Chapter 12: Chapter 11: Amidst the unknown

The desert is quiet. Only a gentle breeze can be heard. Padmé and Obi-Wan have been walking without a word for already an hour. All they can hope for is that they're going in the right direction. The sand is brightly colored. One can notice mountains rising from the ground. A strange landscape, without any trace of vegetation. It is a hellish heat. The young man feels however that the air is slightly humid. It is almost indiscernible. It must be possible to collect it with a moisture vaporator or even windtraps. This planet must have springs, somewhere. Suddenly, the little girl breaks the silence and asks:

« Should I call you Lord knight from now on? »

« I'd prefer you didn't, no. » Obi-Wan replies dryly.

« You don't seem pleased with this promotion. Most of the people I've had the opportunity to observe were quite happy to be shown such a high degree of trust. »

« I doubt it's a matter of trust. My master had no choice. Besides, these people you describe must think they deserve it, which I don't. »

« Why not? »

« This is my first official field assignment! I'm nowhere near experienced enough to carry such a huge responsibility. »

« I guess we all have to do things that are far beyond our skill set right now. »

« Unfortunately. Was there something you wanted to ask me? »

« Yes. What is Qui-Gon Jinn's rank? You keep calling him 'master', only there's a Knight-Master grade too, right? I'm sorry if this question sounds stupid... I admit I wasn't paying much attention during my classes about customs and hierarchy of the Jedi Order. »

« Really? A diplomat who doesn't know the structure of the Order? » The young man points out, amused by the inconsistency.

« My mother wanted me to study religion, and since I was fiercely against it, I avoided any lessons that dealt with the organization of the Force faith. Don't get me wrong: I know the rituals, I just carefully ignored everything that could be. It wasn't my most mature decision. »

« How old are you? »

« Twelve. »

« That's early to be mature. »

« In my opinion, it's never too early to be mature. »

Obi-Wan smiles as he considers the fact that it was a twelve-year-old who just told him that. Finally, he continues:

« To answer your question, Qui-Gon is a Jedi Knight. By tradition we call all our superiors 'master', with a few exceptions. Novices address padawans as 'big brother' or 'big sister'. Conversely, we must respond with 'little brother' or 'little sister'. If a Knight-Master addresses an inferior, he says 'knight', 'padawan' or 'novice'. If, on the other hand, a colleague of the same level needs to be addressed, he or she is called 'brother' or 'sister'. The Grandmaster of the Jedi Order is called 'Holy Protector' or 'Your Holiness' by the laymen. We, Jedis, simply say 'grandmaster'. »

« It's simple. I mean, it's easier to remember than the formulas and ranks of the Republican Navy. »

« The Jedi Order is a religious organization. It recognizes the hierarchical principle mostly for practical reasons. Jedis are all brothers and sisters in the Force. »

The young man has a strange feeling that not only this girl will immediately memorize everything he says to her, but she will also understand the subtext that comes with it. It's unsettling to talk to someone with that kind of mind. Queen Amidala offers a beautiful innocent look, as she questions him:

« Jedis have a fantastic reputation. You can perform miracles on command. A knight could revive the dead? »

Her question is self-interested and the teenager knows it. She seeks hope in the Force, but by dangerous means. The idea must be nipped in the bud, right now:

« The prohibition against manipulating the living is a commandment of the Force faith, so don't expect its keepers to break the taboo! Only the Force can decide whether to create life or bring back the dead, for only it knows what is right and necessary. »

« I see. » She replies with disappointment.

A heavy silence falls. Obi-Wan spots a recess under a rock formation a few minutes away. Tiredness begins to set in. The young man points his finger and says:

« We're going to make a stop under these rocks. »

The girl simply changes her course to the indicated location. This improvised refuge is spacious. An opening allows the wind to create some coolness. It's ideal for shelter. The Jedi notices tracks that are several years old. Someone has already built a campfire here. Padmé settles down, opens her bag and takes out an electronic device. Obi-Wan doesn't recognize it. It's probably a compass of some kind. The teenager takes a dry cookie and eats a bit.

It's been a long day and it just keeps getting longer. As a Jedi, the young man doesn't feel fatigue like the laypeople do. If necessary, he could stay awake for a week. But what about the little Queen Amidala? This poor child must be dead tired. She points her eyes at Obi-Wan and asks:

« Is this really your first mission? »

« Yes, unfortunately. Jedis begin their field evaluation at about sixteen. Though it depends on the species... »

« A field evaluation? Are you in the middle of an exam? »

« More or less. The Jedi Order calls it a 'field evaluation', but it's more of a training. »

« How does the training of a Jedi work? » She asks with curiosity.

« When our connection is discovered, our parents are legally obligated to entrust us to a Jedi temple. It's usually quite young. I was placed around my 3rd birthday, since my affinity for the Force was detected the very day I entered school. The first part of our lives, which is until we're 13, is not that different from other kids in the galaxy. We take the same classes, in the same order, in the same way. The only thing unusual is that a Knight-Master teaches us how to control our link with the Force. »

« Don't you miss your parents? »

« I... I don't remember them. For me, the Order has always been my only family. »

« I guess it's easier that way, but a little sad. What happens after 13? »

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« The less talented are turned over to a specialized institute and will be trained by the Order to perform administrative or technical functions. Those whose affinity with the Force is great enough become padawans. This is where our life takes a serious departure from that of the other kids. The future knight is entrusted to a group of teachers, who will be totally dedicated to his every needs and will educate him in any subject necessary for a scholar. This instruction is designed for the student, case by case. With that kind of investment, one quickly becomes very gifted. »

« Really? » Her smile implies a bit of mockery. She's probably heard something like that elsewhere.

« When we are fourteen, the Order appoints the knight who will later become our supervisor. In the meantime, he will be required to teach us, at least once a week, how to use a lightsaber and the Force in combat. Often, he only directs this training from a distance. A Jedi's don't have time for that. Most padawans must therefore turn to a master-at-arms. I had the rare opportunity to be personally trained by Qui-Gon Jinn. »

« So you have no field experience at all? »

« The truth is... well, I do, a little. My master insisted I come with him to Tetallus VII, during the Shiolpec outbreak. So I had the misfortune to find myself in the middle of a planetary crisis, locked in quarantine for a week. In retrospect, that probably should have been a red flag for me. In the end, I used the Force to calm the sick. Normally the Order doesn't allow a padawan to go on a mission before his sixteenth birthday, but Qui-Gon insisted because he felt he needed help carrying his gear! It's amazing that the hierarchy accepted such a poor excuse! »

« You know I'm young and inexperienced. However, there is one thing I know: institutions tend to ignore their own protocol when it suits their interests. Your master may not have decided this without the invitation of a superior. »

That assumption hadn't even crossed Obi-Wan's mind. What difference did it make to take him on a mission before he was old enough? Why should it matter? No, more importantly: who could have come up with such an idea, if not Qui-Gon?

« Impressive that you could make such an educated guess at your age... »

« I... I was born with the ability to understand everything I'm told perfectly. In addition, I have an excellent memory and my ability to analyze is above average. My case is so exceptional, it seems, that I am a subject of study for some researchers! »

« Do your talents bother you? »

« No. I love my talents! I find intellectual work very fun. It's just that... even adults have a hard time processing what I want to tell them. It's hard to hold a conversation with people, outside of a select few. My dad was always very proud of me, but never really understood me and my mom... I know she was jealous. No child should hear their own mother's innuendo so clearly. How long will your evaluation last? »

« Almost four years. From age sixteen until initiation, around age twenty. »

« Initiation? »

« The last stage of our training. Some kind of test. I mean, it's a little more complicated than that. Padawans don't know much about it, except what they're told as novices. Our supervisor takes us to a specialized temple and talks to his brethren there, who will set up their trial on a hostile planet, where they will ask us to perform a number of tasks without any weapons or tools. All of them are designed to determine if we are really worthy of becoming knights. This test is completed as soon as we come into possession of a very specific artifact, probably a Kyber crystal. »

« The Jedi Order is demanding! »

« You have no idea how much. Anyway, after this success, the Order allows us to take the oath. The knights invite us into a room that contains all parts needed to build a lightsaber. The ceremony ends when the padawan lights his saber and raises it toward his superiors. Only then does one become a true Jedi. At least, that's what Knight-Master Yoda explained to me when I was a child. He spoke so wistfully of his own experience on Dagobah, you'd almost think he missed it! »

« I don't know if it's appropriate for me to ask... are there factions in the Jedi Order? I mean, the Senate is divided into clans that all represent a certain view of politics. Naboo, for example, is part of the pacifist clan and serves as a university for a large majority of its members. »

« Factions? That's possible. It is said that there are a dozen schools of thought in the Order, each symbolized by a fighting style. In truth, I could only name three. The mystics, who maintain that Jedi are above all moral guardians. The intellectuals, always seeking a better understanding of the Force. And finally, the fighters, who believe that our organization is responsible for galactic stability. I know at least one Jedi from each faction, Qui-Gon Jinn, Yoda and Mace Windu, respectively. »

« You know Mace Windu? »

« Everyone knows Mace Windu! »

« No, that's not what I'm asking: do you know him personally? »

« More or less. »

« Is he really... as powerful as they say? »

« Yes. »

Obi-Wan doesn't dare to add that Mace Windu's reputation may even be vastly underestimated. He is a true god of war. The young man knows from his recent studies that he has been involved in many operations. When two planets ignore Senate directives and decide to fight, Mace Windu is commissioned. He is able to disarm all the soldiers on both sides, destroy their fleets, and ensure that no one will ever utter the word "war" again for several millennia. All alone and without killing anyone.

The teenager prefers not to mention either that he also knows of a fourth faction in the Order, but it's best not to tell a laywoman that the Order has spies. When the Jedis want to know something, they send people like Dooku. Nothing stays a secret from a Force user for long. Of course, this kind of ambiguity causes tension, especially on the side of the mystics and intellectuals.

Is spying and lying unjustifiable when the lives of a billion people hang in the balance? Yoda and Qui-Gon would say yes, because even the best of intentions always leads to the worst result if the method is corrupted. Not necessarily right away, but eventually. Obi-Wan is not sure of his opinion on the subject. Dooku is one of the few Jedis the young man has had the opportunity to talk to. He turns out to be quite nice. The knight does not seem to enjoy his work, although he considers it necessary. His peers also have their own vision of what a Jedi should be. The teenager asks:

« Are we still on the right path? »

« Yes, it's a little farther than I thought. An hour's walk, I guess. »

« In that case, we'll be fine. We'll get there before dark. If you don't mind me asking, why the sudden curiosity about Jedis? »

« With Naboo in danger of destruction, I think it's best to know how the Order works. I have a feeling it might come in handy. »

« It might. »

« We should get back on the road. »

« Don't you want to get some sleep first? It's probably already late, back home... »

« I don't have time to think about jet lag! Don't worry about me, Obi-Wan, I'm well enough to keep going. »

They get up, close their bags and start moving again. This kid gives an odd impression. It's so strange to talk to a little girl who speaks like an adult. In any case, now is not the time to think about it.

« Anyway, how is life on Coruscant? » Padmé continues.

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