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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Angcuru" data-source="post: 2314287" data-attributes="member: 10948">11 - Prequel Part 3The oval door irised open in front of Arias and Miera.  Yoda, Mace Windu, Oppo Rancis, and all of the others on the Jedi Council were present in their respective seats.  “Approach you may, padawans.”  Yoda spoke.The two of them exchanged a quick glance, and walked to the center of the council room.“Pleased I am to see you safe Miera, and you Arias.” Yoda said.“Indeed, when we heard of the battle on Ithor you two were recently involved in, we feared the worst.”  Said Mace.“Yes, it was quite alarming to hear that two of our more promising trainees were caught up in a full-scale battle.” Ki-Adi-Mundi said.“And even more alarming was the news that you led the charge into said battle.”  Gallia added.“With respect to Master Koth,”  Miera said with a slight bow towards the Zabrak Jedi, “we couldn’t let the rogue Iridonians take advantage of their peaceful nature.”“Regardless of that, you disobeyed your master, Tabano by doing so.”  Oppo said with a hint of scorn.“Would you rather that we had allowed them to be slaughtered?”  Arias countered.“Of course we don’t, Arias.”  Mace said.  “But we had expected that you would have waited for Tabano to return from his meeting with us concerning the conflict.”“Instead, you disobeyed his order to remain neutral in the conflict, and took the matter into your own hands.”  Oppo added.  “Most out of place for padawans.”“Every day that passed meant more innocents killed in raids.  Our actions prevented further tragedy.”  Arias spoke.“Even so,”  Miera quickly added, “we remain padawans only because we have not yet been tested.”“Do you not see their arrogance?”  Oppo said to the other council members, “They presume to possess the skill of Jedi Knights, and have not even been tested.  Perhaps it was foolhardy to allow Tabano to break with tradition and take on two padawans.”“Can a craftsman not possess great talent without the recognition of his peers?  Or a bodyguard great dedication without having to defend his charge?”  Miera said to Oppo.  “The decision to train us both was that of Tabano, not our own.  Would you hold over our heads the choice of another?”“Wise words, Miera.”  Yoda stated.  “Have the skill to pass the trials you may, but undergo them you must before Jedi you be.  Most unorthodox was Tabano’s insistence to train you both.  A break with tradition, this was, but not necessarily an unwise decision.”“I agree.”  Mace said.  “Traditionally there could only be one master with one apprentice, but Tabano had insisted that the two of you be trained together rather than apart.”“Please excuse the interruption, but did he ever mention why he made such a decision?”  Arias asked.“Told you he has not?”  Yoda asked.  “Surprising, this is.  Throughout his career as a Jedi, always preferred to work alone Tabano had.  A surprise to us it was when he arrived at the Temple some fifteen years ago with two infants whom he expressed a desire to train.   Found the two of you he did, and told us of how entrusted to his care, you were.”“Tabano had been aiding in the defense of a primitive world caught in a battle between the Hutt crime syndicate and an organization of Trandoshan slavers.”  Mace added.  “Eventually that world fell to the Trandoshans, and Tabano saved those he could before the rest were enslaved.  Most left the system as refugees, but in the confusion, two infants were left orphaned.”“Tabano was able to learn your given names, but anything more than that remained a mystery.” Ki-Adi-Mundi said.“Sense a connection to the Force in you both, he did.  To the Jedi Temple he brought you to be raised, and when of age you were, took you both for training he did.”  Yoda continued.  “We know that much, of course,”  Miera replied. “But why is it that he insisted that we be trained together rather than apart?”“We initially objected to his taking of two padawans, but he eventually showed that he could handle training you both.”  Ki-Adi-Mudi replied. “You see, Tabano has always been an especially wise Jedi, and his council has been most valuable to us.  However, he operates on the edge of our order.  There have been times when he has gone several years without returning us to deliver a report or seek assistance.”“Unorthodox yet effective, Tabano’s methods are.” Yoda added. “On this very council he would be, but he does not desire such.  Prefer to be active and always on the move, you master does.”“Which brings us to the issue of your training.”  Mace said.  “Tabano has been of the belief that although our methods of training which have lasted for centuries are sufficient to the needs of the Jedi, there are alternative methods.  He proposed that once you two were of age to travel with him, he would train you both in a more specialized method.  Your master envisioned a pairing of Jedi, both equally powerful in the force, but with different methods.”“Despite our misgivings, you both turned out to be fast learners.” Mace.  “Tabano tells us that individually you are each stronger than a Jedi of traditional training, but together, you equal the skill of many.  Although Tabano has not given us reason to doubt him, we would prefer to be the judges in that matter.” “Which brings us to the reason we summoned you here today.”  Oppo said.  “Tabano has requested that you undergo the trials, to see if your training is complete.  This is most unusual.”“How is it unusual?”  Arias asked. “We have performed duties that Jedi Knights are often assigned to.  If anything is unusual here, it is that we were not tested earlier.”“Doubt your abilities, we do not, Arias.”  Yoda said.  “Although still Padawans, well known within the order for your skill you both are.” “However, the speed with which your abilities have improved has been most rapid.  We must wonder whether you have developed the discipline and self-control necessary to be a Jedi Knight.” Ki-Adi-Mundi said. “What’s more, it has been very uncommon for those as young as you to become Jedi Knights.”“I doubt that the number of standard Coruscanti stellar orbits since my birth influences my competency in a significant manner.”  Miera said, getting a hint of a smirk from Mace, as well as Arias.“Clever, Miera.”  Yoda smiled. “Though the fact remains still that become a Jedi before passed twenty years of training have, a Padawan seldom does.”“If our initial medical scans upon your arrival at the temple are to be believed, the two of you are but sixteen years old.” Koth stated.“And your point would be?”  Arias asked.“Our point, Arias,” Mace said, “is that no one as young as you has passed the trials in the recorded history of the Jedi Order.”“Will the council not test us due to a lack of historical precedent?”  Miera inquired.“Of course not.” Mace quickly replied. “We simply emphasize the sensitivity of this matter.  The test began the moment you stepped through those doors.  When we have reached our decision, we will let you know.”“Tabano has informed us that you have constructed your own lightsabers,” Ki-Adi-Mundi said, “let us see them.”Miera and Arias nodded.  Miera drew hers from a pouch on her thigh and placed it into the cerean’s open hand.  “Well constructed; solid, yet light.”  Ki-Adi-Mundi depressed the activation switch, but no blade came forth.  The Jedi master looked at it curiously.  “It seems that your lightsaber is in need of repairs.”Miera’s skin flushed slightly.  “My mistake, sorry.  I should have mentioned the alterations I made over the years.”  Miera pressed the switch, and a green blade flashed to life.  “After an incident with some smugglers a few years ago, I added a special precaution to mine and Arias’ lightsabers.  If it isn’t held by a designated ‘safe’ user, the blade cannot be activated.”“Indeed?” The cerean’s eyebrows arched. “Just how does this alteration function?”“I got the idea from personal hold out blasters carried by several notable Senators.”  Miera explained, displaying her now deactivated lightsaber to the council. “The shell of the weapon is covered with microscopic bio-sensors, which detect the genetic pattern of the one who holds it.  If the pattern does not match up with a stored ‘safe’ pattern, the weapon cannot be activated.”“Most interesting.”  The master commented.  Miera replaced her lightsaber to it’s holster.“Now show us yours, Arias.”  Mace said.Arias reached behind his back to where his lightsaber hung next to his spine from a ring between his shoulder blades, and handed it to Mace.“Unusual.”  Mace commented.  “It is not often that a Jedi uses a double bladed lightsaber, especially one of such unusual length.”  Mace compared the length of the lightsaber to his own.  Double-bladed lightsabers are normally twice the length of an ordinary lightsaber, but Arias’ own was nearly slightly longer.  “I find this intriguing, Arias.  Please explain how you decided on such an odd design.”“Well,” Arias started awkwardly, “I always felt that a single blade was adequate, but that if I could wield two as skillfully as I can one, why shouldn’t I?  I originally constructed two normal lightsabers and fused them together, but found that close proximity of the grips placed undue stress on my wrists, as well as decreasing my flexibility.  After watching an Echani martial arts tournament and examining their quarterstaff bouts, I separated my lightsaber and lengthened each individual weapon slightly, and then fused them back together.”  After being handed back his weapon, Arias ignited both blue blades of the lightsaber.  Fully extended, the weapon was longer than he was tall.  He then gave a quick twist to the center, and the double lightsaber separated into two single blades.“With my weapon constructed as such, I can easily adapt my fighting style to whatever the situation calls for.  This has proved most useful, unfortunately.”  Arias said, before deactivating and reassembling his weapon and returning it to its spot on his back.“I see a pattern here.”  Koth observed. “Miera keeps her weapon hidden, but within reach if necessary.  Arias has his hidden, but within quick easy reach and has even adapted specifically towards multiple fighting styles.”“Ah,” Mace said, “could it be that you have focused your training primarily on the lightsaber Arias?  And if Tabano trained your abilities to complement each other, then perhaps Miera has focused on her skills with the Force over combat training?”The two padawans exchanged a glance.  “That sums it up well enough.”</blockquote>

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