Mace Windu POV
I was sitting in an armchair in my quarters, a holo-communicator resting on the table in front of me, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts.
My meeting with the Duchess seemed promising; she told me that under the peaceful government she claimed to lead, Mandalore was thriving. Areas once dominated by crime were now undergoing reconstruction, and most of the criminal houses had already left Mandalore.
She also said that, because of this, they did not need the Republic's support. She insisted that Mandalore's affairs were her own responsibility and that she would continue to act as she had been.
Then I encountered the boy — a young Force-sensitive, forced to steal to survive and nearly subjected to a horrifying trauma. At first, I thought it might just be an isolated case, but then I started digging: how had no guard or citizen noticed what was happening and intervened?
Through my research, I discovered that the three individuals from the alleyway appeared to have connections to one of the Duchess's advisors, but I don't have enough proof to bring this matter before the Senate.
I can't accuse an advisor without sufficient evidence — especially because Mandalore is a neutral government. That complicates things. If it were a Republic world, I might at least initiate an investigation.But here, I cannot proceed without the Duchess's permission. And with the leader of the two remaining men dead, there isn't much I can do; the survivors are merely assassins, with no extensive knowledge of any larger operations.
I don't blame Ravan — he's just a child, unaware of the consequences of his actions. But his Force sensitivity makes the situation delicate: he's already been exposed to significant trauma at a very young age, and this could affect how he connects with the Force. If we don't intervene, it might lead him toward the dark side.
I hope the Council approves my request, for the sake of this boy — and for everyone around him.
My thoughts were interrupted when the holo-communicator in front of me vibrated, glowing in a soft bluish tone, projecting a hologram of the Grand Master of the Jedi Order, Master Yoda.
"Master Windu, your meeting with the Duchess, good, I hope it was," the small green master said to his old apprentice.
"Things did not go as planned, Master. I had to interrupt the meeting for a concerning reason," I said, intertwining my fingers as I leaned closer to the communicator.
"Hmmm, the reason for your concern, hear it I wish," said the master.
"I found a boy. While I was at the meeting, I felt a powerful surge in the Force. Following it, I discovered him among three unconscious men, who I later found out were assassins connected to one of the Duchess's advisors."
"The boy is powerful, but without training, I fear what could happen to him — and to those around him," I finished, seeing Yoda's thoughtful expression.
"Concerning, this is. Fear I have, that the Duchess has placed too much trust in her allies," he said with a sigh.
"And what about Ravan ?" I asked about the boy resting in the infirmary above. Yoda is the Grand Master of the Order — his word is law — and now I feared what might happen if the boy remained on the planet.
He, in turn, showed a hint of surprise on his face — I had not yet mentioned Ravan's name; I guess I had forgotten that detail.
Yoda thought for a few seconds, his hand on his chin, before responding.
"Bring him to Coruscant, you must. But finish the meeting with the Duchess, you need to," he said, making me release a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
"His fate, the Council will decide. Watch over him, you must," the master concluded.
"Understood, Master. After the meeting, we will head straight to Coruscant," I said with a decisive tone.
The small master nodded before saying, "May the Force be with you, Master Windu."
"May the Force be with you, Master," I replied, and with that, the holo-call ended, the soft blue glow fading from the room.