Chapter 51 - The Scores

Early in the morning Anakin reluctantly walked into the refectory. In his apartment, they were out of the cereal he usually had. And Siri had to get up early for a mission, so she couldn't make him breakfast. Anakin briefly considered asking Obi-Wan to cook him something, but eating the paste in Abigail's creche supplies was more appetizing.

'It's okay. Just don't look at the wall.' Anakin told himself. He really didn't want to be here. Especially to read how horribly he scored on the trials. He knew he'd have to read it eventually, just to know if he passed, but he was too nervous to do so now.

'There's too many people around it now, anyways.' Anakin noticed a large crowd in front of the board where scores were posted so everyone could read them. As he rushed by, a few of the Initiates who had been reading their scores looked up at Anakin, their mouths opened in shock. It made Anakin want to hide his head in his robes. 'I didn't perform that badly.'

"Hello Anakin, did you read your scores yet?" Julie asked. She was an Agri-Corps member with a big smile who served meals in the refectory everyday.

"No, not yet." Anakin reached for the dish she prepared for him. "My Master 'll be coming down later, and I guess I'll be able to avoid it until then."

"Mmm." The muscles in her jaw tightened, leading Anakin to believe she knew more than she was saying. She would have been able to read the post before she started her shift, as the council posted it that morning. "I'm sure Obi-Wan will be proud."

Anakin smiled, though he remembered from Qui-Gon's story how easy that would be. "Um-hmm," he replied with little energy, and moved forward in the line. It wasn't until he was almost through the line that he noticed she had served him an extra tart, but it was too late to turn around and thank her for it. Regretfully, he moved out to the dining area.

"Hey Ani," Alex waved at him from one of the tables. Anakin considered sitting with his clan-mates at their table.

'No, they'll probably be talking about the scores.' he waved at his friends, then continued walking. He found the spot he and Obi-Wan usually sit at when they come down here empty. Bant Eerin was sitting a few seats down, and she smiled and waved to him as he sat down.

Just then Obi-Wan walked by with Master Windu. Qui-Gon also followed them, deep in a conversation with Master Billaba. That moment replayed in Anakin's head where Mace declared his loss, and he felt for a moment betrayed. "Anakin, come here. We'll be sitting with a larger group today," Obi-Wan beckoned.

Anakin obediently grabbed his tray and followed.

"Anakin, have you seen your scores yet?" Qui-Gon asked.

"No," Anakin slouched.

"There's probably too much of a crowd. Everyone seems interested in reading the scores today," Mace remarked.

"Hmm. Wonder why that is?" Depa shared a conspiratorial glance with her former Master.

"That's okay. Yoda messaged me a copy earlier. You can read it here," Obi-Wan passed over his datapad.

Anakin looked down to avoid his Master's eyes. If Obi-Wan had these on his datapad, then he'd already seen his scores. He started on the bottom, reading up the list of names.

Burk

Adgento

Clarett

Ra'Velt

His name wasn't there. He let his eyes scan up the list until he got to the very top.

Skywalker…..97

'What was that,' he squinted as he read the line again. "Ninety Seven! That's nearly a perfect score." He looked up and eyed the room. They were all smiling like ones in on a joke.

"The council was up late last night and we've decided to update our tournament rules. Naturally, this expunged a bit of the ruling against you. Not that you needed it, as it turns out." Mace eyed Depa.

"What. That was a very powerful first kick. Deserving every point of credit I gave him." Depa said in a tone stretched for innocence.

Mace shook his head like he didn't believe her, but didn't care either way. "Unfortunately this can't completely reverse the ruling from yesterday. I regret that I had to make the call…" Mace was dumbstruck when Anakin reached out and hugged him. "...Umm." Everyone else laughed to see the Master of the order go rigid and tense in a youngling's hug.

"Don't worry, I forgive you." Anakin said.

Mace patted his back and in a moment Anakin let go. "That's good. Now that we are making changes, I wanted to ask you for your help. If we went down to the Dojo, could you show me what you did to Initiate Ra'Velt?"

"Sure, but would I get in trouble?" Anakin asked, hesitantly.

"No, we won't be in a tournament, and I'm a master. I'll be there the whole time." Mace elaborated. "We can consider it your first Padawan Duties. I'd like to train the other younglings to do what you did. If you can show us how you learned to do it, it'll help me form a lesson plan."

"Oh. It wasn't a huge leap to make. I did sorta the same thing I'd done with the stone from the second trial," Anakin answered, and he felt the room of Jedi around him go a touch quieter.

This made Mace nervous for some reason, and he slid his fork casually onto the plate in front of him. "Then we can discuss it more later. When you come to the Dojo to perform your Padawan Duties."

Anakin nodded, and they were both in agreement.

"His first Padawan Duties! My, he's growing up so fast," Qui-Gon uttered. Indeed it was an achievement. All Padawans, though they were pledged to one Master, were expected to do a number of duties for the Jedi community. Some helped to train the younger initiates, and some helped other Masters. It was rare for anyone to receive credits for one before they were even pledged to their Master.

Anakin just smiled and leaned in to eat his breakfast.

After the day's lessons, Anakin returned to his quarters in the temple. A wave of emotion hit him when he entered the larger family room. Siri was excited for something, and Obi-Wan was patting her back assuringly.

"What's going on?" He asked when his curiosity got too much for him.

"We might as well tell him now," Obi-Wan spoke up. "Anakin, how do you feel about a new brother or sister?"

"Wha…" Anakin blinked. "Are you pregnant?"

Obi-Wan blushed, but Siri laughed. "Not exactly. I wanted to take a Padawan too. Since you and Obi-Wan will be official soon, I figure it's a good time to start looking for one. So, how do you feel about it?"

Anakin smiled. "I think that's a great idea! I'll tell one of my friends. She'll…"

"Well actually, I was kinda thinking about asking one of your friends." Siri said, ducking her head a bit and squinting, as if she were nervous.

Anakin didn't know why she would be. That was exactly what he was thinking, too. He opened his mouth to tell her, when Obi-Wan spoke up.

"Anakin, you can invite everyone over tomorrow. We'll go out to dinner together to celebrate." Obi-Wan tapped Siri's arm. "And you can talk to them more to see who might be a good match. Anakin, Kent came by earlier to summon you to your clan's quarters this evening."

Anakin nodded, "Oh, alright. I'll go and tell them." He figured he ought to spend some time with his friends, after avoiding them earlier. "Wait, can we invite Master Jinn too?" Anakin looked up.

Obi-Wan smiled, "That is such a good idea. I'll send him a message right away."

Anakin ran into the larger part of the Bergruutfa Clan's quarters. Everyone was gathered inside it, surrounding the Abyssin Clan Master, Quarmall.

"Good, Anakin, you are here." Quarmall greeted him. "I sent for you because I received good news today. Two of you were asked to be Padawans."

Anakin looked up. Ramu and Leeta were standing next to Master Quarmall. They both were holding a similar box in front of them. Anakin smiled and stepped closer. He was eager to hear about this.

The master hit his head and blinked his eye. "Oh, how did I forget? We have three Padawanships to celebrate. Obi-Wan submitted the paperwork this morning. And that means that you too, Anakin, will become an official Padawan soon." He summoned Anakin to step over to the table, where he turned around to grab a third box from somewhere unseen. "Force knows, I'd forget my head if it weren't attached. These are little gifts I give to each of my Initiates when they move on. Go ahead and open them."

For a second Anakin stared at the box, wrapped in intricately decorated flimsy. He wasn't sure what he was expected to do. There was no obvious lid to pull off. Then he heard the sound of ripping flimsy beside him and he looked. Yup, Ramu and Leeta were tearing that beautiful flimsy off their boxes, and Master Quarmall didn't look offended at all. He looked excited.

On Tatooine, gifts were rare. Given mostly between family members on special occasions. They were treated with value, not to be ripped apart in fevered ambition.

Anakin turned over his parcel and found the seam. Sticking his thumbnail along the edge, he was able to pry it off with minimal tearing. Then he was able to open the small brown box underneath in the usual way.

Inside the box was a small carving. A wild Bergruutfa stood tall and strong. Its head was down and its body was in a defensive position, against whatever threat lay on the other side of the carving. Then Anakin noticed a smaller figure between the larger ones feet. A younger member of the herd being guarded by its senior.

"I wanted you to have this to remember what kind of person you truly are. You are Bergruutfa. Your instincts are to protect the weak and you draw strength from those closest to you. In the next few years you will be challenged, and you may find others expecting you to change. But, I want you to remember this strength. You will always have a pack here in the Temple to return to, no matter what happens on your missions."

"Thank you, Master Quarmall." Anakin was touched. He hadn't had many interactions with the clan's Master. Most of them when he came over to study with the others.

"Awe, little Ani. You are as much a member of our little herd here as any of us. Remember that." Quarmall wrapped his green arms around Anakin for a hug, which the others soon joined.

Anakin pulled himself out of the hug and had to wipe tears off his face. "Oh yeah, before I forget, tomorrow you are all invited out to dinner with Master Obi-Wan, Siri, Qui-Gon, and I," he told the group.

Quarmall turned to get a nod in agreement from everyone. Then he turned back to Anakin. "Tell your Master, we accept. I'll be in touch with him soon."

"Yeah…" the chorus uttered.

Master Quarmall snuck out towards the trays of snacks that had been put out.

"So, don't make me ask. Who's your Master going to be?" Anakin asked both of his friends at once.

Ramu brushed back one of his tendrils. "Poison Spitter came up to me when the tournament was over and asked me if I'd want to keep learning with him."

"Congratulations," Anakin looked from him to Leeta.

"Master Yaddle offered to train me." Leeta's face filled with a proud smile.

"And that's not all," Alex said. He nudged Freya's side silently.

"Quit it!" Freya ordered. "I told you, I'm not ready to talk about it yet. I will once I decide."

Kate rolled her eyes, "She has an offer too. Why she won't just accept it, I'll never know."

"But you'll be lucky if you get her to tell you any more. She hasn't told any of us who it even was." Kent said.

"Well then, I have good news too. Siri wants to take a Padawan. And surely Qui-Gon will too, once he gets to know you." Anakin nudged Kate in the arm. He had promised her his help during the tournament, and there was nothing he took more seriously than a promise to a friend.

"You should tell her Ramu and Leeta were chosen already. She might be disappointed when she finds out," Kate suggested. "She probably wants the two finalists to the Tournament anyways."

"Siri doesn't care how well you performed in the tournament. She's looking for the right fit," Anakin stressed.

"Yeah, Master Tachi always had a logical way to view things." Kent said. "I mean, when I spoke with her before she was always cool."

"Yeah, Maybe," Kate shrugged.

Hello everyone,

So, I've been very sick this past week. I did read this chapter a few times, but a few mistakes may have gotten through. Please let me know and I'll correct them when I am able.

I know in Legends Siri had another Padawan, but I've altered the timeline in such dramatic ways so far that I don't mind replacing him entirely. Besides, using one of my own characters is easier than getting to know one from a book I've never read. As to whether it will be Kate, or another of Anakin's friends, you'll have to read on to find out. And who Freya's potential Master is will be revealed soon too. Plus who will be taking the rest of them as Padawans.

The Padawan Duties mentioned here are my own invention, but they sound logical to me. Anakin and Obi-Wan will be becoming official soon too. That means Anakin will officially be a Padawan soon, no longer an Initiate. That means he'll get his first mission to leave the Temple soon.