Almost a month after my consciousness returned to my body, I was still trying to get a grip on my own... abilities.
My focus was still, let's just say... elusive. It wasn't impossible for my day-to-day existence, it was just slippery, sometimes feeling like daydreaming, getting carried away by others' feelings, especially if they came off way too strong. But, with Vila constantly helping me, there was a bit of improvement. Some days, I could lift a training remote, just barely off the ground, before dropping it down. Even those little droids felt they weighed about as much as a Death Star. Other days, I'd feel the newcomers, one of the padawans, three corridors away, having a bad day and causing me to spiral into the same mood because I couldn't help but hear and feel their frustration humming in my skull.
It was exhausting. And maybe that's why Vila started dueling with me every morning and before going to bed. It was like we were back to how we started as young Padawans. I couldn't argue with her, because it was hard to think about other people's feelings when someone's trying to cut your head off with two lightsabers. I give her that...
"Left foot! You're dragging it!" she called, already closing the distance.
"I'm not—!" I yelled back when she pivoted, spun low, and kicked my ankle just hard enough to remind me I was absolutely dragging it.
"Okay... Ow... Fine! Noted..."
"You're welcome!" she grinned, flipping backward and landing in that stupidly perfect Ataru pose of hers.
When we first matched after my awakening, she lost to me fast... Even I was surprised by it. Now? She adapted a lot and also... With others around, doing their own training, my mind sometimes picked up on them, and it was enough to break my focus and land me in my current position... allowing her to bully me. Currently, we were in one of the outdoor sparring courts, its stone floor feeling searingly hot underfoot, making it impossible to stay put for a prolonged time without cooking the flesh on my feet. Close by, HK was watching us from the shade, arms crossed, standing beside a stack of rusted sparring droids like a disappointed teacher.
[Commentary: Another predictable maneuver. You are becoming slightly less embarrassing, Apprentice.]
"Gee. Thanks," I muttered, "Why not come in and have a go at it?"
[Statement: I don't want to bully you.]
"Sure..." I rolled my eyes, but he wasn't done.
[Observation: You have not left this planet in weeks. Statistically, this is how Jedi begin to grow roots and die standing up.]
"I'm training, and if you have an issue with it, go turn yourself off and skip a few months!" I snapped at him, while Vila just giggled, looking back and forth between us, "You want me to go and get ourselves in trouble because I can't control myself?"
[Confident Affirmation: Yes.]
Vila snorted, finally laughing again, and for a reason... I could tell she somewhat agreed with HK. Maybe... Maybe more outside experience would help, but... I didn't know...
"Let's get back to training," she said after laughing enough, twirling one of her sabers, "but this time, don't think about what others are doing. Just feel me and concentrate on me. I saw you do it when you woke up... you were... way too fast and precise. Since learning there is something wrong, you lost that natural edge."
"Was it really like that?" I asked, unsure.
"Yup. So... try to get into the zone, okay?"
She said and then darted at me again, and this time I did better... I think. My blade caught hers cleanly, parrying the second saber with a low block before angling out to counter. Then, for a brief moment, managing to not think and ignore the whispers in the back of my mind, all the other Padawans training and falling over... There was only the hum of our blades. In that moment, I saw everything and managed to slip through Vila's movements, stopping my blade before her chest.
"That's what I'm talking about!" she giggled, looking at me before we stepped back, ready to start over again. "See? I couldn't even see you move and had no way to react in time!"
Truth was… she was right. Things had changed... I couldn't do half of what I used to with the Force, and I still couldn't lift anything heavier than an empty bowl if I was lucky... but the precognition? My reflexes if nothing disturbed me? The sensory instincts of my body? They were sharper than ever. When I managed to do what she told me to, I could read her intentions before she moved her muscles. If I weren't so exhausted afterward our usual matches... I might have even called it cool.
Once again, she stepped in, fast and aggressive, and just as I parried, I sensed something new, once again, pulling me out of concentration. This time, though, the two presences coming for us were unmistakable.
"Behind us," I said, lowering my blade, and Vila disengaged immediately and turned, looking where I was. Sure enough, Master Ben and Master Katarn were walking across the courtyard, coming for us.
"Did we interrupt something?" Ben asked, smiling faintly as the two arrived at our field.
"Only Kael's third consecutive loss this morning," Vila said cheerfully.
"Not a loss," I muttered, rolling my eyes, "I already won once..."
"You didn't call it." She tested me.
"Hey, no fair, you were beaten!" I pursed my lips, but she wasn't backing down, of course.
"I didn't give up, and you lowered your blade; the match was still on."
"Heh," Master Katarn grunted, "Sounded like a loss."
"Appreciate the support, Master." Vila winked at him, making me shrug again.
"That's enough," Ben gestured toward us, chuckling, "We need a word with both of you."
"Now?" Vila asked, wiping her brow with her wristband, as we extinguished our blades, hanging them up on our belts.
"Yes, now," Master Katarn said, and suddenly I felt there was something serious happening.
[Hopeful Query: Does this involve leaving the planet?]
"..." Ben arched a brow at HK, then shooting me a glance, "Possibly."
[Excited Declaration: I shall get my rifle.]
He clanked off immediately, muttering something about finally being useful again. Hearing my Master's words, I glanced at Vila, but she just shook her head, telling me she knew nothing about this. Well... I could tell that whatever this was, it wasn't just a casual visit.
"Kael," Ben said quietly as we walked, heading into the temple and going to the upper floors where the Masters lived and where their personal meditation chambers or meeting places were, "how are you feeling?"
"Today?" I asked back, "Today is better than yesterday, but it does fluctuate. All-in-all... I think I am making progress."
"He's improving," Vila joined in, "But… It's not a linear thing... Some days are worse than others."
"I see..." Ben nodded. "That's to be expected."
"Master," I hesitated, not wanting the topic to be just about me, "Is this about a mission?"
I watched as they exchanged glances, and finally Ben answered my question.
"It is. But... Someone else will explain it more, because it is not just a mission."
...
....
.....
I knew something was off the moment we passed the third floor, and we were at a level that I had never visited before. I couldn't do it without an invitation or a Master accompanying me. Usually, even when Vila and I were summoned for evaluation or briefings, we'd be held on the second floor at best, waiting until one of the Masters called us into their chamber. This floor... was also where the Council held their meetings... as far as I could tell.
In the end, we stepped into a circular chamber that once belonged to Grandmaster Luke himself. I could feel it... His presence... It permeated everything in here. I almost fell over when I entered, making me a little dizzy. Focusing, I tried to keep myself from flinching and instead studied the room itself. It still bore the same arched ceilings, the same carved seats arranged in a ring that I could notice in the library. But... The Grandmaster's presence made everything feel... attuned to the Force.
But instead of him, the current head of the order, Jaina Solo, was waiting for us.
She didn't project power, at least not like Master Katarn, who still had the scent of battlefield stuck to him. Looking at her, what I could feel was like a sword... She wasn't pointing it at me, but I could still tell she was 'holding' it and ready to unleash it at any moment. A kind of righteous but strict authority was hanging around her, making me feel her words were absolute. No wonder she was called the Sword of the Jedi. Now, I could see why.
After finally tearing my senses away, I managed to notice she wasn't alone at all. Simply, her presence blinded me, and I couldn't see the rest of the Masters present, way too focused on her aura. It made me feel... embarrassed... But, with the other Masters being here, Vaelin Caedryn, Aren Solara, Rosh Penin, even Master Joralla, who rarely left the Archive levels, it meant this mission was more than I first thought.
I couldn't help but swallow, trying to keep my thoughts quiet. Vila didn't even bother pretending not to be nervous... Well... she tried, but couldn't, and her lekku were twitching like a live wire.
"Padawan Varo," Master Jaina said, turning her gaze on me, making me feel like I was facing the tip of the sword for a moment. "Padawan Saresh." Then she moved to Vila, making her flinch, too.
Of course, we both bowed instinctively.
"You've come far," she continued. "In your training, and in your strength. And perhaps most importantly, the understanding you showcased in your last mission. You've been observed closely since your recovery, Padawan Kael," she nodded slowly, "And you, Vila, have exceeded every measure placed before you. What you've both endured… and what you've done since… has shown us more than any formal test could."
It was then that Master Ben stepped forward, his hands clasped behind him.
"The Council believes you are ready."
"Um..." We both looked at each other, "Ready…?"
"To become Jedi Knights," Master Jaina stated clearly.
Hearing her, Vila actually sucked in a sharp breath, while a wave of excitement, disbelief, and way too much responsibility hit me like a tsunami. But before we could speak, Master Jaina raised a hand, suppressing all of the emotions in the room, also allowing me to remain clear-headed.
"However," she continued, "as is tradition… There must be one final trial."
Master Ben glanced at Master Katarn, who, of course, just grunted in acknowledgement.
"This, you two will take together, but alone. Without us coming with you." Master Ben said. "This is your first mission assigned not as Padawans, but as Jedi. You will make your own decision and will deal with its consequences without any of us there to hold your hands."
He turned to the central holoprojector, which lit up with a wave of his hand. A blue hologram shimmered into life the next moment, and the planet it displayed looked like an unpolished gem, with shards of crystal landscapes, sharp-edged cities, glowing veins of mineral deposits, and orbital space stations, multiple of them.
"Christophis," Master Katarn introduced it to us.
"I heard of them," I frowned. "Didn't they… sit out the last three major wars?"
"They did," He confirmed, "Ever since the Clone Wars, they've preferred to stay out of galactic politics. After the Empire fell, they didn't belong to any alliance. They've only ever traded with nearby systems and nothing else."
"But," Ben took over, "Three days ago, we received a transmission. It was encoded in a weird way, and even more bizarre after decoding, but R2 is sure there is an underlying message asking for assistance from the Jedi Order.
"No follow-up messages since then," Master Vaelin added from the side. "We couldn't trace it to its origin, to pinpoint it, but the system it came from is Christophis."
"If it is real, we can't ignore it," Master Jaina gestured toward the image. "You will travel there together. Keep a low profile, and while there, you will assess the situation. If needed, you will assist them, but your first priority is to determine why they sent the message."
"We believe this mission will test not just your skills," Ben smiled at us, "but your judgment. After finishing, we will determine your results and decide if you are truly ready to be knighted."
"He is right," Master Jaina finally smiled, "If you succeed," she looked at us, "you will return not as Padawans, but as Jedi Knights."
It was still hard to believe but... It was happening. And I didn't want to embarrass my Master, so I bowed deeply towards everybody.
"We'll do our best."
"Of course," Vila followed suit, though her voice was a bit louder than mine, "We won't let you down."
When I straightened, Ben met my eyes for a beat longer than I expected. Even without my senses, I knew that there was pride there... he trusted me.
"May the Force be with you both," he said, and soon we were heading out, ready to choose our resources for this mission.