Chapter 15: Crystal Stars 2

Thanks for all the messages of support regarding my illness.

Bloodwork suggests it is not currently life-threatening, so I hopefully can just take meds for a year or 2 to help clear the leukaemia.

...

Once more, thanks to Blaze1992 for the help with the Trainee/Competent quests forms.

And thanks to theshadowchaser for acting as the beta for this chapter and a sounding board for SW legends.

Now on with the story.

"Watch your footwork, Funt," I stated as I watched the Sullustan duel Aayla. He didn't reply but slid his rear foot back a touch. "Good. Now relax and just guide Aayla's attacks away from you."

I observed as Aayla came at Funt using her preferred Ataru, while Funt tried to use the basics of Makashi. He, like a few others in Dragon Clan, had come to me about a week after the Initiate Trials had ended and asked for help learning the basics of the Form.

I had suggested they go to Dooku for instruction, but strangely none of them found my idea appealing.

So here I was, two months after the trials, guiding the members of Dragon Clan through the basics of the duelling form.

"You're really good at teaching," said Serra from my right side.

"Yeah, much nicer than Master Dooku," agreed Lon Boglid, a younger Duros member of the clan who was standing on my left. "I actually enjoy these sessions."

"That's good, but remember not to state such a thing within range of Dooku," I replied to Lon, my eyes still watching the duel. It was a very slow affair as I had made sure that whomever the aggressor was – usually Sia-Lan, Serra or Aayla – they would not directly use the Force while attacking and slow their movements down. Everyone was a little confused as to why I had them do so since they hadn't done slow katas or spars since they were younglings. I had reminded them that Makashi was a form that none of the clan, save myself, had spent any real time learning, so if a spar was conducted at regular speeds, they would instinctively fall back to their preferred form.

"Pause," I said loud enough for Funt and Aayla to hear me. Both stopped their motions as I stepped towards them. "Funt, slowly go back to where you blocked her last strike."

The pair revered their actions until Aayla's blade was halfway-down an aggressive arc.

"Stop there. Funt, when Aayla's blade came down, you raised yours fully to block it. Why?"

Funt blinked once, then shrugged. "Why shouldn't I? I stopped her attack." His tone was calm, though there was a hint of annoyance which I suspected was because, of all the members of the clan, he was struggling the most with Makashi.

I reached forward and placed my hands on his. "You did yes, but if you had done this…" I looked at Aayla and she resumed her attack, though even slower than when they were sparring.

As she did so, I tilted Funt's blade so that Aayla's attack would be guided away and to one side of Funt's body while exposing Aayla's midsection.

"… then you would've been able to strike at her and gain the advantage." I finished as I released my grip. "Remember, Makashi isn't about simply defending yourself, but about fluid motion, balance and precise strikes. Guide your opponent where you want them to go. Make them overcommit to their actions while you stay balanced."

Funt nodded, and I stepped back from them.

"Resume."

I watched as they continued from the new position even as I noted a skill level-up in my notice box. With a subtle flick of my wrist, I opened it.

Skill Levelled-Up!TeachingNovice 9...

I had gotten this skill when I started these sessions. Each level granted a small boost in the ease with which my 'students' learnt from me.

"Well done. I didn't think anyone could get through his dewflaps and teach him so easily," said Darihd quietly enough that the combatants didn't hear with his amusement clear to hear. "You're going to make an excellent instructor one day."

"He may one day be, but he is not one yet."

I spun around at the familiar adult voice, my hand instantly reaching for where my lightsaber would be – if I was carrying one – and saw Masters Dooku and Drallig standing behind us.

Drallig was relaxed, his eyes on Funt and Aayla, but Dooku's were locked onto mine the moment they met.

"What is going on here?" He asked sharply and I caught sight of Darihd and the others quickly and quietly moving away from me to avoid being in Dooku's glares. 'Traitors.'

"Sir, after the Trials, a few members approached me for pointers on Makashi. Soon others did as well, and so I arranged an introductory session to the basics, in which I feel I have sufficient proficiency that I could pass them on." I replied calmly.

Dooku's eyes narrowed and he glanced at the rest of the clan before returning his gaze to me. "And why did you not ask Master Drallig or I to conduct these sessions?"

I glanced at the rest of the clan and noticed a few pleading looks to not throw them under a bus. "I felt I could handle the very basics of the form and did not wish to bother you or Master Drallig with something that may not have resulted in any of my clanmates choosing to take further studies in Makashi. If that occurred, it would have resulted in a waste of your time."

I spotted Drallig nod once at my reason, but my focus was on Dooku. If I handled this well, it might help ingrain me with him more. More learners of the form he considered the True Form might help persuade him that some Jedi were worth saving.

"Your reasons are valid," he said slowly, and I felt the corners of my lips twitch in triumph. "However, neither Master Drallig nor I have stated you are proficient enough to teach even the most basic katas of Makashi." And the twitch ended.

"Perhaps you should test him then," Drallig said, a smirk on his face as he looked at me. "From what I saw in the trials, and in the regular sessions, he is competent enough to be tested on the form."

"He is too young."

"Nonsense. Unlike a few of the other forms, Makashi does not count strength as a major factor. You know this better than most," Drallig countered Dooku's argument. "Besides, I am sure we both agree that more students of Makashi would be a good thing."

Dooku's eyes narrowed further as he turned back to me. "Perhaps you are correct. Come Initiate." He pivoted, his robes billowing out and forcing me to take a step back to avoid being struck by them, before marching away.

"You should do as he says," Drallig said with a rueful shake of his head. "Actually, I think you should all come. It will allow you to view a pure Makashi duel, which will help you determine if you wish to commit to the form or not."

"Yes Master," said Darihd.

We all followed the Jedi Battlemaster to the main sparring hall. Dooku was waiting in the middle of the smaller sparring circles and tossed me a training lightsaber as we approached.

"During this exercise, you may only use Makashi. The usage of katas from another Form will result in your failure. If you can survive five minutes without sustaining 3 glancing strikes or one killing blow you, it will be accepted that you understand the basics of Makashi well enough to carry out simple training katas for your clanmates.

"However, if you fail, not only will I forbid you from holding your training sessions, but you will be forced to spend an hour each day under my personal tutelage until such time as I am satisfied with your proficiency with Makashi. Do you accept these terms?" Dooku asked as he ignited his lightsaber – seeing it blue instead of red was still a little strange for me – and swished it a few times in the gap between us.

Quest Alert!Duel of Contention (Challenge Quest)Prove your (basic) competence with Form IIRating: CObjective:Survive 5 minutes in a duel with a Makashi master without suffering 3 tags.Bonus: ?Rewards:Increased reputation with all Jedi.Heavily increased reputation with Master Dooku.Permission to hold elementary training sessions in Makashi for other Initiates.500EXPFailure:0-300EXP (based on how long you survive)1-hour daily tutoring with Master Dooku for 2 months.Loss of reputation with all Jedi.Accept?Yes/No…

NOTE:Challenge quests are quests directed at you by another to prove yourself.This can be for a specific skill, a title, a competition or for other reasons.These quests carry lower EXP rewards than regular quests, though they often grant reputation boosts with large groups or offer different rewards for competitions.Challenge quests cannot be denied without incurring an automatic failure.…

'Son of a… I either accept it and probably get an arse-kicking, or reject it and fail. That's just… understandable. Especially, as this whole power is unbalanced in my favour, to begin with.' "Yes, sir. I understand and accept." I said out loud as I ignited my blade and stepped into the circle. I knew from training that I could only keep on Precognition and Bullet Time together for around 4 minutes and as soon as they auto-engaged, I planned to turn off Precognition. While both would be useful, a faster reaction time would grant me the best benefit during this spar, and I could always turn Precog back on if I started to struggle; provided I had the time/FP to do so.

Dooku gave me a fractional nod of his head. "Master Drallig, on your word." We both raised our blades in salute before swinging them downwards.

"Begin."

Dooku stepped forward and probed my defences with a flurry of short, sharp slashes. None of them were difficult to avoid or parry and after the initial attack, Dooku stepped back and gave me a very fractional nod. Hopefully, it meant he was satisfied with my defence. Before I could really consider it though, he came at me again, far faster than before.

Thanks to Bullet Time, I was able to keep up with his thrusts, slashes and probes, though I quickly could tell that he was still taking it easy on me, even as I began to struggle with the constant storm of movement.

Eventually, his constant attacks exposed my blade arm and he clipped it, earning a point in the duel and costing me a few dozen HPs.

"Your defence is sound, though you lack the strength and reach that will come with age." He said as he stepped backwards, not taking further advantage of the hole he had created in my defence. "Now then, let us see how well you can attack."

I nodded in acceptance of the command and stepped forward to probe his defences, even if I knew the odds on me breaking through and scoring a hit were minimal at best.

I was proven right as nothing I did seemed to expose an opening in his stance for me to exploit even as I activated Force Speed in the hope that a faster attack would help.

I wasn't sure how long I attacked for since I was only concentrating on him and not the small countdown in the upper left of my vision, but suddenly I spotted a gap that seemed to expose his left thigh.

I moved my blade to exploit the gap, only to stop as and ignore it. The moment I did so, Dooku parried my latest jab and tapped his blade against my forearm before stepping backwards.

"Why did you not take the opening?" He asked as we reset out stances.

"The chances of me succeeding in breaking through your defences are slim, and while the gap was only there for a moment, it was too obvious and large to be anything but a trap."

His lips twitched even as we saluted each other once more. "Good." He said nothing else before he came at me far faster than before and I was instantly on the defensive; taking one step back. That step was followed by others and I knew that if I did not do something soon, I would be forced from the ring and lose the spar.

In desperation I ignored an attack that was heading for my left side and pivoted away, dropping my lightsaber from my right hand to my left, and frantically jabbed the blade out in blind hope that it would block an attack I knew would be coming.

As I ended my pivot, my eyes bugged out a touch as the tip of his blade was now right between my eyes with my own weapon in no position to help.

"I yield," I said calmly, knowing the fight was over and Dooku pulled his lightsaber backwards and extinguished it even as he clipped it to his belt.

"Your attacks are slow and predictable yet controlled. Perhaps you do understand more than just the basics of Makashi." He said spoke slowly with no audio or visual clue if he was impressed or disappointed in how I had done even as he turned and looked away from me. "Time?"

"Seven minutes, eighteen seconds." Master Drallig stated and my head whipped around to see the Battlemaster was standing there with a large smile on his face; and that there were more than just the members of Dragon Clan watching us. "I know you stated he only needed to survive five minutes, but I felt the other Initiates would benefit from seeing Makashi in action from one of their own."

"Indeed." Dooku turned back to me. "Your execution is commendable for one so young. You may continue instructing your clanmates in the basics of Makashi, but I reserve the right to test them at a time and place of my choosing."

"Yes, sir," I answered as I tried – and failed – to stop a grin from creeping onto my face.

Dooku gave me a short nod before walking away, which allowed the rest of Dragon Clan to rush into the ring.

"That was awesome!" Shouted Jyl as she bounced over with the others. "You made Dooku smile!"

"And you landed a strike on him," Sia-Lan added giving me an unexpected smile with a sideways tilt of her head.

"What? When?" I asked since I had no memory of doing so.

"When you pivoted out of position," Darihd explained. "You managed to tag his forearm without looking. Sure, you lost, but we all knew that was coming."

"Not all of us," Aayla stated with a smirk as she glanced at Serra, who avoided my gaze when I turned to her.

"That was pure luck. I only extended my lightsaber in a vain hope to stop him attacking while I lost sight of him." I explained to the Clan as I looked at each of them in turn. "Master Dooku is many levels beyond where I am and has decades of experience of using Makashi; probably in real combat."

"Yeah, but that was still awesome! The way the two of you seemed to flow without really moving was incredible. I want to learn Makashi." Jyl stated with firmness in her voice. Up until now, Jyl hadn't shown any interest in Makashi, though she came to the sessions, preferring Soresu.

I smiled at the younger girl. "That's fine but remember that every Form has its own advantages and drawbacks."

"I know, I know. But Makashi looks graceful, fluid." Jyl smiled as she looked skyward. "It feels right."

I had nothing to add to that and so just nodded at her.

"Well, you'll have to try Makashi next session. We have flight training with Knight Lhan in 10 minutes, and I doubt Cameron being tested by Master Dooku as a valid excuse as to why we are all late." Darihd stated after a glance at his datapad.

As we moved off to our class, I slid to the back of the group and accessed my interface.

Quest Completed!Duel of Contention (Challenge Quest)Objectives:Survive 5 minutes in a duel with a Makashi master without suffering 3 tags. [Yes][?] Score a hit on the Jedi Master [Yes]Rewards:Increased reputation with all Jedi.Heavily increased reputation with Master Dooku.Permission to hold elementary training sessions in Makashi for other Initiates.500EXP300EXP…

'Nice, though I wish I actually knew what my reputation was with everyone.' Currently, all that was displayed on my Reputation page were two lists – Jedi and Others – with some details about the various beings I had met. There was no indication of what my reputation with anyone actually was, and I wouldn't find out that until I turned 11, and the system 'upgraded'. Whatever that meant.

'Still, this should boost my standing in the Order and hopefully increase my chances of preventing Dooku's fall.'

I waved away the message and caught up with the rest of the Clan to continue the day.

…

…

Quest Failed!Miner's Run [Challenge Quest]Objectives:Complete the challenge in the quickest time. (Casualties will result in time penalties.) [3rd][?] Destroy a target (5EXP/target) [20]Rewards:100EXP100EXP…

'At least I got EXP for my 'kills' and not coming last.' I thought as I waved the quest failure notice.

It referred to an instant quest created during what was hopefully my last flight training class when Knight Lhan randomly split Dragon Clan into 4 teams and gave us a challenge. If my team had won I'd have earned a chance to fly a real ship, but given that my teammates were the 2 youngest members of the Clan to be allowed to take flight training, and that I'd already flown on a starship, I wasn't too concerned about failing my 1st quest. I was just glad we hadn't finished last, as that would've resulted in a loss of Reputation with Dragon Clan.

Actually, the only quests that had me worried for failing were the Changing Fates quests, which were a worry if failed as they would make things worse for both me and the Jedi – though I was more concerned with my own fate that the Order's – and the 2 quests that would lock my skills at a certain level for years.

"Congratulations to Blue Team," Lhan said with a smile that exposed fearsome looking fangs as Aayla, Serra and Jyl bounced around in enjoyment at winning. "Also well done to Cameron, who scored the highest number of kills during the competition."

I acknowledged him with a slight nod but had no other reaction to his statement. Since my teammates had been the youngest, and least experienced, on the simulators, during our attempt at the mission, I'd acted as bait for the 'defenders' and drawn a majority away from the target. That I'd managed to kill so many was due as much to the program's low level as it was to my own skills at flying and combat.

"Knight Lhan, may I enter?" We all turned to see Master Ima-Gun Di standing in the doorway.

"Of course, Master Di." Lhan replied with a partial bow. "We have just finished class for the day."

"Yes, I was watching on the monitor outside," Di stated as he took a few steps into the room. "Blue team worked extremely well as a unit." I glanced to my left and noted the 3 girls all sit up straighter at the praise. "However, that is not why I am here. Initiates Bykys and Shan, the Council of First Knowledge wishes to speak with you both. Come with me."

Darihd and I stood and followed the Nikto Jedi Master through the halls of the Temple. Since tomorrow was the first day of New Year's Week, I knew that it was time for me to make my choice regarding which Jedi would be my 'Master', and I was hoping I could convince the Council of my choice. I could only hope that Darihd had also been chosen as a Padawan if he was also being summoned by the Council. I didn't think he was being reassigned to one of the corps, but either way, I planned to try to keep in contact with him as loyal allies were going to be needed in the coming decades.

The walk was done in silence, save for Master Di greeting other Jedi as we passed them. Many of those Jedi stared intently at me as we passed. I was not enjoying the fact many saw me as their Chosen One but figured I could put up with it since I was soon to leave the Temple and it would hopefully mean some of them would not try to fill Anakin's head with the bull when he joined.

However, I had no intention of staying in the Temple to be trained as I needed out to begin prepping for the war to come. I had had a revelation about how to begin to earn credits, but that needed outside access, like almost every other thing I needed to do before the war came.

"Initiate Shan, please wait here. Initiate Bykys, enter with me." Di stated as we arrived in the antechamber for the Council of First Knowledge.

I gave Darihd a smile and a nod in support before he followed the Jedi Master into the chambers. As the doors closed, I sat down on an empty bench and considered how I was going to get what I wanted, though how to go about it was still uncertain as I worried the Force would be a factor in this argument, yet I still didn't know how it 'saw' me.

The one thing I had taken from that brief explanation about the Force was that it saw both the Jedi and Sith as unbalanced, which suggested to me that if I could find a new, better, way, the Force may just decide to help me. Then again, it could just as easily decide my new way was worse, and subtly act against me and those who stood with me.

Perplexing did not even begin to describe the Force. And the less said about the PtB, the better.

Good, you're learning.We are so far beyond you, that you cannot understand our ways.But know that whatever you choose to do with this new life, we accept.Live your life, or don't.Be a Jedi, a Sith or something else.Engage in what you call Virtues or Vices.All of this is your choice.

'Sometimes I don't know if the PtB are simply uncaring, or do things like give me these powers to amuse themselves. It's like they act like both the Prophets and the Q at the same time.' I thought, using the 2 Star Trek omnipotent races as examples. Examples that should not be compatible, yet both worked to, at least partially, explain to me what I felt the PtB were.

"Eh, best not to dwell on things I cannot control or understand for too long," I muttered as the message from the PtB vanished. "List Quests."

QUESTSThese are the story chains that will help push and shape your new life.Quests come in various forms, from repeatable simple ones to long, multi-part campaigns.Most of your activities will be set up as quests, however, you are free to decline most quests.You can also create your own quests if you are willing to push yourself beyond what would be considered easy/safe.All quests are rated from F to S*** for difficulty, with anything rated B or overrunning the risk of bodily harm, if not death.Current quests, with rankings, are:Tremors of the Ancient Sith Empire (S***)Forge your own Path (N/A)Cleanse the Temple (B)Changing Fate [Dooku] (A)You Can't Hurt Me [User Defined] (B)Stones of Muntuur (S*)Wipe That Grin off her Face [User Defined] (D)Changing Fate [Anakin] (S**)Just Don't get Caught [User Defined] (C)Changing Fate [Qui-Gon] (B)Changing Fate [Sifo-Dyas] (B)Trainee Space Ranger [User Defined] (C)Trainee Ace [User Defined] (C)Competent Duellist [User Defined] (C)Competent Swordsman [User Defined] (C)Trainee Defender [User Defined] (C)Two are Better Than One (B)…

For more details, on a quest, tap it or say 'List Quest' followed by the quest required.…

Competent Swordsman and Trainee Defender referred to quests for Shii-Cho and Soresu that I had taken when I'd examined my skills after being challenged to prove my competency with Makashi and found I had past Professional 1. I had decided to try to improve those 2 Forms during my nightly training cycles. Only needing to sleep once every 30 days thanks to the Force Power Serenity was just ridiculous, but I had to learn to exploit these seeming flaws in my special powers. If I had truly understood how RPGs worked before I had created my new life, I would've done things differently during the creation of my new life; like taking Eidetic Memory instead of Photographic Memory. Though I would correct that mistake the 1st chance I got.

Still, there was no point on dwelling on things I couldn't change. "List Quest, Two are Better Than One."

Two are Better Than One [User Defined]Gain 2 Jedi Masters as your formal trainers.Rating: BObjective:Convince the Council of 1st Knowledge that both Fay and Dooku should become your Masters.Rewards:2000EXP+25 ranks in skill [Persuasion]Failure:Loss of reputation with whoever doesn't become your trainer and lack of access to them for 5 years.…

The quest had been generated once I'd made up my mind last week to try to gain both Dooku and Fay as my trainers. The risk of failure was big, especially if I lost access to Dooku as that would probably remove the reputation gain I'd made during the Duel of Contention quest and would greatly increase the chances of me failing the Changing Fate [Dooku] quest.

Still, I was going to try anyway to get both as trainers, and even before the quest had been generated, I'd expected to lose access to whoever wasn't assigned as my 'Master' if I failed to convince the Council of my wish, so all in all, the risks were acceptable.

"Initiate Shan, the Council is ready to speak with you." I stood at Master Di's statement and spared a glance for Darihd. He was smiling happily, so I hoped that meant he had been assigned a Master that he was happy with. AS Master Di turned back towards the chamber, I quickly activated Player's Mind and the Force Powers of Enhance Stat and Enhance Skill. The boosts weren't much, 1 stat point to CHA and a handful of skill levels for Persuasion but any help was welcomed for what I was about to attempt.

Entering the chambers, I saw all five members of the First Knowledge Council were present. The seer, Nilas, gave me a small smile as she turned to face me.

"Greetings once more, young one. Please step forward." Astaal Vilbum said with a smile on his heavily wrinkled face. "Do you understand why we have called you here today?" He asked as I stepped into the centre of the chamber.

"Yes, sir. And I have reached a decision, but I wish to explain it to you," I replied as I took a breath.

"I already suspect your choice young one, and my vote you have, if that is indeed the case," Nilas said, the smile growing a touch.

I nodded at her, even if deep down I was worried that the Force was letting seers know what I planned before I did anything. I am the master of my own fate, not the Force.

"Thank you. When I was last called to face this Council, I was given four choices for whom to take as my Jedi trainer. Knight Lhan is engaging, friendly and eager. Master Sifo-Dyas is a diplomat of renown, and who also appears patient and willing to listen to the concerns of younglings. Master Dooku is the Jedi Order's true master of Makashi, and a firm but fair trainer who has little to no patience for excuses. Master Fay is… a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. She is clearly a very powerful Force wielder, yet she reminds of my first schoolteacher in how aloof she is."

"That is a fair assessment of the four Jedi who we feel would be best to become your Master," Adi Gallia said with a slight upturn of her lips. "And I am impressed you have gotten such accurate impressions of them at your tender age. But what exactly does this have to do with your choice?"

"I feel that I need to explain my choice, and before I do that, I wish to make it clear that I hold no ill-will towards those I have not chosen." That earned me nods or smiles from the entire Council. "Truthfully, my choice is.. unusual I suspect, but it is what I feel the Force is guiding me to." OK, not totally true, but I knew I had to play every card I could to make this work.

"And what is your choice?" Master Piell asked, his ears twitching as he leaned forward.

"With this council's permission, I would accept either Master Dooku or Master Fay as my Jedi Master, however, I wish to learn equally from both."

The Masters looked at each other, their smiles faltering – save Nilas, whose own smile grew as she gave me a nod, meaning this was the choice she had seen in a vision. I again ignored, for now, the fact the Force was able to predict my actions. That was an issue to think on for a later date.

"That is...an unusual request," Astaal said slowly after a moment of silence that I suspected the Council had used to talk with each other telepathically. "Do you have reasons for making this request?"

I smiled a touch at not having my request rejected out of hand. Now to explain my reasons and see where things went.

"Master Dooku is the undisputed master of Makashi, the form I find myself drawn to, and while he can appear to be uninterested in training, I find his strict and concise lessons rewarding." OK, I planned to learn all 7 Forms to at least Master levels, but there was no need to state that here and now.

"Master Fay is, something undefinable. At least to me. There is an energy, a pull, that I cannot deny the feeling. I would not assume to suggest it was the will of the Force, yet I cannot deny that the few times I have spent with her have been more enlightening than anything else I have learnt with these walls." I knew that if I had said some of that after I had hit puberty, it could've had a hidden context, but since I was not yet affected by those physical and psychological changes, I hoped the Council would not worry about that issue. That Fay was essentially a Space Elf had nothing to do with my opinion, though it did make me curious about her species.

"Your reasons are sound, yet no Padawan is assigned two Masters. Why should we make an exception for you? Do you feel you are special?" Master Di asked with a frown that pulled the horns on his head closer, giving him a slightly demonic look.

"I am no more or less special than anyone," I replied slowly, having expected this line of questioning. "My, admittedly limited understanding of the Jedi Code states that we are to forgo attachments, yet it is common practice to assign an Initiate to a Knight or Master, thus creating a bond of attachment from a child that has never known a true parental figure. From my own thinking, I am led to believe that this is allowed as it maintains loyalty to the Order above all else." I noticed that Gallia was nodding while both Nilas and Astaal were smiling as I spoke.

"I, on the other hand, have already had a parental figure. I have suffered loss, and know that death is not the end, but merely a natural part of the circle of life. As my grandfather used to say; " 'We are born of the stars and return to the stars upon our deaths.' " Thus, I am far less likely to accept any single Jedi as a parental figure going forward."

"Well spoken, yet I have yet to hear a reason for granting you the right to have two Masters," Piell stated, a crease in his brow making his ears droop in a way that would've have made me chuckle at the silliness/cuteness of it if not for Player's Mind being engaged.

"I already formed bonds to others before the Order, and while yes, those people are gone, the bonds to them, and what they taught me still exist in here." I tapped my head. "I respect what the Order is, I wish to learn more and help protect those that cannot protect themselves, yet that loyalty to the Order that all others my age have, I do not. And I do not think time spent with a single Master to guide me is enough to help me fully integrate with the Force."

Some of that was true, some wasn't, but it was all something that I hoped the Council wanted or needed to hear.

"Your reasons are valid, and you have shown why we generally avoid taking in older younglings, yet all you have done nothing to truly convince us of your wish," Di stated, earning him nods of agreement from Gallia and Piell.

I shrugged. "If that is so, then you can assign me to one of the Masters I prefer; or one of the others I do not. That is your choice. But all our actions now create ripples in life, within the Force itself, and actions that are taken without understanding are often the wrong actions to take." I paused and took a breath. "Four months ago, you gave me a choice, today I have given you my preference. Now all I can do is wait for your decision."

Astaal smiled that wrinkly smile of his and chuckled. "Very true. You are wiser than most your age and speak with an intelligence far beyond your years." He looked at the other members of the Council. "We will consider your request for a few days but before we allow you to leave this chamber…" He trailed off and I watched as Master Di left the chamber, only to return with Darihd a moment later, the smile from before still present, though more under control.

"Initiates Bykys and Shan, you have been chosen and accepted as Padawans of the Jedi Order. Now it is time for you to construct your own lightsaber. Report to the hanger in this spire no later than nineteen hundred for The Gathering."

"Yes Master," Darihd said with a bow that I copied, and we left the chamber, even if no formal dismissal was given, it was clear that were to leave.

"Ya-hoo!" Darihd shouted as soon as we entered the elevator. "Who were you assigned as your Master?" He asked with a grin.

"The Council has given me a choice and they are debating whom would be the best for my further training," I replied. I wasn't intentionally being vague, but I really didn't want to deal with others thinking I might have two Jedi Masters before the Council made their final decision. "What about you?"

"Master Sifo-Dyas." He replied and I felt my brow rise. It was a good thing I had decided a while ago against taking him as a trainer or things would be very awkward. I could only assume that Sifo-Dyas had realised I was not interested in becoming his Padawan and turned his attention to others in Dragon Clan.

"Congratulations are in order then. This is my stop. I will see you in the hanger," I said as we reached the hall leading to my quarters.

"You don't want to talk with the others?" He asked as his smile faltered a touch.

"No. I am concerned that some of them may resent me being taken before them, so I would ask that you not mention anything about why I was called to the Council to them."

Darihd nodded before he replied. "Right, I hadn't considered that. Well, see you later Padawan." The doors closed on his smiling face, which exposed his sharp looking teeth.

I walked quietly to my quarters and began to pack the few things that I would need for this Gathering even as I did mental somersaults at finally getting to make my own lightsaber.

…

Regarding the poll, it is clear most people (over 53%) want a special coloured lightsaber, yet enough people in a review or PMs suggested more than one colour, such that the idea of a dual-coloured lightsaber is an option.

So I the new poll will allow 2 choices each (poll is on my profile page at the top just under my pen-name but above where the profile picture is).

None of the colours are anything less than rare, in my opinion.

These will be for the core and edge colours.

The poll will run until the end of this chapter, though if the choices are close, the runner-ups will be kept as colours for future blades. [If Cam gets any ;)]