Star Wars: The Unlikely Hero
--sparkvallen
Disclaimer: Star Wars is copyrighted by Lucasfilm and associated companies - I do not own any of the Star Wars characters, settings, etc.
Chapter One
Jedi Temple - Coruscant
Even without the Force, an observer to the Jedi Temple would have known that there was something important, perhaps life-changing, about to happen. Tension was thick in the elegant halls of the Temple; students who were unaware that many of the High Council had traveled to the Separatist world Geonosis still had the sense that something was coming. And those Padawans, Knights and Masters at the Jedi Temple who were aware that the galaxy was about to be thrust into war felt it within the Force, within the marrow of their bones and exoskeletons. The guardians of peace and justice for the Republic were about to put that oath to the ultimate test.
Within the Temple, a senior Padawan known as Falco Volt rummaged through his stores of droid parts, searching for a particular motor and frowning as its location continued to elude him. He slammed the bin shut and moved on to another as he continued to seek out the motor that he needed in order to repair the astromech droid that had been brought to him from the hangar bay.
"You're as good as he is, you know," remarked a female voice from over Falco's shoulder.
"Riiiight. That's why I'm here and a Padawan and he islike… out there with Master Kenobi becoming a hero in the Order. Thanks, Siri, but I don't buy it."
The Chadra-Fan Padawan gave her species equivalent of a Human shrug. "While he's learning in the field, you're learning here."
The twenty-one year old Padawan Falco snorted and kept his face toward the bin as he nimbly sorted through the various motors he had modified or repaired over the years. Without replying to Siri's compliment of his skills, Falco turned and walked back to the meter-high droid. "Let's see how this suits you, little guy…"
Siri watched as Falco expertly replaced the faulty motor that had left the droid immobilized. He cleaned carbon scoring off its red and white outer casing with practiced motions, proving that he was in his element. Falco triggered the R5's reset button and stepped back, rising to his full height of two meters as he watched the droid.
"Looks like you did it," Siri observed.
"Easy work. Anakin could do it too, you know."
The sarcasm in Falco's voice was obvious and intentional. Siri looked up at him, the young man who'd been her friend for their entire lives as trainees then as Padawans in the Jedi Order. She wrinkled her snout-like nose at him, contemplating how to respond. Siri knew that Falco and Anakin Skywalker were equal geniuses in electronics, droid manufacture and repair. She also knew it bothered Falco to no end that Anakin also had exceptional skills as a warrior and was likely closer to his Jedi Knighthood than he was.
"I'm less worried about Anakin," she said carefully. "I'm more concerned about you."
Falco looked at her, a frown showing his confusion. "Why?"
"You obsess about him and it's not healthy," Siri replied. Her large rodent-like ears twitched as she climbed atop one of his supply crates and settled herself comfortably. "Anakin has his own problems, ones you should be grateful you don't have to deal with. Stick to walking your own path, Falco, and let go of your competition with Anakin Skywalker."
Tossing his hydrospanner back onto the work bench, Falco leaned back against the table, pressing his lower back against its edge and setting his hands to either side of him. "You're wrong about me."
"Maybe," she said in a non-committal tone. "But I'm not wrong about him. Anakin's going to get himself in trouble the way he behaves. You don't have to worry about competing with him. You're way ahead of him, Falco."
Falco looked toward the door. Beyond the repair shop within the Temple, the senior Jedi who had remained on Coruscant had just learned of the battle at Geonosis from Master Yoda. The galaxy was officially at war now, unbeknownst to these two Padawans.
Dantooine - Twenty years earlier…
Though the Jedi Acquisition Team had existed nearly as long as the Order itself, few citizens of the Republic understood how a child began a life as a Jedi-becoming. The Volt family of Dantooine, marginally successful merchants, learned just how this process worked during the harvest season for the farming world. Falco and Annalia Volt ran a supply shop within the city and lived above their shop with infant son, Falco Jr. Selling everything from small medkits and foodstuffs to droid upgrades and used ship parts, the Volt's had no notion that their young son was destined for the Jedi. Little Falco exhibited no outward signs of a Force sensitive being. He neither levitated his bottle nor influenced the family pets with simple mind tricks. Therefore, it was a complete surprise when the tall dark-skinned Jedi Master entered their shop with far more in mind than the supplies they sold.
"Good day, can I help you, Miss?" Falco Sr. asked. He was a jovial, pleasant man who was well regarded in the community.
The woman half-smiled, seeing the vendor through the Force as well as in the physical. Teri Cho'din could see what a loving, caring man Falco Volt was; she knew this would be an especially painful acquisition, if the Volt's allowed it at all.
"Perhaps. I seek something that would not be in your normal inventory, however," Teri said elusively.
Falco Sr. regarded her intricate dark braids and her luminous deep-set eyes. "I'm sorry?" he asked, not quite understanding the woman's comment.
Offering him a bow from the waist, Teri introduced herself. "Jedi Master Teri Cho'din. Mr. Volt, you have a young son, correct?"
His blue eyes went wide with sudden understanding at her earlier response. Something that would not be in your normal inventory. Falco Jr. He looked at the woman, surprised. "Master Jedi, perhaps we should speak in private."
She nodded. "That would be wise."
Falling silent, the merchant immediately tacked a sign onto his door that the store would be closed until further notice. Falco led the Jedi Master to the stairwell at the back of the shop that led up to the apartment where his wife, Annalia, was playing on the floor with little Falco.
"Falco, honey, what are you doing up here this time of day?" Annalia asked, at first seeing only her lifemate and not the woman who stood behind him in the foyer. Falco Jr. cocked his head to the side and giggled loudly, holding his arms out to his father.
The elder Falco entered and scooped his son into his arms, hugging the infant to his chest. With him moving into the living area, Teri Cho'din was now visible. Annalia gasped as she hurriedly rose to her feet, taking in the sight of the Jedi.
"Falco?"
"Annalia, this is Master Jedi Teri Cho'din. Master Cho'din, my lifemate, Annalia, and our son, Falco Jr." he said, kissing into his son's blond haired head.
"What's… what can we do for you, Master Jedi?" Annalia's voice was very small and scared.
"Please… um, sit down, Master," Falco said, delaying what he knew was the inevitable.
"Thank you." Teri sat down gracefully in a single-seat chair, shifting her robe as she sat. She gazed at Falco Jr. in his father's arms and again thought that this would be a difficult assignment indeed. "I suppose I should get right to the reason why I'm here, Mr. and Mrs. Volt."
Annalia and Falco sat down on the couch across from the Jedi Master. She took her child into her arms and held him protectively as Falco ran his fingers over the little boy's back.
"Are you aware of the process by which one trains as a Jedi?" she asked.
They both shook their head no. Teri watched as Annalia pulled Falco Jr. closed to her breast. It was the same story on a thousand worlds as a member of the Jedi Acquisition Team arrived. Nearly without fail, those who had never been trained to the beliefs in non-attachment struggled to let go of the illusion of propriety over another life.
"Within our Order, there is a department known as Jedi Acquisitions. We members follow up on leads for Force sensitive beings, children usually under the age of three who hold within them the promise of serving the Force and the Republic," she explained, her gazing traveling between the two parents. "Such children who are given to the Order for training keep their name but that is the last connection to their family. The Jedi become their family as they live within the Temple and train to Knighthood or go into other areas of galactic service."
"So you're here for little Falco," Annalia stated.
Teri nodded. Years of this work had taught her to not beat around the Bantha; go straight to the point and be honest with the family. "Yes."
The merchant frowned. "Like… how did you know of our son? Why would you think he could become a Jedi? He doesn't do anything… weird. He's just a normal little baby!"
"Some children develop their skills earlier than others," Teri allowed, "but it is clear the Force flows strong and purely through your son."
At this, Falco Jr. cooed in his mother's arms and squirmed until he was turned enough to look at Master Cho'din. He screeched then laughed as he stared at her.
"But how would you know he even existed?" Annalia persisted.
"There was a Master-Padawan team here on Dantooine several weeks ago to seek out crystals for the Padawan's lightsaber," she explained. "While they were in the city, the Jedi Master in question had sensed a beacon of light in the Force, radiating from your shop--"
"Perhaps one of us?" Annalia suggested, trying to distract the Jedi from her little boy.
"No. It was clearly your son. The Master reported his findings in the Force and that report was sent to Acquisitions. This is why I am now here."
Falco said, "So you want us to give you our first-born son so that he could… become… a Jedi."
Teri nodded solemnly.
"No!" Annalia cried suddenly, standing and scurrying to a corner of the room, getting as far from the Jedi Master as she could with her son.
"I understand that this is difficult to ask," Teri said smoothly, "and I have enough experience in this to know that you would need time to process this request to offer Falco Jr. a greater life of service to the Republic. I'll remain here within the city for the next two weeks and be willing to answer any questions you may have. At the end of that period though, I will need a decision from you."
"I have a question now," Falco said. "If we were to say yes, this means we would never see our little boy again?"
"Communication with one's family is strongly discouraged. The focus of the Jedi is service to the entire Republic as one large family."
"Discouraged but not forbidden?"
Teri half-smiled again. "Strongly discouraged but not forbidden. Children under age three standard years are selected though because they tend not to remember their families. They are also young enough to not have formed certain thought patterns and beliefs, which makes the training of a Jedi all the easier."
The two parents exchanged nervous glances.
From a pocket within her robe, Master Cho'Din produced a slip of flim-plast. "This is my comlink frequency when you wish to get in touch. I'm at your service."
The meeting was clearly over and the Jedi Master saw herself out while the stunned parents stared with confusion and awe at their little son, Falco.
