Chapter 12: Walking down the jedi's path.
It was three years since Jhoan Ti discovered his true origins and Jhoan was now seven years old and a bit tall, right now they were on the library, Shaak Ti taught him the galactic map with all the planets, solar systems and galaxies, which were added recently like the milky way galaxy and about jedi history from the very beginning to the end, she taught him about the great Jedi civil war and how the sith empire was born and defeated and taught him about the many sentients who lived spread throught the galaxy and their anatomy, the planets they lived in and all the fauna and flora of every planet, Jhoan was excited to know that the human race wasn't the only one but he frowned learning that no one knew where did this other humans came from or their origins, but he learned that there where some theories about Coruscant being the birth place of the humans. Today Shaak Ti was telling him how the Clone Wars began and the first battle of Geonosis, the first battle of the war, after receiving a call from the high Jedi council summoning both of them they quickly left the library and went towards the turbo-lift, after 5 minutes of silence Jhoan Ti spoke.
"Mommy, why'd the council called us for?"
"Well son, you're going to be tested, afterwards the council will decide."
"Decide what mommy?"
"Wether if you will become a jedi, or not."
That statement left Jhoan worried, what if the council says no? What will be of him? What will he do?
Shaak Ti sensed her son's worries and put a hand on his shoulder, Jhoan Ti looked at his adoptive mother and smiled warmly, Shaak Ti's contact seemed to calm him down and make his worries go away, Shaak Ti returned the smile.
"Son, I want you to know that I will stand beside you no mater what the council decides, I will be there for you, do you believe me?" Jhoan Ti smiled and hugged her tightly, so did Shaak Ti.
Finally, they got out of the turbo-lift and headed towards the council chambers, when they entered the chambers most of the Jedi masters were sitting on their sits, some of them were present via hologram, mother and son vowed their heads and Mace Windu gestured with his hand for Shaak Ti to take her sit, Jhoan was nervous, here he was standing in the centre of the chambers surrounded by the jedi masters, alone!
Shaak Ti smiled at him telling everything was going to be alright, Jhoan Ti smiled back and faced Mace Windu and master Yoda, Windu spoke first.
"I hereby declare the beginning of this meeting, master Ti, after debating about what happened on the separatist destroyer we reached a decision."
Shaak Ti gave a questioning look.
"About what if I may ask?"
"About his destiny, the council has decided that he won't be trained in the ways of the force."
Both Shaak Ti and Jhoan Ti had shocked looks on their faces, Shaak Ti got up and walked behind her son and placed her hands on his shoulders.
"Then, I will teach him myself."
Every master even Jhoan were shocked and had their eyes wide open.
"I'll train him in the ways of the force."
Mace Windu cleared his throat and spoke.
"He hasn't been assigned as your padawan, master Ti, the code forbids a master to take in a padawan without the council's approval."
"Who says anything about taking him as my padawan? I said I will teach him and train him but not as my padawan."
Master Plo Koon spoke.
"What do you mean master Ti?"
"What I mean is that I will train him not as my padawan but as my personal student."
"Agree with her, I do." Said master Yoda leaving everyone in the room surprised, "Trust in the force I do, teach him she must."
"Everyone in favor for Shaak Ti to train him raise your hand." Said master Windu. Everyone in the room raised their hands, "Oppose?" None.
"Very well, master Ti, you will teach him the ways of the force and train him, when you feel he is ready, bring him back to us and we will decide if he is worth to be a padawan, may the force be with us all, meeting adjourned."
Mother and son were now walking towards their own shared quarters, Jhoan Ti wouldn't stay still as he was very excited, he couldn't wait to begin, when they entered in their quarters, Shaak Ti took out a book and placed it on the table, Jhoan Ti looked at it confused.
"Mommy, what's that?"
"That, is a book."
"A book?"
"Yes my son, remember when you discovered the truth I hided from you for four years?"
Jhoan Ti nodded.
"Well I never told you the truth about your own parents, if you are not ready yet then..."
"No mom, please tell me about it." Interrupted Jhoan.
Shaak Ti smiled, took a great breath and began speaking.
"Well, your real parents were jedi masters of high Jedi council."
Jhoan's eyes widened with surprise.
"Really!? They were members of the high Jedi council!?"
"Yes, they were, their names were Luna Tan and Reshtu Sarguel, two days after the first battle of Geonosis they left the Jedi order."
"They were in the first battle of Geonosis? The first battle which started the war?"
"Yes my son, but during the war a planet was being invaded by the CIS and the Jedi council sent me with a few clones to aid the earthlings, during a scout mission I was doing on my own, I found you, I decided to take care of you, when Earth was free, president Barack Obama gave me a history book, the one you are seeing now for you to learn about your history."
Afterwards, Shaak Ti took out a silver necklace with a cross hanging unknown to him and explained.
"When I found you, in your old home on a table was this necklace called rosary with this letter."
Shaak Ti passed the rosary and the letter to Jhoan Ti who started reading it with tears.
"Whoever's reading this that means we're gone by now and you've found our son whoever you are take care of our son, he is our precious love
they are looking for him to kill him, he must not know about his origins until he is old enough to know the truth
when the time comes please don't hold him back from knowing.
Luna Tan and Reshtu Sarguel.
P.S. In the kitchen's desk near the window you'll find a necklace, give it to him when he's old enough, thank you."
When Jhoan Ti finished the letter he stared at the rosary in Shaak Ti's hand, then looked up at Shaak Ti who gave him an encouraging smile, with determination, Jhoan took the rosary and placed it around his neck, afterwards Jhoan Ti took the book and started reading it from the begging, starting in the paleolithic.
After 20 minutes, Jhoan decided to take a stroll to the room of a thousand fountains, once he got there he saw a youngling around his age sitting in the grass watching the plants that grew here, she was a girl, a togruta like his mother, but the difference between both was that her skin was orange with white marks on her face and her lekku was shorter than his mother's, Jhoan was about to walk towards her when a human girl with red hair, purple eyes and white skin around the age of 9 walked up to her.
"What do you think you are doing here?" Asked the girl menacingly.
There was no answer so she spoke again.
"What's the matter? Did the rancor ate your tongue imbecile?"
"Leave me alone, I did nothing to you." Complained the togrutan girl.
"Why should I? You're not a jedi master, as far as I know I don't even know why they brought you here anyways, you're nothing but a mistake!"
The girl stared at her, hurt by her words trying her best to hold back the tears.
"You know why they brought you here? Because you are weak, they pitied you." Taunted the girl cruelly at her.
"W-what's t-t-that su-u-ppo-s-se to m-m-mean?" Asked the togrutan girl with evident pain in her voice.
"You know what I mean, I take it that no one on Shili took you in when your parents died?"
"HEY!"
The togrutan girl, including the red haired girl turned around to meet a youngling with white hair and blue eyes, with determination he walked up towards her and faced the red haired girl.
"Why don't you pick up someone of your own sice?"
The togrutan girl was stunned, no one has ever dared to face her or even stand up for her, inmediately the red haired girl faced him.
"Back off bantha poodoo this doesn't concerns you?"
"A youngling younger than you being bullied concerns me, leave her alone, you don't want any trouble with my mother."
"Your mother? Wait a second, I heard about master Shaak Ti adopting a child 7 years ago, I never thought I will meet her adoptive son."
"Leave. Her. Alone."
"Or what? Are you going to ask mommy for help? You wouldn't dare."
"Try me."
They stared at each other's eyes for a while until the red haired girl sighed in defeat.
"Fine, you win runt."
She walked away from the youngling and headed towards the exit, stopping at Jhoan's right shoulder she breathed eavily and said.
"My name is Jaddah Dullab, remember that name when we meet again sleemo."
"Jhoan Ti, pleassure to meet you." Said calmly Jhoan Ti, that did not only annoyed Jaddah but it also enraged her as well, she just huffed and went past him, the togruta looked at him in disbelief until she spoke.
"Thank you for standing up against Jaddah for me, is your name Jhoan Ti?"
"You're welcome, and answering your question, yes, my name is Jhoan Ti, pleasure to meet you."
"My name is Ahsoka Tano, nice to meet you."
Then Ahsoka asked:
"How old are you?"
"I am 7 years old, and you?"
"What a coincidence! I am 7 years old as well."
They kept talking between them and formed a new friendship, she mostly asked him questions about his mother and how he became her adoptive son, reluctantly Jhoan told her where his mother found him, who were his biological parents, the togruta was surprised to learn that his real parents were members of the high Jedi council, suddenly a voice was heard.
"Jhoan, where are you?"
"Oh shoot, I'm here mom!"
Shaak Ti cached up to them.
"Honey, you were suppose to take a stroll, not spend the whole afternoon without coming back, what took you so long?"
Just then, she noticed the youngling.
"If I may ask, who are you?"
Ahsoka Tano bowed and spoke:
"Master Ti, my name is Ahsoka Tano, jedi intiate, member of Clawmouse Clan."
Shaak Ti bowed her head.
"It is a pleasure to meet you."
Then Ahsoka spoke up. "Your son just defended me from Jaddah Dullab."
Shaak Ti was surprised to learn that her son defen toded them from Jaddah, she knew Jaddah Dullab, since Jaddah came to the temple she always wanted to surpass every challenge become a jedi knight, soon her ambitions of glory took her further and she wanted to be a master, even a member of the high Jedi council as well! Shaak Ti and many masters discussed what to do with her, after a while she became distant and cold, even acted more hostile around others, one night she almost choked to death a youngling because he didn't obeyed her in doing something, so in the end the council decided to deny her the padawan status and instead of expelling her they decided to put her as a temple police under the tutelage of the temple police sergeant Weinberger Durham.
Shaak Ti shook her head and sighed heavily, "What I am going to do with that girl?"
She then looked back at her son and Ahsoka, then she placed a hand in her son's shoulder and smiled warmly.
Then she looked past her son to Ahsoka and asked, "You like playing with my son, don't you?"
"Yes master Ti, he's the first one who was brave enough to stand up for me." Answered Ahsoka Tano, Shaak Ti smiled even more and said, "Well, in that case, I don't see why you can not be friends."
The two friends cheered and before they could play, Shaak Ti said, "But I am expecting you Jhoan to come back for dinner."
"Yes mom, don't worry." Suddenly Ahsoka walked up to him and touched his arm before screaming, "Tag, you're it!"
Before Jhoan could register what did Ahsoka meant by that she went off running out of the room of a thousand fountains and soon Jhoan went running behind her laughing and yelling, "Hey, that's not fair you cheater, I wasn't even ready!"
Shaak Ti chuckled a little as she saw them running through the halls without avoiding bumping into any unfortunate jedi who came in their direction.
Three years later.
Three years went by and Jhoan was now ten years old, he continued with his studies about humanity's history, he was ending world war 2, entering the cold war by now, the friendship between him and Ahsoka Tano increased as well, after the first confrontation with Jaddah Dullab, she was never heard from again, Ahsoka was now 10 years old like Jhoan, Ahsoka continued her training with her clan and whenever they could, they would go and play with together, after a week, Jhoan Ti finished the history book.
"Well, now that you have finished the history book, now it's time for you to learn about the force." Informed Shaak Ti, Jhoan couldn't help but smile.
5 minutes later.
"Focus, focus on letting go." Told Shaak Ti to her son, they were on top of a waterfall and Jhoan was doing a handstand facing his mother with his eyes closed.
"Letting go? Rather hold on if you don't mind." Said Jhoan with sarcasm as he struggled to maintain in balance so he wouldn't fall to the pond below the waterfall.
"Enough jokes, focus." Said Shaak Ti, easy said than done, for Jhoan Ti it wasn't easy.
"Ughhh...ummm...I'm trying."
"Do or do not, there is no try."
"What's that even mean? How can I do something if I don't try to do it?"
"It means that if you try, then that means you don't believe in yourself, but if you do it you will believe in yourself." Said Shaak Ti, without warning she took a stone in her hand and threw it to her son, the stone hit him in his belly but it didn't hurt him, it cause him to open his eyes and loose concentration, he desperately tried to steady himself but he fell to the pond below.
When got ashore his mother came and helped him to his feet.
"Was that stone really necessary?" Asked Jhoan.
"Yes it was, you see, there will always be distractions, you must learn how to focus through them." Said Shaak Ti.
"Here let's try how you handle yourself with the force." Said Shaak Ti.
"What's the force." Asked Jhoan intrigued.
"The force is a mistic field that is everywhere, it binds the galaxy together, it surrounds us and penetrates us, it is present in every life form: the stone, the tree, the animals and us, it's what gives us, jedi our power." Explained Shaak Ti, then she closed her eyes and extended her hand towards the stone she used to throw at her son , Jhoan stared in shock as the stone just floated in the air, then as Shaak Ti lowered her hand so did the stone until it touched ground.
"That was the force?" Asked a stunned Jhoan, "Yes, that was the force my son." Answered Shaak Ti.
"Now son, I want you to try and move that rock with the force." Commanded Shaak Ti pointing to a nearby rock which was huge, Jhoan' s eyes widened.
"What? Why don't I do it with the stone instead?" Asked Jhoan Ti.
"It's the same, just remember what I taught you about the force."
"Mom, no disrespect, moving stones is one thing but that is a very huge rock, I'll never be able to move it."
Shaak Ti placed a hand on his shoulder and spoke to him smoothly, "It is the same Jhoan, there is no difference about it, size doesn't matter to jedi."
"Alright, I guess I could give it a try."
"No." Said Shaak Ti, "Have you already forgotten what I told you earlier? Do or do not, there is no try."
Jhoan Ti nodded and took a deep breath.
"Empty your mind of thoughts." Instructed Shaak Ti.
He closed his eyes and relaxed.
"Feel the force flow through you and concentrate."
Jhoan Ti extended his hand towards the rock and suddenly the rock trembled a little and soon it floated in the air.
Jhoan Ti was shocked at first, but when the rock trembled again threatening to fall back to the floor he concentrated on the force deeply and the rock stop trembling.
"Impressive." Praised Shaak Ti to her son, "Very impressive, now I want you to move the rock up."
Jhoan did as he was told and lifted the rock up a little bit high.
"Well done Jhoan, now move it down and place it on the floor."
Jhoan Ti concentrated deeply and very slowly he put the rock down until it touched ground.
"Very good Jhoan! My, you're a fast learner." Congratulated Shaak Ti, then she pulled. Jhoan in to a very tight hug, Jhoan returned the hug with tenderness and spoke.
"I did it..."
"Yes my son, you did it, now, how about you go and play with Ahsoka?" Suggested Shaak Ti, Jhoan nodded quickly and as if the devil was chasing him he left the room in 5 seconds.
He kept running until he got to the training room, curiosity got the best of him, so he peek through, the room was candle lit but he saw Tera Sinube observing the training of the younglings who were performing skills like jumping backwards and moving their bodies at the same time, they were performing hand to hand combat, Jhoan spotted a figure between them, he immediately recognized his best friend Ahsoka Tano, he couldn't stop looking at her features as she performed with the other younglings, gosh she was beautiful, the way she moved, the way she jumped backwards, she was like the ancient goddess of love Aphrodite, like the one he read about when studying about Earth's culture and history.
Ahsoka seemed to have sensed a presence in the force, when she searched with her eyes for the presence with the guidance of the force she saw him in the door frame waving at her, Ahsoka smiled warmly, Jhoan was debating his feelings in his heart, "Is it possible that for me she's more than just a friend?" Thought Jhoan Ti, little did he knew was that Ahsoka was having the same debate with her heart too, after five minutes master Tera Sinube ended the lesson and Ahsoka hurried to exit the room to find Jhoan, she found him leaning against a pillar smiling at her, "You took your time Ahsoka." Said Jhoan with mock, "Are you anoyed, your highness?" Asked Ahsoka in the same tone, "How was your training with Shaak Ti?" Asked Ahsoka, "The same Ahsoka, the same, but I just wish I was with you in Clawmouse Clan." Answered Jhoan.
Suddenly Jhoan approached to her ear and wispered: "You're it."
Before Ahsoka could registered what he meant by that he touched her arm and run, Ahsoka inmediately run behind him, after what felt like hours of tagging and runing, the two friends ended in the room of a thousand fountains and fell exausted facing one another while catching their breaths, "Thank you Jhoan Ti." Said Ahsoka leaving Jhoan puzzled.
"Thank you? For what?" Asked Jhoan.
"For making my day a brighter one, and funnier too silly!" Answered Ahsoka giggling.
Jhoan chuckled at the answer, he always looked forward to make every day a good one, for his best friend, for Ahsoka.
"Ahsoka?"
"Hmm?"
"Hope you are ready for some laughter." Before Ahsoka could react, Jhoan pinned her down so he was on top and without mercy he started tickling her, Ahsoka couldn't help but laugh aloud while Jhoan's fingers roamed through her body, Ahsoka tried to push him off her but due to her laughter she was weak to try anything.
"J-J-J-Jhoan s-s-st-o-o-op p-ple-e-ease it's-s-s not-t-t fu-nny." Said Ahsoka between laughs, she was laughing so hard that tears roll down her checks.
"Do you admit defeat?" Asked Jhoan giving her a break.
There was silence between them, after 5 seconds Jhoan took it as a "no" and continued tickling her.
"OK YOU'VE WON I ADMIT DEFEAT JUST SPARE ME!" Pleaded Ahsoka, Jhoan finally stopped and was about to get up when Ahsoka grabbed him by the arms and pinned him to the ground so that she was now on top.
"Did you really thought that you would go unpunished?" Asked Ahsoka with a devious smile on her face which sent shivers down Jhoan's spine, he laughed nervously, "Parlay?" Ahsoka looked at him, "Nope." She then started tickling him the same way he did
