Star Wars: Walking the Line

Chapter 1

6 years later, Jonlo is still under Andoa's watchful eye. In that time, Andoa has risen to the title of Jedi Grandmaster, and now leads the Jedi Council. The war with the Mandelorians has been getting desperate and the Republic was consistently begging the Jedi Council to intervene. None of this had any effect on young Jonlo, who passed his time in the archives learning as much as he could about the Jedi order. More importantly the Jedi code, which he would eventually have to know and fully understand by heart.

There is no emotion, there is peace. What could that mean, he would ponder? The Jedi sought the path to inner peace, yet few races could live their lives without emotion.

There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. Jonlo had that part down. All of his studies added to his knowledge, helping him to understand why he did what the order asked of him.

There is no passion, there is serenity. Even at the tender age of six years old, he understood this. Passion could quickly turn into anger and hatred, which has turned many Jedi to the dark side.

There is no chaos, there is harmony. Jonlo related this to the inner peace that all Jedi sought. One whose thoughts were conflicted and chaotic could not stay alive should they find themselves in battle. If they cannot make sense of their thoughts, how could they do so with their movements?

There is no death, there is the Force. When a Jedi died, their spirit returned to merge with the Force. Those who were strong enough often became Force ghosts, able to interact with the living world.

He would repeat these phrases and their meanings over and over in his head until he could embrace them and recite it from the heart at a moment's notice. He pulled up a different record from his terminal, trying to pass the time until curfew for the younglings had come. He read of the battles fought against the Mandelorians on the outer rim. He could visualize the battles unfolding as the Republic valiantly fought to the bitter end to defend their interests on the outer rim. He had gotten so captivated by the battle record, he had lost track of time. The lights in the temple were dimming as the sun set beyond the horizon.

Deciding it was time to leave; he left the archives and wandered around trying to find his room. Along the way, he ran into a man in elegant robes with a goatee and long hair woven into a ponytail at the top. "Master Wisac, what are you doing out here?" Jonlo asked.

"I could ask the same of you. It's past curfew." Said Wisac

"Forgive me. I was reading over the battle records of the Mandelorian Wars raging in the outer rim. I still can't understand why we aren't helping the Republic. We should be fighting the Mandelorians."

"Barely 6 years old and talking about the politics of war." Wisac's voice showed some concern. Could Jonlo already be moving toward the dark path? "How did you start getting interested in this stuff, anyway?"

"I overhear Michoa talking about it a lot. She says we should be helping the Republic." said Jonlo.

"I think so too, but the council doesn't agree. They'll only jump in if the Mandelorians attack the Core Worlds."

"How don't they agree? Aren't you grandmaster?" asked the young pup.

"I don't have as much pull as the title might suggest. The rest of the council voted on a wait and see approach. If it was up to me, every capable Jedi would be out fighting in the rim. But it is not the way of the Jedi to be the aggressor. You understand this, I hope." said Wisac.

Jonlo nodded and the two made their way to Jonlo's room. The Shistavanen crawled into bed and curled up beneath the covers. Sleep fell on him quickly and the young pup was out like a light. Wisac smiled to himself and made his way back to his room to see Michoa standing near the window, looking over the Coruscant skyline. "Hard to believe it's already been six years. In a few months, he'll be old enough to start training." She said. As she stepped into the light, her flowing burgundy robe came into view and her beautiful features and flowing hair became blatantly obvious.

"I always wondered what it would be like to raise a child. I just never imagined raising a Shistavanen pup." said Wisac as he moved closer to the beautiful councilor.

"You never told me exactly how you found him." said Michoa.

"His parents were on the run from some bounty hunter. I took them to Medstar General Hospital and figured out they were both Sith lords. His mother was an Inquisitor, and we never spoke. I almost struck them down then and there, but something held me back. That was when I realized I would be taking the life of an unborn child who has not yet made his choice. I let them both live and I keep in contact with the father. The fact that he agreed to let the child be raised by Jedi still astounds me." Wisac explained.

Michoa was taken aback. Andoa had taken in a child of the dark side! But Jonlo couldn't be like his parents. Even so young, he has stuck to the path of the Jedi even before his training had officially begun. "So, his strength in the force stems from his bloodline?"

"It is so. I think he will do well here and rise quickly in the ranks. Besides that, his race's natural ferocity will make him one damn good swordsman." said Andoa. The two leaned in closer together as Andoa wrapped his hands around the consular's waist. She pushed him off of her.

"Not now. I'm too tired. I'll be sleeping in if the Council asks." She said. Andoa nodded in understanding and Michoa passed out on her bed. Seeing that this was as good a time as any, Andoa pulled out his communicator and laid it on his desk. He fired it up and the holographic image of a power-armored Shistavanen male appeared before him. He seemed to be occupied with something else.

"Yeah, no mustard, extra beef." he said to Sith lord on his left. The other Sith left and Canis suddenly realized who was on the comm. "Andoa Wisac. Do you realize what time it is on Coruscant?"

"Yes. I can go on for a while without sleep. What about Korriban. How long does your typical day last?"

"Standard 24-hour day. It's only just time for lunch. You'd be surprised how easy it is to find food here. Just one city. Nice and isolated. But I digress. How's Jonlo been doing?" asked Canis.

"He's taken some interest in war politics. He says he's been getting it from the Consular that's helping me raise him. Does that sort of curiosity have other origins?" asked Andoa.

"He probably gets that curiosity from Kipcha. They are called Inquisitors for a reason, after all."

"Strangely enough," replied the Jedi, "he hasn't shown any of the dark tendencies of the Sith. I think we may be doing our job a little too well, even if most of his time is spent in the Archives."

"Again, he probably gets it from Kipcha." Something suddenly beeped on Canis's wrist. "That would mean my sandwich is here. I've gotta run. Keep an eye on Jonlo for me." And suddenly the comm. shut off. Michoa was conscious for most of the conversation and Andoa knew it, too, but didn't ask anything. Instead, he simply went to his bed and passed out. The next few months would fly by, and he couldn't wait to see what kind of Jedi Jonlo would turn out to be.