of fighting it back by sleeping in the cold, eating thrown-away scraps, and stealing petty credits, and now it had finally caught him.
As his mind slowly sank into the dark, the child made one final effort to think a coherent thought, begging them, all of them: the cold, the hungry, the sick, and the dead, to forgive him.
He had finally, truly failed them.
And like the old man had said, among trash was where his body belonged…
- - -
"Kai… please, let's just go," Mical pleaded to his older friend. Yet his words did not reach their intended as the green-eyed Padawan did not move to respond to them. Rather, young Lugo continued to stand there as he had been for over a minute, seemingly staring downwards, his gaze unfocused.
Something was wrong, Mical could see it in his companion's eyes, but did not know what it was that he was seeing.
Bandon did not question the enigmatic teenager's actions, rather choosing to believe that his attempted taunts had had the desired affect of reaching the seemingly defiant invader.
And just as he had hoped, Kai slowly turned back around to face him, a dark look now covering his expression. Yet none but Mical were close enough to see that what lied within Lugo's eyes was not anger, but a strange form of determination; a sense of strength, hollow in form, unlike anything the child had know… And it unnerved the youngling to where he lost the will to call out to his friend.
The offworld Padawan's sudden change in direction caught the attention of most of the other students within the room as well. Perhaps they would finally get the match they had been hoping for.
Bandon gave one final push to finish the deal. "So, what's it going to be, offworlder? Do you have some durasteel in that spine of yours or not!"
Apparently such words were unnecessary, as the raven-haired teenager was already walking back within Bandon's direction.
"I accept your challenge…"
Those words rung out within the training grounds and all were surprised to hear them, including Kai because he was not the one who had spoken.
All faces turned to the figure that now walked onto the arena square, and most shocked among the onlookers was Bandon himself. "You!"
The brown-haired Padawan smiled softly back at the suddenly enraged teenager, seeming almost pleased by his response. "Yes, me…"
Kai and Mical immediately recognized the individual as being that student who had helped them the last time they encounter Bandon. Once again he appeared out of the crowd to stand as a standard among them. But what was he doing here? And why again was he interfering?
Bandon spat out at the enigmatic individual, seeming rather anxious by this person's presence, though attempting to hide it behind dark eyes. "How many times do I have to tell you to not mingle in my affairs?"
The unnamed youth seemed more or less enjoying his counterpart's irritation. "It was by your words that this has become my affair, Bandon."
"What are you talking about?"
"I believe what you said was 'All Padawans from offworld are such cowards that they are too afraid to face an opponent face-to-face.' As you well know, Bandon, I have only recently come to train on Dantooine, so I can only assume your statement was addressed to me as well."
He was mocking him, everyone could see it, and everyone also knew that Bandon was not one who liked to be mocked. "I don't care if you're supposed to be some sort of Protégé, or that your currently Master Zhar's pupil! You have no right to get involved in this!"
Master Zhar's pupil…? Kai found that hard to believe as he looked over upon the Padawan. His recollection of his meeting with the Masters, as well as seeing Master Zhar around the Enclave during study sessions, recalled the twilek Master to be of a quiet nature; one that preferred to observe and listen and take his time before committing to action. For this rather outspoken youth to be his Apprentice was… well… incompatible was the best word Lugo could think of, though 'conflictive' might have been better.
As Kai took a second to look around, he realized that the crowd of students had quickly reformed around the arena. They seemed more interested now than when the situation had been between Bandon and him. Apparently Kai's earlier assessment of this particular Padawan being more than he seemed had been accurate, supported by the fact that he, like Atris, was considered a "Protégé".
"Get involve…?" The unnamed Padawan echoed as if confused by what it meant. "This is merely a training exercise, Bandon… I have as much right to partake of it as any other Padawan here."
"He speaks truly, Padawan Bandon," Nemo finally spoke up, who had been watching the situation with careful evaluation, making sure that the strong emotions being thrown about, by Bandon in particular, did not become too excessive and dangerous. "This exercise is for training alone. It is not meant as a means by which you or anyone is to seek any form of retribution. And there is no rule limiting who may participate."
A low growl escaped between Bandon's gritted teeth. "Fine…"
Walking over to the opposite corner of the arena from his unexpected opponent, Bandon eyed his new training companion with a dark grimace, yet accompanied with a mischievous grin that hinted that the teenager's taboo thoughts. Everyone could see he hoped to get more out of this than simply training and experience.
Yet more than on Bandon, Kai was paying attention to the other Padawan standing on the raised stone arena. As the unnamed individual knelt down to pick up the vibroblade left by the student before him, young Lugo gauged his movements with a keen eye. There was much one could learn about others by watching even their most subtle and nondescript of movements. That was a lesson Master Kavar had iterated to the Guardian hopeful countless times, most often after the man had made short work of Lugo during their combat training clashes.
There was no tremble or uncertainty within the unnamed Padawan's hand as it reached down to grab the blade or within his body as he stood back up from where he knelt. This was an individual who was sure of his actions, and, by the way the sword rested so familiarly within his grip, experienced with the use of a weapon. His eyes did not move about eagerly, seeming as much at ease as the rest of him, his eyelids drooping ever slightly. He was not anxious, or apparently even concerned about the opponent he was about to face.
Perhaps he felt that he had nothing to fear about when it came to competing against someone like Bandon, but Kai could not help but feel that this person was doing this for a reason that he was keeping to himself, and that facing Bandon now was only a means to an end.
Himself perhaps, Kai wondered. Could this Padawan have a particular interest in Kai himself? Young Lugo shook the idea from his thoughts as he could not think of any reason for it to be true. Yes, perhaps he had acted a little… rashly when he stepped in to defend Mical from Bandon, but that would not have provoked this unnamed Padawan to have an interest in him.
Perhaps he was just another Padawan that liked to flaunt his capabilities, which will be pretty evident of being true during this training exercise, assuming that Kai's evaluation of his level of skill was accurate…
"Alright Padawans, step forward," Nemo called out from the side of the arena.
From their respective corners, the pair of trainees walked forward towards each other, to where they were about six feet apart, gazing directly at each other, both smiling, one amusingly calm, the other eagerly aggressive.
"The rules are the same as always," the Knight continued, "you will attempt to make three successful assaults on your opponent, either by weapon or unarmed attacks. I will be the judge of your attempts, so do not stop unless I confirm a successful attack. Once I have, you are to take three steps away from each other, wait three seconds, and begin again. No Force powers of any kind. Falling out of the arena will automatically end the exercise. You are forbidden to make attacks aimed at the head. Any attempt, even accidental, will end the exercise with possible disciplinary action following. If any injury occurs, the exercise will also immediately end, and if it is believed that such injury was intentional, the responsible will possibly also be subject to disciplinary action."
"Understood," replied the unnamed Padawan.
"Acceptable…" replied Bandon.
"Very well, return to your corners, face each other, and begin on my mark."
Complying, the two Padawans turned about and walked away from the center of the arena, turning back around once they reached their destinations, and setting their weapons at the ready.
The crowd of students, which included all within the room, save Atris who continued her training unbothered by the events that captivated everyone else, watched on silently, waiting for Nemo's voice to signal the commencement.
In that moment when the pair of Padawans stood facing each other, Kai silently made note of something interesting about Bandon's competitor, or rather the way the unnamed student was holding his weapon: comfortably at his side with but his right hand holding it. A strange way for a Padawan to wield a single melee weapon, or even a lightsaber…
"Interesting…" Kai muttered, smiling slightly as he had convinced himself that this Padawan was indeed the Protégé that Bandon had claimed him to be.
"What is?" Mical called up to his friend, having been standing silently by his side the whole time. All of the young child's earlier anxiety apparently had disappeared once all the attention had fallen away from Kai and him.
"Nothing," Kai responded with a small smile and a shake of his head.
Confused by the older student's response, the young hopeful turned back towards the arena, having found himself as much intrigued by this event as the rest of the students present. "With as riled up Bandon has been due to this individual, I imagine him to be as good a fighter as Bandon himself is. This should be an intense match…"
"I don't think so…" Kai responded, bringing the child's eyes back upon him to which he simply smiled at. "If my guess about Bandon's opponent is correct, this will not take long at all…"
Mical seemed almost dumbfounded by Kai's words, unable to guess how he could make such a conclusion before the match even started. Still, Mical turned back to watch, quite sure that this exercise would be long and drawn out to the last breaths off strength.
Allowing a second more to pass to build up the anticipation, Nemo finally breathed in deep.
"Begin!"
- - -
As the exercise began, all eyes were upon the participants, spare Atris who continued to tend to her own concerns.
And also one Padawan among the crowd…
A young student in his early teens with short bronze hair, no taller or stronger looking than any other student, stood silently and coldly amongst his peers.
And while all others were focused on those that stood upon the arena, this one student was focused completely on Kai, as he had been nearly since the offworlder's arrival at the Enclave.
He watched the green-eyed Padawan intently, attempting to perceive his every action, listen in on every word he said, and, most importantly, see how he interacted with the other students, and how they interacted with the young Guardian.
He watched the raven-haired student ever carefully, ever silently.
As he has been instructed to do…