HOMEJEDI TRIALS:
The Trial of Courage.
Written by:
Anthony Hummerston.
STARRING:
Karnov and
Niall.
-And special guest stars:
Master Junn and Mistress Tisha Luce.
Mistress Luce slumps into a chair.
“Bad day at the office?” Niall asks.
“It’s that master Junn. –He perplexes me.”
“Me too,” Niall admits. “He’s a difficult one to like.”
Mistress Luce fills Niall in on some of the details. “He’s consulted with me about the trial of courage…”
“And?” Niall prompts.
“He seemed unsure about how to proceed.”
Niall sighs. “He’s suffered a lot. No-one knows what he went through at the hands of the separatists.” Niall’s fists clench. “–Even thinking about it makes me want to….”
Mistress Luce interrupts him with a glance.
“Makes me….” Niall searches for the right words. “Want to find a solution…To help him…Not to break heads.”
His mistress smiles at him.
“Have some tea. Think. Meditate…..-And soon it will be your turn to take the trial.”
Meanwhile in the cantina d'Ampezzo, Karnov is with Master Junn.
“I think it best to keep up with your training. Time to take your trials.” Junn says.
Karnov waits for him to continue.
“We are at a time of war. – The Jedi are being sucked in. – We don’t have the luxury of time…..So intensive training is the only way.”
“But why are we in the cantina?”
“Too stuffy back in the Jedi Temple. There are eyes everywhere.”
“I’m not sure I agree with you, master.”
“No matter.” Junn passes over a code cylinder and a holo-projector. “Here is the trial of courage.”
“I have to connect the two?” Karnov asks, looking at the two components in her hand. “That wouldn’t challenge a dead Toydarian.”
Junn explains, “I’ve selected ten opponents willing to fight…..” Karnov slots the two components together, and several small holographic images spring to life. She flips through the images checking them off. Junn runs through the options.
“Jedi Master Aayla Secura.”
Aayla Secura holo.
“Check.”
“Human force adept.”
“Check.”
“Jawa Trader.”
“Check.”
Junn stops. “I think this list will be checked off quicker if you stop saying ‘check,’ –besides that droid waitress keeps coming over to give you the bill.”
“Sorry master.”
Junn rattles off the rest of the list. In her head, Karnov still says ‘check’ at each entry.
“Polis Massa medic, a royal guard, a Rodian brute, a Munn guard, a Jedi watchman, a Nikto soldier, and a Duros explorer.”
“That Duros looks like one of the officers aboard the Tenacity.” Karnov says.
“Maybe he is.” Junn replies, without giving anything else away. “You’ll enter the chamber after your selected opponents. The terrain will be computer-generated at random. There you will fight and defeat six of the ten. –So you must choose carefully.”
Karnov flicks through the choices again.
“When you have decided, we’ll meet again at training room Dorn-nineteen.”
Karnov thinks about her potential opponents. Junn watches her, looking bored.
“Have you made your selection?” Junn prompts, pointedly.
“Yes, master.”
“Which did you reject?”
“The Jawa, the force adept, the medic and the royal guard.”
“Okay. I’ll stand them down. Meet us at the training room in two hours.”
Karnov goes to prepare. –But how does one prepare for the unknown? When Junn said ‘defeat’ surely he didn’t mean ‘kill’ did he? She starts pacing around the room, thinking about combat and trying not to worry. In the end, she simply decides to let the force guide her. She boards the next available Coruscant taxi to meet Junn.
Coruscant taxi.
“I am ready master.” Karnov says, indicating her selection.
“Are you sure? These are tough opponents that you’ve chosen.”
Karnov is quietly confident. “I’m sure.”
Junn invites her to sit. He punches a few keys. “I have good news and bad.”
Karnov waits for her master to continue.
“You passed part one, because you were ready to take on the challenge….But…..”
“But what?”
“But you didn’t select the right opponents.”
There is an awkward silence.
“What now master?”
“I don’t know. I’m trying to remember.” Junn looks anguished. Karnov puts her hand on his arm. “It's okay. We’ll work it out.” She says, trying to sound reassuring.
Mistress Luce presents Niall with a holo-projector and a code cylinder. “It’s time for your trial of courage.” She says, with flicker of doubt in her voice.
“I’m ready, mistress.”
“Though I must say that I’m not entirely happy with the way that the council are fast-tracking you.”
“Mistress?”
“But I think you’re ready for this one. You’ve learned a lot through field work, and that counts for something.”
Niall connects the two components. A gallery of opponents flickers in front of him.
“Take your time.” Mistress Luce tells him. “There is no rush.”
Niall is a fraction ahead of her. He closes his eyes and starts to meditate on the problem. Across town, Karnov is doing the same.
Code cylinder.
A couple of days later, Master Junn is at the holo-communicator. His voice is silky smooth. “Thank you Mistress Luce. Your help is most appreciated. I’ll bear your suggestions in mind.” Karnov is standing patiently nearby, thinking that Junn is being unexpectedly polite. As Junn turns away, he switches off the holo-terminal by slamming his hand down on the button. “E chu ta to you too! -Bi’shoo!”
Hardly suppressing his bad mood, Junn turns to his padawan. “I have the results of your test, Karnov. There’s no point in dressing it up: You failed.”
“Failed master?”
“Yes.” Junn replies, matter-of-factly. He is about to add an insult, but doesn’t.
Karnov takes this news in her stride. “So what’s next?”
“You can prepare again and re-take the test.” Junn tells her, “Only try to be less zealous about it.”
“Yes master…..Anything else?”
“You could study your opponents more. There may be something you are missing.”
“I will try again.”
A few hours later, Karnov returns to master Junn. “I have studied. I concentrated not on the masters of the force, but the commoners – the Duros, the Rodian and the rest.”
“Good. Then select a new set of opponents.”
Karnov ponders her selection. Instead of the Rodian and Munn, she substitutes the force adept and the royal guard.
“Are you sure? The Rodian and the Munn would appear to be stronger opponents.”
“Appearance isn’t everything master.”
“Correct! Time to take the trial again.”
“I’m ready.” Karnov says.
“Nonsense! Go and study.”
“But I’m ready!” Karnov protests.
“All the more reason not to start!” Junn whoops. Some time later, Karnov has reflected on her choices and studied their strengths and weaknesess. She makes the short journey to the Academy. Junn is waiting for her. He presses a switch, summoning Karnov’s opponents. “Wait here in the lobby. Then, when you are calm, go into the chamber and start your test…..Oh and one last thing?”
“Master?”
“Do what your heart tells you. Feel the force flow through you.”
Karnov looks anguished, but suppresses it quickly. Using the force to guide her she sits and mentally prepares. Only when she is at peace, does she step forward toward the chamber.
As she does so, two medics emerge. On a stretcher is a hastily covered body of the previous candidate. His body is bruised, blasted, burned and abused. -He is also very obviously dead. Karnov swallows hard. The medics go over to one of the other Jedi Masters. Another padawan is standing nearby, looking terrified.
Karnov tries desperately to breathe calmly, focus on the task ahead, and to suppress her fear.
Inside the chamber, a computer-generated landscape appears. It a cold and barren wasteland. Burned-out buildings and wrecked vehicles are scattered around. Karnov knows that these are mere illusions, but her opponents are genuine. She grips her lightsabre, and concentrates. Hidden in the inhospitable surroundings, several pairs of eyes watch her every move….
Across town, Niall is meditating. Mistress Luce bangs a holo-projector on the table, startling him. “No time for that!” She snaps. “At the double! Here are ten opponents. Choose six and be at the training chambers in fifteen minutes. Meet me in the lobby.” [†]
Niall scans the projector quickly. A range of opponents spin before him. He dismisses the battle droid and an R7 astromech without hesitation. Then a Mon Calamari medic and a Rodian trader.
This leaves a Jedi crusader, a Bothan, a Gamorrean, a Sith assassin, a Rakghoul and an Utapuan. He stops to think. Mistress Luce glowers at him.
“What about meditation time?” Niall asks.
“That time is passed!” She snaps, “A Jedi must be ready at short notice, with nothing more than a robe for warmth, a lightsabre for security and just enough money for the next meal.”
Unaccustomed to being hurried like this from Mistress Luce, Niall fights to keep his temper. “But I need to think! -To be calm!”
“Enough! Be passionate! Use your head! Don’t agonise over the little things, look at the big picture!”
Niall takes a deep breath, fighting his anger. “I’m not ready, Mistress.” He insists.
“Then cool your temper. –‘Temper’ it if you like…..” She adds with a grin. You have but a few minutes…Your opponents are ready.”
Niall ignores his heart and uses his knowledge. He confirms his opponents and walks across the lobby to the training chamber. Padawan Oona is there, and glances at him. He glances back, but is focussed on the training. In front of him is a large covered cage, reminding him of the cage that the crew used to carry the Nexu. Several ray-shield generators hum ominously, and Niall reels at a sudden feeling of hatred in the force. –There is something strong with the dark side in that cage! He almost hesitates, but doesn’t want to back down. The cage is pushed inside the chamber though large doors, which slam shut. A smaller door slides open inviting him to share the room with the monster in the cage. Niall steps inside. Inside the chamber is a lavish palace. It isn’t the garish taste of a crime-lord’s den, but the well-appointed chambers of a retired senator. His opponents are not skulking in the shadows, but arranged in a semi-circle, their weapons drawn….
Outside, in the lobby, Mistress Luce and Master Junn are deep in conversation. In moments they come to a conclusion, and Master Junn stalks off. Mistress Luce gives a shrug, and then she sweeps her robe dramatically and walks in the opposite direction. Padawan Oona has been trying to listen in on their conversation. She is soon summoned by her master, and trots off behind him.
Karnov looks around, looking for any advantage. The eyes watch her every move, but no-one comes forward. Karnov is fearful. Knowing Master Junn’s teaching methods, this could be brutal. She might even lose her life here. She tries to channel her passion. She catches sight of one of her opponents, and then another. She holds her lighsabre hilt in her hand, waiting to ignite it. “If I’m going to go….” She thinks, “I’m going to score is high as I can. Make every life count for something…..Conquer all, or die trying.” She ignites the weapon, calm in the force, and resolved in her mind. “I’m not afraid!” She yells, as she feels the force flow through her. Several of her opponents come at a rush, covering the ground with drawn weapons. In another second, the remainder all open fire. Karnov struggles valiantly to fend off several opponents at the same time as deflecting blaster bolts and bullets. “My life must mean something, even if I am fighting a losing battle!”
In the adjacent chamber, Niall is surrounded. The door is as his back. His experience tells him that he is beaten before he starts. The Sith assassin ignites two lightsabres, and nonchalantly cuts through the Bothan with one of them. Fuelled by the dark side, the casual disregard for life is sickening. Niall fights his fear. This opponent alone will be more than a match for him. Is the only hope of survival to retreat….? -And then what? Admit defeat, admit failure….? Let this thing lose in the academy? His anger rises. He fights it down. This cannot be the end, can it? He fights the urge to blame his Mistress. Has she set him up?
The Sith starts pacing back and forward. The others are waiting on his signal to attack. Niall fights his anger. He needs to draw on some reserve, to find a solution. Finally he has it. –It’s an unwinnable fight. He doesn’t need the courage to win….But the courage to lose! Besides, the Jedi code says that the force lives in all things, people, animals, monsters…..But also trees and rocks and even space…..Maybe even in death too. Niall finds his courage. He draws his lightsabre, and using the force, he lowers it gently to the floor. He sits calmly and waits for death. He is calm, at peace, and unafraid. The Sith Lord’s eyes glow lava-red in their hatred, as it steps forward to finish him.
It is all over in an instant: Both Karnov’s rush of triumph, and Niall’s quiet resignation.
Fade to black....
The training chambers both reset…. The enemies fade, the landscape fades. After a few seconds, there is another shock, -the lobby outside the chamber fades. -Even that was an illusion! Both Niall and Karnov are in the same chamber. A chamber much larger than they had presumed. The dead padawan and the Sith were both illusions, but enough to make them dig deep and deal with their fears.
Mistress Luce and Master Junn are sitting together, trying to be civil to one another. It isn’t working. Mistress luce passes him something- something small and round and shiny. Like a metal marble. Junn takes the object, and slips it into his pocket.
“The trial of skill will begin soon……” Mistress Luce says, standing up. She looks regal and cammanding, fully in control. She goes to repeat her dramatic exit with her robe swishing. But unfortunately for her, Karnov is standing on it, completely ruining the effect.
Next chapter: The Trial of Skill.
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Footnotes: