Annabeth

Annabeth and Magnus spent half the morning in the refectory. They stole parts of each other's breakfast, played table football, and recounted their most recent outings (Magnus had been out a few weeks ago with his master on a training mission to Saleucami). They left after about two hours and headed to the dojos for training. When they arrived, neither Luke nor Samirah were anywhere to be seen.

"It's not like either of them to be late," Annabeth said.

"If they aren't here in fifteen minutes we're allowed to leave," Magnus said.

"Then I guess we kill fifteen minutes," Annabeth said, drawing her lightsaber and walking onto the mats.

"I was afraid you'd say that," Magnus said with a hint of sarcasm as he followed her. Annabeth smirked as she twisted a dial on her lightsaber, making it so it wouldn't cut Magnus' arm of but would leave him with a sizable welt for a few hours. Magnus took the same precaution as he took his place. Annabeth held her lightsaber with one hand over her left shoulder and activated it. She waved it in a tight arc before holding her arm out and pointing her blade at the ground. Magnus activated his lightsaber, the blade giving off an emerald green glow. He held his lightsaber with two hands and squared himself with Annabeth. Annabeth found dueling her cousin good experience with left handed duelists (even in a galaxy with countless species, many still tended to be right hand dominant).

"Ready?" Annabeth asked. Magnus nodded. She stepped forward, thrusting her blade towards his chest. He kept his blade tight to his body as he deflected Annabeth's jab. She swung her lightsaber in an arc, striking at Magnus' right. She kept her body perpendicular to Magnus as she repeatedly swung for his legs and abdomen from either side, and he continued to block. Annabeth knew she was leaving herself exposed with wider strikes, but she also knew Magnus. His style was a combination of Shii-Cho at a much faster pace than normal and the defensive aspects of Soresu. Annabeth felt calm and collected as she swung at Magnus. Her movements had been described as dance-like by several other Padawans in the past few weeks. From what she knew, that meant she was getting even better at the Form. They continued for a few minutes, ebbing and flowing across the mats. She jabbed, but he swung his lightsaber from a lower position, knocking her blade away. She was left open and put on the defensive. However, it was rather easy blocking his attacks since he was sticking with Form I.

"Why are you so insistent on using Shii-Cho?" Annabeth asked as she parried, knocking Magnus off balance. "Surely Master Abbas has at least taught you some parts of Makashi."

"She has," Magnus said as he regained his balance, "but I prefer using Shii-Cho in dueling."

"Shii-Cho is too rugged to use in single combat," Annabeth said as she pushed Magnus onto the defensive once again, "especially against a practitioner of Makashi." Magnus sort of shrugged as he deflected Annabeth's blade. This time, he jabbed forward. Annabeth swiftly countered with a sidestep and an upward swipe. Then she disarmed her cousin. Magnus held his hands up as Annabeth pointed her lightsaber at his chest. Annabeth smirked as she deactivated her lightsaber and stepped back. Magnus sighed as he pulled his lightsaber back into his hand and cracked his neck. He paused suddenly before reactivating it and looked at it.

"Have I ever mentioned how I think the crystal in my lightsaber is talking to me?" Magnus said as he examined his hilt closely.

"On more than one occasion," Annabeth said. "I don't think I would be able to hear it if I tried; it's your crystal."

Magnus sighed as he reactivated his lightsaber. "It just told me that I should stop slacking." This got a laugh out of Annabeth. "Sure, laugh it up now." He looked to the hilt again. "Stop calling me Señor! I don't even know what dialect that is!" Annabeth almost dropped her lightsaber to hold her core. "I have this thing for eight years, not a peep, but ever since I turned sixteen, it can't keep its mouth shut."

"You should talk to Master Triv about it," Annabeth said after she finally calmed down. She took a few breaths to calm herself before standing back up. Before she reactivated her lightsaber to resume practicing, however, a female Temple Guard walked through the entryway.

"Padawan Chayst," the Temple Guard said, approaching them. Annabeth lowered her lightsaber and looked to her. Magnus deactivated his and did the same. "The Council has requested your urgent presence. I am to accompany you there."

Annabeth cocked her head to the side slightly. "Did they say why?"

"They did not," the guard said. She then turned to Magnus. "Your Master will join you at noon."

"Very well," Magnus said, bowing to the Temple Guard. As she turned to walk out, he looked to Annabeth. "Any idea why they'd want to see you?"

"No," Annabeth said. She hastened a little bit to catch up with the Temple Guard. She honestly hoped it was another assignment, but something told her it wasn't.

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When they arrived at the turbolift, the Temple Guard went on her way. Annabeth pressed the button next to it and the door opened immediately. She stepped in and pressed the button for the only other floor this turbolift went to. The doors closed and the turbolift shot upwards. Despite its efficient speed, it still took about two minutes to reach the Council Chamber. She and Luke would sometimes joke about how the Council Chamber was six hundred stories in the air. Absentmindedly, she began to tap her toes and drum her fingers on her thigh. After about a minute, she pulled her lightsaber from her belt and began to spin it in her grip. This behavior wasn't unusual for her. The medical professionals in the Temple had diagnosed her with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder when she was young. From what she knew it only affected humans and some near-human species like Pantorans, Mirialans, and Zabraks. Luke had it too and he'd given her a few methods to cope with it that had proved to be helpful in most situations, but waiting in a turbolift was not one of those situations.

The turbolift chimed, signifying that she'd reached the top. She hastily returned her lightsaber to the magnet on her belt just before the doors opened. She walked into the Council's chamber; a circular room with large transparisteel windows revealing the Coruscant skyline. In a ring around the perimeter were twelve chairs, and each one was occupied. Starting to her left, there was Magnus' Master, Samirah Abbas. Next to her was a human female with black hair and green eyes. Beside her was a Bothan with dark brown fur with a few grey streaks and pale blue eyes. He had a distraught look on his face. Next to him was another human female, this one having fair skin, brown hair, and brown eyes, and next to her was an Anzat with very pale skin that had a few wrinkles and black hair and eyes. Unlike everyone else in the room, who were wearing brown robes, his were dark grey. Next to the Anzat, in the seat centered with the elevator, was the Grandmaster of the Jedi Council, Hectae Triv. Next to her was a Chiss (the only Chiss Annabeth had ever seen in her life). His blue skin and red eye made him look intimidating enough, but he also wore a metal eye-patch over his left eye (why, she did not know). To his left was a Tholothian with light skin and grey eyes, but they weren't like Annabeth's; they were grey like storm clouds rather than beskar (so she had been told those years ago). She wore a calculating expression and the look in her eyes made Annabeth glad she wasn't slouching. Beside her was a Cerean with blonde hair and pale yellow eyes. Next to him was a Nikto with orange/brown skin, blue eyes, and rather long horns. One of his legs wasn't covered, exposing an artificial replacement. To his left was a Troig. His left head had green skin and dark eyes and his right head had yellow skin and green eyes. Finally, in the rightmost seat was a Mikkian with bright blue eyes. She had yellow skin that faded into red at the tips of her head tendrils.

Annabeth took a careful breath as she walked to the center of the room. "You summoned me, Masters?"

"We have," Master Triv said. "We would like you to recount your retrieval of the youngling."

"Hasn't Luke already told you?" Annabeth asked. "And where is he anyway? He told me-."

Master Triv raised a hand calmly, and Annabeth took it as a sign to stop talking. "All in due time," she said. "Luke has told us his point of view. We would like to hear yours."

Annabeth bit her tongue. She knew they were hiding something from her, and she could sense general dismay coming from just about everyone. But she knew from experience that forcing information out of the Council was an uphill struggle, and that they would tell her what she wanted to know if they said they would. "Well, nothing too fancy happened," she began. "On the way there, Master Castellian had me demonstrate my piloting abilities by having me take us to Kuat and Onderon first rather than taking a more direct route. We then reached Kashyyyk and I took us to the village where the Youngling was. While Master Castellian retrieved the Youngling, I spoke with the chieftain. There had apparently been a Terentatek after the Youngling but, apparently, two Mandalorians killed it less than a rotation before we arrived. Then Master Castellian returned with the Youngling, we returned to the ship, and he flew us back to Coruscant."

The Chiss, Master Jotunno'Di'Naesir, or Odin, stroked his chin. "Would this not have been your second encounter with Mandalorians?"

"It would have, yes," Annabeth said. "However I find it unlikely that they were the same ones." She turned back to Master Triv. "You wanted me for something else?" Annabeth asked.

"Yes," Master Triv said, a melancholy look spreading across her face. Annabeth immediately didn't like where this was going. "Your Master, Luke Castellian, has decided to leave the Order."

Annabeth's mind blanked. She didn't think she heard that correctly. "What?"

"During your his debrief last night, he voiced his disagreements with the Jedi Order," Master Odin said. "He said that he couldn't continue as a Jedi without reforms, and he forfeited his rights as a Jedi. He left on his swoop bike last night.

Annabeth was in disbelief. "No," she denied. "Luke wouldn't do that. Sure, he had his problems with the Order, but he never said anything about leaving."

"It is the unfortunate truth," Master Toria, the black-haired human female, said.

Annabeth felt like she was going to be ill. "He didn't even say goodbye."

"He didn't want to say farewell to you in person for he believed it would sway you to follow him," Master Odin said. "He told us he didn't want to lead you away from the life you want. He saw promise and potential in you."

Annabeth barely heard all of what Master Odin said. Her ears began to ring and her head had begun to spin. Why would Luke give up on the Order entirely. To her, it didn't make sense. Maybe she just didn't know Luke the way she thought she did. She began to feel dizzier.

"-dawan Chayst," Master Triv called. "Annabeth!" Annabeth snapped back to reality. She noticed that she'd taken a few steps backwards and quickly returned to where she had been standing before. "Are you alright?"

"Physically, yes," Annabeth said, holding her head in her hand. She tried to maintain her composure. "Forgive me, Masters. It was a lot to take in." She have a shaky sigh. "I take it that I will be assigned a new Master?" Master Triv nodded.

"He requested that I finish your training," the Bothan, Master Mercury Mes, said. "Unfortunately, I already have an apprentice. Thankfully, Master Nerva has volunteered to take you under he wing." Annabeth looked to the Tholothian, whose expression had softened, but not her eyes.

"Very well," Annabeth said, still trying not to break down. She sighed again.

"This has been a troubling experience for all of us," Master Triv said. "Luke Castellian was a friend to many in the Order. However we cannot interfere with his choice. It is the will of the Force. If he was meant to leave, there's nothing we can do to change it."

Annabeth nodded. "I understand."

Master Triv nodded in return. "You are dismissed, Padawan. Master Nerva will meet you in the dojos at noon alongside Master Abbas and your cousin." Annabeth nodded again and returned to the turbolift. As the doors closed, she felt a few tears slide down her cheeks. She wanted to take her lightsaber and tear the turbolift to shreds.

How could Luke leave her like this?