Chapter 5

Trent sat up with a gasp in unfamiliar surroundings. He was in a dark room, dimly lit by a small glow lamp. He realized it must be a large room because though the light did not reach very far, it was enough for him to tell that there were no walls close by. There were barely any items in the room except for the lamp and a worn out cot and blanket.

Trent could not remember how he got here or what happened but then in an instant everything came flooding back to him. The revolt, the stormtroopers, the fire, the darkness.

The death.

Trent put his hands on his face and started to cry. He cried for his brother, his friends, his mother; all gone. He cried for all the people in the alley, the people who foolishly followed his brother to their doom. He cried for all the innocents killed; killed by the stormtroopers pursuing the fleeing revolters.

Trent did not know for how long he cried for but eventually his tears stopped. He wiped away the last of his tears from his raw eyes and looked around. He was all alone, and he had no idea how he got here.

"Anybody here?" Trent called out.

No answer.

Trent then got up and started to look around. He picked up the glow lamp and used it to light up the many dark areas. He was indeed in a large room, with very few items, but no matter how much he searched he could not find a door leading out. He continued looking and shined the light on a small, wooden table. Something reflected off the table.

Trent walked over to it and set the lamp down. On the table sat a cylindrical device with several buttons. Trent picked it up and was surprised by how light it felt. He started to press one of the buttons.

"I wondered when you would wake up." A voice said behind up.

Trent slammed the device on the table and whirled around, his heart racing.

"Who said that?" Trent asked his voice quavering.

"I did." Said the voice again and someone stepped forward. To Trent's surprise it was the same man who had rescued him and his friends from the stormtroopers.

"Who are you?" Trent asked.

"That's not important right now." the man said and stepped closer to Trent. Even in the dim light Trent was positive it was the same man. But now, being so close to the man for the first time, Trent could see the man looked very haggard and had a weariness in his eyes.

"Did you save me?" Trent asked.

"Yes, I did." The man answered.

"Well, then if you saved me why didn't you save my friends," Trent asked, his fear turning to anger. "Or my mother? Why did you let them die and just save me?"

The man sighed. "I wish I could have saved them as well, but I was not near when the events happened. I was returning here when I heard the explosions and came as soon as I could. By that time it was nearly over, but then I saw you and your friends behind the corner. I was about to come get you when you rushed out and the building fell. Your one friends pushed you out of the way and I was able to come rescue you, though I had to get through some stormtroopers to do so."

Trent hesitated. "But then, why did you rescue me? Why did you help me at all, like when you rescued my friends and I from the stormtroopers?"

"Do you think you are so special?" the man asked attackingly and Trent flinched. "You were in trouble and I helped you. It is as simple as that; I would have done it for anyone. The Empire is evil, and its corruption runs deep. There is a saying: Do not look a krayt dragon in the mouth."

Trent felt that he had shrunk down to the size of a pebble.

"But I'm sorry," the man said. "There is actually a special reason I saved you. Actually, I was never sure if I would ever be able to talk to you in private." The man paused and started at Trent. "Have you ever wondered how you are able to do the things you do? Effortlessly sneak behind a vendor's back and steal something? Or how you can disappear and escape whoever is following you?"
Trent shook his head.

"There is something special in you, Trent." The man said. "Something I have seen for a long time."

The man stopped and the silence seemed to go one forever.

"Who are you?" Trent asked, breaking the heavy silence.

"My name is Mace Windu." The man said.

-

"Over twenty years ago, I was a Jedi Master," Mace recounted his tale to Trent. "I sat on the Jedi Council and did all I could to ensure the peace and justice of the Republic. Then the dark times came, with the Sith plotting to take over the galaxy. Not many people know these events that occurred, and those that have heard them have heard twisted accounts of what actually happened. The Sith plotted to take over the galaxy, starting with the corruption of the Republic and ending with the destruction of the Jedi.

The Jedi were never completely sure that the Sith were plotting galactic conquest, until the Clone Wars began, and we received information that a Sith lord, called Darth Sidious, was in control of the Republic. We searched everywhere but could not find any hard proof that the Sith lord existed, but he did. Every time we got close to him he slipped through our fingers until eventually we discovered the truth. A fellow Jedi, named Anakin Skywalker, found out the truth. I and several other Jedi went to apprehend the Sith lord. I was the only survivor.

Skywalker betrayed me and I was defeated by Sidious, losing my hand in the process. They thought I was dead but survived. I fled into the shadows, hoping to strike back at the Sith but I never got the chance. The Jedi were wiped out and the one chance I had to help was gone. I then waited, knowing that I could never go back out into the world and that I have to remain in hiding. If the Emperor knew I was alive he would show no mercy. Fortunately I was able to retrieve my lightsaber once it was relatively safe. Miraculously it was still functioning but I cannot use it. If I did the Imperial agents would find me, without doubt.

Now Emperor Palpatine, though I know him by his other name of Darth Sidious, rules the galaxy with his apprentice Darth Vader. I know all that has transpired in the galaxy and there is nothing I can do alone to change it."

Trent sat back to process everything Mace had said, amazed by it all. But one question continued to bother him.

"Then what is it you want from me?"

"There is nothing I can do alone to change things, Trent," Mace repeated. "But together we can change things, for the better."

"How?" Trent asked.

"The only way possible," Mace said. "I will train you in the ways of the Force."