2: Decision
Three days had passed in no time at all, much to Boba's dislike. He was happier when Plo Koon and Obi-Wan were not there to urge him to join the Jedi, and he had wanted it to be forever, even though he was stuck in the Jedi Temple's medical bay. No one visited him—something he took with much joy—even though he knew that they were aware of this presence in the Temple.
He had been thinking about Plo's offer, even though it had sounded very ridiculous in fact. His father would have been shocked to find that his son had become a Jedi—that is, if he were alive. Boba frowned and thought hard. He still hated the Jedi, and that was no lie, but still there was something else at the back of his head that was urging him to accept the option.
As much as he did not want to become a Jedi, another plan that formulated in his head seemed much more tempting than just resisting. If he were to become a Jedi Padawan under Plo's training, he could take that to his advantage. Boba knew that once he trained hard enough, and became powerful enough, he would be able to kill Mace Windu. And that was his only goal, for he held no passion to become a Jedi Knight…
I could earn their trust. I could earn Windu's trust! And in the end… I could just kill him without him knowing it…!
Just suddenly, the door slid open, revealing Plo and Obi-Wan. They walked in quietly and sat down next to Boba's bed.
"Have you thought about my offer, young one?" asked Plo, his tone questioning and yet hopeful.
Boba did not smile. Any sign of attitude change towards these Jedi would certainly arouse their suspicions. "Fine," he growled, surprised at the harshness of his own tone, "It beats being out on the streets of Coruscant without any money or food like a beggar."
"Do you wish to become a Jedi?" asked Plo. "Food and money must not be the only thing on your mind."
"I accepted, didn't I?" Boba said, his mood dampening by Plo's persistence. "Or have you heard wrong?"
Plo chuckled. "Good. Seeing as you're fit enough to walk about on your own, we're taking you to the Council Chamber to test your Force ability. It is essential if you are to become my Padawan," he informed the young boy. Obi-Wan, however, frowned. There was something strange about the boy and his sudden agreement to becoming a Jedi. It was too fast, and too rash a decision.
"I have to meet up with Anakin soon, let's hope it will not take too long," Obi-Wan said, walking alongside Plo.
"How is his arm?" asked the Kel Dor.
"Anakin is just getting used to his new arm… even though he has been mistaken for a droid sometimes," joked Obi-Wan, as they approached the Council Chamber. Upon entering, Boba was shocked to see every single member of the Council present, including Mace Windu. This stirred the anger in him as he attempted to refrain from glaring at his father's murderer and looked somewhere else. His eyes fell upon the little green creature that looked really, really old, and realized that it was observing him.
"Step forward," croaked the green creature. "I am Master Yoda."
Boba, not knowing what else to say, merely waved. "Hi."
Yoda chuckled, and pointed to Mace Windu. "Test your abilities, Master Windu will."
"I want you to tell me what object appears here using your mind. If you get all correct, you will be accepted. There are five in total," Mace told Boba, without looking at the boy.
"Begin." Mace activated the device, and a hologram of a ship appeared.
Boba concentrated hard, and surprisingly felt a strange and new sensation running within his veins. Suddenly, he knew what was behind that cover.
"A ship," he said. Obi-Wan was impressed. Perhaps the boy did have a gift after all.
Hologram after hologram appeared, and Boba had gotten every single guess correct.
"A cup!" he said, almost excitedly. It was fun and immensely easy for Boba. Mace narrowed his eyes. Could the boy really have Force abilities?
Again, the whole room fell silent as Yoda continued to observe Boba. The boy was difficult to read, unlike Anakin Skywalker, and his mind was often closed off and barricaded from any other outside force that tried to read it. Yoda found it very, very troubling indeed.
"The boy is too old," Mace growled, "Too old to become a Padawan."
"But you already said I could be one if I get everything correct," Boba retorted, glaring at his father's murderer, "Or was that all a lie, Master Windu?"
Mace looked outraged, but Yoda interrupted the two before things got worse. "Allow this apprenticeship, the Council does not. Prove to us he is worthy enough at this age, Master Plo must," he said, still observing Boba with much interest.
"With all due respect, the decision to accept Skywalker was enough," Mace pointed out.
"Do not bring my Padawan into this, Master. He is the Chosen One, after all," Obi-Wan said, tapping his fingers impatiently.
"A different story," Mace agreed, and he turned back to Plo, who now stood behind Boba.
"But, an exception, I will make," Yoda continued. "Curious about this boy's ability, I am."
There was a long and unpaused silence. Mace clenched his fists and sighed to himself. Yoda was always the curious one, wanting to know whether every child, old or young, would have a good enough potential to be part of the Jedi ranks. Tension was beginning to build, before Mace had finally said something.
"Very well," Mace conceded, "His training starts tomorrow. I wish you good luck, Master Plo."
Plo bowed, and so did Boba, only out of respect for Yoda's decision rather than Mace's.
"Are you sure this decision is wise, Master?" Mace asked Yoda, once all the other Jedi Masters had gone from the Chamber.
Yoda nodded slowly, and replied, "The boy is hard to read. However, sense great power in him, I do. A good future he may have… or a bad one…"
"Do we have to take this chance?" Mace asked, with a trace of doubt in his voice.
"Give the boy a chance," Yoda said patiently, smiling slightly, "Soon fade, his thirst for revenge will."
"So you've sensed it too," Mace muttered. "The boy doesn't like me."
"Killed his father, you did," Yoda pointed out, "But the blame is not yours, or his."
"Let's just hope he won't harbor these feelings of hate any longer. It is dangerous." Mace looked out the window, seemingly lost in thought.
"Hmm, yes," agreed Yoda. "Observe his training with Master Plo Koon, I will."
It had only been days after Boba's official training had started, and he was already progressing well with Plo Koon. Obi-Wan had been immensely surprised at Boba's excellent ability to handle the lightsaber, and also his good Force abilities.
Perhaps he could be something more, Obi-Wan thought, as he watched Boba train with the training bot. He moved swiftly and quickly, avoiding all of the bot's attacks easily and parrying them as though he had used no effort at all. In a way, Boba had reminded Obi-Wan of Anakin.
Suddenly, a tremendous crash echoed throughout the training room. Obi-Wan and Plo Koon looked at Boba, and realized that the young Padawan had destroyed the bot by slicing it into two halves. Boba looked pleased with himself.
"Good work, Padawan," Plo said, "It's time you went for a rest. It's late."
Boba deactivated his lightsaber and nodded. "Okay," he said, running off. Obi-Wan looked at the defeated bot and sighed.
"He has so much potential," Obi-Wan said.
"But?" Plo asked, sensing his friend's doubt.
"I don't know. I sense something inside him that is… ominous." Obi-Wan ran his hand through his hair, and walked towards the window that oversaw Coruscant. Plo Koon approached him and stood next to him in companionable silence.
"He is angry that his father is dead," admitted Plo Koon. "He… he wants revenge."
"And you still take him under your wing," Obi-Wan said, "Isn't that a bit risky? If he gets too powerful?"
"I will not hold back anyone with potential. It is a waste," Plo replied, "And besides, I know there will be a way to defeat the anger and hate within him. I believe in the boy, Obi-Wan. Do you?"
Obi-Wan remained silent for a while, his blue-grey eyes lost in thought.
"I believe he will succeed," he said quietly. "I trust your judgment, Plo. I really do."
"I only hope I am right," the Jedi Master said solemnly. "I do not wish to doubt myself, Obi-Wan, but I fear that his feelings may overpower his understanding and loyalty to the Jedi Code."
"Don't contradict your own words. Boba is as good as Anakin… even better, if he tried hard enough. Both our Padawans strive as hard as each other… I'm sure Boba and Anakin will both become great Jedi," Obi-Wan reassured his friend.
Plo Koon chuckled. "Yes, I know they will."
"Now, I have an appointment with Anakin," Obi-Wan said suddenly, "It is time you got your rest, Plo."
"Indeed," agreed Plo. "Goodnight, Obi-Wan."
"And same to you, old friend."