Half a dozen boys were contained in a room. It wasn't an unusual sight, to see young adults sitting in a room together. However these boys as a collective were anything but normal or ordinary.
What set these boys apart from others in the galaxy was what was inside of them. These boys contained a higher number of midi-chlorians cells in their bodies compared to the rest of the galaxy. In layman's terms these boys were "Force-sensitive" and harnessed abilities that gave them all unbelievable power.
One could come to the conclusion in that having such powerful sentient beings in one place could be considered a liability. But to Luke Skywalker, having them anywhere else other than his watchful eye was the true danger. The galaxy needed a new Jedi Order to stop the mistakes of the past from occurring again. The galaxy also needed these Force-sensitive males on the light side of the force to prevent the dark ones who had risen from the ashes of The Empire from getting to them first.
It was a mutually beneficial agreement to these Force-sensitive young men. This was their first time within the temple and it was moments before they would begin their apprenticeships. They were all seated in a large airy room made out of marvellous looking marble, sitting at a large black table crafted of oak. All of the young men were grinning and chattering excitedly about being hand picked to join the new Jedi Temple and what their training would entail. Due to the large space and all of the marble around them, their chattering was bouncing around and echoing loudly. They were all sitting huddled together waiting for their Jedi Master to join them.
All of them, except one. One of the new Jedis sat a few metres away from his peers and instead cast his deep dark coloured eyes onto the rest of the group, watching them carefully.
It made sense this boy was apathetic about being given the privileged opportunity to be trained personally by the Luke Skywalker. The famous Jedi who had saved the galaxy from the clutches of The Empire was this boy's uncle. If the social consequences of Luke turning down Leia's request for her son to train under him were not enough pressure to extend an invitation to Ben, it was Ben's genes which would secure him entry into Luke's Jedi Temple. Ben Solo did not belong anywhere but this new Jedi Order that Skywalker was building.
Ben was grateful for the opportunity to train and grow under his uncle's training. He was certainly keen to learn and had a thirst for knowledge on how to master the Force. He just wasn't going to go star eyed like the other schmucks in the room. He knew it was important to not show any weakness in order to harness power to its full potential.
"Yo, is this the room for the wizards?" A new boy hollered out as he confidently strut into the marble-laced room, his deep-set round shockingly blue eyes glossing over his surroundings lazily.
All eyes in the room immediately flickered onto this newcomer. Although judgments were biased by his cocky entrance - all of the occupants of the room had similar thoughts running through their head.
This kid doesn't look like he has what it takes to train as a Jedi.
They were completely correct. Chaz Penthurst wore a grin on his strong jaw that was far less than the humble image (most) others in the room tried to project. His curtained sandy hair was disheveled and tousled, he had ran his hand through it earlier to style it to stand up messily - a style his sister always teased him about.
Even his clothing showed a lack of care to being admitted to the exclusive organisation that only the wisest and most powerful had been permitted to enter through the ages. He had neglected to put on the clothes provided to the students in their private rooms and instead was sporting the clothes he wore during his school years, a long shirt rolled up carelessly to his elbows and casual black pants.
"We are not wizards. We are a proud select few who possess the ability to use powers most others cannot. We are here to learn how to use the Force." A fellow student disapprovingly spoke up.
"Sounds like wizardry to me. Powers, the Force, hocus pocus alakazam." Chaz responded sarcastically as he pulled out a black wooden oak seat and sat on it backwards in a disrespectful manner, staring down all others in the room.
This newcomer had piqued the interest of Ben Solo, who for once since arriving was genuinely curious about one of his new peers. He didn't know whether this new male was someone to be respected for being so daring and indifferent about his identity, or whether this boy should be mocked for being too foolish.
Ben's ebony eyes bore into the electric blue ones of Chaz Penthurst. Unlike most who would either cower upon such a scrutinous gaze or just glare back, Chaz had a different idea. He sent Ben a smirk and a wink. Unlike Chaz's cold and arrogant greetings towards Luke's other Jedi apprentices he was showing neighbourly actions towards Ben. He saw Ben as equal, not lesser like those around him.
Ben had mutual feelings about the one who had just entered the room. He too was interested in this person, and how this person would potentially challenge him and help him grow as a Jedi.
"It sounds like you don't believe in the Force. Why would you bother coming here? No one is forcing you to be here and learn the ways of the Jedi." The same naysayer from before asked Chaz in an annoyed fashion.
Chaz kept his boyish smirk on his face as he looked around the room. The little tiff between the two had gained the attention of all occupants in the room. But they all remained silent to watch the exchange unfold.
"My mum is, actually. I was pretty meh about coming here to be honest. You see, I started to get into a lot of trouble for causing harm to men who were becoming obsessed with my sister, so my mum-" Chaz began to explain but he was cut off swiftly by Ben Solo, who had spoken up for the first time since Chaz entered the room.
"You mean to say you are only here to learn the ways of the Jedi because your mom is making you?" Ben asked him formidably, finding he was now leaning towards the 'mocked for being foolish' opinion of Chaz.
"Nope, I wasn't saying that at all," Chaz frowned "I can certainly tell you don't have a sister. They go from being awkward and unfortunate looking teens to girls who need their hordes of stalkers chased off in the blink of an eye."
"So are you here to learn how to use the powers of the Force to protect your sister?" Another one of the apprentices asked Chaz who had been watching carefully. It was the first time since entering that Chaz had been spoken to with respect, Chaz obviously now had this male's approval.
"No haven't you heard a word of what I was saying? My mom forced me to be here, jeez," Chaz joked loudly before he grew serious to answer the question properly "Actually, I'm here to learn how to harness the powers inside me to protect the ones I love. My sister is included in that. Although I'd never admit that to her."
Murmurs broke out in the room as the handful of occupants were now giving their validations to Chaz. He was here to train for noble reasons after all, he was just a colourful character.
There were now just two people who still weren't entirely convinced by Chaz Penthurst.
"Well I do have a sister and I think maybe you're too brash and impure to be here. I've certainly never had to bring harm to anyone to protect her." Chaz's ongoing critic scoffed suddenly.
Chaz focused his eyes onto the boy and finally decided to give his attention to this person, finding him annoying. He felt this person was his polar opposite and found everything about his new peer irked him. An annoying shocking blonde bowl cut, neat clothes draped over his body and most importantly the constant proddings and disapproving remarks in the space of minutes.
Chaz knew his cocky and non-fundemental entrance did most likely deserve to be questioned under scrutiny. But he still didn't like this boy.
"What's your name, champ?" Chaz asked him curiously.
"It's Emmett. Emmett Renoldus." Chaz's critic spoke matter-of-factly after being caught slightly off guard by the question.
"Well Emmett Renoldus. If your sister is even half as unsightly as you, she must be pretty ugly. That's why you've never had to chase anyone away from her. They're most likely already running away from her." Chaz sharply snapped towards Emmett.
The room once again grew silent at Chaz's cruel taunt towards Emmett. The approvals that Chaz won over for his confession about wanting to protect his family had been quickly lost. His fellow apprentices all felt the same about Chaz. That he was far too juvenile to be training amongst them and had no place in the new Jedi Order.
All except one. Chaz had just earned the respect of one of them, and he was the only one in that room to have this person's respect.
Ben Solo rose from the chair he had purposely chosen to be away from the others and instead took a seat next to Chaz.
"Ben Solo." Ben introduced himself to Chaz, purposely not offering a hand to shake.
"Chaz Penthurst." Chaz responded as he met the gaze of his new peer.
"I know a little about the Force myself. I've already undergone minor training from Luke Skywalker. He is my uncle after-all." Ben stated in a slightly bragging fashion. He held respect for Chaz but he still felt he was above this confident male.
"Yeah well, I may not be special like you, but I beat to the march of my own drum." Chaz shrugged in response to Ben's name dropping.
Drum, drum, drum.
"Did anybody hear that?" A middle-aged lady asked out of the blue as she shot her head up upon hearing the irritating tapping noise.
"Nope, didn't hear anything." A younger girl in the vicinity immediately spoke up suspiciously.
The middle-aged lady shot her daughter a look but said nothing as she turned back to the man she was speaking to before the mysterious noise broke her train of thought.
The two females were presently at an esteemed event filled with the most elite of their family's social circle. The event was being held in one of the most magnificent venues the planet had to offer. Most of the surfaces were made with solid gold, with all other exteriors comprising of other expensive minerals. Many extravagant displays were dotted around to add to the ambience of the room, one of which included a large waterfall. The gentle gushing sound of water in the background had helped mask the drumming sound the older woman had heard before.
The two women were currently away from the action of the party and standing with drinks at a solid gold table, much to the older female's dismay. Even though they were in the company of a prestigious well-known man, she would have much preferred her daughter to be mingling with suitors her own age or slightly older. Instead the girl in her prime was moping to the side of the party.
"Yes, it is a bit disappointing that Zarabelle doesn't have her eyes on some of the well respected men here. But I am holding hope that she does consider taking my suggestion of attending a finishing school on a reputable planet." The mature lady sighed in an exaggerated manner as she eyed her daughter wistfully.
Zarabelle flickered her electric blue eyes onto her mother's stare and refused to back down as she stared straight back. Growing up under her mother's regime had shaped who Zarabelle was, and she was one to not be intimidated easily. Especially by her meddlesome mother.
Zarabelle's upbringing her caused her brother to become cocky and overconfident. Zarabelle on the other hand was sarcastic and quick witted. Different personalities but they were both from the result of putting up walls after lots of mental scarring from their mother.
Zarabelle had grown up on (and never left) a medium-sized planet named Thabargo. Thebargo was a very plain planet which was only established three hundred years ago. Very simple vegetation was scattered around here and there, enough for the inhabitants to survive on comfortably but nothing special to admire. With no rich history due to the planet's lack of age the architecture was practical but uncultural. There were no ancient ruins or large temples. With no history and no natural phenomena Thebargo rarely saw any tourists.
What Thebargo lacked in culture, it made up for in opportunities. It was the closest planet to a nearby smaller resource rich planet named Feabaux, which was mined for many different minerals. These minerals were then transported to Thebargo for processing and for manufacturing of many different items, in many different industries. Therefore there were many different types of people on the planet. The blue-collar inhabitants who were involved in the manufacturing and the white-collar inhabitants who enjoyed the fruits of the blue-collar population's labour.
Put simply, Thebargo was an import and export planet. Therefore there were always winners and losers in the industry. Zarabelle's mother wanted her to marry into a winning family.
"I know that you're trying to talk about me as if I'm not here, in hopes I feel embarrassed enough by your commentary to talk to some of these chumps. Yeah. Ain't gonna work." Zarabelle snapped towards her mother angrily.
"If you choose to use improper words, I'm not going to even acknowledge you Zarabelle. You are to use the word 'shan't' instead of 'ain't', lest you sound like street garbage." Mink, Zarabelle's mother briskly stated.
Mink Penthurst was a woman who liked to think she was very prim and proper. She hadn't come a good family herself but she made sure to sink her claws into someone who had. Her late husband may not have been a galaxy-known noble, but he was a somebody on Thebago. In her prime she was able to easily attract a powerful partner. Her reasonable looks had passed onto her son Chaz who inherited her thick sandy hair and shocking blue eyes.
Zarabelle on the other hand was a hybrid of her mother and late father. The only thing she shared with her brother and mother were the electric blue eyes. She had her father's golden brunette hair colour and his slightly weak facial structure, such as a rounded jaw and button nose. The only thing both Penthurst siblings inherited from their father and not their mother were a few freckles. These freckles had faded over time and were barely visible on Chaz, but were dotted around Zarabelle's nose prominently.
Zarabelle was pretty but not strikingly beautiful and she knew her mother resented her for it.
"Except you acknowledged me just then, mother. So y'all can get used to my choice of the word 'ain't' 'cause that is becoming part of my vocabulary, yo." Zarabelle cheekily stated, using as many improper words as possible to get a rise out of her mother.
Mink sighed and briskly turned her back on her daughter to not give Zarabelle the satisfaction she desired.
Zarabelle then continued to do what she had done previously. She extended her knuckles to the cool gold table they were leaning against and drummed it three times again before pulling her hand away when she got the attention of the two adults.
"Now tell me someone heard those sounds this time." Mink shrieked loudly.
Zarabelle was going to continue gaslighting her mother and strongly inform her that no, no sounds were heard and she was the only one that could hear the sound. Unfortunately for her, the male present in their company would spoil her fun.
"It appears that your daughter is playing a crass prank on you. She's rapping her knuckles on the bar and claiming she can't hear the noise." the upscale male scoffed as he shot a filthy look in Zarabelle's direction.
"Yeah, well. I may not be sophisticated like you, but I beat to the march of my own drum." Zarabelle shrugged in response to this man's unpleasantries towards her.