The Grey Jedi, Chapter 1

Approx. 50 BBY

The Grey Jedi

Book 1 – The Two Apprentices

Chapter 1

"Concentrate, feel the living force flow through you"

"I will Master"

"Then proceed, Andakk"

Andakk Ji-kasa was a third-level padawan apprentice, nearing the completion of his temple training and the beginning of field training. His looks were nothing special, brownish hair and eyes, a short padawan cut, with the traditional brown robes. His teacher, Eden Sync-Datta, was from a more exotic, outer rim heritage, with dark skin and long dreadlocks hiding piercing green eyes. He was quiet and calm in his own way, but had a quiet strength that gave him a true Jedi's determination.

Seeing the multi-limbed, hovering droid ahead of him, Andakk pulled the blindfold back down over his face, closing his eyes. Sensing the first attack from the drone, a fast slicing sensation in the force, he ducked, almost to the floor, before leaping up again, onto a nearby crate. Each drone could have up to twenty or so limbs, each carrying a triangular shuriken that curved deceptively when thrown, making them interesting opponents. Luckily there was only one in the room today, but he was not only blindfolded but unarmed. The spinning shurikens travelled quickly and easily through the air, and the disturbances in the living force which warned him of them were not immediately obvious, more like thin cuts made with a very sharp knife. The drone was not too thin to sense though, and focussing inward, he reached out, searching for the programmed assailant. Almost instinctively he dodged another salvo of shuriken, before climbing higher and higher onto the stack of crates, and leaping out over a dizzying height.

Worried, Eden observed the exercise from the platform balcony about two-thirds of the way up the wall.

Fortunately, the hover drone's repulsor was strong enough to slow the descent of it and Andakk, for he had fallen right on top of it, thus ensuring his safety as they bumped against the floor, breaking the arms. He climbed off, and removed his blindfold, looking at his Master's ebony face.

"Well done. With more practice, you will become proficient at this task. You may now go and rest, for you have performed adequately today." Eden finished with a smile, "Go and have fun"

"Great!" thought Andakk as he made his way through the broad but stifling corridors of the underground section of the Jedi Temple, "Let off before midday, that’s a surprise." Master Eden could often be strict, stricter than the Temple trainers, but he was a good teacher all the same, rewarding diligence and effort. He was glad to be the Padawan of a revered Jedi, rather than in the care on the Temple in general, as so many were.

Those many included the person he was looking for now, Apprentice Junna Tundriak. They tried to always be with each other outside of training, each coming straight to the other when they were finished. Of course, as he was usually trained alone by Eden, he was often off earlier than the class of around 17 Master Ti had to cope with.

Coming round the corner to the larger training room where her class were also doing dodge training in a very similar environment, Andakk moved to stand next to Masters Ti and Unduli, bowing as he did so. It was not unusual for other masters to come and watch the younglings in this time of peace, especially ones without a padawan of their own. Even so, he had seen Luminara around a lot recently. Maybe she was considering becoming an instructor?

Searching among the faces down below, he found his sweetheart's, focussing intently on a speed-drone, despite the blindfold across her eyes. He smiled as she let out a grin, knowing it was for him. Her beautiful blonde wavy hair fell down over her face as she removed the bolt of cloth at Shaak Ti's command. He blew her a silent kiss as she smiled up at him.

"Break for lunch everyone, good work. See you at three, back here"

As Master Ti ended the session, Master Unduli left with a thoughtful expression.

"How did your day go?"

"Great, I was basically doing the same as you"

"Cool. What have you got after lunch?"

"Nothing", Andakk smiled, "Eden let me off early!"

Making a face, Junna sat down with a humph "Maybe he just had work to do…"

"I'll stay and watch you if you want, I have nothing better to do" Andakk said sincerely.

Still grumpy, Junna frowned, "Hadn't you better go pore over your saber design some more?

"Hey , you know I'd rather do nothing more than just sit and watch you all day". A smile played around his lips, as she brushed his scruffy hair back behind his ears.

After their spartan meal of soup and bread at the long tables in the refectory, the two Jedi apprentices found a quiet corner between the stairs and the wall in one of the large airy halls, where they held each other close and locked mouths in a fierce embrace that lasted right up until the 3pm gong.

The Jedi Code does not have any hard and fast ruling about love, and indeed, for a Jedi, compassion is essential. However, attachment is not a good thing, leading to reliance, a weakness from the view of the Code. But in this day and age, where peace has reigned for many centuries, the Jedi order is more lax than before, and indeed the Council has been nearly forced to almost 'relax' the rules in order to keep a steady number of Jedi in service in this time of rapidly declining risk. It is under these circumstances that relationships such as what exists between Andakk and Junna are, perhaps not approved of by the Council, but humoured by the majority of Jedi who passed through the Entrance Hall that lunchtime.

Returning to his chambers that night, Andakk thought about his first meeting with Junna, at the apprentice ceremony, where padawan learners become apprentices. It is also when the two smaller training groups of younglings in each set of new padawan are merged into one. That was the time when he was chosen by Eden as an apprentice, and from then on he was always ‘different’, accepted by the group because of his good humour but envied for his personal training. Eden was an excellent Jedi, a master of the Form known as Hun Wu, in which meditation is prized and quick, thought out combinations of lightsaber attacks are executed. He proved himself equally proficient at other forms however, teaching Andakk the way of Form II, and taught older Jedi Form VII, a technique he learnt from his teacher, Mace Windu.

Entering the room he shared with Junna, he walked through the kitchen past the large bed that filled most of the second room and looked out over the Coruscant skyline.

The Senate were in session in the large dome off to the west, in their twice-monthly discussion on military matters. Supreme Chancellor Iyanda Taa, a taciturn female Twi’lek from Ryloth,

The agenda this evening was on the matter of the aggressive Xi Char, who had recently formed the Haor Chall Engineering corporation. Sighing, Iyanda stood up and motioned to the Chagrian beside her, who also rose, calling the Senate to order.

“Representatives,” she begun, “I have one last matter to place before you. You all know the attitude of the Republic on matters of conflict and war, and are all aware of the recent beginning of the Haor Chall engineering corporation.”. The Chancellor paused, gauging the ambience of the room, the slight whispers between delegates, the atmosphere of uncomprehending curiosity.

“The Xi Char are a fanatical race, and I am sure their introduction to galactic technological circles will prove enlightening, but I speak to you today not of their technical ability, but of their lack of dedication to peace and their moral obligations to the Galactic Constitution. What I am speaking of, honourable delegates, is arms manufacture.”. As the Special Delegation from Haor Chall moved into the arena-like centre of the senate, Iyanda added, “I am not accusing you, be aware of this. This is far from a trial, this is just a discussion to head off any potential problems.”

Senator Ji-ffn-Akkr-toaa stood up. “We are not aggressors, we have no desire to cause any conflict whatsoever. The monks of the Xi Char cathedral-factories have assured me that all…”