"...Isn't that special treatment?"
"I don't think so." Dooku smiled at him. "If I had another youngling with almost a year of training as well, I think it would be perfectly appropriate for them to join Dyas' classes, but we must make do with what we have."
...
Ky felt a healthy dose of skepticism, but decided to keep it to himself. "I see, of course that's how it is."
"Yes, that's how it is." Dooku agreed. "On that topic, given your role as the most senior Knight in the New Temple, Dyas and I have talked, and we have agreed that you're surely ready to become a Master yourself."
Ky blinked. "A Master? I'm not nearly ready! Compared to you two my connection to the force and my lightsaber skills are just not-"
"Those can be worked on afterwards. What matters most for now is what's best for the Temple, and it needs more than two Jedi Masters. I have duties to attend to, diplomatic affairs that take me all across the Outer Rim, and Sifo is extremely busy as well. We've coordinated so far to make sure that there is always at least one Master present, but now that we have more students we need more Masters."
Ky paused, unable to make eye contact. His stomach churned and roiled inside him, and he knew in his heart of hearts he wasn't ready. He couldn't be a Jedi master, he didn't have what it took and he couldn't be trusted. He was a liar, a coward, and worse. Unable to answer Dooku, Ky swallowed miserably.
The Count watched him for a long moment, until his face hardened. "I see."
"I-I'm sorry Master, I'm unable. This is just… I-"
"Enough, Ky. The Temple needs a third Master, and whatever you think of yourself you'll have to do." He stepped closer, somehow seeming to loom over the Jedi who was only slightly shorter. "Do you understand me?"
It was all Ky could do to nod his head with a shallow gulp, and look away from those hard, dark eyes.
Abruptly they were interrupted by the familiar voice of Athemeene. "Husband, you've brought work home with you again." She chided. "This is supposed to be a party."
In an instant the frightening, uncompromising gaze of chilled durasteel was gone, and Dooku had the look of a put upon husband who felt he was being unfairly harangued. "Wife, it was a small conversation between colleagues. We can talk about work without it being work, you know."
Athemeene hadn't come alone to rescue Ky from Dooku, she'd brough Asajj with her. Obviously some of the tension of Ky and the Count's previous conversation had been visible to her, because there was an obvious look of concern on her face.
"Were you guys fighting?" Asajj asked.
"Hardly." Dooku scoffed. "In fact, I was telling Ky that he was ready to advance to the rank of Jedi Master."
"Really?" Aajj stood straighter, an excited smile alighting her face. "Is that true, Master Ky?"
When he saw that bright look on his former student's face, Ky knew he really wasn't in a position to refuse any longer. Unable to disappoint his adopted daughter in front of him, and afraid to upset the powerful man behind him, Ky was well and truly trapped. The decision had been made for him, all he could do was try to make it work.
"Yes, Padawan Asajj. It's true." Ky told her with his best warm smile, defeated but determined not to let it show.
...
A T-6 Shuttle descended through Serenno's upper atmosphere, and parked in the palace's landing area, next to a small YT-1000 and a much larger Consular Class.
Grand Master of the Jedi Order Yoda felt relieved to finally disembark. He was old, and didn't enjoy traveling much anymore.
With the help of the Force he could force his old bones and worn joints into graceful leaps and bounds, though he would feel it very badly afterwards, and the force could do nothing to help him with the discomfort of a bad that wasn't his own and a twelve hours hyperspace jump. At least the T-6 was large enough that he could move about the cabin freely.
The tapping of Yoda's cane as he stepped down the exit ramp was accompanied by the clipped stride of two human men in soft heeled boots, and the gentle padding of another member of his species, Yaddle. The three of them, Jedi Master Yaddle, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and Padawan Obi-wan Kenobi accompanied Yoda for this long journey, all on explicit invitation from their host.
It had been a surprise to all of them, to receive an invitation to a Life Day celebration of all things, a decidedly consumerist holiday that the rest of the Council did not approve of. Well, Yoda decided to go anyway, giving the reason that it was as good of a time as any to check in on Jedi Master Dooku and the New Temple.
Yoda always had a soft spot for Younglings. He knew that they needed to be taught discipline, and obviously rewarding them for nothing would teach bad habits, and that the Jedi had no real truck with an occasion that on Coruscant served no real purpose other than to satisfy the gaping chasm of bottomless corporate greed. The Council knew it, Yoda knew it, the Jedi Order absolutely knew it. There was no need for something as shallow and vapid as Life Day.
It was just that, well, Yoda loved it. He absolutely loved this day to bits. He was of the opinion that a celebration of any occasion was a good idea, and this one in particular happened to be an excellent excuse to spoil a good child. Shopping for gifts for Tanya, Kenth and Madale had been a little tricky, he hadn't met them yet and wasn't sure what kinds of toys they would enjoy, but he was sure that he found something for each of them.
Ahead of him, from the Palace emerged Dooku carrying his son Kenth, and his beautiful young wife Athemeene pushing a hover-pram with little Madale inside. Behind them, wearing a cute lilac evening dress, but with a black cape and silver chain like her father, was Tan'ya.
The overly serious expression she wore and the way she carried herself with her back straight, chin tilted up, chest puffed out, and attempting to walk in his confident, unwavering strides made it clear that even at this young age she was looking to her father's example.
"Grand Master Yoda, Master Yaddle and Qui-Gon, it's good to see you all." The Count smiled and radiated confident feelings of welcome in the force. "And it's good to meet you as well, Obi-wan. Qui-Gon mentions you often."
"Thank you, Master." The boy bowed in a formal manner that didn't quite fit the occasion.
"I shall have to introduce you to my own Padawan, I'm sure there'll be time later or in the morning." Dooku turned his torso so the small boy he was carrying faced the newcomers. "This is Kenth, my son, and in the pram there is Madale, my daughter."
Looking slightly left out, Tan'ya stepped forward to stand at her father's side, but her mother grabbed her shoulder and gently tugged her away. "This is Tan'ya." Athemeene said, placing a hand on her daughter's head and smiling.
With their greetings exchanged, the family led them all downstairs to where the party was being held, and Yoda was pleased to see plenty of other youngling's present as well. None of them were from the New Temple, most of the children seemed to be the Count's extended family, nieces, nephews and the like.
"I thought the Temple had been recruiting younglings?" Yaddle asked what Yoda assumed all the Coruscant Jedi had been thinking.
"We have, but almost none of them are at the Temple yet." Dooku explained. "Starting next year we're expecting thirty new students to be staying with us."
"And their age? Your previous reports mentioned that many of them were older than we would usually accept." Yaddle continued to prod.
"The oldest is thirteen by Coruscant years." Dooku assuaged, with what Yoda knew to be manufactured certainty.
"Too old." Yoda declared, tapping his cane more loudly on his next step. "Attached to their parents they are."
"I make do with what I have, Master Yoda." Dooku replied. "The Temple hasn't even completed construction, yet. At least allow us to open our doors before condemning us as radicals."
Yoda harrumphed in disapproval, but knew better than to keep arguing. Dooku was at least as stubborn as any Jedi the Order had ever produced, so pointing out the danger of his students already being attached to their parents would only make him dig his heels in more when his pride was on the line.
...
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