The Long Night of Mace Windu
Mace Windu sat alone in his office on his meditation ottoman. In sharp contrast to the silence of the room, his mind was racing with conflicting thoughts. He looked over to the shelf holding his most precious Jedi artifacts, objects he had collected over a lifetime, and singled out the Staff of Redemption. It glowed faintly in its resting place, its presence a stark reminder of the day's events. He had disciplined Anakin Skywalker, the young Jedi padawan filled with so much promise, yet also so much anger and fear. The so-called Chosen One.
The weight of the ritual lay heavy on Mace's mind. To carry out the ritual of the Staff of Redemption, a Jedi Master had to be skilled in the art of discipline. They had to be in control of their own emotions and detached from the subject at hand. A master could not perform the sacred rite when there were personal attachments or when emotions were running high. To discipline a fellow Jedi was a serious duty and Mace took all of his duties seriously.
It had been many years since Mace undertook the personal training of a young padawan but Anakin Skywalker needed a firm hand to guide him through his trials and the council believed Mace was one of few Masters capable of the task. The boy had been a loose cannon for far too long under Obi-Wan's lenient tutelage and the Staff of Redemption seemed just thing to set Skywalker back on the right path. Yet, despite the necessity of the act, Mace couldn't shake off a sense of disquiet.
The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from the soft glow spilling in through the window behind him. Mace released a slow, measured breath, closing his eyes as he tried to find his center. He believed that meditation would help him, would allow him to reflect and find peace in his actions.
But his thoughts kept going back to young Skywalker, of the fear and defiance in his eyes. He was a rebel yes, but Mace also sensed an acceptance and willingness to learn and grow in the ways of the force. Anakin was already very strong, stronger than many Jedi his age and older, but his strength was raw and uncontrolled. Therefore discipline was necessary for Anakin to learn to contain such power, but it did not make it any less challenging to administer the Staff especially when the boy had suffered so much emotional trauma in his past.
Mace could not shake the experience they'd just shared. He could still feel the young padawan's muscles tremble as he administered the soothing oil to his bare flesh. Could still feel the strength of his spirit even in the face of the Staff's stern discipline. It was a testament to Anakin's resilience and determination that he held onto his emotions for so long before finally releasing them to the force.
But more than the release, there was something else. A flicker of something Windu couldn't quite place, an intensity that was different from the other padawans he had trained in the past. It stirred something in Mace, an emotion he had yet to fully understand and so he meditated.
But understanding did not come. Mace sighed, opening his eyes to look at the Staff of Redemption once more. He respected the ritual and honored the teachings of the Jedi Order, but something was not right. He knew he needed guidance from the Force. He needed to meditate on his actions, on his feelings, and on the path that lay ahead for both himself and Anakin.
As he stood from the ottoman and faced the window, the faint glow of the outside world illuminating his stern features, Mace found a quiet resolve. He would personally train Anakin Skywalker and help him harness his incredible strength. And in the process, he would strive to understand the storm of emotions swirling within himself, for the sake of Anakin, and for the future of the Jedi Order. With that decided, Mace walked off to set his plans into motion.
*/*/*/*
Determined to solve the riddle that was Anakin Skywalker, Mace found himself visiting the personal chambers of the Grand Jedi Master, Yoda. The hour was much later than he normally would dare intrude on the old master. His steps echoed in the silent room as he made his way to a vacant meditation cushion and took a seat. The only other sound in the room was the slow, rhythmic ebb and flow of Yoda's breathing as he meditated on a similar if smaller seat.
Mace sat for a moment, the serene atmosphere of the chamber calming his troubled mind. Then, with a respectful nod to the ancient master, he began, his voice resonating with an urgency that was rare in the stoic Jedi.
"Master Yoda, I seek your guidance," he began, his brow furrowed with the weight of his thoughts.
Yoda, immersed in his evening meditation, opened a single eye and raised a curious brow. No doubt the old master questioned the necessity of a meeting at such an hour but Mace held fast. After a pregnant moment clearly designed to make Mace squirm, Yoda leaned back comfortably on his meditation cushion. "Indeed? Guidance you seek, hmm? Mace Windu, always thoughtful, always wary," Yoda said. He closed his eyes in meditation once again. "Speak, you must. What weighs on your mind?"
Mace cleared his throat. "It concerns Anakin Skywalker. The boy is as talented as he is troubled. His behavior is increasingly unmanageable, like trying to rein in a wild bantha."
"Ah, Skywalker. Stubborn he is. Another young Jedi he reminds me of," Yoda noted while casting a teasing glance up at Mace.
"Yes Master Yoda, we've all had our phases," Mace responded, a hint of a smirk playing at the corner of his lips as he remembered his own troubled youth.
"Indeed. Strong in the Force is Skywalker, but clouded his future is.
Mace nodded. "I believe the key to his future may lie in his past. In his mother more precisely," he said. "I want to find her, Master. Despite our teachings of non-attachment, I believe it might be necessary for Anakin's growth." The words felt strange leaving his mouth, the very idea counter to everything he believed.
A silence fell over the room again as Yoda contemplated the unusual request. Mace waited patiently but he was unusually anxious.
Finally, Yoda spoke. "Unusual, this is. Against our teachings it goes," he said, his voice echoing in the stillness. "Yet... sense your concern, I do. The council, you must seek approval from."
"I understand, Master Yoda. I will present my case to the council in the morning," Mace replied, feeling a wave of relief wash over him that Yoda had not denied him immediately.
"Very well," Yoda said, closing his eyes again. "May the Force guide you, Master Windu. And remember you must, not all bantha are wild, hmm. To tame, a gentle touch it requires."
Mace bowed and took his leave feeling much relieved. He allowed a rare smile to bloom on his face. Perhaps there was hope for Anakin yet.
*/*/*/*
Finally, before Mace could settle down for a long-deserved rest, he had one last issue to tackle. Back within the confines of his own chambers, Mace sat at his desk and turned on the holographic projector. After a brief moment, the shimmering form of Jedi Master Shaak Ti appeared, her usually serene expression was creased with concern in the flickering image.
With formal greetings completed and apologies offered for the lateness of the hour, Mace explained the reason for his call; the incident between her padawan and Anakin.
"Master Windu," Shaak Ti's voice filled the office. "I do not understand why you are speaking to me regarding the incident. My Padawan was not at fault. Elek merely asserted herself after Skywalker assaulted her."
"Anakin will apologize for cutting off Elek's braid, but I trust you'll handle your own padawan's behavior as well."
"Why should she be disciplined for his impulsiveness?"
Mace nodded in agreement but countered with a calm firm, voice. "Anakin will apologize for reacting as he did. But Elek instigated the situation. She played a part in this and must accept her responsibility."
Shaak Ti's gaze hardened, a spark of defiance flickering within. "Elek is strong-willed, yes, but isn't that what we cultivate in our padawans? Strength and belief in themselves and in the force?"
Mace steepled his hands in contemplation. "Belief in oneself, yes. But not at the expense of respect for others. Elek knew what she was doing. She chose to challenge, to push Anakin's buttons. It wasn't just assertiveness; it was a misuse of power."
The silence that followed was filled with tension as Shaak Ti stubbornly held her ground. Mace continued, "As Jedi masters, we are not just responsible for our own padawans, Shaak Ti, but for every young mind that seeks knowledge within these temple walls. This is about more than just Anakin or Elek. It's about the example we set for all our younglings."
Shaak Ti sighed, the tension gradually dissipating from her holographic figure. "You're right, Master. My padawan was out of line, and I will address this immediately. I will speak with Elek. She will understand the consequences of her actions and what is expected of her as a Jedi."
"And what of your responsibility as a Master, Shaak Ti?" Mace asked.
"My responsibility?" Shaak Ti furrowed her brow in confusion.
"Every Jedi at the Temple is our responsibility," Mace reminded her, leaning forward, his steepled fingers brushing against his chin. "Not just the ones we train directly, but all Jedi. We are all connected, and all responsible for each other. You had a duty to protect not only Elek but Anakin as well."
Shaak Ti bowed her head. "I understand Master. I've failed that duty, and I'll meditate on my shortcomings and rectify it."
"This is not just your shortcoming Ti, it is all of ours. Every Jedi Master in this temple including myself. It's about the example we set, how we teach, and how we treat our fellow Jedi. Including Anakin."
The holographic Jedi Master's image quivered as she absorbed Mace's words. "Anakin... He's been a challenge for many of us."
Mace's gaze didn't waver. "Yes, he has. And yet, he's our responsibility. Yours, mine, all of us. It's time we start acknowledging that." He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle. "I want you to train with Anakin and Elek tomorrow morning. I've instructed Anakin to apologize for his part in this incident. But I also would like for you and Elek to acknowledge your own roles and make amends."
Shaak Ti nodded slowly. "I understand, Master. We will do as you ask."
"And one more thing," Mace added, his voice taking on a harder edge, "I'll be taking charge of Anakin's training along with Master Kenobi. I'll be watching, not just his behavior, but also how he's treated. Things will be different around here."
Shaak Ti acknowledged the information with a bow. As her holographic image flickered out, Mace was finally left alone for the night. He prepared for bed but he still could not find peace. He'd done it now. He was fully committed to the path. Anakin Skywalker was now his personal responsibility, and he would ensure the boy was treated with the respect and care he deserved. Mace felt a surprising surge of protectiveness. Anakin was a storm, yes, but under his guidance, Mace believed that storm could be guided to a purpose, a future that was brighter and more hopeful than his past. Things would indeed be different now, for everyone.