Chapter 2: Jedi Initiate

38 BBY

Baylan Skoll sat in solemn concentration, in the meditation pose that Jedi Grandmaster Yoda had taught him and his fellow younglings from the time they had the ability to toddle on unsteady legs. He centered himself in the Force and attempted to block out all distractions. Of course, part of meditation was about letting the Force flow through you, so that you could feel how it interacted with the life and surroundings around you: the speckled patterns of sunlight filtering down through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows and warming the floor around these children Jedi. The tap of the Grandmaster's cane as he paced. The whispering, chittering voice of a Jedi Initiate all the way in the back row behind where Baylan was positioned – as he so often was – eagerly in the front:

"Think of it, Boofamina! A planet not of our galaxy! Peridea was once a land ruled by witches and sorcery!..."

Baylan frowned; he fought not to roll his eyes, though behind his closed eyelids, he figured no one would notice if he did. Just the same, understanding well Master Yoda's ability to sense through the Force even that which was unseen, he hung back from making such an expression of scorn.

Would overhearing the telling of a bedtime story count as a distraction or staying in tune with the Force around you? Baylan almost wanted to ask, even to just teach his gossipy fellow Initiate in the back a lesson. However, from this too, he refrained, and kept still, even as he inwardly scoffed.

Stuff and nonsense! A planet out there somewhere, beyond the reaches of their galaxy? One that technically did not belong to their galaxy? Impossible! There could not be anything beyond their galaxy, for as Master Jocasta Nu always liked to lecture when the younglings went on field trips to tour the Jedi Archives: "If a planet does not appear on our records…. That planet does not exist."

Quite right. Sensible. It was logic, after all. This fellow pupil, Gellayryia, was just making stuff up. Better would it be for her to pay attention rather than have her head in the clouds. How she was even in this group of Initiates was beyond him.

The Mighty Bear Clan was the most prestigious grouping of Initiates in the Temple, taught by Grandmaster Yoda himself. Though technically not a rule, it was generally well understood that younglings in the Bear Clan were the most likely to partake in what were known as the Initiate Trials – an annual exhibition attended by all those Jedi Knights and Masters currently seeking a Padawan learner.

There were Bear Clans ranging in age from toddlers who were little more than two year cycles all the way to the twelves. At their age, Baylan wanted to chastise Gellayria for clinging to such children's stories. They would have to concentrate on the trials if they wanted to impress and eventually be apprenticed to a Master! The Initiate Trials were this afternoon, and for younglings as old as they were, it was more than likely their last chance to be tapped as a Padawan. For once an Initiate turned 13 year cycles, they were sent into the Jedi Agricultural Corps, to labor with the farmers and other artisans throughout the Republic, using what latent training they received in the Force to be helpful to the people.

That kind of service was perfect for some people who didn't know they were even alive! Fading into obscurity would be ideal for someone who did not harbor higher ambitions!

But Baylan knew better. He was destined for greatness. He was the son of a Lord! Master Dooku had said so!

Most Jedi Initiates did not know the exact date of their Life Day. Their ages were approximated when they arrived at the Temple, but that was about all the information the younglings were given. Homeworlds, families, were never revealed.

Though Gellayria had a theory for that too:

"…. They keep records of our homeworlds and families in files stored in the Archives. I've tried looking for them, you know…."

Now Baylan did allow himself that eye-roll. He didn't think the Jedi would be so foolish as to keep that kind of personal information on each and every Jedi Initiate, even those who had washed out of training and into the Agricultural Corps! It would be such a waste!

…. Then again, Master Dooku always said that there existed a kyber crystal containing the names of all the Force sensitive children in the galaxy. For someone who subscribed to Gellayria's almost conspiratorial way of thinking, who was to say that more personal information and data wasn't kept on each and every youngling to have passed through these walls?

Baylan re-centered himself. Even if true, he didn't need to go to the Archives to hunt for who he was. From kindly Master Dooku, he already knew more than most of his fellows:

He had been born on the planet of Polyneus, out in the far Inner Rim territories. In a palace by the sea, Dooku had said. Baylan was a descendant of the council of Elders there, the Sun-Lamas, which made him akin to royalty.

Here was his favorite part of the story: Baylan had been discovered as a foundling by Master Dooku himself, scarcely a year cycle old! That was younger than even most Initiates were brought to the Temple, and still, the Jedi Council had permitted him, Baylan Skoll, to be trained! Why, Baylan had heard the story of Wee Dun, a former Initiate and now Padawan, who had been brought to the temple at around his same age, only to be turned away and his training deferred until later. Of course, Baylan had heard of Force-sensitives being denied a place in the Temple for being too old, but he had almost never heard of a youngling getting turned away for being too young, even temporarily!

"…. Yes, Purgiil whales! They go there to eventually die, and their bones…."

"Initiate Gellayria: your curiosity, while appreciate, do I, relevant for the task at hand, it is not! Re-center your focus, discipline your mind, you must!"

Many other Initiates giggled and Baylan indulged himself just one moment of distraction to glance back. Gellayria was blushing beet-red. Scatter-brained though she might be, she was a Human, with an ovaltine, even lovely face, framed by dark hair. Catching Baylan' eye, Gellayria blushed further still and bobbed her head.

"Forgive me, Master," she mumbled. When she re-centered herself, Baylan could feel her presence in the Force from all the way at the front of the room. She was strong in the Force, no doubt – if only she would direct her focus towards pursuit of their craft!

It could have been minutes, or it might have been a standard hour, before the bells in the clock tower tolled. Baylan stood out of his meditation pose, trying to keep the carrier butterflies from jumping around in his stomach.

It was time for the Initiate trials. All the younglings of the Bear Clan were talking at once – some with relish, others with trepidation. Just one hope was on everyone's lips: the hope that they would be chosen by a Jedi Master, or perhaps a Knight in good standing.

Filing out of the meditation chamber, Baylan glanced around at the bustling of activity amidst the hallowed halls of the Temple. He loved it here, and he adored the Jedi way of life. He didn't know what he would do if he reached his 13th Life Day range (all Initiates were given an approximate range of dates during which they were probably born, rather than their Date of Life itself) and he had not been apprenticed to a Jedi Master. He steeled his nerves and clenched his hands into fists.

He was abashed when the Grandmaster himself noticed.

"Calm yourself, you will, young Skoll," Yoda admonished. "Bend the Force itself to one's own will, even a Jedi cannot do!"

Baylan released all the tension out of his body; glancing down to the diminutive Jedi Master, he nodded.

"Master: …. Would you ever attend the Initiate Trials seeking a Padawan?" Baylan had only heard of a handful of Jedi throughout history to have personally learnt at the knee of the Grandmaster.

And one of them was….

Yoda's shoulders shook with an aged, raspy chuckle. "Passed, it has, my time to take a personal apprentice. All my Padawan learners, you are."

Disappointed as he was, Baylan's heart leapt as he saw percolating out of the crowd:

"Master Dooku!"

Baylan dashed right past Gellayria and Boofamina, a Theelin, to the famed Master.

Dooku chuckled. "Well, well, well: if it isn't young Master Skoll!"

Baylan blushed with pride. Master Skoll…. He liked the idea of holding that title someday. "Master, my exhibition in the Initiate Trials is soon. I…." Blushing again, he bowed low. "I would consider it an honor if you were in attendance… perhaps there to seek a Padawan learner?" Master Dooku was not paired with an apprentice, as far as Baylan knew.

Dooku let out another chuckle and ruffled the boy's hair.

"Patience, young one. There will be plenty of Knights and Masters after such a promising young Initiate like yourself. While not I, nevertheless, I will make a point to attend, even just to observe. Be assured, young Baylan: I shall watch your career with great interest!"

Baylan watched Master Dooku sweep on towards the gymnasium where the Trials were to be held, feeling more than a little crestfallen. It saddened him that one of the greatest Jedi ever, after Master Yoda, of course, was not in the market to take a Padawan apprentice.

He wondered if any Knight or Master would want him. See the potential in him and taken him under his or her care.

"Mighty Bear Clan!" Yoda's authoritative voice summoned the twelve-year-cycle Initiates to fall in. "To start, the exhibition will soon be ready. Today, plenty of Jedi in attendance, there will be. However, a respected Master, there is, who is seeking an apprentice. Ready for him, you must be."

Baylan felt himself quivering with excitement. He chose to ignore how Gellayria had her eye on him. "Who?" he breathed, trying not to sound anxious. "Who's coming?"

"Seen him before, many of you have," Yoda intoned. "Master Jaro Tapal."