The next morning, Sundari was enveloped in a grey haze of sand and dust. Most of the previous night's battle scars were covered by the wind and sand, but the chilling atmosphere had not dispersed.
A relatively secluded small landing pad behind the fortress, half-enclosed by tall metal wreckage, was cleared and temporarily used as a training ground. It offered an open view, was far from main thoroughfares, and wouldn't be easily disturbed.
Cote was already waiting there, helmet-less, his silver-grey short hair somewhat disheveled in the dusty wind. He had changed into a more agile training suit, and his blaster pistol was still holstered at his waist—this seemed to have become instinctive for him. He didn't look well-rested, with faint shadows under his eyes, but his gaze was unusually focused, even a little… expectant?
Qui-Gon Jinn appeared on time, still in his simple Jedi robes, his presence calm. He didn't carry a lightsaber.
"Cote," Qui-Gon's voice was peaceful, "The Force exists in all things, connecting the past, present, and future. It is not a tool, but rather… a presence, a resonance. You are naturally able to sense it; this is your gift. But sensing is only the first step. You need to learn to listen to its whispers, understand its flow, and let your will resonate harmoniously with its will, rather than crudely driving it."
He walked to the center of the field, casually picked up a small, wind-smoothed white stone, and placed it in his palm. "Now, close your eyes, Cote. Let down your guard, quiet your thoughts. Use your heart, not your eyes, to 'see' it. Tell me, what do you feel?"
Cote closed his eyes as instructed. At first, there was the howling of the wind, the faint hum of machinery in the distance, his own somewhat rapid heartbeat… But gradually, as he deliberately tried to 'calm down,' a familiar, omnipresent 'background sound' began to emerge—that was the ocean of the Force. He could feel the sensation of the wind and sand brushing against his skin amplified, could feel the faint vibrations of the metal platform beneath his feet, and even the almost extinguished residual heat within a discarded engine not far away… And the stone in Qui-Gon's palm, in this ocean of 'perception,' was like a tiny, warm star, emitting a faint yet clear sense of presence.
"It… is there," Cote's voice was very soft, with uncertainty. "A little… warm? Very peaceful… like a small… sleeping thing." His description was still clumsy.
A glimmer of satisfaction, however, flashed in Qui-Gon Jinn's eyes: "Very good, you have grasped its 'presence.' Now, try to… gently 'touch' it with your mind. Not pushing, not grasping, just like a finger gently brushing the surface of calm water."
Cote frowned slightly, concentrating. He imagined his will as a wisp of breeze, wafting towards that 'little star.' At first, there was no reaction, only the dizziness brought on by his own mental tension. He grew a little impatient, instinctively increasing the 'strength' of his will.
"Relax, Cote," Qui-Gon's voice was like a clear spring, carrying a calming power. "Do not force it. The Force responds to clarity and calmness of will, not brute force. Imagine it as a ray of sunshine, naturally falling."
Cote took a deep breath, trying to suppress his impatience, making his will soft and expansive… This time, he felt it! The small stone, seemingly touched by his will, subtly 'trembled' ever so slightly! Although imperceptible to the naked eye, on the level of Force perception, that faint ripple was unmistakably clear!
"It moved!" Cote suddenly opened his eyes, with a hint of childlike surprise.
"Yes, it responded to you," Qui-Gon Jinn smiled and nodded. "This is the beginning of communication. Power comes from understanding, from harmony."
In the subsequent training, Qui-Gon guided Cote through more basic sensory exercises: closing his eyes to perceive the "Force signatures" of different objects in the surrounding environment, trying to maintain this stable perception while moving, and even beginning preliminary meditation, learning how to quickly enter a focused state amidst distractions.
Cote's performance continuously surprised Qui-Gon Jinn. His affinity for the Force was astonishingly high, his perception extremely keen, and his learning speed incredibly fast. Although his methods bore the distinct imprint of Mandalorian directness and pragmatism (for instance, he tended to view Force perception as a super-sense to aid combat prediction), his pure talent and unwavering drive to "protect" made him eagerly absorb Qui-Gon's teachings.
However, all of this was observed by Obi-Wan Kenobi, who stood in the shadow of a tall metal pillar in the distance. It was exactly as he had thought.
Obi-Wan did not approach to disturb them, but simply watched. He saw the beads of sweat on Cote's forehead as he closed his eyes in concentration, saw the brief smile that appeared when he successfully levitated a small pebble a few centimeters off the ground, and saw his stubborn determination as he gritted his teeth while trying to maintain a Force barrier against Qui-Gon's simulated "breeze." The talent and rapid progress displayed by this Mandalorian youth secretly alarmed him.
The content of the training Master was giving Cote—sensing the environment, telekinesis, basic barriers—though all fundamental, was being taught to a non-Jedi candidate who had never received enlightenment at the Temple, had no youngling foundation, and even possessed strong emotional attachments!
This severely violated the tenets of the Jedi Order!
Jedi power training must be conducted under the strict supervision and systematic instruction of the Temple, with the ideals of restraint, calmness, and selflessness instilled from childhood to prevent power from being twisted by emotion and desire.
For someone like Cote, who was no longer a child, was emotionally rich, and had clear personal obsessions, to directly engage in Force training was, in Obi-Wan's view, like opening Pandora's Box! Had Master forgotten the lessons of those who had fallen to the dark side due to uncontrolled power throughout history?
Obi-Wan's brows furrowed deeper and deeper. He understood his Master's admiration for Cote's talent, and he also understood that Cote's power might be useful in combating the Death Watch, but this irregular training, bypassing the Council, for an "outsider"… the risk was too great! This was not only irresponsible towards Cote but also a desecration of Jedi tenets!
He watched the field, where Cote was fully focused, trying to use his mind to arrange a few grains of sand into a simple pattern in the air. Sweat dampened his hair, and his eyes gleamed with concentration, while Qui-Gon patiently guided him, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Obi-Wan clenched his fists, his heart filled with conflict and worry. He respected and deeply loved his Master, but this time, he felt his Master was on a dangerous and deviant path. He had to talk to his Master, for Cote, for the Jedi tenets, and for his Master himself.
However, on the distant planet of Naboo, a young man was also undergoing Force training, but the difficulty of his training far exceeded Cote's, and he was being trained by an unknown Galactic Senator!
"That's right, just like that, unleash your dark side. Think about how the Jedi of the Republic dealt with your family. Hate them! Think about how your family on Jabim were hunted by pirates because of the Republic's incompetence! And the Jedi never cared about you; they allowed the pirates to roam free. Think about it, child," Sidious whispered around the child, guiding him to fall to the dark side.
"It's the Jedi! It's the Republic!" The young man ended his meditation, opened his eyes, which had transformed into the traditional Sith eyes of a Sith Lord!