This chapter takes place years before the last chapter - when Will (Revan) first arrives at Coruscant.
Also note! There have been some changes. I realized that I'd been calling Will a Padawan a bit too early than I meant to. All of that has been fixed and he's referred to as an apprentice now. I always intended for him to become a Padawan and then leave Dantooine! Sorry!
Overwhelmed.
A million lights glittered in patterns similar to that of ants or glow flies. He, briefly, recalled an embarrassing memory from when he was eight—collecting glowing starlilies and getting allergies from the pollen. He almost felt the same now at thirteen at the sight of the city planet.
It was an emotion Will rarely felt since Dantooine had always been so quiet. Peaceful. Training and studying hadn't been that overwhelming. Which is why he, in a small way, resented Master Kae for not warning him of Coruscant's overwhelming presence in the Force.
Something tapped his shoulder.
"I sense unease, Padawan."
He shifted his weight from one foot to another. Unease? Yes. Also, shamefully, resentment. But he wouldn't be caught dead admitting that. Yet Kae already noticed his uncomfortable mood and he wasn't going to get out of lying to her. He never did.
"I am, Master. It's…a lot to take in." As their transport approached the atmosphere, he turned to look up at his master directly. "There's so much life and all of it is strange. It feels like…"
"Like ants crawling beneath the skin?"
"Yes."
She nodded and squeezed his shoulder in reassurance.
"As it would for someone so strong in the Force. You will get used to it."
"But…" He felt that word drifting off his tongue. "It's…"
"And you will get used to your new master as well. I promise."
Right. Master Kae wasn't going to be his master anymore. That's why they were going to Coruscant now, leaving…everything he knew behind. The news was abrupt. Master Kae was promoted to the Grand Archives which meant she would have less time for a young Padawan like him. There weren't many Masters taking Padawans on Dantooine. So, now, Vima Sunrider was going to be his master—a great honor. After all, she was the daughter of the Grand Master so any Padawans associated would be placed within Nomi's view. Yet…
"Will."
He turned. Kae's face was serious.
"Remember what I told you."
Right.
Do not be complacent, strive for more.
The ants that had once crawled on his skin dissipated just as the transport cut into the thick, muggy clouds.
Settling in was more complicated than he first thought it would be.
The Jedi Temple could fit a thousand enclaves. The marble structure towered above them after the speeder taxi dropped them off. The steps were taller than any structure he'd ever seen. If only Alek, Yonis, Myla, and Atris could see this… But they couldn't because they were still apprentices on Dantooine. He was the only one who passed the Padawan trials. So he was here.
Alone.
The crawling, unfortunately, returned.
Not for long, hopefully. Alek was his age so he could start the trials if the Masters deemed him ready.
It could take years though.
There was a Temple beyond that—four figures of long-dead Jedi were etched in the stone. One held their lightsaber above their head in triumph—Rajivari? Or Garon Jard? Surely the one with the blade pointed down would be Garon…these facts failed to distract him from his anxious thoughts and the looming sight.
He picked up his robes as he followed Master Kae up the steps. Other Jedi passed them, Knights and young Padawans like him. Eventually, the temple engulfed them like a brith's shadow. The main foyer echoed with the voices of Jedi Knights, Padawans, apprentices. Masters. Rows of columns held the temple roof up high, so high Will swore he saw a cloud. He had been so entranced…he didn't even feel when Master Kae started leading him by the shoulders, chuckling softly.
"It is a wondrous sight, isn't it?"
He nodded. He'd only seen it on his datapad—the description didn't do it justice.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, they didn't stick around for long. Kae led him down a side hall and into a thin elevator. The glass door closed behind them and they shot down for only a second before stopping.
Master Kae told him that this was the apprentice dormitory—not many Padawans would be living here but they figured he would rather spend time with others his age over older teenagers or adults. At the end of the hall was his room—it was just like his room on Dantooine. Bare walls, a comfortable bed, a side fresher. A window. At least some things haven't changed.
He threw his small pouch onto the bedside table. A smile grazed his lips…when the silver of his new lightsaber poked out from the flap. He took it out—felt the smoothness of the hilt for a moment—then hooked it onto his belt.
"It's getting late and I need to report to the Council." Master Kae's voice called out to him, breaking him from his trance. "Spend the afternoon adjusting to the Temple. You can grab dinner at the canteen. If you get lost…"
She waved. A protocol droid shuffled in. He looked the droid up and down. A GE2–Czerka model. Usually made of flimsy parts and slow hardware. He glowered for a moment at his replacement keeper but before he could ask Master Kae to show him around instead of a tin can…
She was gone.
Clank, clank, clank.
The rhythmic clanks from the GE2 marched behind him as he walked through the large hallways. A girl his age shot him a weird look as he passed. Of course, most of the younglings and apprentices here would know he was new. If Will knew all the faces from his Enclave, then that girl would know he was a stranger here.
He hated that.
There is no emotion, there is peace.
He lifted his chin and tried to walk with more purpose in his step. He wasn't actually a youngling, after all. He was a Padawan. They must know that too since he had a lightsaber.
"Droid, what's your designation?"
The droid's monotone voice vibrated out of its vocabulator.
"S2-BD-GE2, Master Will."
"You're an older model?"
"Why, yes I am, Master Will. How smart for an organic human your age!"
He frowned. "I'm old enough! And stop calling me Master—just Will is fine."
"I'm sorry, Master Will, but my programming would not allow it."
He stopped in the hall, avoiding one of the sweeping droids. Crossing his arms, he gave the droid a look over. Master Kae taught him, briefly, about how to construct machines in preparation for building his lightsaber. He'd gone above and beyond of course, not out of any sort of passion, though…well maybe just a bit. How the parts before him could imitate life was fascinating after all. The Force wasn't a part of S2 which meant…well, what exactly did that mean?
If it wasn't alive, it meant he didn't have to worry about getting attached.
"S2?"
The droid blinked. "Yes?"
"Is there a droid repair shop here?"
The droid's lifeless eyes blinked again.
"Of course, Master Will."
"Take me there."
Another lifeless blink. "But…Master Kae ordered you to eat at the canteen with your peers. She said it would be good for your adjustment at the Temple if you connect with them."
They don't matter. Only Alek and Yonis and Myla and Atris and—
He paused.
There is no emotion, there is peace.
"I'm not hungry—hyperspace lag. We can go later. Just take me to the droid repair shop."
And, thankfully, S2 followed his orders this time.
It took them only a few minutes to wander to the Jedi Temple repair shop. As they got closer, Will noticed the lack of Jedi walking through the halls and the increase in engineers and droids. A few rolling T3 units beeped their hellos—he didn't understand them but he wanted to.
"Here we are, Master Will."
The S2 shuffled to a stop, its dumb eyes blinked once then twice awaiting his order. Will didn't give it one and instead entered the shop doors with a swish.
Chaos. Sure, sure there is no chaos, there is harmony, but not here. No matter where Will looked, something was happening. Protocol droids were being hooked up to batteries, patrol droids were fitted with blasters, and in the corner a Twi'lek was hard at work on a T3 unit—sparks flung out of the spanner that he was holding. Will got closer to the Twi'lek engineer, careful not to grab his attention. He had a feeling that he wasn't allowed down here.
The Twi'lek took a break from the repairs, letting out a sigh.
"I'm afraid it's no good, senator. The chip is busted."
He rolled away in his chair towards the corner of the shop, to a desk. An Echani man stood there crossing his arms. He was tall. Imposing. Will gave the Echani a longer look and wondered if he and Atris were related. Of course not. Just because they were the same species it didn't mean anything.
Neither of them spotted Will yet.
The Echani man frowned. "I need this droid for my meeting with the Jedi Council. Are you sure it can't be done?"
"I'm not a miracle worker, you know?"
"It doesn't take a miracle. If you're not even going to try then let me fix the damn thing."
The Twi'lek took a step back. Will could sense a protective aura around him. He treated his workshop like his own body.
"You could hurt yourself, Senator Yusanis—I—"
"I was an engineer myself before I became senator, Bedar. I run a damn droid manufacturing company. I know what I'm doing."
"Yes, but that doesn't mean you can—"
A droid ran straight into Will and he stumbled forward into their line of sight. The Twi'lek stopped talking and stared directly at Will. Red-hot anger emanated from the engineer as he stood from his chair and waved a finger. "For the last time, I told you! Younglings aren't allowed to play in here like it's a Corellian carnival!"
Will narrowed his eyes.
"I'm not a youngling!" He waved his hand at his belt—his lightsaber. "I'm a Padawan!"
"Padawan, eh?" He glanced over at the Echani as if asking for aid, but when he noticed the Echani's raised brow and smirk, he frowned. "Nice try. Get out and give that lightsaber back to your master or I'll tell them that I found you poking your head in here."
Will stepped back a few paces as the Twi'lek approached.
"No, it's my lightsaber."
He snorted. "Sure it is, kid. Sure." He took another step forward. "Now…it's time you—"
A T3 unit was rolling past and Will used this opportunity to subtly use the Force to redirect it. The engineer, Bedar, cursed in his language after the droid rolled over his foot.
"Stupid machine—!"
Yusanis sighed. "While I find all of this amusing, I only have an hour to fix this. If the Council hears that you impeded the investigation, well…there are millions of other engineers that could replace you. All of which I could provide."
Will looked up at Yusanis, tilting his head. He'd never seen a senator before, other than in holos, and usually, they were more…delicate with their threats.
Bedar groaned. "Fine. Fine!" He stumbled to his desk and rolled back in his chair. "You deal with the kid then! This isn't my workshop after all!"
"The kid will be more helpful than you, I'm sure."
Before the Twi'lek could go on his tirades, Yusanis whistled at the busted droid. It followed behind, sparking, then, with a firm hand, he led Will toward the front of the workshop.
"Best get out of here, kid. While I enjoy pissing off the Twi'lek engineer, I'd rather not have a hot spanner up my behind while I work."
Will sneered. "I'm not a kid. I'm—"
"A Padawan. Yes. I believe you. Still a kid though."
He narrowed his eyes at the Echani. Then he stopped walking and crossed his arms.
"You can't force me to leave."
"No. I guess I can't." Yusanis sighed. "Children."
He grabbed the T3 unit and with barely any effort on his part he picked it up with one hand and shoved it onto the metal table. Will looked on in awe.
"How did you do that?"
"You don't need the Force to lift things." He sat and pointed at the seat beside him. "If you're going to stay, then be quiet. I need to concentrate."
And Will did as the Echani asked. He sat next to the large man and watched as he used a spanner to remove the unit's panel. His fingers moved in an entrancing dance, unhooking wires, plugging in new ones…
"What's that?"
He pointed to the intricate board. He'd never seen that part while learning how to make his lightsaber. Yusanis stopped.
"I told you I need to concentrate."
"Oh, well…" He sighed, lowering his hand. "Nevermind."
The Echani looked down at him for a moment and Will almost thought he was going to try kicking him out again, but he chuckled.
"A motherboard—like one you'd have with a computer. T3 units are like rolling computers, after all." He sat back with a groan. "On transit, this one slammed into a wall after turbulence. Ruined the connections to the motherboard. Will of the Force, maybe? Or just plain rotten luck."
"What's on it?"
"Evidence."
"Of what?"
He paused. Then went back to repairs.
"A kid like you doesn't need to know."
Yet he wasn't fooled. Evidence meant murder or some sort of crime had been committed. And if the senator was bringing this evidence to the Council it meant something big had happened.
As Yusanis continued the repairs, he recognized some of the parts within the astromech's chassis.
"Is that a gyroscopic stabilizer?"
Yusanis stopped again, his wide shoulders tensed.
"Yes."
Before he continued with the repairs, Will rushed to speak.
"It looks like it might be loose. Maybe that's why it ran into the wall. It lost balance."
He turned and gave Will a curious look. Then he looked back at the droid. With his gloved hand, he wobbled the gyroscopic stabilizer on one of its legs.
"Huh. You're right. Good catch. How did you know the name of the part?"
"Well, Master Kae had me learn all about gyroscopes before I constructed my lightsaber." Will produced it, smiling up at Yusanis. "They help us control the lightsaber with the Force. If one is out of place, the hilt would be unbalanced."
Yusanis raised a brow. "How old are you?"
"Thirteen."
He sat back, whistling. "Not many thirteen-year-olds have the patience to learn something like that. My eldest certainly doesn't."
Will narrowed his eyes and his grip on the lightsaber tightened.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It's a compliment, kid. You get those often?"
"My name is Will. I'm not a kid. And of course I have patience. I'm a Padawan. I'm training to be a Jedi."
"Yes, yes, Will-Not-A-Kid. I got it." He screwed the stabilizer tight before returning his focus to the droid's motherboard. "By the way, are Padawans allowed to use the Force to terrorize Twi'lek engineers with their own droids?"
Will opened his mouth once then twice, trying to desperately find an excuse. An alibi. Yet his face grew hot and, based on Yusanis' humored expression, became more red as the silence persisted.
Force.
"N-No! I didn't—"
"Oh, and now you're lying." He tutted. "Not a very good Padawan if you're lying already."
Will shot out of his seat, glaring hard at Yusanis. What kind of senator was he anyway? Usually, they were so much more diplomatic than this.
"Do you insult everyone you talk to?"
"It's the Echani way." Yusanis licked his lips as he screwed back on the panel. "Ah ha! That should fix it."
The T3 unit's light flickered and then became solid. It gave a few pacified beeps that Will didn't understand.
"What did it say?"
"Looks like it was restored. Just in time." Yusanis shouted at Bedar. "Look! A miracle!" The Twi'lek waved his hand and returned to looking at his datapad. The Echani chuckled. "You don't want to be like Bedar there, Will. Arrogance and pride isn't a good quality to have."
"I know."
It was part of his lessons. It was ingrained into him since he was a young child.
"Do you?" The Echani sat back and gave him a patient look. Will looked back and since they were at eye level it was easy. "Why did you come in here, Will?"
"I..." He looked away. "Well, I wanted to learn about droids. When I was learning how to create a lightsaber, the topic came up and it seemed...interesting. I just got here so it's not like I have anything else to do."
Except to go and talk to his peers. Except they weren't Alek. Or Myla. Or anyone he knew.
Yusanis' serious expression melted away into a soft grin. "Hmm, I see." He patted T3 and he didn't say anything for a while. "I will probably be here for a month. The Council moves at a Hutt's pace and I'm not as patient as you Jedi I'm afraid. If your master approves, I could show you a thing or two about droids. I used to teach some of my children and…I'm afraid I miss it."
Interest perked Will's mind. Master Kae told him before they left Dantooine to always look for knowledge. Do not be complacent, strive for more. Accept change. If Master Vima taught him everything she could, then he should move on to the next Master. To stay stagnant would mean he'd become idle. He didn't want to disappoint Master Kae by being lazy. Learning how to repair droids, make droids, program them...it may not be what a Jedi was supposed to learn, but it was interesting to him. And isn't that what mattered?
So, despite hating the idea of being Yusanis' student, he nodded.
"Sure."