Author's Notes: OK, I don't know when this will be updated, though I have pretty much the whole story mapped out in my head. I'm guessing that this is set about 30 years before Phantom, but all you need to know is that Jinn is in his mid-teens, and Dooku, his master, is in his late thirties… I think. It's an adventure story that will try to establish a rift between Dooku and the Jedi Order, something which fuels his later departure from the Jedi to the dark side and the Sith. I'm guessing Syfo-Dias (sp?) is human, though I may be wrong, but go with the flow. I have introduced a new character, a female Jedi Knight, Master Jiao, too.

I wrote this earlier this year (2002), but I hope to continue soon. Enjoy.

MTFBWY ^_^ - Jurious

NB: This is an edited version of my original chapter, and should be an improvement on the last. Dooku's forename is 'Serenn' in the text, by the way. Happy reading! – Jurious, 4-4-03

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A Test of Faith

A Star Wars fanfic by Darth Jurious

Set around 30 years before The Phantom Menace

Chapter 1

The sunlight of dawn streamed through the large windows of the Jedi Temple. In a large training hall, several Padawans trained with their Masters, honing their Jedi skills.

In one corner, fifteen-year-old Jedi Apprentice Qui-Gon Jinn, a very promising albeit headstrong student, fought blinded against a hovering training droid. The small, spherical robot flew about him, whizzing in all manner of directions, being very unpredictable. A small repulsorlift generator, embedded within its metallic flesh, suspended it in midair.

Jinn – his eyes covered by a metallic helmet – was calm and took deep, steady breaths, letting the Force flow through him. He abandoned his every sense to the Force, trusting in it with his life. He could hear the faint dash of the droid as it flew about him, knowing its location vaguely – but he knew that relying on his auditory senses was not enough. He could pinpoint its exact location through use of the Force – he felt its very essence move around him, seeing it with his mind's eye, watching it within the confines of his thoughts careering around him like some disorientated bird in the most dizzying fashion.

Qui-Gon clasped his sabre hilt firmly in his hands, licking his lips as he concentrated hard. The harmless training sabre hummed before him, its clear, blue blade illuminating his face with a faint glow. It thrummed in a mesmerising fashion, somewhat in rhythm with his calm, relaxed breaths.

The droid darted to his right rapidly – he felt it through the Force, seeing it, yet not seeing it. He remained incredibly focused, and continued to hold his stationary stance, knowing the cue to move had not yet come. Jinn often suffered from recklessness and impatience, but he was slowly overcoming his flaws. Today, he was concentrating as hard as he could, wanting to impress his tutor, the revered Jedi Master, Serenn Dooku.

The droid wheeled round over his head, and then prepared to strike with one of its short, sharp laser-pellets; sensing the impending assault acutely as the Force alerted him to the attack, Jinn turned about on his feet a-hundred-and-eighty degrees, and placed his sabre back over his shoulder.

The droid released the laser blast – and Jinn parried the shot perfectly! He heard the laser bullet ricochet off his blue training sabre blade, and fly across the room. He allowed himself a discreet smile – he had done it! He had effectively maintained focus throughout his entire session, and deflected blow after blow, blinded from the training droid!

As a Jedi, you did such exercises from when very young, but the training sessions of this nature increased in intensity as the apprentice grew. Jinn had just faced a robot set at a much more advanced training level – and this was the first time he had conquered the droid of this rank.

Qui-Gon deactivated his training sabre, and lifted the metallic helmet from off head, revealing his blue eyes, "Master! Did you see -"

He stopped dead in his sentence; his Master was no longer stood before him. Jinn frowned as the training droid lowered itself to the floor, deactivating now that the exercise was complete. He looked about the hall, passing his eyes over a few more Jedi training in the vicinity – there was a group of particularly young Padawans being instructed in one corner; when young, apprentices were often tutored in groups. It helped them to socialise, and wasn't quite so daunting for them.

He continued to look round, wandering where his Master – and therefore, his praise – was. He turned about and spotted him by a giant golden statue of a long deceased, but still respected, Jedi Knight; he was talking to another Jedi, a female one named Allyaah Jiao.

Jinn sighed, placed the helmet down by the droid, and began to trudge over.

Allyaah was human, though her skin was of a rich brown pigment instead of the white complexion that Dooku and his Padawan shared; she had large eyes and long, tied-back black hair, and wore russet-coloured Jedi robes, with a pale orange belt about her waist. She was still a Jedi Knight, and, at around thirty years old, it was fairly unusual that she had failed to take on a Padawan of her own yet – but not unheard of. She and Dooku had been long acquaintances, although Dooku was around eight years her senior.

At a distance, it was plain that Dooku dwarfed the female Jedi in height; he was taller than the average human male anyway, with a distinguished, deep tone of voice and a proud, domineering air. His hair was also black, currently grown long and tied back in a tidy ponytail, like how many Jedi wore it, and his visage was decorated with a small beard and trim moustache; all this was finally complemented by his deep, brown pair of eyes, infamous for their commanding authority and intense potency. Whilst his robes were of a beige colour, his Padawan was clad in white ones, though Jinn would have much preferred beige – 'Just a bit of colour would be nice, Master' he often said.

"Master," Qui-Gon said as he reached the Jedi, a slight touch of whine evident in his tone, although his respect for his Master conquered it, "Where'd you go all of a sudden? I finally defeated the droid, and you weren't there to see it…"

Dooku turned to Qui-Gon abruptly, looking down upon his Padawan's brow, "Forgive me, Qui-Gon," he said somewhat hastily, almost dismissively, "It seems that I have important matters to attend to immediately. I called after you, but you clearly failed to hear me."

"He was concentrating hard, Master Dooku," Allyaah said with a smile toward her counterpart's apprentice; she looked to Serenn's Padawan kindly, "Forgive me, Qui-Gon, for drawing your Master away."

Jinn gave her a returning friendly smile, "If the matter is of some importance, then you need not apologise, Master Jiao," he said in a somewhat illustrious tone, bowing in respect to follow up his polite words.

Jiao faintly laughed, "He's growing into your boots, Master Dooku," she stated, looking from Jinn to his mentor.

Dooku allowed a slight grin, "Indeed, he is," he acknowledged, placing a hand onto the teenage Padawan's shoulders, "It is my apologies that are due, Qui-Gon. But, as I stated previously, important matters are at hand."

Serenn looked to Jiao, handing her the cue, "Yes," she explained, "The Council wishes to see you without delay. They wish to address you and your Padawan now – on some urgent matter, I believe."

Jinn looked to his Master, raising an eyebrow in curiosity; Dooku remained silent for a moment, contemplating the meaning of this. The buzzing of Coruscant's air traffic outside hummed in the short, silent lull, just penetrating the Temple's magnificently thick walls.

"Regarding what? Do you have any idea at all?" Dooku asked Jiao discreetly, his deep tone considerably hushed, his eyes sharp and serious.

Allyaah was at a loss to answer the Jedi Master, "No, I'm afraid I don't, though I'm pretty certain that there is some 'mission' involved for you."

Qui-Gon's countenance lit up, and he almost jumped at the words as Allyaah uttered them, "Wow! My first mission!"

Dooku glanced down at Qui-Gon, not so light-hearted – he knew very well how arduous, and often tedious, Jedi missions were, "No one has announced your presence on this 'assignment' yet, Qui-Gon. We don't even know the nature of that which we have been summoned for."

Jinn was quick to respond, "But she –"

Dooku eyed him with an intimidating gaze, and Qui-Gon suddenly felt guilty for his effrontery. He gulped, quickly glimpsing down and rephrasing his words, "But Master Jiao said that the Council wishes to see us both. And she seems pretty confident that it is a mission that we have been summoned for." He looked to his teacher with a hopeful, youthful glance. Serenn could relate to such recklessness and to such a desire for excitement – he had been there, too – but life was never as pleasant as one hoped it to be; youthful dreams were quashed by the painful face of reality. Young Padawans were never meant to lust for exhilaration and adventure – but no one could help being a child.

"Qui-Gon," Dooku said, his tone deep and almost threatening as he pummelled Jinn's eyes with his own, "Heed my warnings, and do not answer me back."

The two paused, staring hard at each other. Allyaah silently looked between them, and tried to release a little tension from the moment by intervening, "Do listen to your Master, Qui-Gon. He'll teach you lessons you'll value for the rest of your life."

Serenn glanced at Allyaah silently, unsure of how he felt about such an intrusion on her part. Allyaah returned the brief glance, a fond and friendly one, before looking upon Jinn again.

Qui-Gon thought about what she had said briefly, and looked to her attentively, a slight smile raising at the corner of his mouth, "Yes, Master, I will," he quietly said, bowing in respect to the female Jedi. He kept silent after that, a solemn aura having been set for the moment.  

Allyaah nodded in return, acknowledging Jinn's good manners, before she looked to Dooku again; his gaze seemed to have not moved from her, as though he were studying her intently for some hidden meaning and agenda. She felt a little uncomfortable beneath his potent stare, wondering if he had not appreciated her intercession, but she refrained from buckling under the pressure he applied.

"I think you had better go now. The Jedi Council do not appreciate being delayed; time waits for no one," she said softly, yet gravely, putting her hands to her belt and holding them there.

Dooku continued to hold her in his eyes, and slowly nodded as he registered her comments, "Yes. But a Jedi must also be patient."

Allyaah's brow furrowed. She was not sure how to respond to that, and she felt it better if she didn't. Before she could even contemplate a response, however, Dooku patted his hand upon Jinn's shoulder, and said to the boy, "Come, Qui-Gon," He nodded to Jiao in a parting gesture of good will, and brushed past her, walking on ahead.

Jinn watched his Master make a brief head start, before he nodded to Allyaah, in something of an impersonation of his Master, smiling charmingly, and then trotted off to catch up with Dooku. Jiao turned to watch them go, following the pair with her eyes until they were out of sight from the training hall. They were so different, yet so similar.

*            *           *          *

The Jedi Council chamber was daunting to say the least. Jinn had grown considerably since he had last been in here, so was not quite so intimidated by it now – but to be surrounded by twelve of the Jedi Orders' greatest, stood vulnerably in the room's midpoint, was fairly unpleasant and pressurising, no matter at what Jedi rank you were.

He let his blue eyes course across the faces in his vision's range, intimidated by the eyes that were pinned upon him and his Master, as they stood central to the circular area. Part of the pressure was the knowing that there were Jedi behind you as well as infront, watching your every move. This, Jinn did not like; it was like being trapped by some invisible barrier.

Jinn looked up to Dooku; his Master was not daunted at all – infact he seemed quite comfortable and calm. Jinn admired his Master for such attributes; someday he would stand here, and be fearless and bold, just like his great Master Dooku.

Master Yoda was seated straight ahead of the two Jedi, with Syfo-Dias, an aging human male to his left and a Quarren to his right. Yoda was possibly the most respected of the Jedi – he had been a Jedi Master for centuries, and had long served upon the Jedi Council. He was legendary amongst Padawans and Knights alike, and no one could quite imagine the Jedi organization without him. Despite his legacy, very little was known about him – even of what species he was or from whence he had come. And, to top it all off, Yoda's last Padawan had been none other than Jinn's Master, Dooku, a Jedi fast becoming one of the most revered of his generation.

"Master Dooku," Syfo-Dias greeted the Jedi Master with a nod; Jinn guessed that Dias was middle-aged. He had long black hair, going grey, with a distinguished, bony face, decorated with a tight beard and moustache. His visage was cold and unforgiving, although there had been rumours that he could be a pleasant enough guy when he wanted to be, belying his appearance. His voice contrasted greatly to Dooku's, being reasonably frail and light. 

"How may I be of service to you, my Masters?" Dooku asked; his voice seemed neutral, void of emotion. Jinn remained silent, trying to remain calm under the claustrophobic pressure of the chamber.

Syfo-Dias leant forward, "There are problems again concerning Colla IV," he explained quietly yet sternly, gesturing a little toward Dooku with his fingers.

Dooku wanted to roll his eyes upon hearing this news, but he refrained himself; Colla IV was home planet to the brutal Colicoids, powerful and merciless beetle-like beasts. Although sentient, they were hardly considered 'civilised', believing in horrific blood sports, sacrifice and mortal combat. They were also staunch isolationists, and wished not to ever join the Republic. They liked their seclusion on the Outer Rim, although their welfare did depend on their flourishing Droid trade.

"The Colicoids are always causing problems," Dooku stated sharply. Jinn looked up to his Master, personally unfamiliar with the Colicoids and their home planet.

"Your prejudice, you must mind, Dooku!" Yoda cautioned his old Padawan austerely, feeling the need to voice his feelings for the first time, "A bane to a Jedi, short-sight is."

Dooku acknowledged Yoda's advice with something of a curt nod, seeming to want to push on with the matter.

Syfo-Dias then continued, his ice-blue eyes piercing Dooku's deep chocolate ones, "Two Jedi were sent to the Colla system to discuss terms of uniting their planets to the Republic. We received word from the Knights of their safe arrival upon the planet, and of two following days of successful negotiation, but then –"

"They seemed to disappear without a trace and have not returned," Dooku interrupted with a confident, yet melancholy aura. His visage was locked in a deep frown, his deep voice measured and intimidating.

"Dooku," Yoda sighed, "Presume again you do!" 

Dooku did not falter at Yoda's words - he was convinced that negotiations with the Colicoids, concerning union with the Republic, would forever prove fruitless. He felt that any attempt to converse with these creatures via sending mediators to their planet was something akin to allocating these selected delegates the death sentence. The Colicoids had mysteriously 'consumed' all who had entered their domain whose interests were not analogous to their own.

"Nevertheless," Odyn, a Rodian member of the Jedi Council said, sat behind Dooku and Jinn, "Master Dooku is correct."

Yoda glanced at Odyn - Dooku was correct, true, but Odyn had also handed Dooku's prejudice and arrogance victory, and it was that that Yoda felt was uncalled for. He knew that things could have been dealt with slightly differently and with more subtlety. But Dooku was no longer a Padawan; he was a fully-grown Knight, and a fully-grown man, and he should have already learnt such lessons. But he had always possessed a certain reckless streak, something that even Yoda had failed to draw out of him.

Syfo now picked up from where he had left off, "Yes, Master Dooku," he said quietly, somewhat bitterly, "I'm afraid that you have presumed right."

Dooku and Dias glared hard into one-another's eyes. Jinn felt the friction between their potent gazes, watching as they stared rigidly at each other, their rivalry a silent and almost unnoticeable one. He wasn't knowledgeable of his Master's full past – infact, he was certain that few were – but he had slowly worked out over the years that something had gone on between the two. And of that he was sure he would remain eternally ignorant, too.

Dias went on monotonously, "This is another in a long line of cases where visitors to the Colicoids have inexplicably vanished. We have been unable to make contact with them over the issue, therefore we have reached the verdict that the Jedi must take action."

A discreet, downward glance from Yoda told the vigilant Dooku that his old Master did not agree with such an exploit; Serenn restored his gaze to Syfo's eyes, "I don't wish to dwell on the ignorant idea that sending visitors to the Colla worlds will solve anything, so I would appreciate knowing exactly how the Jedi are going to be of any use."

Dias was far from impressed with Dooku's reckless impertinence, "Master Dooku," he said sharply, with some authority in his tone, "I do not appreciate such a negative attitude from such a highly ranked member of the Jedi corps!"

Dooku remained unmoved and courageously held a silent stance, holding his vindictive stare upon Dias. Jinn worried a little at his Master's actions, but saw sense in his words.

"We have assigned you, your Padawan and another Jedi to travel to Colla IV to discover the exact circumstances surrounding our lost Jedis' disappearance. You will take no weapons, except your lightsabres, and will hold no threat towards the Colicoids - that includes in your attitude, Master Dooku," Dias explained, "They should have no reason to feel intimidated, and have only their side to this story to tell. This could yet be a mere misunderstanding, for there are other dangers on the Outer Rim which may have harmed our fellow Jedi."

Dooku doubted the 'misunderstanding' part - Dias was hoping against hope.

"I am willing to disclose that I am uncomfortable with trying to 'negotiate' and 'talk' with these creatures; they are not like us. I find their violent culture hard to even consider respecting," Dooku admitted openly.

"But respect diversities you must, Dooku," Yoda chimed in once again, motioning one small, clawed hand toward his tall ex-Padawan.

"I understand, Master Yoda," Dooku returned hastily, frustration rife in his tone, "But if people are dying merely when visiting these creatures on peaceful terms, imposing no threats -"

"Master Dooku," Syfo-Dias spoke up, raising his voice above that of Serenn's, "Show much more disrespect toward the Colicoids and the Council, and I think we'll reconsider your part in the mission."

Dooku's lip twitched, his gaze held intensely toward Dias. He took a deep breath, and gulped down his defiance, resolving to remain silent.

Yoda sat up straight in his small chair, attracting Serenn's attention; he looked to his old Padawan calmly, his green eyes starkly contrasting to Dias' chill, blue ones, having a much more serene and soothing aura about them;  "Capable of this mission, Dooku is," he insisted gently, addressing the whole council, whilst keeping his eyes upon the lofty Jedi.

Now that his Master had disrupted the tranquil aura of the Council chamber through some unknown, buried, but clearly unforgettable contention that he had with Dias, Jinn felt even more vulnerable; he took a gulp of air, feeling trapped within the glares of the twelve Jedi Masters that encircled him.

Yoda continued to hold Dooku's fiery gaze; he had not yet finished speaking, and somehow, the audience present knew it. They waited in silence for Yoda to continue.

"Capable, he is," Yoda repeated, "But clear his mind and calm himself he must."

Dooku sighed gently - almost unnoticeably - his chest slightly rising and falling beneath his beige robes; he seemed to be having some sort of silent conversation through his eyes with Yoda, as still their gazes upon one-another had not been broken. Yoda was still, in many respects, Dooku's mentor, and tried to keep the wildness within Serenn tame; this 'wildness', this 'recklessness', though always there within Dooku's blood, did not emerge ferociously very often. It was in times such as this, when he was under pressure, that Serenn would let his ardour loose. And it was then that he would need some form of discipline to keep him in line.

Dooku nodded silently to Yoda, acknowledging the Jedi Master's point, before dropping his line of sight to the floor, and then raising it back to Dias scrupulously.

"You assume too much about the Colicoids, Master Dooku," Dias said delicately, his voice still tinged with agitation, "Which will in no way aid your mission."

A brief, tense pause followed. Jinn looked up to his Master, staring into his eyes; Serenn had stunning eyes - the kind that could hold you mesmerised, or frighten you stupid. They were commanding, and intimidating, but could also be kind. At the present moment, they were stormy - black and deep - and Jinn did not wish to interfere with his Master when he was in such a frame of mind.

"Yes, my Master," Serenn nodded brusquely toward Dias, acknowledging his statement somewhat grudgingly.

Jinn thought that that was the end of it, but suddenly, his Master spoke again, "Nevertheless, this mission presents danger. I ask that my Padawan plays no part in it."

Qui-Gon's face dropped in disbelief, his jaw hanging open unintentionally, and he looked to Dooku hard, his eyes wide with disappointment; Jinn longed to be part of a Jedi quest – he had been stuck on Coruscant for too long...

Knowing before he had even uttered the words the displeasure that his Padawan would feel, Dooku failed, or more likely refused, to look down upon Jinn's countenance; he knew that it would be in Qui-Gon's best interests to stay behind, where he would be safe. A planet where even Jedi were threatened with their lives was no place for a Padawan, in his honest opinion.

"He is still young," Dooku continued, voicing his concerns whilst trying to ignore Jinn's dispirited expression, "I don't wish to put him in such danger."

"Take your Padawan, you will, Dooku!" Yoda abruptly ordered him, to his surprise. Serenn's eyes darted to Yoda rapidly, and he stared at him, stunned.

Yoda did not falter beneath Dooku's harsh gaze, and continued, "Old enough is he, and protect him forever, you cannot."

Serenn frowned, thinking deeply about that which Yoda had said. Jinn, hope returning to him, now looked up to his Master; he knew that he was ready to accompany him on a true mission now. He would not be a burden, and could take care of himself.

Dooku sighed once more, looking to Qui-Gon; he cared for the boy like a father does his son - perhaps too much, sometimes. He did not wish to place Jinn in such danger, but he also did not want to over-protect the boy.

"Please, Master," Jinn pleaded.

Yoda looked to Dooku hard, as did the entire audience within the Council chamber, including Dias.

Dooku nodded discreetly after a few moments of thought, "Okay," he reluctantly agreed. He turned back to the Council, "I will take my Padawan, then," he stated, placing his hand upon Jinn's shoulder, passing his stern gaze across the Jedi Masters sat in the range of his vision, "So, who else will be accompanying me and my apprentice? You mentioned another..."

"Indeed, Master Dooku, we did," Dias confirmed, "We were to send Jedi Knight Kylaba with you to Colla IV, but he is absent on businesses within the Corellia system. We are therefore unconfirmed as to which Jedi will be accompanying you to Colla."

"Therefore," Yoda continued on from Syfo, "Your judgement, we will trust, in finding an accomplice."

Dooku nodded subtly, by no means thrilled by this further burden on his back, "As you wish, my Masters." he half-heartedly rejoined.

"Go, take some time to prepare yourselves," Dias ordered with a waft of his hand, "And see which Jedi Knights are available to partake upon this mission with you; choose well, Master Dooku. Return to us at dawn two days from now - then, we will further discuss this mission with you, your selected companion, and your Padawan."

"Yes, my Master," Dooku nodded once more, bowing to the Council. Jinn followed his Master's etiquette, bowing also.

"May the Force be with you," Yoda added as the two swiftly left the chamber. The Council watched them depart. Syfo-Dias exhaled loudly, calming himself, and glanced to Yoda. The little Jedi, however, did not look back.

To be continued…