Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep
That was the only thing I heard as I started to wake up. Opening my eyes, I was instantly blinded by a bright white light. I had to blink several times until I got used to the brightness, and then a gray ceiling greeted me.What happened?
Then I began to remember what had happened—the robbery, the men, the alley... THE ALLEY !
Panicking, I fully opened my eyes and tried to get up, but as soon as I sat up, a searing pain shot through me, making me groan in agony.
"I wouldn't move too much if I were you. According to what the droid said, you had two broken ribs, but they managed to patch you up,"I heard a male voice coming from my right. Still terrified from the night before, I shrank in the opposite direction—and that's when I saw him.
Mace Windu.
"What the hell !?" I thought, not understanding why he was here, especially with me.
"Relax, I'm not going to hurt you,"he said calmly, and somehow I could feel a soothing aura coming from him. I sensed no ill intentions, only trust and calmness—like looking at a river at sunset.(How I knew that, I had no idea.)
Seeing that I was calming down, he continued:
"I am Jedi Master Mace Windu. I brought you here. I found you in that alley. I'm sorry you had to go through that," he said, his face somehow showing regret.
"Yeah, me too," I whispered, though it didn't escape the Jedi Master's sharp hearing.
Sigh
"Do you know what Jedi are ?" he asked, looking at me.
"I have an idea," I said, not denying it.
"We are peacekeepers, diplomats, protectors. I came to Mandalore today for a meeting with the Duchess, but it was interrupted by a surge in the Force—and the source of it was you,"he said, pointing at me as he leaned closer.
"The Force ?" I asked, confused.
What did the Force have to do with me?As far as I knew, I wasn't Force-sensitive—and believe me, I had tried to use it during my first three days. I eventually gave up.
"Yes, the Force is a fundamental energy that surrounds all of us; it creates life and shapes the galaxy as a whole. We Jedi are able to sense it, to manipulate it, and with its help, assist those in need," he said, explaining to me. I already knew this, but I didn't want to ruin his enthusiasm.
"When I felt that wave, it was so strong, so desperate, that I had to interrupt the meeting and search for its source — and that's when I found you," he said, looking straight at me.
"The explosion?" I asked hesitantly as the memory resurfaced.So that sensation was the Force trying to burst out of me?
"Yes—and it was a powerful one. Many nearby homes were damaged. Two of the three men were seriously injured and are in custody until we get your statement," he said calmly.
"And the third ?"I asked, referring to the man who had tried to touch me.
"He died. The blast impact broke his neck and caused internal bleeding in his brain,"he said, watching me closely.
I froze. I killed him. It was self-defense... but would they arrest me? Execute me?
The thought made my heart race.
Sensing my rising anxiety, Master Windu cut through my spiraling thoughts.
"Relax, nothing will happen to you. But we do need to know exactly what happened last night."
A lump formed in my throat. Talk about last night? What would the Jedi Master think of me?
A thief who just happened to be Force-sensitive—and who couldn't even use it properly.
"I-I stole some credits from them. Not much. They chased me, and when I got to the alley, they beat me up."
"And then...?"
"Then what ?"he asked, his attention fully focused on me.
"They tried to... rape me. I tried to fight, but they were too strong. That's when I felt something inside me—like a pressure in my chest, wanting to burst out—and a second later, the explosion happened. I don't remember anything after that,"I finished, speaking with my head down, still affected by everything that had happened.(And honestly, who wouldn't be?)
I didn't have to look up. I could feel Master Windu's emotions: first anger, then confusion, and finally sadness.
"I understand. I'm sorry for making you remember all that, but I had to know. The remaining men will spend the rest of their lives rotting in the worst cells available. I'll make sure of it,"he said, standing up and placing a hand on my shoulder, making me look at him.
"Thank you for telling me. I know it took a lot of courage to talk about it,"he said, his face serious yet somehow kind.
"Thank you, I guess..."I said awkwardly.
"I have to go now, speak with the Duchess. Rest and recover. I'll be back soon,"he said, walking toward the room's exit.
Sigh
Letting out a long breath, I laid back down on the bed, allowing myself to calm down after everything that had happened.
"This room isn't so bad,"I thought.And it really wasn't: climate control, a holo-TV, a comfortable bed...Definitely the best I'd had so far.
Mace Windu's POV
Walking toward the medical droid, I arrived just as it was turning around with the boy's medical chart in hand.
"Do you have the results I asked for ?"I asked the droid standing before me.
"Yes, sir, Master Windu. Here it is,"it said, handing me the tablet with the chart.
"Excellent. Thank you for your assistance. You may go,"I said, focusing on the tablet in my hands.
"As you wish, Master Windu,"and with that said, it departed, its metallic footsteps echoing down the corridor.
Name: Ravan Nocteris (found through Mandalore's general records)
Age: 5 years old
Weight: 28 to 39 kilograms
Midi-Chlorian Count: 18,500......
All the information looked normal, except for a high level of adrenaline.But what had really caught my attention—the reason I requested this chart—was clear:
The Midi-Chlorian count.
"Eighteen thousand five hundred Midi-Chlorians... just a little less than Skywalker. This kid is something else,"I thought, reflecting on the small boy resting in the medical wing.
"I'll have to keep an eye on him."