The trip to Coruscant was silent. Mace Windu had brought his clone battalion to Mandalore, and although they weren't allowed to follow him into the meeting, they were still waiting aboard his ship.
As a longtime Star Wars fan, it's fascinating to see how they operate — coordinated, almost robotic — but I still had a cold feeling in the pit of my stomach. I knew what they were capable of, and like it or not, I was now a target if Order Sixty-Six were to be activated. I needed a plan to prevent that.
Mace Windu spent most of the trip meditating. When he wasn't meditating, he was asking his soldiers for updates on missions across the galaxy. Also, the endless blue of hyperspace gets pretty nauseating after a few hours.
Fortunately, my torment ended soon enough when, with a high-pitched noise, we exited hyperspace and were greeted by Coruscant. The planet displayed all its splendor — a surface covered in buildings, ships flying everywhere in what seemed like organized chaos.
We landed on the planet's surface near the great Jedi Temple. Mace Windu snapped out of his meditative trance and stood up.
"Let's go, the Council awaits us," he said, starting to walk toward the ship's exit at a moderate pace.
"You could at least wait for me ! My legs are shorter than yours !" I said indignantly, quickening my steps to catch up with the Jedi Master.
"You would have caught up eventually. There's no reason for me to delay unnecessarily," he replied, eyes fixed forward as he walked.
'Does he always have to be like this ?' I thought to myself, a little disheartened. So far, my first impression of the Jedi wasn't exactly a positive one — at least not coming from Master Windu.
Stepping off the ship, the sound of the city engulfed me — the noise of ships, people, angry shouts — and, incredibly, it was even louder than Mandalore's capital.
Walking alongside Windu toward the temple entrance, we were soon greeted by two figures I recognized instantly.
Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker.
My brain seemed to freeze for a moment upon seeing these legendary figures — ones I'd heard stories about, seen in movies, and read about in books — now standing right in front of me.
"Hello, Master Windu. I hope your trip was uneventful," Obi-Wan was the first to speak in a calm tone. He wore light-colored robes, contrasting with Anakin's darker robes adorned with leather details.
"Not as I would have liked, Master Kenobi. I trust the Council is awaiting us?" Windu asked, arms crossed.
"Yes, they are gathered and waiting for you," Obi-Wan said, then shifted his attention to me.
"So, this is the boy causing such a stir in the Council?" Obi-Wan asked, looking at me with a slight smile.
"Doesn't seem like much," I heard a voice beside Obi-Wan say — Anakin finally making his presence known.
"I barely arrived and I'm already the topic of gossip ? Wonderful," I said with a tired sigh, drawing the attention of the three Jedi.
Upon hearing me, Obi-Wan had a slightly nostalgic expression, Windu as stoic as ever, and Anakin with a slight smirk.
"Well, we better not keep them waiting. Trust me, they get very strict when they feel 'ignored,'" Anakin said, turning and walking toward the temple. We quickly followed him.
The temple was breathtaking, seemingly larger inside than outside. As we walked through its corridors, various aliens — who I assumed were Jedi — paused to greet the Masters ahead of me. I must say, this temple had more diversity than anything I'd ever seen before.
The people from my old life would lose easily; good luck competing in diversity when a Wookiee over two meters tall, a horned Devaronian, and a Zabrak all walk past you in the same hallway — now that is diversity.
After a few minutes of walking, we stopped in front of a large door, which opened half a second later, revealing the Jedi Council's grand chamber.
Seated in their places were Master Yoda, looking serene; Master Plo Koon; Master Shaak Ti; some Masters appearing through holograms; and with Masters Windu and Obi-Wan soon taking their seats.
"Good luck — you're going to need it," I heard Anakin whisper to my right.
"Was that supposed to calm me down ?" I asked, looking at him.
"No, but it entertains me to see others being scolded by the Council," he said, smiling and giving my shoulder a light tap before quietly leaving the room.
Turning my attention back to the Masters, I found myself standing at the center of the room, surrounded by space monks capable of reading my emotions.
"Begin this meeting, we must," said Master Yoda. "Master Windu, inform the Council of your thoughts, you should."
Windu adjusted his posture in his seat, and with his usual stern look, began to speak.
"Masters of the Council, my trip to Mandalore, although insufficient, was not without results. This young man before you, Ravan Nocteris — during my meeting with the Duchess, I felt a strong disturbance in the Force. Seeking its source, I found him," he said, gesturing toward me.
"His affinity with the Force is great, but undisciplined. I believe that, with proper training, he could become a great Jedi Knight," he concluded, surprising me a little — I hadn't expected much from him, but this certainly caught me off guard.
"He's older than we usually accept. He already carries his own prejudices, his own burdens. This could become a problem if we choose to train him," Master Shaak Ti said to the Council.
'Lady, I'm standing right here,' I thought indignantly as she spoke as if I weren't even present.
"That does not necessarily have to become a problem. I believe that with patience and faith, we can bring out the best in him if we give him a chance," said Master Plo Koon, hands folded.
'Thank you, Plo Koon, you've always been one of my favorites,' I thought happily, doing my best not to let it show.
"I agree. Besides, we accepted Anakin, and he proved that some of the Council's doubts were wrong. Sure, he wasn't easy to train, but he's one of our best warriors and companions," Obi-Wan said, sharing his thoughts.
The Council members discussed among themselves, and I focused my gaze on Yoda. He hadn't spoken yet, but when I looked at him, he was observing me as if reading me like a book. It made my posture stiffen. The Master, however, allowed himself a small smile.
Yoda slightly raised his left hand, causing the discussion to fall silent so he could speak.
"Great potential, young Ravan has shown. A chance to join us, we must offer," he said wisely.
"Great power, without control, dangerous becomes. But believe I do, listen to young Ravan we must," he concluded, turning everyone's attention toward me.
I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the Masters' gazes on me. My instincts screamed for me to speak firmly, but also respectfully — after all, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"Masters," I began, keeping my voice steady despite my nerves, "I know I'm not what you expect from a youngling. I've lived through things many might never face. I carry scars and distrust, it's true..."
I paused briefly, looking directly at Yoda, then at Windu, then at Plo Koon, who seemed to encourage me silently.
"...But I also carry the desire to become something greater than myself. If you give me this opportunity, I promise I'll fight to be worthy of it. I'm not perfect, but I'm ready to learn. I want to protect those who can't protect themselves... and if the Force has chosen me, then I won't refuse its call."
I took another deep breath and, with a respectful bow, concluded:
"I humbly ask for the chance to prove my worth."
Silence filled the air for a few moments until Master Plo Koon spoke.
"Young Ravan, allow me to ask you a question," he said, leaning forward in his seat. "Which is more important: protecting yourself or protecting others ?"
After thinking for a few seconds, I answered:
"A man of strength knows how to defend himself. But true strength is shown by those who defend others. If I train hard enough, if I grow strong enough, I won't just stand for myself — I'll stand for everyone who cannot,"
I said, allowing the weight of my words to linger. Master Plo Koon gave a slight nod, clearly satisfied, before settling back into his seat.
"Wise words, these are, young Ravan," said Yoda. "Decide, the Council will, and informed you will be."
"Please wait outside now, Ravan. We need to discuss this privately," Obi-Wan told me.
Bowing respectfully, I left the room. Sitting on the bench outside, I could feel the full weight of anxiety pressing down on me, like sinking into the depths of the ocean.
Closing my eyes and breathing deeply helped me keep my anxiety in check, but it wasn't long before I heard a childish voice call out to me.
"You're new here, aren't you ?"
Opening my eyes quickly, I saw who had called me — and was once again surprised when I recognized a young Togruta girl standing before me.