Part III of The Ultra Stressed Jedi Students

LOL different Anakin, I'm Anakin Southring. I'm about 18 or 19 as well.

 

?Now, Insei, I?ve been greatly disappointed with all your shenanigans the entire time you?ve been here. Shall I recount them for you? You?ve buzzed a control tower, giving the controller a heart attack, you hotwired all the droids to scrub the infirmary instead of doing it yourself, you launched an ion engine through the temple and into a freighter up in orbit, you got involved in a suds war with several other Padawans, and now this! Dumping fuel onto another student is not a laughing matter? What if some had gone down her throat? We would have had to rush her to the infirmary, and then we?d have to deal with Force knows how many government officials on why a JEDI INVITEE dumped it all over her! We?re going to probably have to deal with that anyway!? lectured Kirstan as she and Insei walked down the hall towards the room.

?But you don?t know what she?s like! She?s irritating, annoying? she?s like a sand flea on a Wookiee! I bet you?ve never met someone as annoying as her!? Insei countered.

?Yes I have,? Kirstan replied, much to Insei?s surprise.

?Who? Who was it?? Insei asked.
?I?m staring at him right now,? The Jedi Master?s disgust seeped through her voice.

?Oh? I guess I?m not much better, am I?? Disappointment flowed throughout Insei. He was acting like the bullies acted to him back at Bespin.

?Well, your actions don?t show it, but I?m sure that deep inside, there?s a whole ton of good in you. It?s just waiting to get out. However, for now, you?re going to stay in the room for the rest of the day.?

?Okay? oh Sithspit!? Insei was standing in the doorway, blocking the image of the reddish-orange lightsaber lying on the floor.

// I thought I had put that away! //

?What, Insei? What is it?? Kirstan said, trying to look past her obviously frightened student.

?Nothing! Nothing, Master Lien!? Insei shouted back as he scrambled into the room and hid the lightsaber again, under the couch, this time.

?Insei, what are you hiding from me?? Kirstan questioned, tapping her foot.

Insei tried to look as innocent as possible and shrugged, ?What? What would I hide? There?s nothing for me to hide, here. Yeah. Nothing.?

Lien raised an eyebrow in question, ?Nothing??

?Um, yeah. Nothing. Nothing at all.?

?You mean, nothing like? this?? With a nudge of the Force, a magazine with a picture of a scantily clad woman on the cover scooted out. Insei?s eyes bulged.

?W-w-w-wowwww?? he stammered, staring at the tiny swimsuit the female on the cover wore.

Kirstan smiled feebly, ?Oops, I guess this isn?t yours. I think I?m going to have to talk to K?vel about something? so, let?s see, is this it?? Another nudge of the Force brought out the lightsaber, and this time it was Kirstan?s turn for her eyes to bug. ?Insei? where did you get this??

Insei weakly shrugged, ?I?m not really sure. All I remember was that there was this huge battle between the Light and Dark Jedi on some jungle planet with these huge temples. I was watching from this one guy?s perspective? I think he was my ancestor or something. He had a pretty similar name. Ashir Katt-Zwo or something like that. And there was this girl who looked like Jane Jinn. They seemed to be pretty good friends. And Ashir had this lightsaber in the dream, but then, he was killed. And when I woke up, that lightsaber was lying there. On the floor. It was the same one.?

Kirstan blinked. She couldn?t believe that Insei, Insei the troublemaker, Insei the starfighter pilot, would have a relative in the Sith Wars that he didn?t know about. And even if he did, how did that explain the Jane-like person in his dream, and the lightsaber that was lying on the floor?

 

*Breaks out Jedi Sense and tries to look for hidden posts* Dangit! Do they have ysalimiri on them?!?

 

Umm, sure, but I don't know what maxim is . . . ::slightly confused look::

 

Ani, there's two scenes in this: the thing Saean has to tell her, and then her reaction to you. hahaha. I really want Jai to meet our esteemed Her Bingleship in a bad mood--you can post that if it fits your plans. Poor Cali! Poor Obi! The ultimate Obi-torture--for once I hope he gets spared. But then, it would be interesting to see his reaction . .
******

"Oh?" Jai asked carefully.

"Mom is sick." The words were pronounced with a quiet strength and no beating around the bush. Jai's family had always been rather . . .direct. . . and she was glad to see that her brother hadn't lost his ability to get to the point.

"How sick?"

"Cancer. It's far enough that bacta can do nothing for her."

"Why didn't she know? She's a Jedi!" Jai's voice was shrill, upset. She knew exactly why.

"You know as well as I do that she doesn't touch it anymore. She hasn't since you left. It's not your fault, Jai." He added as tears started to glisten in her eyes. "There is nothing we can do. But Mom . . .she wanted to know who you were apprenticed to. You haven't told us anything, except that you were a Padawan, as per the rules, but now . . . stupid rule anyway."

Jai swallowed. "Mom won't approve. She's never liked the Council, and him in particular."

"Who?!!" Saean demanded. Slowly he realized where they were heading. "Didn't you say we were going to your Master-Padawan quarters?"

"Yes."

"If I remember the Temple layout correctly. . . . there's only two Masters down this corridor. And only one a 'he'."

Jai sighed. "I told you she wouldn't approve."

Saean grinned. "I know. She thinks he's sithly. But that doesn't mean dad and I necesarily think that." Seeing her look of suprise, he added, "Our family has been cursed with strong women, Jai. When mom gets an opinion, no lowly male of her home is going to disagree."

"Then you aren't angry?"

"I can think of no one better to help you train . . . and get Dart Bane out of your mind."

Jai sighed. "We've fought, Saean, me and mom--you knew that. Badly. But . . . I never wished to lose her. Through all that . . she's my MOTHER, Saean. Even though she was the reason I left to train here. I love her!"

Reaching Yoda's quarters, Saean took his little sister in his arms and held her while she cried . . and released her emotions to the Force.

Jai grinned openly, the signs of tears carefully hidden and a calm peace settling over her. Whatever else happened, she knew she could count on Anakin. Stepping back, she inviting Anakin (this is a dif. Anakin) into the room. "I could tease you," she told him sweetly, "And say, oh Anakin, by the way, did I mention I was engaged?" Jai shook her head in amusement. "Ani, this is my brother, Saean."

Anakin swallowed hard and tried to remember anything mean he might have said in Jai's hearing. The dude was big . . . .

Blue eyes laughing, Saean shook Anakin's hand. "It is good to see you," he said, Corellian accent thick. "In the few minutes I've been here, I have heard a lot about you, Anakin Southring.(?)"

"All of it good, I hope."

"Yes. Well," Saean added, "I have an appointment with the Council. See you two later."

*********

I was going to say something. I forgot what it was. Oh well. Please, don't ignore me! (i feel so pathetic . . . I probably am .. . if I'm whining just ignore me . . .it's late, I'm tired and hallucinating .. . ) *Grin*

 

hidden postie?

 

Whew! I'm back up to date! Since I've got SOME pity for Mace Windu, I'll help him out here...


Ken-Biu looked out of his room. A prison warden was standing guard there. The guard swiftly turned around.

"The Council ordered that you not leave your room," Ken-Biu was ordered. Somehow, that didn't sound like a good enough excuse to the Knight.

"In that case, I would like to speak to the Council about what its official stand is on these affairs," Ken-Biu replied, "immediately."

The warden muttered something into a comm and, approximately five minutes later, the warden escorted Ken-Biu to the Council Chambers. There was no wait. No doubt they had made sure he would not be kept waiting in case he attacked anyone in the time being. As he entered, he noticed that the Councilors all looked distinctly annoyed. After a quick probe, the only two words he could pick up were Lady Caroline. He wondered who on Coruscant that could be.

"On Alderaan, actually," Adi Gallia stated. The Councilor was a shade of green that Ken-Biu had only ever seen on his face before. The color when he was completely disgusted by something.

"Ah, High Alderaanian nobility." Ken automatically understood why the Councilors were annoyed. Alderaan's royalty was notoriously snooty. He wondered what the Council had to do with her, but no quick answer came that time. He decided to focus on what he had come to ask.

"Yesterday, when faced by my case, you were given testimony by two different people supporting my argument. You sensed nothing insidious going on, and nothing indicated that these witnesses were not telling the truth. There was nothing but circumstancial evidence against me, all of which I have disproven, and yet you had me confined to my room. I was asked two supposedly incriminating questions yesterday. At the time, I offered an answer to the first, today I will offer my explanation for the second mystery. After spending extended lengths of time in meditation, I have come to this hypothesis. Dark Side users take pleasure in killing, yet they take much more pleasure in activities such as torturing people to death. In this, I was a prime target. Through my pain, they would be able to reveal themselves to the Jedi at a distance, all the while feeding their lust for suffering. Finally, it would break the final tie between Jorus C'baoth and the Jedi Order. Now, I request a verdict. If your verdict is guilty, then the Code demands the pain of death. If I am acquitted, then I should go free. In other words, give me liberty or give me death."

The Council shared a look. They knew that what he was saying was true and there was nothing to do about it. Mace Windu's face lit up for a second and within a second, the whole Council was smirking at him, in the way a pirate gang looked at their victims when they made the poor people walk the plank.

Yoda addressed Ken, "Sufficient evidence to find you guilty, we have not, yet too serious the incident is to acquit you yet. Until spoken to fully-healed Padawan Counc we have, tested you shall be. Make sure use the Dark Side you do not, we shall. Since instructor of lightsaber technique, wish you to be, personal instructor in lightsaber arts of Student Caroline Bingle, you shall be. If by the time the final testimony is made killed her you have not and incriminated you have not been, then charges against you, dropped shall be. If dead she is, thanks and exile from the Order shall you receive."

Ken was bemused. How could they think that training an individual student could be a test of not using the Dark Side?

"Your guardian shall be dismissed and you shall be taken off house arrest. This will be a trial, among others, of whether or not you should be given the teaching post you covet. Also, out of kindness for Master Gallia, the Council has decided to take the exchange student off of the Councilor's hands for an hour before dinner for extra training in lightsaber katas. In case anyone asks you, the official story is that this is her punishment for calling exchange student Insei

 

: tongue.gif outs:: Still can't see posties!!

 

PO-OST! I know you're out there somewhere!

 

EUREKA! I SEE THE LIGHT (not to mention the posts)!

 

When they reached their apartment, Jane was not certain whether to walk straight to the corner, or sit down on the couch. Qui-Gon made the decision for her by waiting until the door had slid shut behind them, and then addressing her before she'd had the chance to take more than two steps into the room.

"Tell me what happened to-day,"he said.

Jane frowned."Well, master, when I got to History this morning, Lady Caroline was already there, and the minute she saw me, she told the entire class how the Supreme Chancellor had been dining with her family, and had told them about me hitting him over the head with a plate. And, ah, she was pretty stuck-up at dance class, too. She didn't want to dance with us "commoners", so Kith--Knight Rinani suggested that she dance with Knight Thenceor, and she decided that she could just condescend to that level. And then she was in Starfighter Repairs with me and Insei--she was even supposed to be in our group! But she didn't want to work with us, master! She said Insei was grotty and that the Sith resided in the sludge in the hangar. So, um, Insei decided he'd take her down a notch."

She paused, and Qui-Gon said,"Go on."

"Um, he indicated the Fuel Tank Eject button on his Z-95, and we sort of, um, understood each other. So we told Caroline to stand under the jet, and, um, we ejected the fuel on her. That is, it was Insei's idea, but I actually pressed the button. I felt a bit sorry for her afterwards, but at the time, I really felt she deserved it. She's so arrogant and she treats everybody like dirt!"

There was a silence, and Jane felt panic welling up inside her. Please don't let him thrash me, please!

"Thrashing,"said Qui-Gon after a long minute,"is carried out for two reasons, and two reasons only; disobedience and lying."

Jane waited.

"There is no rule against ejecting fuel. There is a rule about treating others with the respect they deserve. You have interpreted this rule very, very loosely, Jane, and it is not an interpretation that I am willing to condone."

Hanging her head, Jane murmured,"No, master."

"Look at me, Jane."With an effort, Jane raised her eyes to meet his, and almost winced at the disappointment in his face, but was relieved to see that the anger was disappearing.

"I have another punishment in mind that I think will help reinforce the lesson that you must learn,"Qui-Gon said."You and I will have light saber practise. Right now."

"Light saber practise, master?"Jane was about to protest when it occured to her that there were different ways of getting thrashed, and this could be one of them.

"Yes. Now. Come with me."

They went down to the practise rooms, all of which were filled with either classes of Padawans, or Knights and masters sparring with each, and for a moment, Jane hoped wildly that they would have to delay the punishment, but Qui-Gon asked two knights if they could share the room, and the two women agreed. Taking up the half farthest away from the door, Qui-Gon handed a practise saber to Jane and ingnited his own, turning the intensity down to the lowest setting.

"Defend yourself,"he said.

Clumsily, Jane did so, and her light saber was almost thrown from her hand with the force of his attack.

"Keep a better grip, Jane. Fifth position and then first."

Jane got fifth position, but was too slow for the first, and Qui-Gon's light saber whacked her in the side.

"Ow!"

"Try it again."

She managed to be a bit quicker, but was clumsier, and this time her own saber was knocked back into her.

"Fourth position, and then fifth,"came the command, but Qui-Gon attacked so quickly, that Jane was not even able to get into fourth.

An hour later, Jane was shaking with exertion, stinging from numerous burns and feeling almost as many bruises starting to form. She was continually trying to wipe sweat from her forehead with her sleeve and still hold her ground against Qui-Gon, and her sweat was mingled with tears of pain and frustration.

"One last one,"Qui-Gon called out."Seventh position and then into fifth."

"I don't know the seventh pos

 

Great post!! I still think Qui-Gon could teach Lady Caroline a thing or three about manners and obedience.

PLEASE SOMEONE DO ANOTHER OBI-WAN/CALI POST!!!! I MUST KNOW WHAT HAPPENS!!!!!

P.S. My book hasn't come yet :_( #%(#*%(@& UPS promises "Next Day Air" and I paid a LOT for it and IT'S NOT HERE!!!!! *pouts*

Hmmm, the UPS site is close to my house . . . is there any of that fuel left over?

Oh! To the person who is writing the Obi/Cali maybe-pregnancy-maybe-not, if you'd like, I can offer some real life events and reactions. My friends went through this exact same thing.

[This message has been edited by Lwyn`nya Kenobi (edited 05-14-2000).]

 

Here's an idea for JediFinrod to think over: What if Adi Gallia suddenly decided that it was Padawan Exchange Day once a week? She could send Lady Caroline to Qui-Gon in exchange for Jane in the first week, and in exchange for Obi-Wan the second week, and after that, the merest threat of a further exchange should be enough to keep Caroline from the worst of her excessive behaviour. Just a thought!

 

*Starts to Chant* Send Bingle to Qui-gon!Send Bingle to Qui-gon! Send Bingle to Qui-gon! Send Bingle to Qui-gon! Send Bingle to Qui-gon! Send Bingle to Qui-gon! Send Bingle to Qui-gon! Send Bingle to Qui-gon! hehehe, evil she is, Sithly be yoda's punishment for Ken-Bui.

 

JediFinrod, would you rather write Lady Caroline's first lesson with Ken-Biu or do you want me to do it instead (I'll be happy either way).

BTW, I hope no one minds to my use of Lady Caroline...

 

Relax Lywn, it's okay

*******************

Cali chewed her food slowly, not noticing that she had taken Yoda's gruel. Jane kept grinning at her, then wincing when she moved. Obi-Wan and Meri were teasing her about something, but she couldn't really understand them. Her mind was far off, trying to plot how she could escape the Temple tomorrow and visit Madam Night. She had already 'lifted' the infirmary of a tester and was just waiting for tonight to see what the results would be.

"Come back to us, Cali!" Meri shouted, waving a hand in front of Cali's eyes.

"I think that's a whammy," Jane said, spooning in some gruel. "Good stuff, huh Cal?"

Cali looked at them blankly. "What?"

"You're eating Yoda's gruel," Obi-Wan said. He touched her arm. "What's wrong? You've been out of it all day."

Cali glanced down at the gruel and felt her stomach give a lurch. "Uh, Jane? You want this?" The girl quickly took the rest of the gruel. She looked back at Obi-Wan and shrugged. "I'm just tired, that's all."

"Are you sure?" he asked gently, leaning closer.

"Yes! Yes! I'm fine!" Cali said a little too loudly. "I'm just tired! Stop asking me if I'm all right!" She stabbed her fork into some lettuce.

Everyone was watching her curiously and Obi-Wan looked a little hurt. Meri was sending a look Obi-Wan's way, but remained silent. Ignoring the stares, Cali shoveled some leaves into her mouth and chewed quickly. Everyone else took the signal and began eating again.

Cali felt terrible, and she shouldn't have snapped at Obi-Wan like that, but she was becoming paranoid and couldn't deal with anyone's concern. Towards the end of dinner, Obi-Wan whispered in her ear, "Do you want to go talk after dinner?"

"I have homework," Cali said, which was true. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," he said, not sounding to happy.

Cali clenched her teeth and got up to leave. She dreaded taking this test, but she had to. She had promised Tyor she would before going to Madam Night's.

 

I KNOW there's a post out there, somewhere. Now where is it?

 

Oh, boy, the great Lwyn'nya said 'great post' to me! She likes my character! I can hardly believe it! I think I might swoon!

Jai had already started stacking the chairs against the wall in the cafeteria by the time Jane arrived.

"Sorry I'm late,"Jane said.

"What happened to you?"Jai asked, glancing at the scorched lines on Jane's clothes and her expression of sheer exhaustion.

Jane grimaced as they reached for the first table."A new student arrived to-day, a Lady Caroline Bingle. She couldn't be more arrogant if she were the Princess of Alderaan! Anyway, Insei and I dumped a tankful of fuel on her and--"

"A tankful of fuel? How'd you do that?"

"Insei has a Z-95 in the hangar, and when we were there for Starfighter Repairs, we sort of lured Caroline to stand underneath."

"And whoosh!"

"Yeah. Whoosh! Anyway, Qui-Gon decided to use light saber practise to, um, teach me a lesson."

"Ouch."

"Oh, no!"Jane had turned her head at the sound of voices in the door."There she comes!"

"Who? Lady Caroline herself?"

"The one and only."

Both girls stopped to stare as Caroline was propelled into the cafeteria by Master Adi Gallia.

"I. Will. Not. Scrub. This. Floor."Caroline folded her arms across her chest and stared menacingly at the dark-skinned Councilwoman.

"Yes. You. Will."Master Gallia replied, fixing her with an equally menacing stare.

"Jane, Jai, show Caroline where to find a bucket and a brush."

"Yes, Master Gallia,"they replied, almost as one.

Looking as though she had spotted something that normally lived under a rock, Caroline looked Jane up and down."Oh, it's you again. Ms. Gallia, do you really think it's quite safe to leave me alone here with this--this person? I do declare, she might dump a bucket of water on me the minute you turn your back."

I might be tempted, yes, but I don't want to have to face Qui-Gon again, Jane thought.

As though hearing the unspoken comment, Master Gallia replied,"I think Jane has learned her lesson and will treat you with the respect that you deserve, Caroline."

"I'll show you where the custodial closet is,"Jai offered, and with a martyred look, Caroline followed her down the hall, returning with a bucket of soapy water and a brush.

"Put it here, and you can help us stack the chairs and tables against this wall,"Jai suggested. Caroline watched as Jane took three chairs at a time and placed them on the current stack. After a few moments, she picked up one chair and followed suit.

They scrubbed in silence. Jane tried not to gloat at the sight of the high and mighty lady, on her knees in a puddle of water, making dainty cleaning motions in her section of the large cafeteria. It wasn't as much fun as the sudsy race of the day before, but Jane told herself to be happy that she had two other people to help, and didn't have to do it all by herself. She was tired enough to appreciate any small mercy.

In fact, she was so tired that she knocked over her bucket by accident, and the dirty water had flowed rapidly across the floor in a certain direction as though pulled by a magnet. In the next instant, it had soaked Caroline's trousers, and the girl let out a screech of dismay.

"Arrrgggghhhh! No! Not another set of clothes! I'll have nothing left to wear at this rate!"

"I'm really sorry,"said Jane."It was an accident. Um, after supper I can show you where the laundry is. A wash and dry cycle only takes about forty five minutes."

There! Qui-Gon would have been pleased to hear that generous offer!

"Laundry! Do you really believe I wash my own clothes, you--you scullery maid?"

Jane bit back an angry retort and merely exchanged glances with an amused Jai. Then she hauled herself tiredly to her feet and went back to the custodial closet for more water and soap. She was so exhausted that even that simple task seemed to take twice as much effort as she remembered, and at least one of her burns twinged whenever she moved. No, she wasn't going to risk another session like that very soon!

Jai finished her section first, with Jane only a meter behind her,

 

I think someone will have to start another thread soon

 

Kenobi Maul, I'll let you handle the lightsaber scenes! You would probably write those much better than I. (I don't think writing action scenes would be sonething I could do well!)

Jane Jinn and RogueJai, I like your ideas! I think it absolutely realistic that Adi Gallia would be desperate to get rid of Lady Pill for any amount of time! And what better person to dump her on than Qui-gon? I'd like to write the scenes of when Caroline learns the news and when she arrives at Qui-gon's and Obi-wan's quarters. (Is the latter okay with you, Jane?)

 

Hey, all, Obi's b-day's tomorrow. The Jedi don't throw parties (except 4 exchange students) so I guess just have his friends play a joke or bug him

************

"Cali-Ana? Are you all right?" Master Ruj called from the other side of the refresher door. "You've been in there a long time."

Cali looked up from where she had been sitting on the floor, staring at the test results. She cleared her throat. "Uh, yeah--I'll be out in a minute." She turned back to the test, hoping the little light on the indicator had changed from red to blue. No. It was still positive.

Sith! This couldn't be happening! What was she going to do? She had to get over to Madam Night's, that's what! She couldn't tell him. Obi-Wan. Sith. If anyone found out he could get kicked out of the Temple! She couldn't do that to him! How could she face him?

Hey, Obi-Wan. I have to tell you something. See, maybe this whole Jedi thing isn't all what it's shaped out to be. I mean, wouldn't you like to leave? Hmm? Because the thing is, I'm pregnant and you're the father.

Yup, that would be real smooth. Maybe she should just leave the Temple. Quit the exchange program now and leave. Go back home to her mother and get an abortion. No, she hated abortions. Abortions were murder. She couldn't kill her own child!

But Madam Night had an alternative. She was suppose to be able to un-do the whole pregnancy thing and the child's spirit would go to another woman who wanted a child. Cali had never really believed it, but her friend Tia had gone to the witch and had never had her child.

The door buzzer rang and Cali jumped. A moment later, Ruj called, "Cali! Padawan Kenobi's here!"

//Oh, Sith!// Cali got up off the floor and quickly disposed of the tester. She couldn't face him, but she had to. A glance in the mirror showed that her eyes were red and that she was very pale. She took a moment to fix herself up, then came out of the refresher.

Obi-Wan was waiting in the living room, talking with Ruj. Cali forced a smile on her face. "Hey, Pigtails. What are you doing here?"

Obi-Wan glanced at Ruj, clearly set off by her greeting. "To see if you were okay. You didn't look to well at dinner."

"Thanks a lot," Cali snapped. Ruj looked at her in surprise, then retreated to the kitchen.

"I didn't mean it like that," Obi-Wan said, looking very uncomfortable. He looked at her, eyes clouded with worry. "I know something's bothering you, Cal. Why won't you tell me?"

//Sith, why does he have to look at me like that?// Cali forced another smile. "Oh, I'm just trying to decide what to get you for your birthday." What a kid?

"You don't have to get me anything," Obi-Wan smiled slightly, taking her hand and squeezing it. "I already have what I want."

And a bonus, Cali thought. She felt her eyes water and she looked down at their hands. Why did he have to be so sweet and love her so much? And why did he have to be a blasted Jedi?

"Cal?" Obi-Wan tilted her chin up and discovered her moits eyes. "What is it?"

Cali just shook her head. "I'm just tired, I guess." She snuggled up to him on the couch, resting her head on his shoulder. Maybe if she acted like she wanted comfort, then he would let the matter drop.

 

Yes, perfectly okay! I can't wait to see it, but I'm off to bed now here in Germany, so I won't be able to respond again for about ten-twelve hours.

 

Jedi_Daphne, if you're still here, you can write the next part about Insei and Ashir Katt-Zwo's lightsaber. Maybe they take it to the Council and they talk about it.

 

OK, JediFinrod! I'll write the first lesson as soon as I've finished rewriting an essay on Animal Farm ("Red Pigs and Others").

 

"A report, you have, Knight Saean?" (Jai's family has never been strong on last names--maybe why they fell to Sith so easy. Much easier to turn Bane into Darth Bane than John Sarasri into Darth Bane. LOL)

Saean nodded to Yoda, mind still slightly reeling that a Master so kind and good, if spiky and rough on the outside, would be willingly to take Jai as a Padawan. "Yes, Masters. I have come, as Corellian Jedi tradition dictates, to inform the Council of the illness of one of our kind, Saraie de Casi."

"Your relationship to Master de Casi, state you will."

"She is my biological mother. She chose me to go in the stead of Samel, her husband and my Father. She did not wish him to leave her."

"What is the nature and seriousness of her illness?" Mace Windu asked with a kind of quiet sympathetic strength.

"She has cancer. It is widespread enough that no amount of bacta can cure her. She gave me a message for you." Silence. Saean took that as a signal to continue. He drew the small holoproj out of his pocket. The image of a tall woman with black hair and blue eyes swam into focus. Saean found himself surprised at how much Jai resembled their mother."My most esteemed Jedi Council. I have not been to Coruscant for a number of years, and have not kept up with Council affairs, so you must forgive me if I do not call you by name. My son, Saean, who is before you now, insisted upon following this tradition; to humor him, I gave my permission. To put it frankly, Masters, I am dying. I have seen my death in a Jedi vision--it is the will of the Force. I only recognize it as such because of your training, for I have not used the Force in several years." The message paused as Saraie swallowed. "So it is not for myself that I come before you, Council. It is for the sake of my children. I do not worry about Saean. He is a grown man now, and is able to take care of himself. However, I would ask of you two favors concerning my daughters; Jai, who is with you now, and my youngest, Kaeli, who is five. I ask this: Send me my daughter. Let Jai come home for the few weeks I have left, and when she returns, let her bring with her Kaeli. Kaeli has been taught in the Jedi arts by her father, though he cannot touch the Force himself. She is an obediant child, and I would that you teach her. Thank you, Council." Saraie nodded her head, then the holo faded. Saean stared at the space where it had been in surprise. He hadn't known what the message said.

Yoda was nodding slowly. The Council members seemed to confer mentally for a few moments, then the small green Master spoke. "Granted, Jedi de Casi's wish is. Once, serve the Order well, she did. Adjourned, this body is. With me," he pointed at Saean, "you will come. Padawan Jai must be told of this.

**********

Hope you like.