Disclaimer
George Lucas: Owner of Star Wars.
Me: Bored teenager with way too much time on my hands.
See the difference? 'Nuff said.
And yes, I know the whole "too old, too risky, can't train him" thing has been used a lot, in TPM especially, but it doesn't really matter to me. I think I did a good job of changing it for my purposes, and it's not like Anakin was the only iffy apprentice case the Council ever had. And keep in mind that this is pre-TPM, so the Council is made up of different people.
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Aro-Ken nervously sat next to his master about a week later. They were on Coruscant, waiting outside the Council Room. Mattan was inside. The masters were testing him, making sure that his talents were for real. The boy had been in there for the better part of an hour.
The two Jedi had left Crixxin after several agreements were reached with their help.
Prince Talno was arrested and tried in the Court of Crixxin, and was promptly sentenced to life in prison for attempted genocide. Nati met the same fate, although she was sentenced to life since she had been second-in-command in the plot against the royal family and the Atheists.
King Anjos and Queen Leckura had gotten their divorce as planned. Anjos had married Dahna almost immediately. The main reason they'd stayed on Crixxin for so long after was because Dahna wanted Mattan to spend some time with Anjos before he left for Coruscant.
Leckura on the other hand had left to go to Rimma, Crixxin's intellectual capital, and the city that her father still governed. She had succeeded in finding Markaen's father Manx, and found he had not gotten married. They had made arrangements, and planned to be wed within the month.
King Anjos had resigned, and Leckura did not wish to take the throne. Before he stepped down, Anjos announced to the citizens of the planet that he wished for elections to be held. Immediately candidates had been suggested, and Elias was among them. Sari became his campaign manager. From the looks of it, he would almost surely win when election day came, as all Crixxians quickly learned of the great role he had played to bring peace to the planet.
The funerals of Danya and Markaen were attended by many. Sari was grief-stricken as she sat at Markaen's funeral, and revealed that she had fallen deeply in love with him in the time she'd known him. Leckura had silently stood and watched as her son's body was lowered into the earth.
Elias was deeply touched by the death of his sister. He'd resolved to settle religious differences immediately if he won the election, which he was almost sure to.
Before they left, Del-Mon and Aro-Ken had started to help with the rebuilding of Crixx. Nearly all of the able-bodied citizens were helping to tear down the bombed out buildings, and wonderful plans to restore the beautiful city were in progress.
Everyone knew it would take time to make the city flourish once again, but until then support was pouring in from all over the galaxy. Transports arrived on an almost hourly basis from various planets filled with food and building tools and materials to help with the reconstruction.
Finally, once Dahna felt Mattan and Anjos were ready, the conflict was completely gone, and the new plans for the city were completed, Del-Mon and Aro-Ken had left for Coruscant, bringing Mattan with them.
Aro-Ken rose and impatiently paced the hallway outside the door of the Council Room.
"Aro-Ken, have patience. If you cannot control your impatience now, you don't have much of a chance persuading the Council," said Del-Mon.
"I'm sorry, but it's so tense. Are you sure you can't come in with me?" asked Aro-Ken.
"That is up to the Council," Del-Mon simply replied.
Suddenly, the door opened, and out stepped Master Jax Dondora and Mattan. Jax was a tall black man who had dark hair that he kept tied back in a ponytail that went down to his neck. He had hair around his mouth as well, and had mysterious deep silver eyes. He was a Human, and one of the most respected members of the Jedi Council.
"Aro-Ken, the Council wishes to speak to you. Alone," Jax said in his deep, powerful voice.
Swallowing nervously and taking a deep breath, Aro-Ken followed Jax into the Council Room. The Council Room was suspended high above the streets of Coruscant. From the windows that went around almost the entire room one could see transports and cloud cars of all shapes and sizes hovering about the planet. The room itself was circular and all the round chairs for the members were placed according to layout of the room so as not to show rank of any kind. Even when he lived at the Temple, Aro-Ken had only been inside the Council Room on very rare occasions.
"Aro-Ken Rumos, we have examined the boy very thoroughly," said Jax, taking his seat at the far end of the room.
"And?" asked Aro-Ken.
"He is very Force sensitive, as you suspected. He has more talent than I have seen in a long time," Jax replied.
"Then is he to be trained?" asked Aro-Ken.
Jax looked to a Sullustan Master by the name of Ridl Nlana who sat near him.
"No," she said, shaking her head.
"No?" Aro-Ken repeated.
"No. He will not be trained," Ridl repeated herself.
"Do you speak for all the Council members when you say this?" asked Aro-Ken.
"No!" called a voice.
All heads turned to the round chair nearest to the door. In it sat a young man, probably only five years old than Aro-Ken. The young Jedi remembered his name was Ton-San Windam. His hair was still growing out of the traditional Padawan haircut. His hair was a dark grey color, and his eyes were hazel. Ton-San was a Dendayan, a skin-changer. His humanoid specie rarely showed expression. He was the youngest member of the Council, and one of the strongest as well.
"I do not agree with the decision of the rest of the Council," he said.
"Really, Ton-San?" asked Master Mace Windu.
"Yes. I strongly disagree. A boy of such talent should not be turned away!" said the young man.
"He is too old to begin Jedi training," Mace calmly said.
"Yes, but he has so much potential! How can you pass up such an opportunity?" asked Ton-San.
"With such potential and talent, and being trained at such an age may turn him to the Dark Side. I sensed fear in him. I, for one, do not want such a powerful opponent," Jax said.
"Master Dondora, you don't know that. With a good master he could easily avoid it," said Aro-Ken.
"Are you suggesting that he become your apprentice?" asked Ni'Bekk, a tall, slender, light blue-skinned alien from the planet Jaa'Moor.
"No, of course not! I am merely stating that he won't necessarily go to the Dark Side as you keep saying. As you remember, I was once dangerously close to the Dark Side, but I got away," Aro-Ken said.
"Tell me, who do you think will take such an old boy? It will take much longer to train him since he hasn't had any previous training," Jax said.
"I don't know, but there has to be someone," said Aro-Ken confidently.
"Padawan Rumos, assumptions your statements are. Know if they are true you do not," said Master Yoda from his seat next to Mace Windu.
"Perhaps that is correct. But I'm not giving up," Aro-Ken firmly stated.
"All right, I propose a vote. All of those who say that the boy Mattan should not be trained?" asked Jax, putting up his hand.
All the other Council members' hands went up. All except one.
"Ton-San, you still disagree?" asked Ki-Adi-Mundi, the alien with a very tall, bald head and a wisp of a silver beard on his chin.
"I do," said Ton-San.
Jax looked at him with a piercing gaze for a moment. Then Ton-San got to his feet.
"I have learned to connect to the living Force very well. My old master would tell you that that is where much of my talent lies. I know this boy would do very well if he was trained properly," said Ton-San.
"So what do you suggest?" asked Mace Windu.
"If this Council will not permit Mattan to be trained, then I will train him myself," said Ton-San.
"Really, Ton-San?" asked Jax.
"Yes. With or without the Council's permission," Ton-San firmly stated.
"You would go against the Council's wishes only to see this boy trained?" asked Ni'Bekk in his smooth, cool, almost liquid sounding voice.
"Yes. I would," said Ton-San. He looked about the room, his eyes filled with fierce determination.
"Know that if you train the boy, you do so without the full support of the Council," said Mace.
"I'm sure that is true. But I don't care. I was in a similar situation when I arrived at the Temple, and one master went against the Council and trained me. I don't care what this Council says. I will train him," Ton-San said.
Aro-Ken looked at him in slight amazement, his jaw slightly agape. He hadn't known what to expect when Mattan was tested, but he certainly had never expected for anyone to jump up and offer to train him right away.
"Padawan Rumos?" asked Yoda.
"Er, yes, Master Yoda?" he asked, quickly regaining his composition.
"Agree to this, will the boy?" asked Jax.
"Yes, definitely," Aro-Ken answered, nodding.
Yoda sighed and closed his eyes. "A bad idea I believe this is. But… allow it I will, if also the other Council members will."
There was a chorus of agreements from about the room, some of them reluctant ones.
Jax took a deep breath and let it out. "Fine. Ton-San, the boy will be your Padawan," he said.
Aro-Ken sighed in relief. He turned to Ton-San, who stood triumphantly off to the side.
"Think you're up to it?" he asked.
"I don't know. But the Force will guide me. Of this I am sure," Ton-San calmly said.
"Aro-Ken, please take Ton-San to meet his new apprentice," said Jax.
"Yes, Master Dondora. Honorable members of the Council, I thank you for your time," Aro-Ken said. He respectfully bowed, as did Ton-San, and they walked from the room.
They found Mattan and Del-Mon waiting for them outside.
"What happened?" Mattan instantly asked.
"The Council has agreed that you will be trained. Mattan, this is your new master, Ton-San Windam. Ton-San, this is Mattan," Aro-Ken said.
"Hello," said Ton-San. He gently shook Mattan's hand.
"Ton-San, I wish you luck with your Padawan," Del-Mon said.
"Thank you, Master Del-Mon," Ton-San said.
As the two men conversed, Aro-Ken turned and squatted down to Mattan's eye level.
"What will happen to me now?" Mattan asked.
"You're going to be trained as a Jedi," Aro-Ken answered.
"For how long?"
"A long time. Probably more than ten years at your age," said Aro-Ken.
"Will I still get to see you?" Mattan hopefully asked.
"Yes. I'm sure the Force will allow it," answered Aro-Ken.
"Come, Aro-Ken. As you remember, the Council has arranged another mission for us. There is a potential Jedi on M'jaan VI," Del-Mon said.
"Yes, Master," Aro-Ken respectfully said.
He turned, and followed his master down the hallway.
"Bye, Aro-Ken!" Mattan's voice called from behind him.
"Good bye, Mattan," Aro-Ken said.
Finally, the two masters and two apprentices walked away from each other, all four ready to face whatever lay ahead.
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