AN: First off, I want to thank you guys for the follows and favorite. It means a lot. Please enjoy chapter 4.
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars or anything affiliated with it.
When Rafe entered the Council Chambers behind Arakan, he didn't look around to sightsee. While he had to admit the chamber was something to look at, he knew he couldn't get distracted. He needed to prove himself to the twelve seated Council members that surrounded him.
All twelve Council members had their gazes fixated on Rafe, remaining silent.
Rafe noticed a Korun human looking at him disapprovingly, which spiked his anger. What the hell are you looking at? That's what he wanted to ask, but he held his tongue, deciding to trust Arakan.
"The boy you spoke of, this is?" a small, green creature asked.
"It is, Master Yoda," Arakan said.
Yoda closed his eyes, as if he were sensing his surroundings. "Much anger, I sense in you," he told Rafe.
You don't know shit. Rafe had a feeling Yoda was telling the truth and not making something up to test him. Arakan and Yuki proved to him that they could read his thoughts.
"All your thoughts dwell on your bitterness towards the galaxy," a Cerean pointed out.
"But growing up where you did, that's understandable," a Nautolan reassured Rafe, decreasing his anger slightly. At least some Jedi were trying to be respectful.
"I agree," a Kel Dor wearing a mask said.
"So the boy will be trained?" Arakan asked hopefully.
There was a tense moment of silence as all of the Council members were clearly thinking over their decisions, but was broken by the Korun human.
"No, he will not be trained," he said bluntly.
Rafe felt his anger flare up again, and he directed it all at the Korun human in a dark glare.
"Why not?" Arakan demanded.
"He's too old. With all of the emotions brewing inside of him and his lack of restraint, he can't be trained."
Too old? What the hell does that got to do with anything? Rafe glanced at Arakan, hoping that he had something up his sleeve to convince these dumbasses to train him.
"What about his Kyber Crystal?" Arakan questioned. "The boy is clearly connected to it in some way. He could be the only chance we have of discovering what it truly is."
"One Kyber Crystal has little significance to the war we are now facing, Arakan," the Korun human said sternly. "Your apprentice was blinded by her vision."
"Her name is Yuki, and she wasn't blinded." Arakan's voice grew darker, surprising Rafe. He assumed he would remain respectful.
"Please explain, Master Arakan," a human with auburn hair and grey-blue eyes said politely.
"As I said, that Kyber Crystal is connected to this boy somehow," Arakan began. "When I touched it, all I could see was darkness and suffering. I had no control over my emotions or actions. But this boy is in control. If it weren't for him, Yuki and I wouldn't have made it out of the Underworld."
"Then destroy the crystal and leave the boy behind," the Korun human suggested callously. "We have more important matters to deal with."
"Are you serious?" Rafe finally spoke. "Do you know how ridiculous you all sound right now?"
"Boy," Arakan warned.
The Korun human just arched an eyebrow, as if he wanted Rafe to keep speaking.
"You refuse to train me just because I'm too old? Because I actually acknowledge and express my emotions? That's bantha crap!" Rafe continued.
"We train Jedi at such an early age so that they aren't hindered by their emotions," the Korun human explained.
Rafe laughed hysterically. "So you train children to become brainwashed soldiers, bound by your shitty code?!"
The Korun's gaze darkened as he leaned forward. "Boy, you will hold your tongue."
"No, I won't," Rafe said defiantly.
"Fuck…" Arakan muttered. "Master Windu, please excuse Rafe, he's just—"
"Shut up, Arakan. I just want to let Master Windu know that the Jedi's methods of brainwashing are bantha crap, and I want no part in it."
Windu coolly gazed at Rafe. "It seems that that settles everything, then…"
"Wait!" Arakan pleaded. "I know the boy is rash, but he can be trained."
"We are in a war, Arakan," Windu emphasized. "There are more important matters at hand, matters that don't involve a child from the Underworld."
"I am not a child," Rafe said, his menacing glare matching the tone of his voice. He took a step forward, wanting to punch Windu in that shitty mouth of his, but was stopped when someone grabbed his broken wrist.
"Rafe, don't…" Yuki softly pleaded.
He hissed in pain, yanking his wrist out of her grip.
She let out a horrified gasp. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you!" She knelt down to help him, but backed off when he gave her a look that said Back off or I will kill you.
"It would seem that your apprentice has already developed an attachment to this boy, Arakan," Windu pointed out. "Attachment clouds a Jedi's judgment, and we can't have that, especially during a war."
"I can keep him under control," Arakan assured Windu.
"An apprentice, you already have," Yoda said. "Train another, you cannot."
"I'm more than capable of training two apprentices."
"You do remember what happened last time you tried to protect multiple apprentices, don't you?" Windu asked.
Arakan was suddenly glaring at the floor, fists trembling at his sides.
What the hell? I figured the old bastard had a short temper, but I never would've imagined he could get this angry… Rafe looked away from Arakan.
"Master Arakan, I don't doubt your abilities to train two apprentices, but now is not the time," the human sitting next to the Cerean advised. "You are our scout; the only Jedi capable of relaying information to us without being detected. You play a vital role in the Clone Wars. We simply can't afford to lose you or Yuki."
Rafe sensed that Arakan's anger faded, and he released a breath he didn't realize he was holding.
"I understand, Master Kenobi," Arakan said. He looked around the Council Chambers, as if he was still hoping one of them accepted his request that Rafe be trained. But not one of them seemed to be accepting. "Is that all, then?"
"What makes you think this boy can be trained?" the masked Kel Dor asked. "Is he even force-sensitive?"
Arakan pulled back the ripped sleeve of his robe, revealing the cut on his wrist. "Can any ordinary teenager slice a Jedi's wrist with a tiny knife?"
Each Council member exchanged wary looks.
Rafe could sense the fear in them. "You cowards only refuse to train me because you're afraid of what you don't know. You don't know if I'm on your side, or if this crystal makes me a Sith, and that scares you."
The Chamber went deathly silent for a while. Even Arakan wasn't saying anything.
"How do you expect to win a war if you're so ignorant?" Rafe questioned.
"That is enough!" Windu asserted.
Rafe defiantly glared at him, but kept his mouth shut. He wanted to hear what he would say.
"There is no ignorance, there is knowledge," the Nautolan said, as if he were reciting a text.
Rafe narrowed his eyes at the Nautolan. "Just hearing that come out of your mouth proves how ignorant you are." He tried to say more, but a jolt of pain suddenly surged through his broken wrist, and he fell to his knees, clutching his broken wrist.
"Rafe!" Yuki gasped. She took a step toward him, but stopped when Arakan held his arm out in front of her.
Arakan knelt down beside Rafe. "You've gone far enough, brat," he whispered in Rafe's ear. "Shut up, or I'll make you shut up." He grabbed Rafe's arm and helped him to his feet.
"You injured that boy, didn't you, Arakan?" Kenobi asked, sounding disappointed.
"I did."
"So he injured you because he was defending himself?"
"You are correct, Master Kenobi. I attacked Rafe to test his combat abilities, to see how far he was willing to go to survive," Arakan explained.
"Being a Jedi means being willing to lay down your life for others at any time," the masked Kel Dor said.
"I understand, Master Plo Koon. But this boy needs to stay alive. He can turn the tide of the Clone Wars."
The Council looked around at each other, seeming to consider Arakan's plea.
"Master Arakan…" Yoda said carefully, "willing to put your life down for this boy, are you?"
"Yes, Master Yoda," Arakan said without hesitation. "I will protect him with my life."
Rafe looked at Arakan with narrowed eyes. What the hell is he saying? He's full of bantha crap.
"And you, young Padawan?" Yoda asked Yuki.
"I will do everything I can to protect Rafe," Yuki declared.
Yoda nodded, seeming to contemplate both Jedi's responses. He slowly opened his eyes, which were aimed at Rafe. "What say you, young boy?"
"I'll do whatever it takes to stay alive," Rafe said. He caught the determined glances of Arakan and Yuki, and he suddenly didn't feel so good. He felt like his stomach was doing somersaults infinitely, and he just wanted to curl up and wretch.
After taking a few deep breaths, he managed to compose himself, and finally added, "And I will also do everything I can to protect Arakan and Yuki, and to help the Jedi win the Clone Wars…"
He wasn't completely lying. He would protect Arakan and Yuki, but only because he knew they were his best chance of surviving throughout the war. He didn't actually care for them.
"Strong conviction, I sense in you," Yoda said. "A powerful Jedi, you could become."
"Could?" Rafe questioned.
"Just because Arakan claims that you're force-sensitive, doesn't mean you will be trained to be a Jedi," Windu said. "Now, I think you've wasted enough of our time."
Rafe yanked his crystal off of the chain around his neck and threw it at Windu, who lazily held a hand up, stopping the crystal from hitting him by holding it in midair.
"That is why emotions are a hindrance," Windu emphasized. "If you act impulsively like that, you'll only be even more of a hindrance to the Republic."
Rafe glared furiously at Windu, and to his surprise, his crystal started glowing.
Windu's eyes twitched, becoming more concentrated on the crystal, which began to glow brighter. It glowed so bright it started to blind Rafe.
The crystal suddenly released a surge of some kind of energy, pushing Windu back further into his seat. Everyone in the chambers held their arms in front of them to shield themselves from the surge.
Windu lowered his hand, and the crystal fell to the floor. It was then telekinetically pulled towards Arakan, who held it in front of him.
"Do you understand now?" he asked.
Windu eyed Rafe cautiously. "Where did you get this crystal?"
"What does that matter?" Rafe asked.
"Boy, just answer the question," Arakan whispered.
Rafe sighed. "I got it in the Underworld."
"Here on Coruscant?" Kenobi asked.
Rafe nodded.
"Filled with darkness, this crystal is," Yoda said.
"Really? Then how is a rat like me unbothered by it?"
"That's what we need to figure out, Rafe," Arakan said. "Only if I have the Council's permission to train you…"
Yoda closed his eyes for a few seconds, then carefully gazed at Arakan. "Hold onto this crystal, we will. Learn more about it, we must."
"With all due respect, Master, shouldn't the boy keep ahold of the crystal since he's the only one in control of it?"
"While you make a good point, Arakan, that's what makes the boy dangerous," Windu pointed out. "He's already dangerous enough without it."
"Then I'll teach him to control his abilities."
Windu's gaze lowered to the crystal, and he exhaled a heavy sigh. "If the boy keeps the crystal, he must be confined."
"What?" Rafe asked darkly.
"Just until we can get you a trial with the Senate," Windu reassured him.
"Why the hell would I need to be put on trial with a bunch of politicians?"
"The Jedi are technically under their jurisdiction," Arakan explained. "We can't just go do whatever we want."
Rafe looked at him, confused. "Why?"
Arakan frowned. "Ask the Council."
"Why do you limit yourselves to a corrupt government?" Rafe asked the Council.
Most of the Council members looked offended, their gasps filling the chamber.
"Do you really want to commit treason, boy?" Windu asked warningly.
Rafe wanted to argue. He just wanted to storm out of the chamber, but he knew he would be put in a much worse situation if he did either, so he kept his mouth shut.
"Very well. Arakan, escort this boy to a cell in the Temple."
Arakan kept his eye on Windu for a brief moment, as if he disagreed with him, then grabbed Rafe by the arm and dragged him out of the Council Chambers.
"Stop struggling," Arakan said as he dragged Rafe down to where the cells were located.
It was a long, narrow hallway, guarded by Clone troopers. They stood completely still, as if they were statues, and each had their fingers on the trigger of their blasters.
"You said I wouldn't be sent to prison, and now here I am!" Rafe exclaimed, still struggling to get out of Arakan's grip.
"Everything will be solved at your trial," Arakan said calmly.
"Just like everything was supposed to be solved with the Council," Rafe scoffed.
"That was out of my control."
"Why are you even a Jedi if you disagree with the Council so much? It's clear to me that they're completely lost in their arrogance, which makes them ignorant."
Arakan stopped walking, looking deep in thought. Was he actually considering what Rafe just said? Instead of answering, he shoved Rafe inside the empty cell. A red laser barrier turned on, separating them.
"Sit tight," he said.
"For how long?" Rafe demanded.
"I don't know, boy. I need to get some information from the Senate first, then I'll come back to you."
"Whatever," Rafe grumbled.
Arakan walked away, but Yuki stayed put.
"What do you want?"
She looked away shyly. "I'm sorry," she whispered softly, then walked away.
Rafe hid himself in the dark shadows, and he was reminded of the Underworld. For some reason, he was starting to miss that place.
It was dark and cold. It was also very quiet. Too quiet. As if nobody was in proximity to the cell.
All of that unsettled Rafe. He was used to the darkness and the cold, but not the nonexistent noise. Down in the Underworld, it was always loud. The streets were always filled with chants of enjoyment, screams of fear and pain, and cries for help.
I don't actually miss that hellhole, do I?
He didn't know if he could answer his own question. He always hated that place. And now he was finally out of there. He was able to see the sky. The sun. Creatures who weren't petty lowlifes who'd kill you for a few credits.
The Jedi are no different than those pieces of shit. I can't trust them.
Yet he still let Arakan and Yuki take him out of the Underworld and to the Temple. He decided to listen to their judgment, holding onto a little hope that his life could get better, that he could survive longer. But it all seemed to be for nothing. Now he was sulking in a prison cell, all alone. And his life was now in the hands of the Republic.
Those pathetic politicians aren't going to be of any help.
He knew nobody gave a second thought to the Underworld, so he already knew his fate.
He looked at the ceiling, letting out a heavy sigh. He caught sight of an air vent, and an idea formed in his mind. He stood up and backed away from the wall he was just sitting against, towards the red laser beam. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, then opened them, and ran towards the wall, jumping to the side and kicking himself off of it, lifting him to the air vent. He grabbed onto it, but couldn't get it to open, no matter how hard he pulled.
"You can't escape from there."
Rafe let go, landing on the floor. He glared at the familiar figure standing on the opposite side of the laser beam. "What the hell are you doing here, softy?"
Yuki looked away shyly. She was holding a tray of food. "I thought you might be hungry… so I brought you this."
Rafe looked around the hallway on the other side of his cell, growing skeptical. He didn't see or sense any Clone troopers nearby. "How did you get past all of the Clones?"
Yuki widened her eyes, looking guilty. "I snuck past them…"
Rafe felt something in him he's never felt before. Was it… pride? "Looks like you're quite the bad girl. I don't think 'softy' is an appropriate name for you anymore."
Yuki's eyes widened, looking hurt. "You think I'm a bad person?"
"Don't take it literally, softy. It's just a metaphor."
She lowered her head, her bluish-black hair covering her eyes. "Why do you call me that? …Softy…"
Rafe looked away from her. He usually called others names to insult them, which was why he called Yuki softy. But when he actually thought about it, he didn't feel like he was insulting her when he called her that. "I just thought it was a suitable nickname for you," is what he decided to say.
Her lips curved slightly into a faint smile. "You must be hungry." She pressed a button, and the red laser beam disappeared.
Rafe felt his eyes flash. Should I risk it and escape right now? He looked at Yuki, then at the tray of food she was holding, then at the floor. As much as he wanted to be free, something else in his mind wanted him to stay.
Yuki set the tray of food beside him. It had Fleek Eel Soup and Nerf Steaks with a glass of water. Compared to what he had to scrap for in the Underworld, it was luxurious.
"Thanks…" he mumbled, unable to look her in the eyes. He's never thanked anyone in his life. But nobody has done the same, so he didn't feel bad about it. "You know I could've escaped, right?"
Yuki looked curious. "I could've stopped you. Why didn't you try to escape when I unsealed your cell?"
"I just… didn't think it would be a wise decision. I wouldn't want to put myself in an even shitier situation." Rafe looked at Yuki confusedly. "By the way, why did you even bring me something to eat?"
Yuki looked away, her cheeks turning into a bright shade of pink. Was she blushing? "I was concerned for you," she whispered. "I know nobody here cares whether you live or die. But I want you to live. You saved my life." She looked at him, smiling. "Thank you."
Rafe was even more confused. Why would anyone thank him? Especially someone as kind and innocent as Yuki. "Why are you thanking me?"
"Because you saved me in the Underworld. You could've just walked by and ignored what was happening. You could've chosen to save yourself. But you sacrificed your freedom to protect me. I know you act all tough and selfish most of the time, but I think you're a really kind person."
"Shut up," Rafe snapped.
"What?" Yuki asked, sounding surprised.
He narrowed his eyes. "Your kindness is pathetic. Stop pitying me and just get out of here."
"I'm not pitying—"
"Just get out of here!" Rafe shouted, throwing his hand to the side, helping him get more of his anger out.
Yuki was suddenly thrown out of the cell, crashing into the steel wall behind her. Several Clones ran over to her, all aiming their blasters at her.
"Who are you?"
"How did you get in here?"
One of the Clones actually seemed to notice that Yuki was attacked, and slowly turned around to look at Rafe.
"Did you escape from this cell?"
"No," Yuki said.
"Were you trying to break this kid out?"
"No, I—"
"Then explain why his cell is unsealed."
"Will all of you shut the hell up?! She didn't do anything," Rafe called out, grabbing the Clone's attention. They all turned to face him.
"What was she doing here?"
Rafe remained silent.
"Did you attack her?"
He just stared impassively at the Clones.
The Clones looked at each other, shaking their heads in confusion.
"What's with this kid?"
"Are you deaf or something?"
Rafe finally spoke. "Why don't you all just shut the hell up and seal my cell."
One of the Clones pointed his blaster at Rafe. "You better watch your mouth, kid."
"I believe you should watch yours, sir," Rafe mocked.
"You little punk," another Clone said, aiming their blaster at Rafe as well.
"Wait!" Yuki shouted.
The Clones turned around to look at her.
"He's innocent. He didn't do anything wrong."
"The Republic will decide that, girl." The Clone grabbed the sleeve of her robe and threw her in the cell.
"You bastard!" Rafe yelled, charging for the Clone. Before he could do anything, he was stunned by the Clone's blaster, and he lay on the floor next to Yuki, unconscious.
Rafe opened his groggy eyes, which he narrowed once he saw that he was still in his cell.
"You're finally awake."
Yuki's relieved statement woke him up fully. She was sitting against the steel wall next to him. He quickly got to his feet, but a clanking sound stopped him from saying or doing anything. He looked at his wrists, seeing that they were cuffed.
"Where the hell is Arakan?" Rafe asked.
"I don't know," Yuki said. "He hasn't come by yet."
To Rafe's surprise, he didn't curse or say some witty comment, he just slumped onto the floor, dropping his head in despair. Why did he feel like his life was getting more and more shittier with every passing minute? He felt like he was suffering just because he was born. He felt more free down in the Underworld.
"What's wrong?"
Rafe wasn't even annoyed at Yuki's question. He was surprised that she was even concerned about him. He betrayed her trust. Treated her like anyone else who he hated, and yet she still tried to look out for him.
Does she actually care, or is she just too naive and innocent to realize how shitty of a person I really am?
Despite thinking of himself that way, he didn't understand why he just didn't take his only opportunity to escape. He knew he could've. Hell, he could've escaped down in the Underworld if he just didn't help her. But he did, and because he decided to be selfless for once in his life, he was suffering because of it.
This is why I only look after myself. If you let anything distract you, you die.
"Rafe, are you okay?" Yuki sounded even more concerned than usual.
Rafe just continued to ask himself questions. What confused him the most was why the Clones even threw her in this cell. She was a Jedi, so she and the Clones were on the same side, right? From what he's heard, both the Jedi and the Clones served the Republic.
The thought of the Republic, the thought of being forced to serve it, made Rafe's blood boil. He felt like he had the strength to break out of the chains that were shackled to his wrists. He never wanted to serve anyone, especially a corrupt government. He just wanted to be free to live his own life, but even now that was being taken from him.
"Yuki…" he said carefully. "Why are you a Jedi?"
"Because they took me in," she said, seeming to remember that moment.
"That's not what I meant. What purpose do you have for being a Jedi? For serving a Master and the Republic? Why don't you just live your own life, free from anyone or anything?"
Yuki looked at the ceiling with an arched eyebrow, clearly deep in thought. "I'm a Jedi to help keep the peace."
"I don't know if you've looked around lately, but there is no peace," Rafe scoffed. "Not only are we in a war, but too many horrible people exist, which is why there's slavery and murderers."
"So why do you want to be a Jedi?" Yuki asked.
"Why does it matter to you?"
Yuki's eyes narrowed cautiously. "Are you a Sith?"
Rafe growled in annoyance. "Damn it. No. I'm just a thief who survived in the Underworld and happened to get lucky finding this crystal."
"You mean stealing the crystal," Yuki clarified, annoying Rafe even more.
"Tch." Rafe looked away, glaring at the floor. "Like you could ever understand. You grew up in luxury."
"My life wasn't always like this."
Sympathy flashed through Rafe's eyes, but he didn't look at Yuki. "Something terrible happened before you became a Jedi, didn't it?"
Yuki lowered her head, closing her eyes. That was enough of an answer.
Rafe looked at her, surprised to see that she wasn't crying.
They continued to sit in silence for a while, until footsteps could be heard in the hallway. Rafe got to his feet and walked in front of the laser beam, glaring at the person standing on the other side.
"How are you holding up, kid?" Arakan asked, sounding surprisingly cheerful.
"Like you give a shit," Rafe spat.
Arakan opened his mouth, then closed it when his eyes darted to Yuki. "What the hell are you doing in here, Yuki?"
Yuki looked frightened. "I just came to give Rafe some food, then the clones threw me in here."
Arakan sighed, but it sounded like relief and not disappointment. "Alright." He pressed a button and the red laser beam disappeared. "You can come out now."
"You're not mad?" Yuki asked, sounding surprised.
Arakan shook his head. "Not at all. You didn't do anything wrong."
Yuki got to her feet and walked out of the cell.
"Why are you still sitting there, boy?" Arakan asked, looking down at Rafe.
Rafe squinted his eyes in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"You don't want to miss your trial, do you?"
"It's already time?"
Arakan nodded.
Rafe grunted as he got to his feet. He walked towards Arakan, fighting the urge to run away when he stepped out of the cell.
"Hey, what's going on here?" a clone asked as he approached the three.
"I'm escorting this brat to the Senate," Arakan explained. "Is that a problem?"
"Who authorized you?"
"The Supreme Chancellor did, so let us pass."
The clone stepped to the side, sighing. "Politics. I'll never understand them."
"Before we go…" Arakan faced Rafe. "Hold your hands out."
Rafe did as he was told, just realizing that his wrist was still broken and cuffed. He involuntarily hissed as he felt all of the pain surge through his wrist.
"Will you still listen to me if I take these off and heal your wrist?" Arakan asked.
Rafe raised an eyebrow, not knowing if Arakan was being sarcastic or not.
"I see that even when you're injured you still have your guard up. That's quite impressive."
"Shut up," Rafe sneered. "Don't try to get on my good side by complimenting me."
Arakan sighed. "There's that stubbornness I was expecting." He grabbed Rafe's broken wrist, roughly pulling him, then his touch lightened.
Before Rafe knew what was happening, his wrist didn't hurt anymore. "What did you do?"
"I healed it," Arakan said simply. "Now let's get to your trial."
They left the cell chambers and headed to Rafe's trial.
Rafe was sitting in the front of a speeder next to Arakan, while Yuki sat quietly in the back. He glared at the skyscrapers that covered the city.
"What are you glaring for?" Arakan asked.
Rafe chose to glare at him now. He still blamed Arakan for all the shit that's been happening to him. "Doesn't concern you. Now just tell me what's going to happen during my trial."
"If that's how you're going to act, then I'm not telling you a damn thing," Arakan said coldly. His eyes narrowed, making him look disappointed. "I can't believe I have to take care of a brat like you."
Rafe fought the urge to throw the back of his fist into Arakan's face. His fist started shaking from the effort.
"Look, I get it, you were stripped of the only way you knew how to live, turned down by the Council, thrown in a cell, and now you have to attend a trial that will decide whether you live or die. It's all unfair, I know." Arakan's eyes narrowed intensely. "But none of that gives you the right to direct your anger onto others. It's okay to get angry. It's normal, in fact, something the Jedi don't understand. But you need to learn restraint so that you don't make rash decisions on the battlefield."
Rafe looked away from Arakan. He knew he had a point, but he was just so angry all the time he never stopped to just think. "Tch. Damn it."
"Don't be angry with yourself," Arakan said firmly. "You're a smart kid. You're very perspicacious and knowledgeable. I'm sure you'll be a quick learner once you become my apprentice. But you need to learn to control that temper of yours. I know your life has been nothing but hell, but you can't use that as an excuse to justify your anger."
Rafe looked at Arakan, surprised to hear that he was actually giving him reasonable advice instead of scolding him or beating him to a pulp.
"Don't look so surprised, brat."
Rafe felt his anger flare up immediately. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"See? You feel better, right?"
Rafe exhaled and opened his eyes slowly. He no longer felt his blood boiling, or a burning desire to lash out at Arakan. He just wanted to move past it. "Is this how you both remain so calm?" he asked both of the Jedi. "By restraining yourselves?"
"Well, I don't really get angry often," Yuki said. "But yes, restraint can help a lot. I'm glad that you're willing to give it a try, Rafe."
Rafe looked behind him to see that she was smiling. How is she going to survive on the battlefield? She's just too innocent…
"Um… is something wrong?"
Her concern broke him out of his thoughts, and he turned away. "You should worry about yourself, softy."
"But—"
"Rafe's right, Yuki," Arakan interjected. "There are times when you can only worry about yourself. In war, you're forced to make almost impossible decisions. Decisions that strip you of your humanity." He looked back, his eyes numb of all emotion. "However, it's my job to make those decisions for the both of you." Arakan looked at Rafe. "You both understand that?"
"Completely," Rafe said darkly. He knew all too well what Arakan was talking about. He couldn't even recall all of the times he felt like pieces of his soul left him from all of the horrific choices he's had to make just to survive. Now, he never gave the choices he made a second thought. If it meant he would survive in the end, then he didn't care what he did. But that was just life on the streets. I'm going to be fighting in a real war. Will I be able to make such inhumane decisions on a whim on the battlefield?
"Don't look so pale," Arakan said, making Rafe realize that his entire body felt cold, and he was shaking from head to toe. "We're here, so put on that rebellious glare of yours. Don't want anybody to think you're a weak brat."
Arakan's comment barely registered through Rafe's ears. He was more preoccupied with his thoughts.
Why am I shaking? Just the thought of being on the battlefield has me this shaken up. What the hell is wrong with me? He glanced at Arakan. Maybe I am just a weak brat…
"That's enough moping. We're going to be late."
Rafe got out of the speeder and followed Arakan through the massive drum-shaped building, which had tall, impressionistic humanoid statues lined across a flat concourse at the end of the plaza. Two towers adorned the front of the building.
Rafe just glanced around when they got inside. He was surrounded by several statues that were lined throughout the atrium. At the end of the hall was a large, two-story hall, which they took to make it to what Arakan called the Grand Convocation Chamber.
"Remember, just keep your mouth shut," Arakan reminded Rafe. "Just let me handle everything."
Rafe nodded, then entered the chamber.
The chamber looked more like an arena, with the sloping walls of the funnel-shaped room lined with repulsorpods arranged in concentric circular patterns from floor to ceiling, which soared over a hundred meters high.
A guard completely covered in red cuffed Rafe inside a repulsorpod, which floated to the center of the chamber, where everyone was staring at him. In front of him was a podium much larger than any of the other repulsorpods, where a middle-aged man wearing red robes stood.
Rafe looked around, looking more curious than rebellious. Where are Arakan and Yuki anyway? He turned his head in several directions, but couldn't find them anywhere.
"I am Chancellor Palpatine!" the man at the center podium announced. "And I am here to discuss the trial about a Kyber Crystal. What is your name, boy?"
"Rafe."
"Do you have a last name? A family name, perhaps?"
"It's just Rafe," he repeated.
"Very well. I have two cases. One from the Council and one from Jedi Master Arakan," Palpatine explained. "Now, will each of you state your case?"
A repulsorpod floated next to Rafe's, which held Yoda and Windu. "For one, the boy is too old to be accepted into the Order," Windu explained. "He simply can't be trained. And we know next to nothing about that Kyber Crystal of his, so I think it would be best to store it somewhere safe within the Temple and forget about the boy."
Rafe couldn't believe what he was hearing. This was the same thing that bald bastard told him back in the Council Chambers. But he made it seem like they would try to do something to make his situation better. But all of that was clearly an act. Arakan, you better have something up your sleeve.
"Very well." Another repulsorpod floated to Rafe's other side, holding Arakan and Yuki, to which Palpatine turned his attention. "And you, Master Arakan?"
"Supreme Chancellor, I know that you probably don't see much worth in this boy, but I assure you he is something special," Arakan said. "He holds a Kyber Crystal which none of us know about, let alone heard of. It could've existed for over a millennium. And this boy has already displayed some use of the Force. He is already well adapted to real-world situations and is able to hold his own and lead others. I have witnessed such qualities down in the Underworld. With proper training, not only will Rafe be a powerful Jedi, but he can turn the tide of the Clone Wars and possibly bring us closer to bringing the Sith down for good."
Rafe's anxiousness was washed away with a sense of hope and relief. Not bad, you grim bastard. All of that instantly disappeared with Palpatine's next claim.
"About his Force abilities, it's said that he attacked your apprentice, Yuki, inside his prison cell. Am I wrong?"
Arakan's eyes widened.
"That was only an accident! Rafe wasn't trying to hurt me!" Yuki reassured everyone, but it fell on deaf ears as several Politicians and Senators started shouting claims.
"Of course you would take his side! You both are probably Sith undercover!"
"How can we know if you're actually a Jedi?"
"Have either of you done anything in this war?"
"You don't understand, Rafe protected me in the Underworld!" Yuki said, desperation in her voice. "He didn't even know who I was and he tried to help me get out! Would a Sith do that?!"
"Maybe he put you under some kind of spell with that crystal of his!"
"Yeah! He's trying to fool all of us!"
"We need to get rid of him, along with his crystal!"
"Yeah, and the girl too just to be safe!"
Yuki's eyes widened. She was clearly horrified.
"Now hold on a second!" Rafe shouted, his desperate voice echoing throughout the chambers. "I might be a petty thief who you want dead, but she's innocent!"
"You lie!"
"I'm telling the truth!"
"Like we would ever believe a rat like you!"
"Be quiet!" Rafe bellowed, yanking the chains forward with all his might, the metal clanging against the post it was held behind, echoing throughout the chamber, startling everyone. "Listen to yourselves… You're all just spouting ridiculous claims to make the water flow your way. I need to stop. "You've never even seen a Sith!" Internally, he thought otherwise. I can't say anymore. He continued anyway. "So why are you so afraid, huh?!" I really need to shut up. He narrowed his eyes in determination. No, I've already come this far. I'm gonna say it all. I'll prove these bastards wrong right now! "But you're just deluding yourselves even more because you fear what you don't understand, and that makes you all desperate. We've just discovered what could be an incredible power and asset to the Jedi, and you're just going to throw it away because you're all a bunch of damn cowards who are too afraid to fight?!"
Gasps of horror echoed within the chambers.
"W-What?!"
"Did he really just say that?"
"He's not serious, is he?"
Rafe pulled harder on the chains, desperately trying to break free. He could feel the cuffs ripping through his skin. "Just shut your fucking mouths and let me shoulder everything!"
The chamber was dead silent, but a clone seemed to snap out of it first. "Don't just stand there! Take aim!"
"R-Right! Yes, Sir!" another clone said, taking aim with his blaster rifle.
Suddenly, Rafe felt a powerful kick delivered to his chin, knocking out a tooth that went flying out of the repulsorpod. Huh? He glanced at his tooth and received another kick. What the hell is going on? He looked up to see Arakan, who grabbed his hair and collar, thrusting his knee into his face. Everyone in the chamber watched with stunned looks, mouths open, as he continued to beat Rafe.
Blood dripped from Rafe's face. Arakan brought his boot down, smashing Rafe's forehead into the surface of the repulsorpod. "I believe I already told you this, but it seems like pain is the only way to discipline you," Arakan said, forcing his boot down further as Rafe struggled to get out from under it. "It would be futile to educate you with words. What you need boy is training. And you're even shorter now, which makes it much easier to kick you around."
Arakan continued to mercilessly kick Rafe, and Rafe could do nothing but endure the beating.
"Hey, hold on, Arakan!" Windu called out.
Arakan slammed his boot against Rafe's face, slamming it into the metal pole that secured the chain around his cuffs. "What is it?"
Windu held a hand out, looking a little wary. "Do you really think that's the smartest decision? What if he starts raging and attacks someone with his crystal?"
Arakan looked away, scoffing. "What are you talking about? There's no need for me to worry about what happens to him." He delivered another kick to Rafe, then kneeled down and grabbed his hair, pulling the boy closer to him. "Boy, I need you to fight," he whispered.
"W-What?" Rafe wheezed out.
Arakan pulled him more roughly. "Fight like you did back in the Archives. Break free from your chains. I need you to show everyone your strength; that you're not just some thief from the Underworld. Survive!"
That one word woke Rafe up fully, giving him the strength to pull against the chains cuffed to his wrists. It hurt like hell, but he could feel his hands slipping through them.
Arakan kicked his hand. "Come on, boy!"
Rafe screamed out in both pain and determination, finally breaking his hands out of the chains, collapsing on the floor.
Arakan lifted him up in the air, slammed him onto the floor, then into the metal pole. He grabbed his lightsaber and activated it, holding it mere inches from Rafe's neck.
"Master, wait!" Yuki shrieked, looking as shocked as everyone else in the chamber.
"Do you all understand now?" Arakan asked calmly. "This boy has strength; strength we can use. I think I just proved that I'm much stronger than him, so I will be able to keep him under control if something happens."
"What are you proposing, Master Arakan?" Palpatine inquired.
Arakan glanced at him. "I would like to take Rafe as my apprentice. I will train him to not only help us in the Clone Wars, but to better understand what his crystal is. I would like to take him on an expedition to where I think it might've come from, but before that, I need to take him on a real mission first."
Palpatine nodded several times, seeming to like the idea. "I think that would be beneficial to all of us. "We could use more allies, and the boy deserves a better fate." He looked at the repulsorpod to his right. "But first, let's see what the Council thinks."
"Although this entire trial goes against our standards, these are trying times, and we're desperate," Windu said, sounding reluctant. "Very well, Arakan will train the boy to be a Jedi, then he will go on his first mission before going on the expedition to figure out the whereabouts of his crystal."
"Very well," Palpatine said. "However, we must learn what everyone else here thinks of these matters. Should the boy become a Jedi, or should we throw him back into the darkness of the Underworld?"
The chamber erupted with opinions.
"It's too risky!"
"This is exactly what the Sith want!"
"He's probably a Separatist!"
The other side of the chamber thought otherwise.
"We could definitely use his strength!"
"He is very impressive, impressive enough to earn recognition from Master Arakan!"
Palpatine sighed, holding his hands out in front of him. "Very well! Now, I have come to a decision. Rafe will be put under Master Arakan's care and will accompany him along with several troops of clones for the official expedition for his crystal. How does this sit with you, Rafe?"
Rafe dared not move his head since Arakan's green blade was still inches away from his neck, so he just glanced at Palpatine. "I will become Arakan's apprentice and help the Republic win the Clone Wars," he declared. Not that I care, either way.
Palpatine nodded. "Very well. That concludes our trial."
Rafe was laying on a bed in what looked like a medical facility. He tried to sit up, but a soft hand gently pushed him down.
"Easy. You got beat pretty bad." It was Yuki, sitting on his bed beside him.
"Where is Arakan?" Rafe asked weakly.
"Right here," Arakan said as he walked into the room. "Now that you're my apprentice, you have to refer to me as Master Arakan."
"Why? I know that I'm in your care, but I don't answer to anyone. I refuse to be in someone's service."
"I will explain everything later when I start training you," Arakan assured him. He walked closer to Rafe, narrowing his eyes. "You look… better than I expected."
"I feel like shit," Rafe said.
"Wait," Yuki suddenly said. "Rafe your tooth, it grew back!"
To be continued
AN: And that's chapter 4! A whole lot happened. A trial with both the Council and the Senate. And Rafe is officially a Jedi. Will things get better finally?
And I got a lot of inspiration from Eren's trial from Attack on Titan. I hope this wasn't a complete copy of it. And I created Arakan to be a very powerful Jedi, so I hope it's justified as to why he can Force heal.
And I just want to let you all know that I won't be posting as often as I have been since I'm working on two other stories alongside this one. I'll try to post a chapter every two or three weeks, hopefully sooner. I do appreciate everyone who's taken the time to read this fic.
See you all in the next chapter!
