Coruscant: Jedi Temple-- Master Jinn's Quarters

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From his spot on the couch, Qui-Gon quietly watched Nicholas and Obi-Wan sitting together as the other immersed himself in a data pad on the main member species of the Republic, while his padawan pointed out particularly important information for de Brabant to memorize. It had taken a while before Nick had stopped flinching at each new change of species image, but now he seemed to be pretty much accepting each one as a matter of course. However, accepting a tiny data pad picture and confronting a real, breathing, Wookie towering over you could be two entirely different things. He wished they had time to take Nicholas on a short outing about the Temple to help him acclimatize first, but Master Yoda had just advised them thru Jinn's comlink that he and Mace could not keep the rest of the Council members at bay much longer: They were getting antsy for a report on both Ta'okin's death and this new development with his former padawan.

"Ugh.. it looks like some sort of monsterous slug!"

Before Obi-Wan could say anything, the Anaran hybrid/Earther immediately became contrite, his enlarging pupils pushing the shifting sand of the irises into thin,striated rings--- a sign Kenobi was quickly learning meant emotional distress even if he had not been able to feel it through the Force. At times, de Brabant felt like just one big cloud of angst. Sure, Obi-Wan knew he was prone to worrying himself--- but this was getting excessive!

"Sorry. That was rather unpolitically correct of me, wasn't it?"

Obi-Wan chuckled to try to put him at ease. "Not in this case. The Hutt's are about as foul as you can get. Gangsters, slavers--- if it's vile, you can bet the Hutts are practising it. Fortunately, their territory lies out in the Rim beyond the Republic--- so we don't come in contact with them very often."

'Flipping' to another picture, Nick snorted at the image. "I'm sorry. But this one looks like an aged wad of chewing gum that's been pulled and stretched upwards."

Obi-Wan leaned over to take a look at who's picture his 'student' was accessing this time. It was of a Quermian--- and not just *any* Quermian either. He took in a sharp breath. "Please, Nick--- don't call him that to his face. That's Council member Yarael Poof."

"Your kidding? Poof?" Nick couldn't help the mirth-filled giggle that rose from his mouth even though it was obvious it was disgruntling Kenobi. But this was just too ridiculous! A race of... polyp people with names like 'Poof'!.

"MASTER Poof--" Obi-Wan sternly replied in a rather unfortunate attempt to correct the newcomer's attitude. If anything, Nick's fit of the giggles got worse.

"M-ma-aster P-poof?" Nick managed to gasp out before relapsing into a state non conducive to articulate speech, arms wrapped tightly around his slender frame. {{ Not just a 'Poof' either--- but a *Master* Poof! }} Dear God, what a time for his sense of humor to come bubbling forth into a torrent. He hadn't laughed so much within a 24-hour span (or whatever the revolution of Coruscant amounted to) since his Toronto police partner, Donald G. Schanke had died in a plane crash. Thinking of that tradgedy helped to restore his equilibrum like Obi-Wan's fierce scowling could not. "Sorry, about that. Usually, I'm not this demonstratingly emotional, really. Not for laughter anyway."

"It may not entirely be your fault," Qui-Gon consoled him with a hand on his shoulder. "As Jedi, we teach that it is wise to embrace serenity over emotion. Such a state of mind is better for allowing the Force to flow within. But Inav Ayar was different in that constant emotion was an intregal part of his being. Somehow, he never could subdue it--- yet it never affected his Force control in a negative way. Master Ta'okin once speculated that it had something to do with his Kievet heritage as the Anarans have never produced a Force sensitive before. Unfortunately, we know next to nothing about that half of your race so he could not be certain. At any rate, it may be your body and not your mind that is currently giving you your control troubles." He decided not to add that it had been one of the reasons the Master had kept his student away from his much stuffier contemporaries as much as possible. Some of the Council members had had a low tolerance for Ayar's humble, but very volatile personality.

Nick sighed into his hands. "Wonderful. So I've been channeled into a mystic warrior who is also a laughing hyena... chuckling away while I cut off the heads of mine enemies." He grimaced in distaste at the thought. Nor was he crazy about the implication that his predessessor's 'ghost' might somehow be influencing his own behavior.

"I don't know what you mean by a 'higheena', Nick, but Inav was not really much of a 'warrior'--- somewhat average skills in that department as he never really had the heart to kill even in self defense. His forte was more in the empathic and healing areas. Master Ta'okin was grooming him for a role in diplomacy."

"An emotional diplomat?" Nick asked increduluosly. "Isn't insulting the disagreeing parties a bad thing?"

Qui-Gon smiled. "Not all races are as serious as the Jedi, Nick. There are palaces and tribes where a strong sense of humor are prized above all else. For such places a typical Jedi---someone such as *I* for instance--- would be a bad choice..." Qui-Gon gave his smirking padawan a mock glare. "Obi-Wan, however would make an excellent ambassador for such a situation."

The Jedi in question made a face. Whereas his master always seemed in his element during such times, Kenobi hated the diplomatic missions they were sent on, preferring action to mincing words with bureaucrats. Qui-Gon oftened chided him for this. He quickly schooled his features into a form of passivity lest his teacher decide to slap him with yet another meditative excercise. "But, Master, the Jedi Council is hardly the Loorelian Court. Respect must be shown to them." he stated matter-of-factly, "at all times."

"But not regardless of the circumstance, Padawan. There are times when it is necessary to point out an error in judgement no matter who is doing the judging."

It was an old disagreement between them. His Master thought nothing of openly arguing with his elders if he thought they were wrong; he, however, was the perfect model of a dutiful follower and never questioned authority--- with the exception of his Master and his confrontations with the Council.

Sensing a bit of rising tension within his two hosts, Nick hurriedly sought a change of conversation. He found it in Master Poof's file. "What's a 'Jedi Mind Trick'?"

The 'combatants' broke eye contact.

"That is the ability to... shape... the thoughts of another." Qui-Gon supplied.

Nick broke out in a grin. "You mean I can still use 'The Whammy' on people?"

"Whammy?" Qui-Gon looked at Obi-Wan who shrugged back.

"Hypnotize," Nick translated. "I can't tell you how many times the ability to whammy someone helped me out of a sticky situation."

"But only in times of dire need." Qui-Gon voiced in almost a question.

"Um... of course." Nick retracted some of his enthusiasm. Were the Jedi displeased with his reaction? "It would be wrong to do otherwise, wouldn't it?" He sensed Master Jinn's external body temperature rise up a few degrees while Padawan Kenobi held one restraining hand over his mouth; blue/green eyes twinkling. Nick got the distinct impression he had brought up something best left alone. But at least he wasn't sensing anger from them anymore.

Qui-Gon nodded. "Of course, " he agreed. Too quickly.

[[ But, Master, what about that time with the Correlian showgirls? ]]

+++ Shush, Padawan. That *was* a dire circumstance. If you recall you were glad enough of it when they turned their attentions to *you*.+++

[[ You could have just called for the palace guard's help at the beginning--- when the leader started referring to you as a snugg-- ]] started the snickering mental transmission.

Jinn mentally cut him off before he could continue recounting the embarrassing episode. +++ True, Padawan, but such an act would have entailed explaining how I *got* into that room. Being 'accosted and overwhelmed' by five overly excited females would hardly have reflected well on the Jedi Knight's public image. +++

[[ Yes, my wise Master, ]] was the demure reply.

Nicholas had been watching curiously as all this had been going on, sensing something happening between the two, but unable to figure out just what. "Are you both all right?"

Glad for the interruption, Qui-Gon returned his full attention to his guest. "My apologies, Nick. Obi-Wan and I were just communicating with each other through our training bond. It's a form of telepathy that develops between a Master and his padawan to aid in the learning process." Qui-Gon gestured absently at his Kenobi, "Obi-Wan was just requesting I give him another meditative excercise."

His student quietly choked, saying nothing. But Nick noted that the edges of his mouth were curved upwards. Whatever that had been about, Kenobi had obviously scored a point or two.

So, he mused, thinking back to the older's explanation of their bond-- yet another link between 'his' universe and this one. Jinn had just as easily described the 'Master/Fledgling' link that bound a new vampire to the one that had 'brought him across'. It was the means by which LaCroix had managed to keep a leash on him for centuries. No matter how far he ran away from the Ancient, LaCroix had always been able to track him down through that mental tie.
"Do I have this 'training bond' with anyone?" he asked uneasily. He couldn't decide whether his trepidation came more from having someone with that kind of control over him again--- or whether it was the idea of his former master's 'place' being supplanted by some stranger. After centuries of pushing his vampire father away--- was it possible he was *missing* LaCroix? He had to admit it would have been nice to have the former Roman General's calm and protective presence near him just now. He wasn't looking forward to facing this Jedi Council with its power to determine his future. At least he had been sure that LaCroix had acted out of love for his treasured son (even if that love seemed at times a bit twisted and confining). But he had known where he stood with LaCroix. These aliens didn't know him at all. Heck--- *he* wasn't sure he knew *himself* anymore. At that moment Nick yearned for nothing more than LaCroix's stability and would have gladly stepped into his father's embrace to get it. But LaCroix wasn't here. He was alone with strangers. No... not *completely* alone. There were Jinn and Kenobi for friends. He could easily imagine them becoming his new family: Qui-Gon as wise and comforting father; Obi-Wan as an older sibling. A surrogate LaCroix and Janette until he felt comfortable enough to stand on his own here. Because as much as he had denied it to himself in the past, he *did* crave the support and comfort of others--- just in an independent, 'teenager' sort of way, he ruefully confessed to himself.

The sound of a comlink demanding attention broke into his reverie. It was Mace. Requesting the immediate presence of Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and one Inav Ayar in the Council Chamber.

The leaders of the Jedi Knights would wait no longer.
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End of Part 7