OOM: This just keeps getting better...
Dooku stands out back of the Bar, in the open area by the lake, trying to determine the best topic of that day's lesson when Bonzo comes out.
"I was beginning to worry about you, Bonzo."
"I apologize, Master. It took me a while to reach a stopping point in my work."
"I understand completely."
A pause ensues, before Dooku re-initiates the conversation.
"I sense unease in you. What is the matter?"
"Master, a piece of reality bit me last night."
Dooku smirks at the metaphor.
"What piece of reality is this?"
"The part about having a weapon in my hands. I thought I was comfortable with the idea, but..."
"...you are not. This is...well, it is good to hear. I got a bad feeling last night about you...after that stunt you told me about."
Bonzo closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.
"It was foolish of you to do that...this you already understand. I think it reveals something else about you, though. A lack of maturity."
And now Bonzo's blood runs a bit cold.
"Yes, Master."
"You need to have a far better handle on yourself before you can wield a weapon, but I have sensed you coming to that over the past few months. Still, it is clear that you have much to work on."
Bonzo winces slightly, knowing that more is coming. And sure enough, it comes.
"Why do you want a lightsaber?"
"I...I am not sure of that myself."
"I have an idea, Bonzo, and I do not like what I sense in you. While I feel that you try to have the best intentions in your heart, there is something that I do not like lurking in there."
Bonzo takes a deep breath.
"Petra mentioned something to me one time. She was opaque, and I had not thought to bring it up...she said to ask you about something that happened at Battle School, and that you were not nearly the perfect student you appeared to be. I would like to know what she was talking about, if you have any idea."
Dooku looks intently at Bonzo, not sure what to expect.
"Master, there was a student that I had a...well, a non-friendly rivalry with when I was there. He was the best at the school, and I was jealous of him. One time, he embarassed me...not on purpose, I believe he told me when we met here, but he still wounded my pride enough that I came close to killing him."
And now an abundantly clear frown appears on Dooku's face.
"This is disappointing to learn. How long ago was it, for you?"
"About three years, but I have only aged a year or so since then. The Bar does strange things for aging."
"It does many strange things, but that is beside the point. Please, do explain what happened."
Bonzo continues, thinking through the events.
"I was going to fight him in a bathroom at the station our school was located on, but I came into the Bar. His sister, Valentine, beat me up...and then I confronted Ender, the student, here. He beat me and let me live...he said that he had killed me once already, and he did seem to regret it."
"How do you feel about the events?"
"I regret that I acted as I did towards him...I mistreated him when I was his commander, both out of jealousy and anger. I recognize that I was wrong in doing so."
"You do know where emotions such as those lead, do you not?"
Bonzo nods. Yes, he knows.
"The Dark Side, Master. Of this I am well aware. For a long time after that, I sought out better control over those emotions."
"And you do seem to have far better control than attempting to kill someone would indicate that you had."
A long pause ensues, as Dooku ponders what to say next. Finally, he settles on something.
"You still have much to learn."
"I am ready to learn it if you will teach me, Master."
"I was beginning to worry about you, Bonzo."
"I apologize, Master. It took me a while to reach a stopping point in my work."
"I understand completely."
A pause ensues, before Dooku re-initiates the conversation.
"I sense unease in you. What is the matter?"
"Master, a piece of reality bit me last night."
Dooku smirks at the metaphor.
"What piece of reality is this?"
"The part about having a weapon in my hands. I thought I was comfortable with the idea, but..."
"...you are not. This is...well, it is good to hear. I got a bad feeling last night about you...after that stunt you told me about."
Bonzo closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.
"It was foolish of you to do that...this you already understand. I think it reveals something else about you, though. A lack of maturity."
And now Bonzo's blood runs a bit cold.
"Yes, Master."
"You need to have a far better handle on yourself before you can wield a weapon, but I have sensed you coming to that over the past few months. Still, it is clear that you have much to work on."
Bonzo winces slightly, knowing that more is coming. And sure enough, it comes.
"Why do you want a lightsaber?"
"I...I am not sure of that myself."
"I have an idea, Bonzo, and I do not like what I sense in you. While I feel that you try to have the best intentions in your heart, there is something that I do not like lurking in there."
Bonzo takes a deep breath.
"Petra mentioned something to me one time. She was opaque, and I had not thought to bring it up...she said to ask you about something that happened at Battle School, and that you were not nearly the perfect student you appeared to be. I would like to know what she was talking about, if you have any idea."
Dooku looks intently at Bonzo, not sure what to expect.
"Master, there was a student that I had a...well, a non-friendly rivalry with when I was there. He was the best at the school, and I was jealous of him. One time, he embarassed me...not on purpose, I believe he told me when we met here, but he still wounded my pride enough that I came close to killing him."
And now an abundantly clear frown appears on Dooku's face.
"This is disappointing to learn. How long ago was it, for you?"
"About three years, but I have only aged a year or so since then. The Bar does strange things for aging."
"It does many strange things, but that is beside the point. Please, do explain what happened."
Bonzo continues, thinking through the events.
"I was going to fight him in a bathroom at the station our school was located on, but I came into the Bar. His sister, Valentine, beat me up...and then I confronted Ender, the student, here. He beat me and let me live...he said that he had killed me once already, and he did seem to regret it."
"How do you feel about the events?"
"I regret that I acted as I did towards him...I mistreated him when I was his commander, both out of jealousy and anger. I recognize that I was wrong in doing so."
"You do know where emotions such as those lead, do you not?"
Bonzo nods. Yes, he knows.
"The Dark Side, Master. Of this I am well aware. For a long time after that, I sought out better control over those emotions."
"And you do seem to have far better control than attempting to kill someone would indicate that you had."
A long pause ensues, as Dooku ponders what to say next. Finally, he settles on something.
"You still have much to learn."
"I am ready to learn it if you will teach me, Master."