Jedi Initiate Ilena sat up in her bed with sweaty hands and a pumping heart. It was nine years since Jedi Riley rescued her from the slavers. She didn’t know why she kept having this dream over and over again.  She looked at the clock. Wake up time wasn’t for another hour and a half. But she knew there was no point in trying to go back to sleep. So she threw off her blanket, put on her shoes and snuck to Master Koor’s Workshop on the east wing of the Jedi Temple. Master Tole Koor was the battlemaster of the Jedi Temple. He was a sixty year old battle hardened Mandalorian human with a chiseled face and hair speckled with silver strands. He was the best fighter this side of galaxy, and a great weaponsmith. Not that the jedi used him to his full capabilities. He also taught Ilena in his spare time, which was extensive. She considered him one of her few friends at the temple.

Ilena punched in the code to his workshop and stepped in once the door opened. She followed the sounds of banging machinery to the forge where Master Koor was. He did not look up as she entered.
“Figured you would be around here before your tests. I just didn’t think that would be so early.”
“It’s good to see you too Master Koor,” She responded. “Anything I can help with?”
“There’s a blade over there that needs to cut and sharpened. If you can’t finish it before your tests, just leave it.”

“There will be plenty of time,” she answered as she took a seat by the laser cutter. Today was the day she and all the other jedi initiates were to be tested for their aptitudes. These tests scores would be shared with higher jedi who were considering taking on padawans. Normally she would not be nervous. After all, her force powers were on par and she was the best swordswoman in her class. She and Master Koor would be a great team! But all of those thoughts were before she learned that Master Koor was not taking a padawan. She knew that Koor usually did not pick a padawan from the previous seasons, but she figured he was just waiting for her. After all, no one spent more time with Koor than her. But last month when she mentioned the idea to him, he told her he was not taking padawans anymore. He refused to say why though.

Ilena sighed as she began cutting the rough blade. Now she would have to convince one of the other masters to take her. But she really didn’t get along with them. Ever since they found out that she was taking extra lessons under Koor, all the masters here at the temple grew a distant, if not disdainful, attitude towards her. Maybe if she got amazing test scores, someone would be impressed and take her as their padawan. If they didn’t, she could never be a jedi guardian like she wanted. She would probably be sent to an assistive role, like farm watcher, or ship driver, or some other lowly job. Master Abbot, the Jedi Chronicler, would love that, she thought. me wasting away dusting holo-disks in an archive somewhere!.

“It’s okay to be nervous,” Master Koor said as he drew the steaming metal from the forge.
“I’m not nervous,” Ilena replied a little too fast as she took the cut blade to the grinder to sharpen it.
“It’s not okay to be untruthful to yourself,” he chided. Ilena was a good student. A little over confident in her combat skills, but still good. He was heartbroken the day he told her he could not be her master. Of course he should have told the poor girl earlier! But he swept those memories under the rug so long ago. . . It never occurred to him that he might ever be in that position again. He swore he would never take another apprentice. And Ilena was just the kind of student he would have picked. Strong, willing to listen, all but fearless. She was Mandalorian durasteel in a barrel of Rodian tin! He could craft the greatest jedi out of her! . . . But that was exactly why she could not be his padawan. He could not let happen to her what happened to . . . the others.

“Done!” she chimed as she proudly laid the cut and sharpened blade before him. Koor picked up and inspected the blade. It was good. Really good. Ilene’s crafting skills were getting better. And the smile on her face showed that she knew it. Pride: a threat to all jedi. The very thing that killed so many of Koor’s padawans. He did his best to stomp it out in Ilena.
“You went around the curve too fast,” he criticized, though he hated it. Ilene frowned and inspected for herself.
“You have to take your time or the curve will be too shallow” he continued.
Ilene ground her teeth and made a mental note to remember that.
“Sorry Master,” was all she said.
“Everything else looks great though. And you finished it quickly. So I suppose it is a good job. Thank you for your help.”

The smile Ilene gave now was not a proud one, just friendly. Those were his favorite!
“You are welcome. I made some adjustments to my lightsaber last night,” she started.
“Argh, how many times have I told you not to tamper with that thing before a big fight? Could have unforeseen changes. Might throw off your style,” Koor criticized genuinely this time.
“I know, but I really felt it needed to be more balanced. Do you mind sparring with me so I can see if it fits right?” Ilene asked.

Koor grumbled. The jedi council members didn’t like when he sparred with the students. Hell, he was lucky they let him teach Ilene anything at all!
“Please Master Koor! This could be my last day here,” she pleaded.
Begging. It didn’t suit a jedi, especially not a future guardian. But Koor didn’t tell Ilene that. She had enough issues with pride without him passing his onto her. Besides, she was the only person in the temple who would spar with him.

“Fine, but only for a few minutes. Just so we can make sure the specs are right,” he said. Ilene smiled as she pulled out her lightsaber. It was blue like all guardians. The hilt was smooth and polished Mandalorian vibrosteel with Bothan holo-wiring. It took her days to make, and Master Abbot was not pleased about how many of his classes she skipped to finish it. But it was beautiful. And it was perfect for her. Master Koor’s lightsaber flashed to life. It was also blue, but darker. The hilt was scratched and nicked in places, but Ilene thought that was part of its character.

The two sparred for quite some time. Both starting slowly to warm up, then eventually testing the other’s limits. There was no victor, simply because Koor didn’t want there to be. But Ilene kept up with him and that was saying something. He drew the combat to a close and sent Ilene on her way. As she headed towards the testing rooms, she smiled. After sparring with Koor her confidence was boosted and her body felt ready for anything. She was going to do amazing on these tests, everything after that was up to the masters.

“Ilene!” someone called. She snapped out of her thoughts and looked. Her friend Cody, another jedi initiate, waved as he ran over to meet her. Cody was a human about a year younger than Ilene with brown hair and eyes.
“I woke up this morning and you were gone!” he said with genuine concern. Ilene tried not to roll her eyes. It's the jedi temple, what is there to be concerned about? Nightwalkers?
“I couldn’t sleep,” she answered his unasked question.
“Yeah I bet. I had a dream that I was taking the knowledge test with Master Abbot and . . . and,”
“And what? What happened?”
“And I forgot my clothes!”
Cody shook with suppressed horror. Ilene just sighed. We are training to be the next generation of jedi . . . and he’s having naked nightmares! Typical Cody.

“Are you ready for the tests?” Cody asked. Ilene tried not to frown. The knowledge test would be the toughest one by far, if only because Master Abbot was supposed to be proctoring it. But she and Cody spent several days studying for the knowledge test, and practicing for the combat test. Combat was Cody’s weakness. He was too round and bumbly. It wasn’t easy tutoring him, but Ilene was convinced he could pass the test now. Just don’t put him in real combat, and he’ll be fine. I suppose he probably thought the same thing while tutoring me. In return for the lessons he agreed to tutor Ilene on knowledge of jedi philosophy and history. She hated it, but it was about to come in handy.
“As ready as you are,” she replied. He thought about that and eventually smiled.
“We are gonna do great! You and me, saving the galaxy, in the name of the jedi.” He held up his hands in a grand motion.
“Don’t you mean I’m going to be saving the galaxy, and you are going to be Master Abbot’s pet for the rest of your days?” Ilene asked with only a bit of teasing. Cody frowned.
“I may not ask him to be my Master. I like action too ya know! Maybe I’ll get someone else . . . like Master Chactaw, . . . or Master Koor!”
“Master Koor doesn’t take padawans,” she snapped as she passed him.
“Really?" Cody paused in his surprise. ". . . then who is going to be your master?”

Ilene froze mid-step. “I don’t know,” she answered over her shoulder.
“I’m sorry” he apologized. Ilene shook the apology off then walked to the testing rooms. She never thought she would meet the day where Cody was more likely to get a master than her. All I have to do is ace these tests. Then someone will definitely pick me!

Ilene met Master Vandar in the force test room, five minutes before her scheduled time. Master Vandar was a yellow Twilek about age forty. She was one of the Jedi Counsulars at the temple. Since Master Koor was no longer an option, Master Vandar was her next best option. She got the sense that Master Vandar didn’t actually dislike her, unlike so many of the other masters. Vandar just thought combat was for the uncivilized.

“Ilene, you are early.”
“Yes Master Vandar. I know how precious your time is.” I wonder if I will have to suck up to her all the time if I become her padawan? Master Vandar smiled slightly.
“Very well, then let us begin.” One thing Ilene did like about Vandar was that she was more about business than small talk. 
“As you know this is the Force aptitude test. I will be testing you in various aspects of the Force. There is a ball on each of these three pedestals. You must push, pull, and lift one ball. The order does not matter. Obviously any attempt to move the balls besides using the Force is cheating and will end is disqualification and immediate failure.”

Ilene raised an eyebrow at Master Vandar. Do I look like a cheater to you?
Master Vandar shrugged. “I suppose that is more clearly understood by you than some of your previous peers. Nevermind. Begin!”

Ilene force-pushed the first ball and it flew off of the pedestal. That was the easy part.  The pull took more focus. Ilene stared at the second ball and with the Force called out to it. The Force carried the ball off of the pedestal until it almost hit her. Master Vandar nodded in approval, but said nothing. Ilene turned to the last pedestal and sighed. Lifting was going to be the challenge. She called on the Force to lift it. The ball lifted an inch and immediately fell. The solid clunk it made when it landed signaled that the ball was a lot heavier than it looked. Figures, Ilene thought. This time she stuck her hand out as if the ball was in her palm. It was a sign of lack of training, but her grades were more important than her pride right now. With her outstretched hand, she willed the Force to lift, like her arm was doing. This time the ball slowly lifted into the air. Ilene felt the pressure of gravity, pulling back down, threatening to ruin her attempt. Ilene shifted her stance and raised the other hand. With all her will she held the ball still in the air.
“3, . . . 2, . . . 1 . . . Enough,” Vandar said. “You have passed the Force aptitude test. I will make sure your scores are posted as soon as possible.”
“How did I do?” Ilene asked.
“Were you not present to see?” Vandar asked facetiously.
“Please Master Vandar.”
“Well enough for an initiate. However if you think you are going to pass your padawan tests with that lift, you are sadly mistaken. I suggest you practice.”
“Well enough for you to consider taking me as your apprentice?” Ilene asked tentatively.

Vandar frowned for a moment. “I suppose with Master Koor unable to take padawans, that does leave you in a difficult spot.”
“What do you mean he’s unable to take padawans?”
“Nevermind! I will be considering all initiates as potential padawans and will choose whomever I feel works best with my style of teaching. Now if you will excuse me, there are other students waiting to take their tests.”  Vandar quickly bowed and returned to the waiting room. Ilena wondered about Vandar’s words, but she also had other tests to get to.

Ilena hesitantly entered the door to the knowledge test. She half hoped Master Abbot drew sick and would miss the test.
“Come in. You are late!” Abbot called. Ilena knew she could not hope for such luck. She walked over to Master Vandar and the desk he sat at and joined him.

“I trust you have prepared for this properly?”
“Do you really care if I didn’t?” she replied.
Abbot frowned and pulled up the test hologram.
“I will now give the knowledge test. I will ask 5 questions. If you fail to answer at least 3 correct, you will fail. I advise you to restrain your attitude for the rest of the test.”
“Whatever you want Master.”
“Let us begin! Question 1: which of these is the definer of being a Jedi? A) Lightsaber B) The Force C) service D) power”

Ilena’s first instinct was to answer lightsaber. If you walked out of the temple to the city and pulled out a lightsaber, everybody in sight knew you were a Jedi. However, that didn’t seem like the kind of answer a jedi would look for.

“Uhmm, B-the Force”
“Is that your final answer?”
“  . . . is that right?”
“If you do not put an answer, I will have to mark the question wrong.”
“Yes yes, that’s my final answer!”
“ . . . B is incorrect.”
“Poodoo!”
“As I have explained in class, various groups posses lightsabers and the ability to control the Force. However the Jedi are the only group to use these tools to serve the Republic. You would know that if you actually came to class more!”
“Are you supposed to be giving me lessons during the test? That doesn’t seem right.”
“Question 2!" he snapped.

4 questions later, Master Abbot closed the test and frowned.
“It seems you have passed the test.”
“Try not to sound so disappointed, Master Abbot.”
“Watch your mouth initiate! Or have you forgotten that if you don’t get a master, you’ll be stuck here with me? And since Master Koor is forbidden to take you, your chances are not that great.”
“I’d rather die than work here with you for rest of my life.”
“I suppose that is also an option. You wouldn’t be the first of Koor’s students to take the coward’s way out.”
“I’m not a coward.”
“We shall see young Ilena. We shall see what you really are. You are dismissed.”

Ilena stormed out of the room before she put a blade through his face. Stupid chronicler. Has the nerve to call me a coward! He’s the coward! What kind of jedi just sits in the archives all day! Any person could do that. He’s a waste. And he picks on me because he knows he’s a waste . . . and because I’m close to Master Koor. He hates Master Koor. It didn't matter now. She was one test away from being free of Master Abbots attitude . . . and she saved the best for last.