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VERENA MEADOWDANCER leaned back in her seat, releasing her breath slowly while she tried to comprehend what padawan Ryder had shown the council. Her black hair fell down in front of her eyes and she brushed it away, crossing eyes with Obi-Wan as she did.

He sat in the seat across from her, at the other side of the room and he thoughtfully stroke his beard.

She wondered what went through his mind, but she didn't draw any conclusions herself yet. She never did, not until she knew all variables.

Kai still stood in the middle of the circle, uneasy shifting from one foot to another while Freia waited next to the door, her expression as unreadable as when her padawan had spoken.

No one from the council made a sound, all somewhat reluctant to share their thoughts or speak up firstly.

Outside, the night and darkness took over as the sun sank below the horizon, and it enveloped the Jedi Temple with its imaginary long arms. It seemed oddly fitting with the information now swirling through the council's mind and lingering in the air like an unknown predator.

'Presposterous,' Windu said, breaking the silence finally after what must have been at least several minutes. 'Droids cannot call upon the Force. Not in the past and not in the future. Surely this must be some scam created by the Separatists.'

Obi-Wan hummed, but not in agreement. 'I am afraid I must disagree, Master Windu. There was something very strange going on on Dylkogh, I could sense it.'

'That may be, but something this unnatural? Every Jedi in the galaxy should have been able to sense it then.'

'Lightly, I think, we must take this not,' Yoda said, drawing the attention of every council member immediately. When the Grand Master spoke, everyone took it to heart.

Windu clenched his jaw and Verena knew her former master was still not convinced because neither was she.

'Kai,' she addressed the boy calmly and much more informal than the others had done. She still remembered the first time she had appeared for the council as a padawan; everything had been so formal, almost making her unable to think straightly. She felt Kai experienced the same, but she needed him to think with his full capacity now.

The young padawan turned to her, his brown eyes mirroring the darkness outside but there also lay a warmth in them, a kindness. 'Yes, Master Meadowdancer?' he asked.

'You have seen the schematics as well. What do you think, is it possible?'

'Well. . .' Kai hesitated and Verena nodded for him to continue before he could glance at the other Masters and been thrown off of balance. They could be overwhelming.

She radiated with tranquility and in an instant, Kai knew she respected him as an equal, no matter his age or experience.

'I didn't study them that closely, but as far as I could tell, they were legit,' Kai answered truthfully. 'I think a Force sensitive droid could be possible, yes.'

'Thank you, Kai.' Verena smiled shortly but genuine, and Kai returned it as another silence fell between the council members.

However, it didn't last as long as the first.

'For certain, this, we must know. Now, more closely, study the schematics. And back to us, you report, young Ryder.'

'Yes, Master Yoda.'

✧✧

THE LIGHTSABERS swung through the air, the humming sound vibrating between the walls of the younglings classroom. They were dead silent from awe as they observed the lightsaber practice duel between the two padawans.

Both Astaldo and Eerie were blindfolded, but they used their lightsabers without hesitation; relying completely on their senses and intuition.

Astaldo's double-edged blade shot towards Eerie's unprotected side, and one youngling gasped, scared she might be hit. But Eerie's green saber moved swiftly and crackled as it collided with Astaldo's yellow blade.

The younglings sometimes practiced without seeing as well, but never with real lightsabers. That was still too dangerous.

Aramis Sullivan, the Jedi Knight who lead this class this morning, sat with crossed legs between the younglings. The duel was most impressive, yes, but the padawans should teach the younglings something during their guest lecture. Not impress them.

And Aramis knew just the solution to that.

With a mischievous twinkle in his blue eyes, he got up from his spot and sneaked towards some fist-sized marbles that lay in a bowl on the windowsill.

The younglings noticed his movements, but he ushered them to stay silent by putting a finger against his lips. They smiled, barely containing their giggles, but they did as he had asked.

Aramis grabbed a marble and aimed carefully at Astaldo. Not for his head, of course, but his abdomen would do quite nicely. He watched the padawans closely until he saw their upcoming strikes in his mind before they had actually happened. He didn't want to put Astaldo in danger, and when the padawan was about to swing his lightsaber, Aramis threw the marble.

It hit Astaldo square in his stomach and he bend forward with a hngh, the air knocked out of his lungs by the impact. His lightsaber fell on the ground and the two blades retracted automatically.

The younglings laughed while Eerie and Astaldo both removed their blindfolds.

'What happened?' Eerie asked confused, and Astaldo rubbed the sore spot as he glared at Aramis.

'Master Sullivan happened,' Astaldo grumbled, causing Aramis to wink but then he turned his attention back to the still laughing younglings.

'Quiet, children. That's enough. Who can tell me what padawan Naharion did wrong?'

'Nothing, until you interfered,' Astaldo muttered somewhat indignant, though Aramis ignored him.

He gave the younglings a few seconds to think about an answer but when none spoke up, he answered the question himself.

'Padawan Hux and Naharion were too focussed upon each other, making them blind for everything else around them. Especially in battle, a Jedi must stay aware of their surroundings. Not everyone fights with honour; Sith lords and droids do not wait for you to finish your current duel, they would slay you where you stand.'

Aramis paused a moment to let his words sink in. It were harsh words, but the truth of the Clone Wars was far from rose coloured.

'Class dismissed.'

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characters introduced this chapter:

Jedi Master Verena Meadowdancer by @ me.
Padawan Astaldo Naharion by ShockerGuardian1731
Padawan Eerie Hux by acemarrow
Jedi Knight Aramis Sullivan by @ me.

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