It was in this moment that Janus caught sight of a purple dragon-like creature with a lizard-like body, purple scales and skin, and appearing as a humanoid creature wearing a brown robe, a white tunic, brown pants, as well as tall brown boots. It was in this moment that Janus knew she was in for a wild ride, especially since this purple dragon-like creature brushed past her.
"Who is that?" Janus asked Master Yuvon, pointing out the purple dragon-like creature.
"Eh? Oh! That is a dragonoid!" Master Yuvon discussed with her. "But you needn't fear her. Some dragonoids are harmless, and this dragonoid can be found within our ranks. She just graduated this week. Top of her class. A shapeshifter, too! But don't let looks fool you. There's something about her that's off, if I say so myself. Her name is Helen. Helen the Shapeshifter, is what you will call her from now on. What her backstory is, I have no idea."
He paused, telling his students, "But come. Your training awaits!" As his students made their way into the square training room, Master Yuvon caught Janus looking out at Helen the Shapeshifter in interest. Eventually, Helen disappeared, leaving Janus wondering what her story was about, as Janus followed Master Yuvon into the training room.
Much to Janus' surprise, the training room had walls smoothed out, with many chairs on one end and rotating, floating metal round balls, floating near one of the opposing walls. Janus wanted more than ever to believe she wasn't meant to be here. A part of her was too curious about Helen to think of anything else. And yet, Master Yuvon instructed Janus to pay attention to him, as well as her classmates.
Instead, Janus quietly took a seat in the back, deliberating what to do, even as Master Yuvon brought his students' attentions to the holoterminal, from which he showed an image of the galaxy they were located at.
"Now, I would like to ask each one of you, 'what is the Force'?" Master Yuvon paused, looking around the room for anyone who was interested in learning this subject, or knew the answer. So far, no hands were raised, but one Togrutan boy spoke up. He was no more than Janus' age and very mature. It was him who spoke up:
"The Force is a living entity. It's what gives us life. It certainly gives me life," the Togrutan boy proclaimed, leaving Master Yuvon impressed.
"Very good!" Master Yuvon stated, pleased.
Janus shook her head. She knew more than most that she was created by God and not the Force. And so, she had a hard time understanding what the Force meant for her. So, why did it choose her to become a Jedi? Were the Force and God connected? That was a good question. A deep question!
"The Force is, at the start of its creation, a tool used by God to help create Life! God was there when He created the Force, and so the Force breathes life into each and every one of us," Master Yuvon explained. "Without the Force, life wouldn't exist and we need life and the Force to live and breathe. Once you learn how to tap into the Force, and do some basic training and fighting, only then we will know if you are ready to become Jedi Apprentices."
Janus sighed. Great. Homework. Just what she needed.
~o~
Soon, it came time to begin Janus' training. Janus didn't recall the last time she ever fought anyone or anything. Putting Cerberus to sleep—no, he was still Maximus! Janus knew it—was the worst moment in Janus' life! The guilt wrenched in her heart. She wanted more than anything to believe these Jedi were doing their best to teach her, but it was anything further than that.
Still, Janus approached the bin where the training blades were kept. Each training blade was a long metallic stick with its own metal hilt attached. The training blades glowed a golden-yellowish color, surrounding the blades. Oh, Janus wanted this nightmare to end, and fast!
"Ready! Fight!" Master Yuvon cried, allowing the Younglings to face each other in combat.
Janus dived under the Youngling man she was facing. The effort left her bruised by the Youngling man's blade. Janus huffed, snarling and swinging her blade viciously at him. She was stopped immediately by Master Yuvon, who spoke with Janus alone.
"Why did you do that?" Master Yuvon spoke to her, sternly. "Jedi do not use their anger to attack their fellow classmates!"
"But Master, he—"
"I don't want to hear a word of it!" Master Yuvon cried, annoyed at her. He closed his eyes, calming down. He looked at Janus, seeing tears nearly come down her face. Janus didn't understand, even as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
Janus huffed. She admitted to him and to the Youngling man, "Look, I'm sorry. I apologize for coming after you." She looked at Master Yuvon, instructing him, "Maybe it was a mistake with me coming here. I can see anger is not to be used amongst any of the Jedi. I'm sorry. This is not for me." She walked away, nearly dropping her training blade, as Master Yuvon spoke to her:
"Youngling, come forward!" Master Yuvon said, getting Janus' attention.
Janus faced him, deliberately this time, "I really have to go. My friends—"
Master Yuvon shook his head. "Your friends can wait. But I need you here." He approached her, whispering in her ear, "One of your friends is training amongst the Sith, and your other friend is trapped in his Cerberus body. I'm sorry, but I cannot permit you to leave until you learn the Jedi Code, take your Initiate Trials, and pass them. For now, stay here."
He paused, adding diligently, "Look, even Jedi use their anger, but we are taught not to, as we may become seduced by the Dark Side. We must ensure *that we enter battles calmly and with reason. But if you do become angry, remember to control your anger, calm it down and speak nicely to others. I know it is hard to bear, but *you must control your emotions, so they don't control you."
"Who says this?" Janus asked Master Yuvon, confused.
The Youngling man, a human with cropped brown hair and sensible eyes, stated, "Everyone. Everyone needs to maintain their emotions, keep them in check. You wouldn't want an outburst, unless you know how to control your emotions. Do you think you can achieve this?"
Janus didn't know what to think. Here she was, pondering her next move. And yet, these Jedi were all about controlling their emotions, maintaining them. Could Janus live up to this moment, this present time, which seemed to have no end and no beginning? Janus wanted more than anything to flee, to run away and never come back, but somehow, her soul nudged her to keep training amongst the Younglings.
Janus wanted more than anything to believe this was real, but what was real to her? Did she know what that meant? Oh, it was all going downhill!
"I don't know. I mean," Janus huffed, looking away for a moment, "what if this training changes me, and these lessons… how do you know I'm meant to become a Jedi?"
"You will know, Janus," Master Yuvon stated, pointing to Janus' chest. "Right there. Your heart. Should you need to know where to turn to for help, look to yourself for guidance! But you must remember to control your anger, to calm it down. Then you will know you are meant to become a Jedi." He paused, adding, "Now, let's continue."
Janus reluctantly accepted this was the proper path for her. Not only could she not see the final end results, but she was determined to accept this was for her. As for her facing off against the Youngling man, he proved to be a formidable foe. As for his name, this Youngling's man name was only Solo. What else that meant for Janus remained to be seen.
For now, this would do.
~o~
The one thing Janus hated more than anything else was that Younglings weren't allowed outside the temple. Janus loathed that! She was an animal, a talking animal, and being forced to stay indoors meant nothing to her! She wanted to see the sunlight, feel the soft grass touch her feet and toes. Ah! Yes, that was the life she craved, and now she wanted it back!
Oh, please, Master Yuvon, Janus only wanted the outside world!
Shortly after training ended, Janus wound up following the rest of the Younglings to their quarters. They were all meant to work together, eat together, play together. It was a nightmare, and Janus knew it!
But Janus wouldn't give up! No! She would certainly get her chance to go outside! Yes! She would do that!
Shortly after a few days passed, Janus risked taking a detour around the temple. She veered off from the other Younglings, darting towards the nearest statue of a Jedi Master, holding a holocron. Just who was this Jedi Master? And why did she look so familiar to her?
"Hmm. Pleased with it?" a dragon-like voice protruded the air, almost speaking humanoid-like. Janus turned, facing the one dragonoid she hardly expected to meet.
"You! You're Helen the Shapeshifter!" Janus cried in delight, smirking at her.
Helen nodded in confirmation, as she pointed out the statue to Janus.
"Oh, do you know her?" Janus asked, curiously.
"Hm, yes. She is my mother. She was born a Jedi Master, and then died a week later," Helen stated, displeased with the progress made at the temple. She looked up at the ceiling, before facing Janus again, telling her, "Hm, yes. My mother died the second Death entered the First World. Your friend's doing." She spoke sharply to Janus, stating at her in a fierce growl, "Didn't you? Or wasn't Maximus not responsible for the many lost lives that day he plucked the red rose from the nearest rose bush?'
"Um… I—"
"Janus, what are you doing here? Come on!" Master Yuvon said, dragging Janus along with him back to the other Younglings.
"I'm sure we'll meet again," Janus spoke to Helen, worried about her.
Helen smirked a wicked smirk, "Oh, you can be sure of it, Janus." Her smirk turned into a snarl, shortly before she darted off down the hallway, in the opposite direction.
Janus looked again at Yuvon, surprised by what had happened.
"Hm. *Not what you imagined?" Master Yuvon stated, hoping Janus had some sense knocked into her.
"Why was she mad at me?" Janus asked Master Yuvon, curiously.
"Well, I suspect she thinks you're responsible for her mother's death," Master Yuvon told her, firmly. He looked at Janus, telling her, "Do not run off on me again like that! You are not ready to face the world, let alone her! Now, come on! I think it is time for more training, studying, and researching, if you will." He gestured to the training room, at which Janus obeyed this time.
~o~
After the incident with Helen the Shapeshifter, Janus kept to herself. She focused on her studies and her training, realizing then not everyone celebrated her being at the temple. What's more, Janus was already a suspect in something she had no say over, let alone know anything about! Just what was Helen's issue with her?
That's what Janus wanted to figure out, if anything could be said for it.
In time, Janus managed to focus enough on her training that she found herself excelling at the research part and her studies, but the training sessions were brutal. Janus found herself enjoying her Force powers far too much than she focused on combat training.
In the end, it was decided for Janus take her Initiate Trials, which Janus hoped she would pass.
Footnotes:
*The quotes come from the following movies: Paramount's film, "Star Trek (2009)"; Focus Features and Universal Pictures' film, "Downton Abbey: A New Era"; and from Bioware and Electronic Arts' video game, "Star Wars: The Old Republic".