The Council

Jaden stood silently beside Master Fay as they approached the elevator. He kept his shoulders straight and his expression neutral, but the tightness in his jaw betrayed his unease.

"There's no need to be nervous," Fay said, her voice calm.

"I'm not nervous," Jaden replied quickly, reaching out to press the button for the elevator.

Fay raised an eyebrow. "No? What if I said they were going to probe your mind for all your thoughts?"

Jaden froze, his hand hovering over the button before he turned to look at her. "They're going to what?"

Fay's lips twitched, and she let out a quiet laugh. "It was a joke."

Jaden exhaled sharply and pressed the button. "Not funny."

The elevator doors slid open with a soft hiss, and the two stepped inside. Fay clasped her hands in front of her, still smiling faintly.

"Humor can be a useful tool to ease tension," she said as the doors closed.

Jaden shifted slightly, glancing at the control panel before looking straight ahead. "I'm not tense."

"Of course not," Fay replied lightly. "You've just been unusually quiet since we left the entrance to the temple."

Jaden didn't answer right away. The hum of the elevator filled the silence until he finally said, "What do you think they're going to ask me?"

Fay tilted her head slightly. "They'll want answers—about where you came from, your training, and your intentions."

"And if they don't like my answers?"

"Then they'll ask more questions," Fay said simply. "The Council is cautious, but they are fair."

Jaden crossed his arms and leaned back slightly. "You seem pretty sure of that."

"I am," Fay said without hesitation.

Jaden glanced at her. "Why?"

"Because I trust the Force." She turned to look at him.

Jaden crossed his arms as the elevator began its slow ascent. "From my point of view, if the Council was fair, they wouldn't be supporting what the Senate is doing," he said, his tone sharp as he glanced at Fay.

Master Fay regarded him with calm eyes, her expression unreadable. "You're not wrong to question their decisions," she admitted. "I'm not too proud to acknowledge the faults of the Jedi Order. Some of the Masters on the Council are... misguided." She paused for a moment, her voice softening. "But they are not evil."

Jaden's gaze didn't waver. "Misguided or not, their choices still have consequences."

Fay nodded, her tone steady but sincere. "I won't argue that. And I won't pretend every decision they've made has been the right one." She turned slightly to face him. "But do not fear. If the Council leans toward an unjust outcome, I will speak on your behalf."

Jaden's eyes narrowed slightly. "You're acting awfully familiar for someone I've never met before," he said, his voice carrying a hint of suspicion. "Why are you so quick to defend me? You don't even know me."

Fay didn't flinch at the accusation. Instead, she studied him for a moment before answering. "Does there need to be a reason to help someone?"

Jaden's brow furrowed. At first, he thought she was mocking him—turning his own words back at him—but her expression remained sincere. He stretched out slightly with the Force, brushing against her presence to check for any trace of deception or hidden motives. He found none.

"No," he admitted after a pause, though his tone was guarded. "There doesn't."

Fay offered him a small nod of approval. "Then maybe you should stop trying so hard to find one."

Jaden looked away, the hum of the elevator filling the silence for a few moments. "It doesn't matter," he said finally. "I'm not planning on hiding anything. I'll answer their questions honestly. There's no point in lying about what I've done."

Fay's expression softened slightly. "That's a wise approach," she said. "But honesty doesn't guarantee acceptance. Be prepared for doubt."

"I already am," Jaden replied casually.

"The support of the Jedi High Council in your trial will only benefit you Jaden, don't let your pride get the better of you," Fay advised.

The elevator slowed to a stop, and the doors slid open with a soft hiss. Fay stepped out first, but she paused and looked back at him. "Trust the Force, Jaden," she said before heading down the corridor towards the door to the council, it was the only door on this level, right at the top of the spire.

Jaden followed closely behind Master Fay as she stepped through the large doors leading into the Jedi Council chamber. The circular room was quiet, its atmosphere formal and tense. Twelve seats surrounded the central floor, though not all of them were occupied. Several members appeared as blue-tinged holograms, their expressions just as focused as those who were physically present. Jaden kept his posture straight, but his gaze briefly moved around the room before settling forward.

Master Fay entered first, walking with the same calmness she had shown since they met. Her presence clearly drew attention.

"Master Fay," Mace Windu said, leaning forward slightly in his seat. "Your presence here is... unexpected." His voice was steady but direct. "Is there a matter you wish to bring before the Council?"

Fay clasped her hands inside her robes and offered a polite nod. "Not at all, Master Windu. I am here to speak in support of Jaden and to observe these proceedings." Her tone was calm and deliberate.

Her words caused some of the Council members to exchange looks. Quiet murmurs and a few short remarks filled the air.

"With all due respect, Master Fay," Ki-Adi-Mundi said, his tone formal but measured, "you are neither a member of the High Council nor the accused in this matter. Your presence here is irregular."

Master Eeth Koth spoke next, his voice firmer. "Master Mundi is correct. It is not appropriate for you to stand with him, especially considering the accusations against him."

Fay listened without interrupting, her expression remaining steady. The faint smile on her face did not change.

"It seems much has changed since I last stood in these chambers," Fay said, her voice even. "While the Council may question my presence here, let me remind you that this is not a trial. It is not the Council's role to pass judgment on those outside the Order. We are here to seek understanding, not punishment."

The murmurs stopped as Yoda finally spoke. He had been quiet, focusing intently on Jaden through the Force, as though testing his intentions. When he spoke, his words carried authority.

"Correct, Master Fay is," Yoda said, his eyes remaining fixed on Jaden. "A trial, this is not. Answers we seek. Sit in, she may."

Mace Windu leaned back slightly, though his expression remained serious. "Very well," he said. "Master Fay may remain as an observer."

"Thank you, Master Yoda," Fay said, bowing her head respectfully before moving toward one of the empty seats. She sat down without hesitation but kept her attention on Jaden.

Jaden resisted the urge to shift under the weight of so many eyes. He could feel the Council's focus on him—not just through the Force, but in the way they studied his every movement.

"Step forward," Windu instructed, motioning toward the center of the chamber.

Jaden moved to the center of the room and stood straight, keeping his arms at his sides.

"State your name for the record," Windu said.

"Jaden."

Windu raised an eyebrow slightly. "Just Jaden?"

"Yes," Jaden said without hesitation. "I don't have a last name."

The Council exchanged a few brief glances, but Windu pressed forward. "You are aware of the accusations brought against you by the Senate?"

"I am," Jaden replied.

"And how do you answer those accusations?"

Jaden kept his gaze steady. "I didn't do the things they're accusing me of. I'm not a Sith, and I'm not a threat to the Republic."

Murmurs rippled through the Council again, but Windu held up a hand, cutting them off.

"You claim not to be a Sith," Ki-Adi-Mundi said, leaning slightly forward. "And yet, you carried a lightsaber. Two, in fact—taken from Jedi."

Jaden's expression hardened slightly, but his voice remained steady. "I didn't steal them. The Jedi I got them from were already dead. I used their outfits to get past a Republic checkpoint so I could escape the lower levels."

"Looting is hardly any less a crime than stealing," Master Windu chimed in.

"Also Convenient," Eeth Koth said, his tone sharp. "Do you expect the Council to simply take your word on that?"

Jaden opened his mouth to respond, but Fay spoke first.

"You're here to listen to his answers, Master Koth," she said, her tone calm but firm. "Not to dismiss them."

Koth narrowed his eyes slightly but said nothing further.

Yoda straightened in his seat. "Answers we seek. Continue, we must."

Master Windu turned slightly toward the Tholothian seated to his left. "Master Gallia," he said with a nod.

Adi Gallia stood and moved toward the center of the chamber, holding a small cylindrical device in her hand. Jaden's eyes narrowed at the unfamiliar instrument. He tensed as she approached, his stance shifting slightly.

"What is that?" Jaden asked, his tone guarded.

Before anyone could answer, Jaden instinctively reached out with the Force. The shift in energy was immediate. A subtle ripple pulsed outward from him, and several of the Masters reacted, some standing abruptly while others reached for their lightsabers.

"Calm yourself," Mace Windu said, though his tone was sharp.

Before the tension could escalate further, Master Fay stepped forward, placing a steady hand on Jaden's shoulder.

"Jaden," she said firmly. "There is no need for alarm." She turned to face him fully, her voice calm but direct. "This device is only used to measure midichlorian levels. It's harmless."

Jaden didn't move, his shoulders still tense.

"To prove it," Fay said, extending her arm toward Adi Gallia. "Go ahead."

Adi Gallia pressed the device against Fay's arm. A faint beep sounded, and numbers appeared on its display. Fay turned the device so Jaden could see.

14,000 per-cell.

Jaden studied the reading for a moment before exhaling and nodding. He relaxed his stance and offered his arm without further protest.

Adi Gallia placed the scanner against his forearm, and the device emitted another beep. She glanced at the results, her expression quickly changing from calm to confused. She checked the display again, her brow furrowed.

"This cannot be right," Adi Gallia said, her voice uncertain.

"What is the issue?" Mace Windu asked.

Adi Gallia hesitated for a moment, tapping a few buttons on the device before looking up. She turned the scanner so the rest of the Council could see the results.

0 per-cell.

The chamber immediately erupted into murmurs. Some Masters leaned toward one another, speaking in hushed voices, while others openly questioned the result.

"That's impossible," Ki-Adi-Mundi said, shaking his head. "No lifeform can exist without midichlorians."

"The device must be faulty," Eeth Koth said, though his tone suggested he wasn't entirely sure.

Adi Gallia frowned and quickly pressed the scanner to her own arm. The device beeped again, displaying the correct reading for her midichlorian count. She then turned and repeated the scan on Jaden.

Another beep.

0 per-cell.

The murmurs grew louder.

"This doesn't make sense," Plo Koon said, his mechanical voice echoing slightly through the chamber. "He uses the Force. We can all sense it."

"Perhaps it's interference," Shaak Ti suggested. "The scanner may not be calibrated for—"

"No," Adi Gallia interrupted, still examining the device. "It's functioning properly. The readings are accurate."

Master Fay remained calm, though her eyes lingered on Jaden. "The Force surrounds him," she said, her voice steady. "There is no doubt of that."

Mace Windu turned to Jaden, his expression serious. "Explain this," he said, his tone leaving no room for evasion.

Jaden looked at him directly. "I can't," he said simply. "I don't know why it's reading that. I didn't even know what a midichlorian was until a few minutes ago."

Yoda finally spoke, his voice cutting through the noise in the room.

"Unusual, this is," Yoda said, his eyes narrowing as he studied Jaden. The Council quieted, waiting for Yoda to continue. "Test further, we must. Discover the truth, we will."

Mace Windu gave a sharp nod. "Agreed. This matter requires investigation, but that can wait. For now, we need to return to the matter at hand."

He turned his attention back to Jaden, his expression unyielding. "There is very little history about you. You appeared out of nowhere, and that raises several troubling questions—especially given the similarities between your case and that of a Sith Lord who surfaced eleven years ago."

Master Fay straightened in her seat, her voice firm. "You can't seriously be comparing Jaden to the Sith that killed Master Qui-Gon."

"And why not?" Windu countered, leaning forward slightly. "A powerful Force user suddenly emerges, and two Jedi end up dead under suspicious circumstances. He claims to have lived on Coruscant his entire life, yet not one Jedi sensed his presence in the Force."

Jaden's hands tightened into fists at his sides. "I grew up in the lower levels," he said, cutting off the Jedi Master. "I worked as a bounty hunter until I found the two Jedi who were already dead."

Plo Koon tilted his head. "Were you registered with the guild?"

"No," Jaden said without hesitation. "I couldn't afford the fees. I took low-paying jobs where I could find them."

"Another convenient excuse," Eeth Koth said, his tone sharp and dismissive.

"It's not an excuse—it's the truth," Jaden snapped, his frustration breaking through. "I have no reason to lie to any of you."

Eeth Koth leaned forward in his seat, his eyes fixed on Jaden. "Then answer me this, if you're so intent on speaking the truth." He paused, his words deliberate. "Have you used the dark side of the Force?"

Silence fell over the chamber. Every member of the Council turned to Jaden, their attention fixed on him.

Jaden didn't hesitate. "Yes, I have." His voice was steady, unapologetic.

The chamber erupted into chaos. Several members rose to their feet, voices overlapping as they argued. Some demanded Jaden's immediate arrest, while others called for restraint.

Mace Windu stood and raised his hand, attempting to restore order. "Enough!" he said, his voice cutting through the noise.

Jaden stood silently in the center of the room, watching the Jedi Masters argue. The anger he had felt just moments ago began to fade. He ran a hand through his hair and took a slow breath. The whole situation suddenly seemed absurd to him—the accusations, the questions, the suspicion.

Master Fay noticed the change in his demeanor and remained seated, her expression calm but attentive. Yoda's sharp eyes lingered on Jaden as well, observing him closely.

Jaden turned to Fay. "I'm ready to leave."

Fay stood without hesitation, walking toward him.

Eeth Koth glared at Jaden. "The impudence! You have not been dismissed by the High Council."

Jaden faced him, his voice even. "I don't need to be dismissed. I'm not a Jedi—and I never will be."

His words left the Council in stunned silence.

Jaden continued, his tone calm but pointed. "I almost forgot how much all of you disgust me."

Mace Windu's expression hardened. "Careful, Jaden."

"No," Jaden said, stepping forward. "You want answers? Here's one. You send children into war and expect them to come back whole. That's not defense. That's cruelty."

Several Masters stirred in their seats, but Jaden didn't stop.

"Padawans I fought beside on Jabiim suffer nightmares every night. One of them can't sleep anywhere but open spaces because she spent a day buried under rubble, waiting to die. Another barely sleeps at all and only collapses when exhaustion finally catches up with her."

His gaze swept the room. "And it's not just the Padawans. You've broken Jedi who wanted peace—Jedi who had no interest in fighting, who only wanted to protect life. You turned them into soldiers and sent them to die for a Republic that's corrupt beyond saving."

"Watch your words," Ki-Adi-Mundi said.

"Why? Am I wrong?" Jaden shot back. "You've let the Senate dictate your purpose. You let them drag you into their wars and let them tell you who your enemies are. You're not peacekeepers. You're just weapons they point where they want."

Several of the Masters started to speak, but Jaden ignored them and turned to Fay.

"Let's go."

Fay didn't hesitate. She gave the Council one last glance before following Jaden toward the door.

"Wait!" Mace Windu called after them.

Jaden stopped and looked back. "I gave you the truth. It's not my problem if you don't like it." The doors closed behind them, leaving the Jedi Council in silence.

Jaden walked down the corridor with Master Fay following closely behind. They reached the elevator, and as the doors slid open, he stepped inside and leaned against the back wall. Fay stepped in after him and pressed the button for the lower levels.

"Are you feeling all right, Jaden?" Fay asked, her voice gentle but probing.

He let out a long breath and ran a hand through his hair before nodding. "I'm fine... just frustrated." He paused, looking down at the floor. "I've never liked the Council—not since I first heard about them. I guess I let my attitude get the better of me back there."

"Nonsense," Fay said, folding her arms as she leaned lightly against the wall beside him. "You spoke your mind. That's more than acceptable. And truthfully? Many of your words carried weight."

Jaden blinked, clearly surprised by her response. "You agree with me?"

"To a degree," she admitted, offering a faint smile. "I've long held the belief that the Jedi should focus on humanitarian efforts—protecting life, preserving peace—not leading armies into war."

Jaden turned his head to look at her more closely. "Then why don't they? If there are Jedi like you who believe that, why haven't things changed?"

Fay's expression turned more somber. "Politics," she said simply. "For thousands of years, the Jedi Order and the Republic have become more and more intertwined. What began as cooperation between separate entities has turned into dependence. Now, instead of guiding the Republic, we've become an extension of it." She gestured with her hands as if trying to pull apart two invisible strands. "And breaking that bond? It's not as simple as it sounds."

Jaden sighed and leaned his head back against the wall. It all seemed so wrong. But what could he really do about it?

After a brief silence, Fay spoke again. "Once your pre-trial hearing is over tomorrow, I think it would be beneficial for you to return to the temple."

Jaden frowned and straightened up. "I don't want to."

"Which is exactly why you should," Fay countered without missing a beat.

Jaden raised an eyebrow. "I'm not following."

Fay turned to face him fully, her tone calm but insistent. "Today, you've experienced the negative side of the Jedi Order—the mistrust, the rigidity, the politics." She tilted her head slightly. "But that isn't all the Order is. It would be a mistake to judge the Jedi as a whole based only on what you saw today."

Jaden scoffed. "What else is there to see?"

"The other side of the Order," she replied. "The part that still believes in compassion, service, and hope. The part that inspires people, rather than controlling them." She gave him a measured look. "If you walk away now, you'll never see that side—and I think you need to."

Jaden crossed his arms. "And what exactly would I get out of it?"

"For one, you'll get the chance to see what the Jedi can be, not just what they've become in wartime." Fay smiled faintly. "You'll also get a chance to know me better—and perhaps find the answers you're looking for about your own connection to the Force."

Jaden opened his mouth to respond but stopped. He knew what she was doing—dangling the prospect of answers just out of reach. And it worked.

After a moment, he exhaled sharply and nodded. "Fine. I'll come back. Assuming I even make it past the pre-trial."

"You will," Fay said with certainty.

Jaden looked at her skeptically. "You sound awfully sure of that."

"The Force brought us together for a reason," she said. "I trust in that."

Jaden didn't know how to respond, so he kept his silence. The elevator doors slid open, and he stepped out alongside Master Fay. They moved through the grand halls of the Jedi Temple, and once again, Jaden found his gaze wandering across the towering columns and intricate carvings.

A year ago, he couldn't have imagined such splendor existed just above the lower levels of Coruscant. Holos didn't capture the scale or detail of it—the soft hum of lights overhead, the faint scent of polished stone, and the sense of stillness that hung in the air. For all his frustrations with the Jedi, he couldn't deny the beauty of their sanctuary.

As they passed through one of the larger chambers, Jaden noticed a group of younglings trailing behind an instructor. They moved in a tight formation, their expressions filled with curiosity and focus as they listened intently to their teacher. Jaden slowed slightly, watching them.

He couldn't suppress the faint sting of bitterness that crept in. For all his criticisms of the Jedi, he would have traded his upbringing in the depths of Coruscant for a life here without hesitation. A part of him wondered how things might have been different—if the Jedi had found him as a child, would he have been one of those younglings? Would he have grown up here, trained as a Padawan, and maybe even earned the title of Jedi Knight? Or would he have died already, like so many others in this war?

It didn't matter. Wishing for a life that was never his would change nothing.

"They are given a choice, you know," Master Fay said, breaking the silence. She glanced at him as they continued walking. "The practice of taking Force-sensitive children without consent ended long ago."

Jaden turned away from the sight of the younglings. "Seems wrong that it was ever a practice to begin with," he said bluntly.

"The galaxy was a far harsher place then," Fay replied. "The Sith Empire took Force-sensitive children and twisted them into weapons, subjected them to cruelty and conditioning until they were little more than tools for their masters. The Jedi Order did what it had to do to protect them from that fate."

Jaden frowned. "Sounds to me like both sides were doing the same thing. The Sith shaped them into warriors through pain, and the Jedi shaped them through discipline. Different methods, same result."

Fay considered his words for a moment. "You're not entirely wrong. The line between protection and control can sometimes blur." She folded her hands in front of her as they walked. "But the difference lies in intent. The Jedi sought to preserve life, not destroy it."

Jaden shrugged. "I don't know enough about the Sith to argue one way or another. I'll reserve judgment."

They fell into silence again as they made their way toward the temple's main entrance. Jaden was content to let the conversation end there, but he felt Fay's eyes on him as they walked.

"What?" he asked, turning toward her.

Fay smiled. "You're a very curious individual, Jaden."

He raised an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I'm not entirely sure," she admitted, tilting her head as if studying him more closely. "Your presence is... different. Your posture, your composure—even the way you react to others. You seem completely controlled, even when emotions rise. If I didn't know better, I might mistake you for a droid."

Jaden blinked. "A droid?"

Fay nodded, her expression amused. "It's not an insult, I assure you. I simply find it unusual."

He frowned, not sure if he liked the comparison. "What's so unusual about it?"

"It's not just your demeanor," she said. "It's your connection to the Force. It feels... neutral." She paused, searching for the right words. "The Force has different resonances depending on the individual. Each Jedi's presence has its own subtleties—like patterns or signatures that reflect who they are. But with you..." She gestured vaguely. "You're like a still pool of water. There's nothing to distinguish you from the Force around you."

Jaden's frown deepened. "Is that a bad thing?"

"Not necessarily," Fay said. "But it is uncommon. Most beings, even those untrained in the Force, leave ripples within it. Yours feels more like..." She hesitated, clearly struggling to explain.

"Nothing?" Jaden offered.

"Not nothing. Just... balanced." She folded her arms and smiled. "It's rare enough that it makes me curious, that's all."

Jaden let her words sit for a moment. He wasn't sure what to make of her assessment, but it wasn't the first time he'd felt different from those around him. He just hadn't expected it to extend to the Force itself.

"I hope you're not offended," Fay added after a moment. "I meant it as an observation, not a criticism."

Jaden shook his head. "It's fine."

The conversation ended there, and they walked the rest of the way in silence. After several minutes, they reached the entrance of the temple. At the bottom of the wide steps, a shuttle waited for them. Padmé stood beside it, speaking quietly with the other senator—though Jaden hadn't gotten his name.

Fay turned to face him. "I suppose this is where I leave you." She smiled. "I hope you'll return after your pre-trial hearing. I'd like to learn more about you—and I think there's more for you to learn here as well."

Jaden met her gaze. "Thanks... for helping me back there."

"I only spoke the truth," Fay said simply.

He gave her a small smile. "It was enough."

Jaden descended the temple steps, his boots echoing faintly against the stone. As he neared the halfway point, he glanced back and saw that Master Fay hadn't moved. She still stood at the entrance, her gaze fixed on him, but there was something different now—a tightness in her expression, a sharpness in her eyes that hadn't been there moments ago.

Concern.

Jaden hesitated but didn't call out to her. Instead, he turned and continued down the steps, trying to shake the uneasy feeling building in his chest. He was halfway to the shuttle when the sensation hit him like a sudden gust of wind.

Danger.

He froze, his muscles tensing as the warning reverberated through the Force. His eyes darted around the courtyard, scanning the surroundings for any sign of movement. The plaza appeared calm but the tension in the Force only grew stronger. His hand instinctively dropped to his side, reaching for a weapon that wasn't there. He cursed under his breath. The Jedi Temple had confiscated the robes and lightsabers he'd taken, leaving him unarmed.

"Kriff..." he muttered, his pulse quickening.

The warning surged again, stronger this time, pressing against his senses. He started toward the shuttle, his eyes sweeping every corner of the plaza, but still, nothing stood out. He shut his eyes and focused. The noise of the city—distant traffic, mechanical hums, and echoing voices—began to fade as he reached out with the Force. He tuned everything else out until only the pulse of danger remained.

And then it clicked.

His eyes snapped open, and his head shot upward.

Above him, a sleek starship burst into view, cutting through the gap between two megastructures. Its design was clearly military-grade, angular, built for combat. Jaden's focus locked onto the glowing tips of its weapon systems, already primed and aimed directly at the shuttle.

"Crap—!"

Jaden didn't think—he acted. Reaching out with the Force, he gripped Padmé and the others, yanking them off their feet and pulling them toward him with a surge of the force. They flew backward, landing hard on the ground just as the starship opened fire. The first volley struck the shuttle dead-on. A blinding explosion tore through the air, and the shockwave sent Jaden stumbling back. Flames and shrapnel erupted outward, cutting down the clone troopers and the pilot instantly, despite them being pulled away. Metal fragments whistled past him, and he instinctively raised his arm to shield his face.

Padmé cried out as she hit the ground, and Bail scrambled to help her up, both shaken but alive. Smoke and fire filled the air, and the heat from the blast licked at Jaden's skin as he turned to face the burning wreckage.

"Stay down!" he barked, his eyes snapping back toward the starship.

The ship banked around, engines screaming as it lined up for a second strike. Jaden gritted his teeth and stretched out with the Force, feeling the tension as it pulled at the air around him. He searched for anything he could use as cover or a weapon. His eyes locked onto a blaster lying near a piece of debris, and with a sharp movement of his hand, it flew into his grasp. He sprinted forward, ducking behind a large piece of burning wreckage just as the ship fired again. He barely managed to dodge the blast, diving to the side and rolling to avoid the incoming fire. His heart pounded as he glanced back—just in time to see the ship preparing for another pass, its weapons locked onto him.

'This clears up who they're after,' he thought grimly, pushing himself to run even faster.

The ship turned, lining up for another attack, and Jaden threw his hand up, summoning shards of durasteel from the wreckage and flinging them toward the ship. But just as they were about to hit, the ship suddenly stopped in midair. Jaden froze, looking behind him to see Master Fay standing with both her arms raised, holding the ship in place with the Force.

She was straining, her face set in concentration as she kept the ship stationary. "You need to get out of here, Jaden!" she shouted, her voice urgent. "Now!"

Jaden nodded, but before he could move, a new wave of danger surged through the Force. He looked up to see another ship approaching, this one far larger than the first. It's cannons already charging up. The first blast was massive, and Jaden only narrowly avoided being vaporized, leaping into the air to escape the explosion. Midair, he was suddenly grabbed by a pair of strong hands. He looked around to see a dozen figures descending toward him, all wearing jetpacks. The sudden onslaught took him off guard as they began pulling him up, he was slammed into one of them who tried to stun him with an electro-stick. Jaden quickly blocked the strike with his forearm, and in a burst of aggression, he headbutted the attacker and shoved him away.

He fell freely for a moment before another jetpack-wearing figure grabbed his leg, swinging him into another assailant who immediately slammed a fist into his face. The impact made his head snap back, but Jaden quickly regained his focus.

'What the Kriff is going on?' Jaden thought, his mind racing as he struggled against his attackers.

Twisting his body midair, Jaden slammed his hands into one of the attackers, using the momentum to flip over him and grab another assailant's leg. With a burst of Force, he ripped a blaster from the man's side and began firing it at the others, hitting one of them in the shoulder. The next thing Jaden knew, he and the man he was holding crashed into the top of the large warship, hitting the armored surface with a sickening thud. Jaden quickly rolled to his feet, still gripping the attacker with the Force. He yanked the man's helmet off, throwing it aside.

"Who are you?" Jaden demanded, his voice cold and furious. "What do you want with me?"

The man struggled in his grip, but he remained silent.

Before Jaden could press him further, a heavy thud echoed behind him. Jaden's instincts flared, and he spun to face the new threat.

Standing before him was the unmistakable figure of a Mandalorian. The armor was sleek but deadly, covered in gadgets, and designed for battle. The Mandalorian's helmet glinted in the harsh light of the explosion behind them, and Jaden's gut twisted. He'd seen the holo images. He'd heard the stories. The Mandalorians weren't just warriors—they were the warriors.

Jaden felt a flicker of concern, a brief moment of realization that whoever had hired the Mandalorian was willing to go to extreme lengths to end him. Despite the heavy armor, Jaden could tell the Mandalorian was slender, and a strange thought crossed his mind—was this Mandalorian a woman?

The Mandalorian didn't speak. Instead, they stood their ground, waiting.

Jaden glanced down at the man he was holding, then back at the armored figure. Without warning, he hurled the man aside, sending him flying off the ship's edge. The attacker activated his jetpack, retreating quickly into the sky.

Jaden turned back to the Mandalorian. "Who are you? What do you want with me?" he demanded, voice rising.

The Mandalorian didn't answer. They simply raised their blaster, aiming it at Jaden. Jaden's patience snapped. He raised his hand and tried to grip the Mandalorian with the Force, intending to pull them toward him. But just as he reached out, the Mandalorian pressed a button on their gauntlet, releasing a blinding flash from their helmet that temporarily blinded Jaden.

He staggered back, his vision swimming as he tried to regain his senses. The Mandalorian wasted no time. With a burst of speed, they shot forward, using their jetpack to close the distance and slam their knee into Jaden's chest. The impact sent him flying backward, crashing into the ship's hull. Before Jaden could recover, the Mandalorian pulled out their blaster again and began firing at him. The shots were quick, aimed to disable him, and Jaden knew he had no time to dodge them all. He threw himself off the edge of the ship just as the blaster fire tore through the air behind him.

Jaden's grip on the edge tightened as he saw the Mandalorian closing in. His mind raced—he was unarmed, and every time he tried to use the Force, the Mandalorian anticipated it and stopped him. His hands clenched into fists, frustration bubbling up.

To his left, something caught his eye. One of the engines on the massive gunship on the wing. Jaden's gaze locked onto it. He reached out with the Force, feeling the energy around him. With a sharp exhale, he focused, his fingers curling into a fist. The metal groaned as it contorted and crumpled under his grip. There was a spark, a sputter, and then the engine exploded, sending a violent shockwave through the ship.

The ship tilted, and the Mandalorian stumbled, losing their balance. Without hesitation, Jaden jumped, flipping over the edge and driving a kick into the Mandalorian's chest. The force of the blow sent her flying back, but she quickly corrected herself, engaging her jetpack to stabilize her.

That brief moment of disorientation was all Jaden needed. He reached out with the Force again, this time crushing the back of her jetpack. The device sputtered and malfunctioned, sending her plummeting from the sky. Jaden exhaled, a small sense of relief washing over him, but it didn't last. The gunship was still trying to recover, its engines roaring as it began to regain altitude.

Jaden's heart raced, but he quickly focused. Taking a deep breath, he calmed himself, sinking into a partial trance, blocking out distractions. His body was tense, but his mind was clear. He slowly raised his arms, feeling the Force surge through him.

When his eyes opened, his gaze fixed on the gunship, which was attempting to get away. Jaden's arms slammed down with force, a wave of energy bursting from him. The ground shook as his pulse of Force energy destabilized the ship, causing it to lurch uncontrollably. The gunship's engines screamed in protest before it plunged downward, crashing into the ground in a massive explosion.

Jaden barely had time to react. As the ship careened toward the earth, he launched himself off the edge, rolling across the courtyard to avoid the falling debris. The shockwave from the crash hit him seconds later, but he was already on the ground, breathing heavily.

Lying there, Jaden looked up at the sky, trying to process everything that had just happened. The adrenaline was still coursing through him, but his mind was consumed with one question: What the hell was going on? He had no answers, only more questions.

(AN: So Jadens first day on Coruscant not very good, but it can only go downhill from here. Yeah, more people than Palpatine are unhappy with Jaden he's gonna need some help. I hope you enjoyed the chapter.)

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