"Voluntary crèche duty again, Lerrek?" Dex shook his head. "You wouldn't catch Mace here doing that." "That's because I've got a few braincells that aren't dedicated to chasing women," Mace growled, leading the small group away towards the practice rooms. Dex ignored the dark-skinned knight and carried on airily. "Qui, now, he's always picking up waifs and strays. Not to mention that pretty crèche master, too," he added, with a wink. "Ah, now maybe that's why Lerrek's always happy to spend time with the kiddies." Dex chuckled. "I might have to try that myself. Note to self: women fall over themselves to get their hands on a man who's willing to wipe noses and bottoms." The Corellian frowned. "On second thoughts, I'm quite attractive enough as it is." "Oh please," commented G'emela, rolling her eyes. "Qui, I think you managed to chose the only female padawan who's completely blind to my charms." "I'd appreciate it if you'd at least pretend to be blind to hers," Qui told his friend, a little irritated. "Like Mace or Lerrek there." "Copy Old Sobersides and Mister Untouchable? Qui, I couldn't. Think of the disappointment it would cause. The morale of the entire female population of the Temple would be irreparably damaged!" "If that is the case then they would hardly be a great loss to the Order," remarked Lerrek. "To be a Jedi requires the most serious mind and the utmost dedication." "It's no good telling Dex," G'emela remarked dryly. "He's Corellian. He can't be serious, it's a genetic default." "But when you say it with a voice like that, Lerrek, you could almost make me want to reform," declared Dex. "So what's the big secret? Why the monk-like celibacy? Even Baldy here's had a fling or two. With your good looks you ought to have no trouble." Lerrek's head-tails twitched in momentary agitation, then stilled. "I prefer to dedicate myself to my duties," he said gravely. "Oh, hit a sore spot there!" teased Dex. "What was it, a tragic love affair? Jilted by a lover?" "Give the man a break, Dex," Mace told him, knowing just how irritating his friend could be. "And get your lightsaber ready. I'm one duel ahead of you, and I intend to stay that way." "A challenge!" Dex flung open the door, then rapidly changed what he had been going to say next. "A room full of initiates. I thought this room was free." "There's space over there," Qui-Gon pointed out. "We'll just have to take it in turns." Their entrance did not go unnoticed. There was even a small burst of applause for the four finalists from the knight's lightsaber contest the week before. Dex smiled and bowed; G'emela rolled her eyes again and followed her Master into position. There were several surreptitious glances in their direction, somewhat to the detriment of the initiates' practice. One brown-haired boy kept wandering up to Mace, but eventually he trotted off again, much to the knight's relief. "I never, ever want a padawan," he grumbled. Dex grinned. "Famous last words," he said. "You are not concentrating in the right place, Xan. Forget what is going on over there. Concentrate on here." Mace almost smiled at the childish instruction that reached them from the other side of the room. "He sounds like you, Qui." Qui-Gon looked over with amusement at the two initiates who were practicing together- one bright and sunny as day, the other solemn and shadowed as night. "Now try again," the golden-haired boy said. "Just feel the Force and stop worrying." They were working on simple parry-riposte exercises, but even though the moves were basic it was clear that the golden-haired boy was the more experienced. The black-haired initiate tried hard, but every time he managed to get something right he kept glancing over to the four knights and missing the next parry. His friend eventually stopped, and leaned over to whisper something. The dark-haired boy nodded, wide-eyed, then smiled quickly in thanks. The practice resumed, this time with more success. Qui-Gon made his way over in that direction. His appearance seemed to distract the black-haired boy, who jumped when he saw the tall knight. His friend barely avoided hitting him as a result. "I didn't mean to startle you," Qui-Gon apologised. "I am Qui-Gon Jinn." The golden-haired boy quickly bowed, shadowed by his friend. "I am Barin, and this is my best friend Xanatos," he said politely. "Perhaps you would practice with me for a while?" Qui-Gon asked Barin, smiling slightly. Barin glanced sideways at his friend. "What about Xan, sir?" "G'emela?" Qui-Gon called his padawan over. "Let's see what sort of instructor you make. This is Xanatos. Xanatos, this is my padawan G'emela. She will practice with you." Xanatos looked a little disappointed, but G'emela smiled at him and led him to one side. Qui-Gon faced Barin, starting with the same exercise as the initiates had just been practicing to get a feel for the height difference and for the boy's standard. "Have you done any free sparring, little one?" he asked after a while. "Some, sir." "Then we shall try that. Ready?" Barin grinned. "Yes, sir." Qui-Gon made his first moves slowly. Barin seemed surprised at how easy the knight was making it, and blocked without difficulty. Qui-Gon nodded, and brought a strike down from overhead. Barin blocked again, but the knight let his blade bounce quickly off and circle round to the side as he crouched down to reach the right level, ready to pull the blow if the initiate failed to parry. There was no initiate there to hit; instead there was a shadow and a rush of air as the initiate tumbled overhead. Having been down-playing his own abilities in an attempt to match the initiate, Qui-Gon barely spun round in time to parry a strike from behind. From one side, Dex burst out laughing. "If you hadn't ducked he'd never have managed it, Qui." "Never underestimate your opponent," Lerrek said solemnly. "That move is /not/ in the book," Qui-Gon frowned. "If you please, sir, it is," Barin spoke up. "Enstat's 'Poetry of swordplay', sir." Qui-Gon blinked in astonishment. Barin hid a grin. "Sorry, sir. I hope I have not offended you." Lerrek's heavy, handsome features spread into an interested smile. "The dance of the elements, of course." He lifted his lightsaber and faced the initiate. "The swordsman in action should be fickle as a summer breeze-" "-insubstantial as air, unstoppable as the whirlwind," Barin joined in. "Very good," Lerrek praised him. "Do you like reading, my child?" Barin's sky-blue eyes lit up. "Yes sir!" Lerrek gave a slow nod. "May I see what you have learned from the wisdom of the good Enstat?" Barin turned back to Qui-Gon. "Sir?" "Go ahead, if you want," the tall knight told him. "What about Xanatos, sir?" Barin asked. "He would love to practice with you." Qui-Gon glanced casually over at the dark-haired boy, then inclined his head. "Perhaps just for a little while," he agreed. Xanatos beamed with pleasure. "Then G'emela can help you again while I practice with Mace." Xanatos' dark eyes grew almost black with disappointment and anger, but only for a moment. The expression was gone before Qui-Gon even noticed, replaced by the firm intention to do better than he had ever done before. "Xan!" G'emela stepped back as Barin bounded over to his friend, bursting with excitement after his session with Lerrek. Qui-Gon glanced over that way, temporarily halting his match with Mace. Xanatos didn't match his friend's enthusiasm. "Xan, I am going to be a padawan!" Xanatos' big, solemn eyes filled with unshed tears. "Bu... but Barin! You can't leave me! Please don't leave me! I thought we were friends!" Barin flushed with guilt, wrapping his arms around the younger boy and holding him tight. "I am your friend, Xan! I will still be at the Temple, I can still come and visit you-" he glanced over at his Master-to-be in appeal. Lerrek said nothing. Barin took that to mean agreement. "You knew one day I would become a padawan. One day you will be a padawan too, and later we shall be knights together. This is not goodbye, Xan. I shall always be your friend. Always. I promise." He stepped back. "And remember, you are a Jedi." Xanatos nodded, blinking back his tears and lifting his chin. "You'll be a good padawan," he told Barin. His lower lip wobbled slightly as he glanced at Lerrek, but he swallowed and spoke up bravely. "You'll make him into a good padawan, won't you sir?" Lerrek gave the boy a solemn bow. "I intend to instruct him most carefully." Xanatos bowed back with childish dignity. "Thank you," he said. "Crèche duty and a padawan?" Dex asked Lerrek in astonishment. Lerrek turned his head sharply, yellow eyes fixing on the Corellian knight. Then he gave a slow smile. "I shall relinquish my crèche duties for a while, I think. I will need to spend time with my new pupil." Qui-Gon let out a long breath, finding himself feeling a little disappointed. Although he already had a padawan, G'emela would soon be taking the Trials. There had been something about that boy... but Lerrek had got there first and there was no point regretting it. The tall knight saw Xanatos gazing at the knights, his eyes resting on Qui-Gon for just a fraction longer than the rest, wishful longing in his expression. Qui-Gon hesitated, feeling sorry for the younger boy who seemed so quiet and overshadowed by his friend. After G'emela, he would certainly appreciate a quieter padawan. It was the hope that appeared on Xanatos' face when the boy saw him looking back that finally decided the knight. Qui-Gon took a step forwards, and gracefully knelt on one knee in front of the dark-haired initiate. "Would you like to be a padawan too, Xanatos?" G'emela looked at her Master in surprise. Qui-Gon nodded at her, then turned back to Xanatos. The shadowed blue eyes lit up with pleasure. "I can be your padawan? Yes please!" Qui-Gon's stoical expression softened kindly. "You will have to be patient, my little one. You know I have a padawan already." Xanatos' face fell, his eyes accusing the Master of betrayal. "She will pass her trials one day, little one," Qui-Gon assured him. "A Jedi must learn patience. You will have to be patient until then." "Qui, you're a glutton for punishment," remarked Dex. "Continuous padawans. You wouldn't catch me or Mace here going in for something like that." Mace yet again tried to brush off the brown-haired youngster, who had showed up again and now kept grabbing hold of his tunic. "You can say that again," he muttered. He glared down at the child. "Go away!" he shouted. The boy stared up at him, burst into tears, and ran off howling. Qui-Gon took Xanatos' hand. It curled trustingly into his own. "You promise?" Xanatos asked, insistently. Qui-Gon nodded, and Xanatos broke into a delighted smile. Lerrek waved Barin over to his side. Barin paused to beam at his friend. "See? I told you that you would be a padawan one day!" Then he cartwheeled over to join his would-be Master, bestowing the dignified Twi'lek with a look full of sunshine. Lerrek laid a hand on the boy's shoulder and squeezed it softly. One head-tail brushed through Barin's hair. Barin looked up at the touch, and grinned. Xanatos held tightly to Qui-Gon's hand, and watched his friend as Lerrek started to lead him away. His midnight-blue eyes darkened in thought. He would have what he wanted, and Barin had helped him to get it; but Barin was willing to leave him as an initiate, to go away and leave him behind. Xanatos was not going to forget that. Not ever. |
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| Choices By HaiGan |