Chapter Text
The twelve year old, sweat on her brow as her blue lightsaber struck her opponent’s leg, had a smirk on her face. The onslaught from their attack had been difficult, but Komari Vosa’s form was made for this. Soresu was built for defense. And once she got an opportunity, she’d switch to Ataru.
Most initiates took to one form, just taking bits and pieces of another to make it better suited to them. But she was never typical, in skill or temper.
Her opponent’s attacks began to grow weaker, not having made enough of an edge in her defenses for an attack at her. And now, he was beginning to tire. Meaning it was Komari’s turn. Leaping in the air, the girl wasted no time to start up her counterattack. She didn’t give enough time for the boy to even think about anything other than blocking her strikes.
While he was good, Vosa was better. And the twelve year old had finally caught someone’s attention when she ended the “mock” duel by slamming her opponent into the side of the temple with a Force Push. The thud could be heard clearly for any watching.
Her high aggression, and the fact she was emotional, made it difficult for a Master to want to take her. Komari’s end to the duel had no doubt scared at least one away. Yes, she was skilled with a lightsaber and was extremely strong with the Force. But in the eyes of the Jedi, those were the only praise-worthy qualities she possessed.
And her crèche mates agreed with the assessment. The emotional child of a clan was very easy to single out, get a rise out of.
However today, someone saw her talent and potential. Someone was overlooking her lackluster self-control for her more favorable qualities. The man, hair already plenty of grey, had watched. And been more than pleased by what he saw.
Truth be told, Master Dooku had not planned on taking a Padawan after Qui-Gon. However, a few things made him change his mind. Mainly his former apprentice calling him old and no one denying it. Spite was a powerful motivator, after all. But he did have a genuine interest. He'd raised two decent Knights, why not try a third? After Xanatos, it might be good to have someone to take his mind off things. It had been three years.
The boy would be nineteen now, three years dead, as far as he was aware. And the mark was left on all. Qui-Gon, of course, took it the hardest. But he and Rael had liked the boy well enough. A skilled child. Perhaps, had circumstances been different, he'd have been Knighted. Maybe...maybe a new child in the lineage was what they all needed.
So he began to watch the duels, mostly unimpressed. Until a blonde girl, about twelve, started her duel. The child had a ferocity to her, an aggression. And was quite good for her age with a lightsaber. It was a wonder as to why she'd not been chosen yet. Plenty of masters overlooked a bit of aggression in return for a student as gifted as she.
Until the duel ended, the boy she'd been fighting slamming into the wall. Aggression to that point, in a practice duel, wasn't typical. Even among Initiates about to be too old. Yet the girl managed as if it were nothing. She'd be his apprentice.
A skilled student and a problem child. He took the ones no one else did, finding it a nice way to boost his ego a bit. Wasting no time, he approached the young girl. He was the first Master to approach, it seemed, based on the reaction he was given. Komari Vosa was her name. It felt familiar, but he couldn't place it. Maybe he met her as a Youngling, during one of his visits to the Creche? Or perhaps Qui-Gon or Rael mentioned her?
"I am Master Dooku, and you will be my apprentice, child," he told her, a bit of pride at seeing her face. The girl was so obviously excited, yet trying to keep herself from looking foolish. He'd not lost his touch in reading a Padawan.
"Thank you, Master!" Komari hurriedly replied, her face still showing her shock at being chosen. Especially by Dooku. He was the best duelist in the Order and one of the best Jedi, and he chose her.
He began to walk away, gesturing her to follow. After all, he'd need to inform Yoda of the decision. And Komari ran after him, beaming. The pair walked in silence, trying to find the Grandmaster of the Order. And soon, they found him.
"I have taken an apprentice, Master Yoda," Dooku told him, leaving no room for disapproval.
"Another grandpadawan, you will give me? Vosa, you have chosen?" the small green alien questioned. The two would make a good match. Komari needed a skilled master, someone who could train her well, keep up with her natural skill. And if Dooku were going to take another, he'd need a Padawan able to meet his high expectations. While he found many issues with the girl's aggression, her emotions, and lack of self-control, he couldn't deny the girl's skill. This pair would either be a match made in Heaven or Hell. And Yoda wasn't sure which.
"Yes. Her skills with a lightsaber and the Force are commendable for her age. She could do great things as my student, my old master," Dooku told him.
"Then take her, you will. To your quarters, she will go. Padawan now, Vosa is. Do her braid, you must."
Komari couldn't help the smile that crossed her face, the excited movements she made. Polite, but certainly not controlled. Before looking at her new Master. Did he really want to? He could still turn back right now. But the braid would mark her apprenticeship, formally.
And he didn't hesitate. The man, old enough to have his second Padawan be thirty years older than his third, began to braid. Nimble fingers working through the soft, blonde hair, forming a small, tight braid. Komari held as still as possible the entire time. She didn't want to mess anything up.
"Thank you, Master," she told him once more as he finished up the braid.
"You're welcome, Padawan. It's time to head to our quarters."
He then began walking. And after a moment of hesitation, his new Padawan followed.