Reflection Saga:
Chapter 2
Written by: Siona
Okey dokey, my plot's finally underway!! *evil laugh* Let's find out what's
the deal with Yaro, shall we?
Yaddle's feet pounded like drums as she rushed down the alley. The blood-spattered trail left by the bandit who had robbed from the Jedi Temple shone out brightly for her to follow. The alley suddenly opened into a huge, open area strewn with forgotten furniture and household machines.
She slowed her pace to a slug's pace, being as quiet as possible. Using the Force to hide her presence, she peeked slowly around the corner. There was the boy! He stood in the center, where there was no litter save a bucket. What's he doing? Yaddle wondered. The boy whistled loudly and stomped his foot on the bucket twice. What happened next shocked Yaddle.
At least fifteen children spewed out from behind the furnishings and machinery. They were from all kinds of different worlds and species, but all looked very hungry and tired. Their clothes were tattered and full of holes. Some had no shirts on, revealing their ribcages and vertebrae. Yaddle was horrified and disgusted. She had never, in her entire 412 years of living on Coruscant, heard of homeless children. And 412 years was how long she'd been alive.
"What'd ya get, Yaro?" A young Rodian asked the thief in Huttese. So that was the boy's name. "Is it true you went into the Jedi Temple?"
Yaro chuckled like a father encircled by his children who were begging for a bedtime story. "You can bet your credits it is!" He spread his hands out, bending over as the children sat down. "I was trapped, surrounded by almost fifty Jedi!"
A young Human scoffed. "Now way! You're fibbin' Yaro!"
Yaro sighed, like a child caught in the middle of a lie. "Yeah, you're right." Then he smiled mischievously. "It was actually sixty. Just didn't want to scare you kids." The children all gasped; the young Human who had spoken out covered his mouth. "Anyway, they had me trapped. They edged in with their lightsabers activated, ready to chop me up in itty bitty pieces! But when they dived for me-" He leaped up on top of the bucket-"I jumped ten feet into the air! I ran along the wall, and escaped back here, to serve my little friends dinner."
"Yay!" The children cheered him on, and then stood back up, awaiting their meal. Yaro smiled happily at the group of younglings in front of him and sat back down on the bucket. "Well, let's see what we got." He hoisted the sack off of his shoulders and opened it, revealing milk and clean water in containers, and many different kinds of fruits, vegetables, and pastries. The kids shrieked in delight and made a grab for the food.
Yaro snatched the bag back. "Now hold on a second! If ya eat it all, not only will you have upset tummies, but then we'll have nothing to eat tomorrow! One at a time!"
We? Yaddle pondered. He's homeless too? She was suddenly no longer mad at Yaro; how could she? He hadn't stolen for his own greed, but to feed starving children, many of whom didn't look over the age of ten.
As the children lined up in two rows, Yaro sat down on the bucket. "'Kay, whose first?" A little Twi'lek girl, holding her baby brother, stepped forward and held out a hand. It broke Yaddle's heart to see them, especially the babe.
"Let's see...," Yaro scavenged around in the bag with both hands. Pulling out a cream-filled pastry, a fuzzy green fruit, and a bottle of milk, he presented them to the girl. "Here ya go! The milk's for your brother." He put them in her arms and patted her head. "Take care."
Smiling brightly, the Twi'lek ran off into the alley. Yaddle dived behind a trash disposal to avoid being seen. Once the child had left, Yaddle peeked around the corner. Yaro was still serving the children one by one, giving each one a fruit or vegetable, a piece of bread, and water, or milk if they were younger.
An hour later, the last child, the Rodian, was given his food. "Thanks again, Yaro! You're the greatest!"
Yaro smiled that crooked smile again. "Aw, shucks. Just doing my part, kid! Go on now!" The Rodian child ran off, holding his food and water like delicate treasures. Yaddle watched him go, and then looked back at Yaro. He was searching around in the bag for food. He pulled out a meager piece of a melon. He sighed, and began to eat.
Yaddle couldn't take it anymore. She strode out, startling Yaro so badly he dropped his food in the dirt. "W-What the? Hey, who are-" He stopped short when he recognized her. His ears flattened against his head in a gesture of annoyance. "You again!? Do you ever give up?"
Yaddle put her hands on her hips again, trying to be patient. "No I don't. But I do understand why you stole that food."
Yaro gave her a long, suspicious look. "How long you been here?"
"Long enough, Yaro." She walked over and sat cross-legged on the dirt near him. Spying his fallen melon piece, she handed it to him and pulled out her own honey-cake. "Thank you for the cake, by the way." Yaddle grabbed a glance at Yaro's injured feet. "Here, let me help with that." After taking the blood-spattered feet coverings off of his feet, she tore off two long strips of her sleeves, wrapping them gently, but tightly, around Yaro's feet. The fabric turned a faint red, but ceased to bleed.
"Hey, thanks," He said, nibbling on his melon. "So, who are you? You seem to know my name."
Yaddle took a bite of her honey-cake, swallowing before answering, "Yaddle, Jedi apprentice to Polvin Kut."
"Hm. Never heard of him," He moved away from the bucket, sitting down beside Yaddle. "You're an apprentice? If you're just a student, why do you have a lightsaber?"
"Because I'm responsible enough to have one. Otherwise, I wouldn't go near one."
Yaro scoffed. "Why not? You can kick serious butt with that thing."
"Because if a lightsaber is given to an irresponsible person, even good-hearted intentions can become evil, and cause suffering and pain to innocent people."
"Oh," He looked a bit stunned. "Didn't think of that."
Yaddle laughed, the first time today, and ate the rest of her cake. "You don't seem to do much of that, Yaro."
He chuckled, a very soft and almost silent sound. "Yeah, ya got that right." The two sat in silence for a while, watching speeders fly overhead. Yaddle thought about what she had just seen. If I turn him in, he'll get in serious trouble and the children might starve. But if I don't, I'll get in trouble and I'll be defending someone who did a wrong. What to do...
Yaddle suddenly noticed Yaro was staring at her. Again, she felt herself sink into those wonderful eyes. His brown hair rippled slightly in the breeze, like a small wave atop his head repeating the same pattern over and over. Those eyes... Snapping out of it, she said, "Why are you staring, Yaro? It's rude, you know."
"You're thinking," He said bluntly. "About me."
Yaddle was shocked, but regained her composure. "How did you know?"
He shrugged and ate the last of his melon, chewing slowly as if to savor it forever. When he swallowed, he said, "I can hear you. And in case you ask, you're giving me a headache."
"Oh." Yaddle was confused. Was this boy...could he be... She concentrated her thoughts on the bucket. Using the Force, she began to lift the bucket into the air. After a few seconds, she set it back down. Pointing to it, she said, "Can you do that?"
Yaro shrugged again. He seemed to have a habit of that. "I dunno, guess I'll try." His eyes shut till they were almost slit, and Yaddle suddenly had a thought of Yoda's own sleepy eyes. She could feel Yaro using the Force, and his ability to control it. The bucket began to tremble, then it rose nearly a foot in the air. Yaro sighed and put it back down. "Phew. Haven't done that in a while, tell ya that!"
Yaddle didn't say anything. She couldn't. Though he was untrained, Yaro had a connection with the Force! Her brows knotted. Why hadn't the Council found him earlier? "How...how old are you, Yaro?"
Yaro didn't answer. He used his toes to trace lines in the dirt. Not wanting to press him, Yaddle waited anxiously. "I...I don't really know, Yaddle," He said at last. He looked at her and she could see that the pool of light in his eyes that her soul had almost drowned in was dark, dim.
"217 years ago, I woke up on a jungle planet, with no one remember. My head throbbed, it was bleeding. Nobody was there, just me. I...couldn't remember anything at all. I only knew of my name, and how to do things like read minds and levitate things," His voice began to break. "I don't know who I am, what I am, how old I am, or where I come from." Yaro turned his glance to the ground, pulling his knees up to his chin. "I was taken in by some Republic air pilots a year later, who taught me 'the ropes', and brought me to here, to Coruscant. But when I found some starving kids, I left them and vowed to take care of these children. I didn't want them to be alone and not wanted, like I was." He turned his face away from Yaddle, resting his head on his knees. "So that's what I've been doing, for as long as I can remember."
Yaddle didn't know what to say. What could she say? She edged over closer and put an arm around Yaro's shoulder to comfort him. He didn't protest or shrug it off, so she left it there. "Yaro? I think...I think you're Jedi."
He looked up, a perplexed look on his face, but the light began to shine a little brighter in his eyes. "What are you talking about?"
She stood up, pulling him upwards with him. "I think you could be a Jedi! Okay, you're a little old and inexperienced, but I think it's possible! I could take you the Council and-"
"Whoa, whoa!" Yaro slid out of Yaddle's grasp, backing away from her. "I just escaped from that place only with sheer luck, and you want me to go back!?" He scoffed. "You're wacko."
Yaddle huffed up. "Well, if you'd just give it a shot, maybe the Council would forgive you. I think they would understand that you took it only to feed those children!" She held a hand out to him. "Well?"
Yaro looked at it, uneasily. Then he extended his own and shook Yaddle's hand slightly. She noticed his hand was very warm. "Deal," He said. "But I have a very bad feeling about this."
*****
"Are we there yet?" Yaro was becoming impatient. He and Yaddle had been looking for some Yoda guy to check him out, but unsuccessfully. "I just know that psycho cook of yours is come around the corner and bust my head open with a spoon."
"Actually, he can use a lightsaber if he wanted to," Yaddle said matter-of-factly. "But he wanted to be Head Chef instead."
"A mad Jedi cook? With a lightsaber?" Yaro was suddenly nervous. "Yaddle, has anyone told you you're not very comforting?"
"No, why?"
"No reason." He looked around the halls, wringing his hands. What if Yaddle was leading him into a trap? He certainly had more enemies than friends. He looked at the back of Yaddle's head as she led through the passage. She didn't seem like the cheating kind, her mind was too clear. His ears perked up. Maybe she's right! He thought. Maybe I am Jedi!
Yaddle came to a stop in front of a door. She pressed a small button on the intercom and said into it, "Master Yoda? It's Yaddle; I need to speak with you."
Yoda? Yaro thought. That...that name sounds familiar-
"Papa! Papa!" Yaro ran up to a man that resembled him a lot. The Jedi turned and kneeled down, welcoming the boy with open arms. His dusty-brown robes enveloped Yaro in its flowing sleeves. "Hello Yaro! How were your lessons today, little one?"
"Very good, they were." A wizened old man walked from behind Yaro, leaning on his cane. "Getting better, he is."
The man smiled. "That's nice to hear, Master Yoda."
--"Wha?" Yaro shook his head. What was with these flashbacks? They hadn't appeared this often in one day for a long time. Ever, actually. The door swished open and Yaddle walked inside, gesturing for Yaro to follow. He tagged along, unsure of himself. He took a quick glance around the room when the door had shut again. Two round, white seats sat in the center, a small statue or something placed on one. The blinds were pulled down so only small slivers of light came through.
"Ah. So, come back you have?"
Yaro jumped at the sound of the voice, instantly on alert. That was when he noticed the small body sitting cross-legged on one of the round seats. He had been so still that Yaro had almost thought he was part of the décor. "Are you Master Yoda?"
The figure uncrossed his legs and picked up a wooden cane. Sliding off the seat, he walked into the light. It was the old man who Yaro had knocked over in the hall! Yaro could feel his face burn with embarrassment. He had practically run over a Jedi Master!
Yoda must have noticed, because he laughed softly. "No need to be embarrassed," He chuckled again, and looked at Yaddle. "Who is the boy, Yaddle?"
Yaddle bowed slightly in respect and said, "This is Yaro, Master, and I thought you would like to meet him," Motioning to Yaro, she said, "He has Jedi abilities."
Suddenly interested, Yoda crooned, "Oh?" He looked at Yaro, his sleepy eyes focused solely on him. "Like to see this, I would," Yoda pulled a small ball out of his hand. "Take it from me, Yaro."
"Oh," Yaro reached toward the ball when the Jedi, with lightning speed, hit his knuckles hard with the cane. "Ow!" His knuckles smarting furiously, he shook his hand to relieve the pain. "What'd ya do that for, you told me to take the ball!"
"No!" Yoda said sternly. His voice and expression had changed from soft and old to harsh and strict. "Told you to take the ball with your abilities, I did!" He sighed and held the ball out in his palm again. "Do it again."
Yaro sighed too, and concentrated on the ball. He didn't usually have the chance to do this, what with stealing, feeding kids, and running away from security. But he extended his powers out to the ball, making it hover in the air.
"Hm...good. Good," Yoda whispered almost to himself. "How old, are you Yaro?"
Yaro hesitated. "Uh...I don't know sir." He felt his face flush again. "I have amnesia...but I've been on the streets for about 217 years, as long as I can remember."
Yoda stroked his chin. "I see, I see. Into my hand, drop the ball." Yaro released the ball and it fell into Yoda's open hand. Yoda stared at him hard, and Yaro could have sworn he could see into his very soul. Finally, the Jedi Master tore his gaze away from the boy and began to walk out of the room. When he reached the doorway, he turned his head around and gestured for Yaddle and Yaro to follow. The two teens walked quickly behind him out into the hall.
"Discuss about you, to the Council I will. Yaddle, show our friend around." Yoda walked off the hall, leaving the two alone.
*****
Yoda walked slowly down the hall, deep in thought. Could this boy possibly be Yosho's son? The fact the boys shared the same name could or could not be coincidence. He shook his head slowly, remembering the young man he had adopted as a son after his father, a very good friend of Yoda, had died. Yosho's father's last words had begged Yoda to take his son and train him as a Jedi.
Once he had been trained, Yosho had been one of the strongest and wisest Jedi the Order had ever seen. He had even sat on the High Council alongside Yoda. Yoda himself had had a very strong relationship with the young man. He had even donated blood after Yosho had gotten tangled up in a horrible battle and had lost most of his own.
But then Yosho had fallen in deep love with a female of their species. He had loved the woman enough to leave the Jedi Order behind and marry her. They had eventually had a small son, having his father's hair and a blend of his parent's eyes. Yosho had chuckled that he looked like Yoda, since he did have Yoda's blood in him. The boy had had Jedi abilities like his father, and so he was trained by Yoda while Yosho proudly watched on from the side lines.
But tragedy had struck when the small family went to a small, deserted, tropical forest of a planet with only a very primitive but advancing race. For reasons unknown, a large group of the locals had ganged up on the family and, despite how strong Yosho was, murdered them all brutally.
Yoda sighed. He had felt the death of Yosho and his wife halfway across the galaxy, but no one had found the son, now a young teen at 200. After searching for almost a full year, even Yoda had given up hope that his grandson had survived. Everyone eventually forgot about the child as Yosho's life-story faded into legend among the Jedi.
Yoda stopped in mid-step. He had never felt the boy die, was it possible Yaro could be...He quickened his step, rushing as fast as he could to the Council Room.
*****
"And these are the Jedi Archives," Yaddle said to a fascinated Yaro. She had been showing most of the Temple to him for almost an hour now. "Anything and everything that has ever existed are in these files for us to use."
"That's awesome!" Yaro was stunned by the size of the Archives. They were bigger than any library he had ever seen in his entire life!
"Oh! That reminds me," Yaddle said as she pulled a few scrolls out of her pockets. "I was going to read these in my room, but well..."
"Why don't you read them now," Yaro suggested. "That's what a library is for, reading, isn't it?"
"Yeah, guess so."
The pair found a table and sat down. Yaddle spread out her texts, and began to read silently. Yaro sat alongside, patiently watching Jedi walk past. Becoming bored after an hour or so, Yaro said quietly as of not to disturb other readers, "Yaddle? Are you done yet?"
She looked up at him, a quizzical expression on her face. "Nope." She turned her attention back to the scroll.
"Ugh!" Yaro flung his hands up in air and laid his face down on the table. Yaddle chuckled softly. She has such a nice laugh, thought Yaro. Makes me think of a gentle rain shower...
Yaddle put aside the scroll, and unrolled another. Holograms of twelve people of different species appeared. "Here, let me show you the current Jedi Council members."
"The who?"
"The Jedi Council. If you want to be a Jedi, they are the ones who decide you can or not. They lead the Jedi with their strength and wise decisions," Her voice was full of awe and admiration. "Anyway, here's Yoda, you know him of course. Then there's Polvin Kut, my Master," She pointed to the hologram of a tall, pale Human in dusty brown robes and black pants. "I'm his Padawan, or apprentice. He's wonderful. He's my closest friend." From the tone of her voice, Yaro could tell she admired him greatly.
She showed him the other ten Jedi Masters, explaining their specialties, species, and personalities. Yaro paid close attention; these were the people he'd have to convince to let Yoda or some other Jedi train him. If they didn't...he shuddered at the thought of returning to the unforgiving streets.
Just then, Yoda appeared, floating on a small chair. Yaddle instantly hopped up, and Yaro followed suit. "Yaro, Yaddle, come with me." The Jedi Master turned back around, hovering up a flight of stairs. The two teens ran up the stairs after him till Yoda stopped in front of a door. The chair floated down to the ground, allowing Yoda to step off and walk up to the door.
The door swooshed open, revealing a circular room. Eleven Jedi of all different species, colors, heights, and clothes filled the seats. One small one was obviously Yoda's. The old Jedi hopped up into his respectful seat alongside his Council members. Yaro began to look at the faces as he and Yaddle walked slowly inside to stand in the center circle. Plecu Wanstru , Adrodo Vemor, Raltar Ascarr, Aurentia Zelski, Chaoso Tomlasi, Polvin Kut, Hismonia Risho, Yoda, Igena Tepril, Gibral Misclel, Ternus Diano, Balkan Xandris. The names he had forced himself to memorize surged through his head like a waterfall. He looked to Polvin Kut, Yoda, and Hismonia Risho, a light brown Twi'lek with darker brown spots dressed in a flowing blue dress and red sash.
According to Yaddle, these three were the ones he needed to convince. He had Yoda on his side (at least he thought so), so he had a good chance.
"So," Adrodo Vemor, a small-set human with tan skin, said. "Master Yoda, you think this boy is Yosho's son?"
Yoda nodded slowly, and then turned his gaze to Yaro. Yosho? Who's that guy? Yaro wondered. Somehow, that name sounded familiar, but he just couldn't place it. Its answer drifted in front of him like a string, and when he reached out for it, it was tugged away then placed back in front of him.
"Believe this boy should be trained, I do," Yoda said. "Tested to prove it, he should." Tests? Yaro swallowed.
Polvin Kut looked at Yaddle, his deep brown eyes sharp and bright. "Young Padawan, please leave us," His voice was soft, but it had an air to it that made you pay immediate attention to him. Yaddle bowed slightly and left without a word to Yaro. But out of the corner of his eye, Yaro saw her give him a hopeful look as the door closed behind her.
Yaro suddenly felt extremely nervous and tense; his skin was rippling with goosebumps. Without Yaddle there to reassure him, the room had suddenly gone as cold as Coruscant at night without proper shelter. Though he tried to stop it, Yaro had a violent shiver of fear and loneliness.
Suddenly, Hismonia's eyes widened. Her lekku twitched. She was fully aware of his worried mind. "Are you frightened, uh..."
"Yaro, Master," replied a startled Yaro. They could read minds, like him!? "And, yeah, kind of." To say 'Master' to a woman didn't sound right, but he hadn't heard Yaddle or anyone else call her 'Mistress', so he stuck with it in hopes he wasn't being rude. He couldn't afford such a mistake.
Plecu Wanstru, a Rodian in dark green robes to match his emerald skin, said in Huttese, "Frightened of what?"
Yaro wasn't sure how to how to answer that one. No one had asked him that kind of question before. "I'm...not really sure. I guess I'm scared of failing."
Chaoso Tomlasi, a male Togruta with brilliantly-colored lekku and dark, scarlet robes tied by a white sash, questioned this time. "Why do you fear failure?"
Yaro shrugged, rubbing his upper arm slightly. "I guess because it makes people think you're not worth being bothered with, that you can not succeed. And you feel that way about yourself also."
All the Jedi nodded slightly, and Yaro began to feel less tense; he had the feeling of being surrounded by old friends and family, whom he had not seen in a very long time but the sensation of belonging with them still remained. They asked him questions about his life, though from the way they asked the questions, Yaro expected they could even see into his memories and were simply testing how he would answer.
Hismonia leaned forward. Her dark brown eyes were full of curiosity of the boy. "Would you mind taking a small test?"
~Ooh, this was a little longer than the first chapter. Well, go to Chapter 3! *cracks whip* NOW!!
Yaddle's feet pounded like drums as she rushed down the alley. The blood-spattered trail left by the bandit who had robbed from the Jedi Temple shone out brightly for her to follow. The alley suddenly opened into a huge, open area strewn with forgotten furniture and household machines.
She slowed her pace to a slug's pace, being as quiet as possible. Using the Force to hide her presence, she peeked slowly around the corner. There was the boy! He stood in the center, where there was no litter save a bucket. What's he doing? Yaddle wondered. The boy whistled loudly and stomped his foot on the bucket twice. What happened next shocked Yaddle.
At least fifteen children spewed out from behind the furnishings and machinery. They were from all kinds of different worlds and species, but all looked very hungry and tired. Their clothes were tattered and full of holes. Some had no shirts on, revealing their ribcages and vertebrae. Yaddle was horrified and disgusted. She had never, in her entire 412 years of living on Coruscant, heard of homeless children. And 412 years was how long she'd been alive.
"What'd ya get, Yaro?" A young Rodian asked the thief in Huttese. So that was the boy's name. "Is it true you went into the Jedi Temple?"
Yaro chuckled like a father encircled by his children who were begging for a bedtime story. "You can bet your credits it is!" He spread his hands out, bending over as the children sat down. "I was trapped, surrounded by almost fifty Jedi!"
A young Human scoffed. "Now way! You're fibbin' Yaro!"
Yaro sighed, like a child caught in the middle of a lie. "Yeah, you're right." Then he smiled mischievously. "It was actually sixty. Just didn't want to scare you kids." The children all gasped; the young Human who had spoken out covered his mouth. "Anyway, they had me trapped. They edged in with their lightsabers activated, ready to chop me up in itty bitty pieces! But when they dived for me-" He leaped up on top of the bucket-"I jumped ten feet into the air! I ran along the wall, and escaped back here, to serve my little friends dinner."
"Yay!" The children cheered him on, and then stood back up, awaiting their meal. Yaro smiled happily at the group of younglings in front of him and sat back down on the bucket. "Well, let's see what we got." He hoisted the sack off of his shoulders and opened it, revealing milk and clean water in containers, and many different kinds of fruits, vegetables, and pastries. The kids shrieked in delight and made a grab for the food.
Yaro snatched the bag back. "Now hold on a second! If ya eat it all, not only will you have upset tummies, but then we'll have nothing to eat tomorrow! One at a time!"
We? Yaddle pondered. He's homeless too? She was suddenly no longer mad at Yaro; how could she? He hadn't stolen for his own greed, but to feed starving children, many of whom didn't look over the age of ten.
As the children lined up in two rows, Yaro sat down on the bucket. "'Kay, whose first?" A little Twi'lek girl, holding her baby brother, stepped forward and held out a hand. It broke Yaddle's heart to see them, especially the babe.
"Let's see...," Yaro scavenged around in the bag with both hands. Pulling out a cream-filled pastry, a fuzzy green fruit, and a bottle of milk, he presented them to the girl. "Here ya go! The milk's for your brother." He put them in her arms and patted her head. "Take care."
Smiling brightly, the Twi'lek ran off into the alley. Yaddle dived behind a trash disposal to avoid being seen. Once the child had left, Yaddle peeked around the corner. Yaro was still serving the children one by one, giving each one a fruit or vegetable, a piece of bread, and water, or milk if they were younger.
An hour later, the last child, the Rodian, was given his food. "Thanks again, Yaro! You're the greatest!"
Yaro smiled that crooked smile again. "Aw, shucks. Just doing my part, kid! Go on now!" The Rodian child ran off, holding his food and water like delicate treasures. Yaddle watched him go, and then looked back at Yaro. He was searching around in the bag for food. He pulled out a meager piece of a melon. He sighed, and began to eat.
Yaddle couldn't take it anymore. She strode out, startling Yaro so badly he dropped his food in the dirt. "W-What the? Hey, who are-" He stopped short when he recognized her. His ears flattened against his head in a gesture of annoyance. "You again!? Do you ever give up?"
Yaddle put her hands on her hips again, trying to be patient. "No I don't. But I do understand why you stole that food."
Yaro gave her a long, suspicious look. "How long you been here?"
"Long enough, Yaro." She walked over and sat cross-legged on the dirt near him. Spying his fallen melon piece, she handed it to him and pulled out her own honey-cake. "Thank you for the cake, by the way." Yaddle grabbed a glance at Yaro's injured feet. "Here, let me help with that." After taking the blood-spattered feet coverings off of his feet, she tore off two long strips of her sleeves, wrapping them gently, but tightly, around Yaro's feet. The fabric turned a faint red, but ceased to bleed.
"Hey, thanks," He said, nibbling on his melon. "So, who are you? You seem to know my name."
Yaddle took a bite of her honey-cake, swallowing before answering, "Yaddle, Jedi apprentice to Polvin Kut."
"Hm. Never heard of him," He moved away from the bucket, sitting down beside Yaddle. "You're an apprentice? If you're just a student, why do you have a lightsaber?"
"Because I'm responsible enough to have one. Otherwise, I wouldn't go near one."
Yaro scoffed. "Why not? You can kick serious butt with that thing."
"Because if a lightsaber is given to an irresponsible person, even good-hearted intentions can become evil, and cause suffering and pain to innocent people."
"Oh," He looked a bit stunned. "Didn't think of that."
Yaddle laughed, the first time today, and ate the rest of her cake. "You don't seem to do much of that, Yaro."
He chuckled, a very soft and almost silent sound. "Yeah, ya got that right." The two sat in silence for a while, watching speeders fly overhead. Yaddle thought about what she had just seen. If I turn him in, he'll get in serious trouble and the children might starve. But if I don't, I'll get in trouble and I'll be defending someone who did a wrong. What to do...
Yaddle suddenly noticed Yaro was staring at her. Again, she felt herself sink into those wonderful eyes. His brown hair rippled slightly in the breeze, like a small wave atop his head repeating the same pattern over and over. Those eyes... Snapping out of it, she said, "Why are you staring, Yaro? It's rude, you know."
"You're thinking," He said bluntly. "About me."
Yaddle was shocked, but regained her composure. "How did you know?"
He shrugged and ate the last of his melon, chewing slowly as if to savor it forever. When he swallowed, he said, "I can hear you. And in case you ask, you're giving me a headache."
"Oh." Yaddle was confused. Was this boy...could he be... She concentrated her thoughts on the bucket. Using the Force, she began to lift the bucket into the air. After a few seconds, she set it back down. Pointing to it, she said, "Can you do that?"
Yaro shrugged again. He seemed to have a habit of that. "I dunno, guess I'll try." His eyes shut till they were almost slit, and Yaddle suddenly had a thought of Yoda's own sleepy eyes. She could feel Yaro using the Force, and his ability to control it. The bucket began to tremble, then it rose nearly a foot in the air. Yaro sighed and put it back down. "Phew. Haven't done that in a while, tell ya that!"
Yaddle didn't say anything. She couldn't. Though he was untrained, Yaro had a connection with the Force! Her brows knotted. Why hadn't the Council found him earlier? "How...how old are you, Yaro?"
Yaro didn't answer. He used his toes to trace lines in the dirt. Not wanting to press him, Yaddle waited anxiously. "I...I don't really know, Yaddle," He said at last. He looked at her and she could see that the pool of light in his eyes that her soul had almost drowned in was dark, dim.
"217 years ago, I woke up on a jungle planet, with no one remember. My head throbbed, it was bleeding. Nobody was there, just me. I...couldn't remember anything at all. I only knew of my name, and how to do things like read minds and levitate things," His voice began to break. "I don't know who I am, what I am, how old I am, or where I come from." Yaro turned his glance to the ground, pulling his knees up to his chin. "I was taken in by some Republic air pilots a year later, who taught me 'the ropes', and brought me to here, to Coruscant. But when I found some starving kids, I left them and vowed to take care of these children. I didn't want them to be alone and not wanted, like I was." He turned his face away from Yaddle, resting his head on his knees. "So that's what I've been doing, for as long as I can remember."
Yaddle didn't know what to say. What could she say? She edged over closer and put an arm around Yaro's shoulder to comfort him. He didn't protest or shrug it off, so she left it there. "Yaro? I think...I think you're Jedi."
He looked up, a perplexed look on his face, but the light began to shine a little brighter in his eyes. "What are you talking about?"
She stood up, pulling him upwards with him. "I think you could be a Jedi! Okay, you're a little old and inexperienced, but I think it's possible! I could take you the Council and-"
"Whoa, whoa!" Yaro slid out of Yaddle's grasp, backing away from her. "I just escaped from that place only with sheer luck, and you want me to go back!?" He scoffed. "You're wacko."
Yaddle huffed up. "Well, if you'd just give it a shot, maybe the Council would forgive you. I think they would understand that you took it only to feed those children!" She held a hand out to him. "Well?"
Yaro looked at it, uneasily. Then he extended his own and shook Yaddle's hand slightly. She noticed his hand was very warm. "Deal," He said. "But I have a very bad feeling about this."
*****
"Are we there yet?" Yaro was becoming impatient. He and Yaddle had been looking for some Yoda guy to check him out, but unsuccessfully. "I just know that psycho cook of yours is come around the corner and bust my head open with a spoon."
"Actually, he can use a lightsaber if he wanted to," Yaddle said matter-of-factly. "But he wanted to be Head Chef instead."
"A mad Jedi cook? With a lightsaber?" Yaro was suddenly nervous. "Yaddle, has anyone told you you're not very comforting?"
"No, why?"
"No reason." He looked around the halls, wringing his hands. What if Yaddle was leading him into a trap? He certainly had more enemies than friends. He looked at the back of Yaddle's head as she led through the passage. She didn't seem like the cheating kind, her mind was too clear. His ears perked up. Maybe she's right! He thought. Maybe I am Jedi!
Yaddle came to a stop in front of a door. She pressed a small button on the intercom and said into it, "Master Yoda? It's Yaddle; I need to speak with you."
Yoda? Yaro thought. That...that name sounds familiar-
"Papa! Papa!" Yaro ran up to a man that resembled him a lot. The Jedi turned and kneeled down, welcoming the boy with open arms. His dusty-brown robes enveloped Yaro in its flowing sleeves. "Hello Yaro! How were your lessons today, little one?"
"Very good, they were." A wizened old man walked from behind Yaro, leaning on his cane. "Getting better, he is."
The man smiled. "That's nice to hear, Master Yoda."
--"Wha?" Yaro shook his head. What was with these flashbacks? They hadn't appeared this often in one day for a long time. Ever, actually. The door swished open and Yaddle walked inside, gesturing for Yaro to follow. He tagged along, unsure of himself. He took a quick glance around the room when the door had shut again. Two round, white seats sat in the center, a small statue or something placed on one. The blinds were pulled down so only small slivers of light came through.
"Ah. So, come back you have?"
Yaro jumped at the sound of the voice, instantly on alert. That was when he noticed the small body sitting cross-legged on one of the round seats. He had been so still that Yaro had almost thought he was part of the décor. "Are you Master Yoda?"
The figure uncrossed his legs and picked up a wooden cane. Sliding off the seat, he walked into the light. It was the old man who Yaro had knocked over in the hall! Yaro could feel his face burn with embarrassment. He had practically run over a Jedi Master!
Yoda must have noticed, because he laughed softly. "No need to be embarrassed," He chuckled again, and looked at Yaddle. "Who is the boy, Yaddle?"
Yaddle bowed slightly in respect and said, "This is Yaro, Master, and I thought you would like to meet him," Motioning to Yaro, she said, "He has Jedi abilities."
Suddenly interested, Yoda crooned, "Oh?" He looked at Yaro, his sleepy eyes focused solely on him. "Like to see this, I would," Yoda pulled a small ball out of his hand. "Take it from me, Yaro."
"Oh," Yaro reached toward the ball when the Jedi, with lightning speed, hit his knuckles hard with the cane. "Ow!" His knuckles smarting furiously, he shook his hand to relieve the pain. "What'd ya do that for, you told me to take the ball!"
"No!" Yoda said sternly. His voice and expression had changed from soft and old to harsh and strict. "Told you to take the ball with your abilities, I did!" He sighed and held the ball out in his palm again. "Do it again."
Yaro sighed too, and concentrated on the ball. He didn't usually have the chance to do this, what with stealing, feeding kids, and running away from security. But he extended his powers out to the ball, making it hover in the air.
"Hm...good. Good," Yoda whispered almost to himself. "How old, are you Yaro?"
Yaro hesitated. "Uh...I don't know sir." He felt his face flush again. "I have amnesia...but I've been on the streets for about 217 years, as long as I can remember."
Yoda stroked his chin. "I see, I see. Into my hand, drop the ball." Yaro released the ball and it fell into Yoda's open hand. Yoda stared at him hard, and Yaro could have sworn he could see into his very soul. Finally, the Jedi Master tore his gaze away from the boy and began to walk out of the room. When he reached the doorway, he turned his head around and gestured for Yaddle and Yaro to follow. The two teens walked quickly behind him out into the hall.
"Discuss about you, to the Council I will. Yaddle, show our friend around." Yoda walked off the hall, leaving the two alone.
*****
Yoda walked slowly down the hall, deep in thought. Could this boy possibly be Yosho's son? The fact the boys shared the same name could or could not be coincidence. He shook his head slowly, remembering the young man he had adopted as a son after his father, a very good friend of Yoda, had died. Yosho's father's last words had begged Yoda to take his son and train him as a Jedi.
Once he had been trained, Yosho had been one of the strongest and wisest Jedi the Order had ever seen. He had even sat on the High Council alongside Yoda. Yoda himself had had a very strong relationship with the young man. He had even donated blood after Yosho had gotten tangled up in a horrible battle and had lost most of his own.
But then Yosho had fallen in deep love with a female of their species. He had loved the woman enough to leave the Jedi Order behind and marry her. They had eventually had a small son, having his father's hair and a blend of his parent's eyes. Yosho had chuckled that he looked like Yoda, since he did have Yoda's blood in him. The boy had had Jedi abilities like his father, and so he was trained by Yoda while Yosho proudly watched on from the side lines.
But tragedy had struck when the small family went to a small, deserted, tropical forest of a planet with only a very primitive but advancing race. For reasons unknown, a large group of the locals had ganged up on the family and, despite how strong Yosho was, murdered them all brutally.
Yoda sighed. He had felt the death of Yosho and his wife halfway across the galaxy, but no one had found the son, now a young teen at 200. After searching for almost a full year, even Yoda had given up hope that his grandson had survived. Everyone eventually forgot about the child as Yosho's life-story faded into legend among the Jedi.
Yoda stopped in mid-step. He had never felt the boy die, was it possible Yaro could be...He quickened his step, rushing as fast as he could to the Council Room.
*****
"And these are the Jedi Archives," Yaddle said to a fascinated Yaro. She had been showing most of the Temple to him for almost an hour now. "Anything and everything that has ever existed are in these files for us to use."
"That's awesome!" Yaro was stunned by the size of the Archives. They were bigger than any library he had ever seen in his entire life!
"Oh! That reminds me," Yaddle said as she pulled a few scrolls out of her pockets. "I was going to read these in my room, but well..."
"Why don't you read them now," Yaro suggested. "That's what a library is for, reading, isn't it?"
"Yeah, guess so."
The pair found a table and sat down. Yaddle spread out her texts, and began to read silently. Yaro sat alongside, patiently watching Jedi walk past. Becoming bored after an hour or so, Yaro said quietly as of not to disturb other readers, "Yaddle? Are you done yet?"
She looked up at him, a quizzical expression on her face. "Nope." She turned her attention back to the scroll.
"Ugh!" Yaro flung his hands up in air and laid his face down on the table. Yaddle chuckled softly. She has such a nice laugh, thought Yaro. Makes me think of a gentle rain shower...
Yaddle put aside the scroll, and unrolled another. Holograms of twelve people of different species appeared. "Here, let me show you the current Jedi Council members."
"The who?"
"The Jedi Council. If you want to be a Jedi, they are the ones who decide you can or not. They lead the Jedi with their strength and wise decisions," Her voice was full of awe and admiration. "Anyway, here's Yoda, you know him of course. Then there's Polvin Kut, my Master," She pointed to the hologram of a tall, pale Human in dusty brown robes and black pants. "I'm his Padawan, or apprentice. He's wonderful. He's my closest friend." From the tone of her voice, Yaro could tell she admired him greatly.
She showed him the other ten Jedi Masters, explaining their specialties, species, and personalities. Yaro paid close attention; these were the people he'd have to convince to let Yoda or some other Jedi train him. If they didn't...he shuddered at the thought of returning to the unforgiving streets.
Just then, Yoda appeared, floating on a small chair. Yaddle instantly hopped up, and Yaro followed suit. "Yaro, Yaddle, come with me." The Jedi Master turned back around, hovering up a flight of stairs. The two teens ran up the stairs after him till Yoda stopped in front of a door. The chair floated down to the ground, allowing Yoda to step off and walk up to the door.
The door swooshed open, revealing a circular room. Eleven Jedi of all different species, colors, heights, and clothes filled the seats. One small one was obviously Yoda's. The old Jedi hopped up into his respectful seat alongside his Council members. Yaro began to look at the faces as he and Yaddle walked slowly inside to stand in the center circle. Plecu Wanstru , Adrodo Vemor, Raltar Ascarr, Aurentia Zelski, Chaoso Tomlasi, Polvin Kut, Hismonia Risho, Yoda, Igena Tepril, Gibral Misclel, Ternus Diano, Balkan Xandris. The names he had forced himself to memorize surged through his head like a waterfall. He looked to Polvin Kut, Yoda, and Hismonia Risho, a light brown Twi'lek with darker brown spots dressed in a flowing blue dress and red sash.
According to Yaddle, these three were the ones he needed to convince. He had Yoda on his side (at least he thought so), so he had a good chance.
"So," Adrodo Vemor, a small-set human with tan skin, said. "Master Yoda, you think this boy is Yosho's son?"
Yoda nodded slowly, and then turned his gaze to Yaro. Yosho? Who's that guy? Yaro wondered. Somehow, that name sounded familiar, but he just couldn't place it. Its answer drifted in front of him like a string, and when he reached out for it, it was tugged away then placed back in front of him.
"Believe this boy should be trained, I do," Yoda said. "Tested to prove it, he should." Tests? Yaro swallowed.
Polvin Kut looked at Yaddle, his deep brown eyes sharp and bright. "Young Padawan, please leave us," His voice was soft, but it had an air to it that made you pay immediate attention to him. Yaddle bowed slightly and left without a word to Yaro. But out of the corner of his eye, Yaro saw her give him a hopeful look as the door closed behind her.
Yaro suddenly felt extremely nervous and tense; his skin was rippling with goosebumps. Without Yaddle there to reassure him, the room had suddenly gone as cold as Coruscant at night without proper shelter. Though he tried to stop it, Yaro had a violent shiver of fear and loneliness.
Suddenly, Hismonia's eyes widened. Her lekku twitched. She was fully aware of his worried mind. "Are you frightened, uh..."
"Yaro, Master," replied a startled Yaro. They could read minds, like him!? "And, yeah, kind of." To say 'Master' to a woman didn't sound right, but he hadn't heard Yaddle or anyone else call her 'Mistress', so he stuck with it in hopes he wasn't being rude. He couldn't afford such a mistake.
Plecu Wanstru, a Rodian in dark green robes to match his emerald skin, said in Huttese, "Frightened of what?"
Yaro wasn't sure how to how to answer that one. No one had asked him that kind of question before. "I'm...not really sure. I guess I'm scared of failing."
Chaoso Tomlasi, a male Togruta with brilliantly-colored lekku and dark, scarlet robes tied by a white sash, questioned this time. "Why do you fear failure?"
Yaro shrugged, rubbing his upper arm slightly. "I guess because it makes people think you're not worth being bothered with, that you can not succeed. And you feel that way about yourself also."
All the Jedi nodded slightly, and Yaro began to feel less tense; he had the feeling of being surrounded by old friends and family, whom he had not seen in a very long time but the sensation of belonging with them still remained. They asked him questions about his life, though from the way they asked the questions, Yaro expected they could even see into his memories and were simply testing how he would answer.
Hismonia leaned forward. Her dark brown eyes were full of curiosity of the boy. "Would you mind taking a small test?"
~Ooh, this was a little longer than the first chapter. Well, go to Chapter 3! *cracks whip* NOW!!