Chapter 8: Acceptance

Current release schedule: Sunday. 1/week.

I will be posting more frequently to my other fanfics.

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Twelve Master Jedi could be seen seated close by each other. The room wasn't particularly big either. It was a rare occurrence for Master Jedi to convene like this. But Kohsaka stood his ground. Everyone sported serious looks in their eyes as Jedi Master Windu initiated the concession.

Ahsoka did feel scared of the heavy atmosphere, but seeing her brother not back down, she didn't cower away any longer, and stood beside him.

Everyone's gaze soon shifted from the two Togrutas, as surprisingly, it was Master Dyas who spoke out first. 

"These younglings already have the eyes of experienced killers. Are they really Jedi material?", Master Dyas said. He leaned forward, placing his hands on his knees as a serious look appeared in his eyes. Presently, this version of Sifo Dyas was still his human form. He had not gotten into contact with the Dark Side. No, Kohsaka was placed in a period of uncertainty and turmoil. It was 33 BBY. Two fronts were set to happen. Sifo-Dyas will get approached by Count Dooku, while Darth Sidious would order Maul to attack Qui-Gon on each front in 32 BBY.

The latter would be present in the Phantom Menace, but the former wasn't shown in the movies. Yet it was through Master Sifo-Dyas's death that General Grievous came into existence. As a result of Master Dyas perishing, Master Shaak-ti would become the new overseer on Planet Kamino to watch over the clones' training programs alongside the Kaminoans.

Since it was still 33 BBY, Kohsaka wondered if there was a way to head to Planet Kamino earlier than anticipated. There was more than one method to reach that planet, anyways. Maybe Kohsaka didn't need to rely on Master Shaak-ti. Thinking that, his gaze shifted to the intense stare he was receiving by one of the couple of humans present in the Everyone else was of an alien race. Though of human appearance Master Dyas might have, his biological makeup was completely different. In a way, he was the same as the rest of the aliens present here.

Kohsaka's eyes locked with Master Dyas, prompting the Jedi Master to smile. Truly a tragic fate befell him. Not only was he betrayed by the Jedi he swore the oath to, he was swayed by the dark side. Despite knowing that, the present Master Dyas's silence, coupled with Kohsaka's silence, started to create a hidden spark of the room with two clashing interests. In the end, it was Kohsaka who broke up this momentary silence.

"That is because we are hunters, Master Dyas. Don't let our young bodies cause you to think otherwise. It is part of our tribe's custom to learn hunting at an early age.", Kohsaka said, explaining the situation to the Master Jedi present.

"Yes. Even if Master Plo didn't find us, we would have received the acknowledgement of the other hunters that our tribe has. It is a rite. Both Brother Kohsaka and I have learned to use the knife.", Ahsoka said, nodding her head to explain too. Grandmaster Yoda nodded his head in response as Master Dyas kept his arms linked, with his head leaning forward. His gaze didn't sway from Kohsaka, as if he was trying to scrutinize every fiber on his body.

"Indeed. Combat experience, these two younglings have received. Hail from the Togruta tribe on Planet Shili, they have come. Of the same race Master Shaak-ti, they are. Your suspicion, it is normal to have, Master Dyas. Yet like Master Shaak-ti, strong in The Force I feel these two are. Good. Good.", Grandmaster Yoda said to the group of Master Jedi. By saying this, he had hoped to ease everyone's doubts on the two present before them. Grandmaster Yoda had received Master Plo' debriefing of Kohsaka and Ahsoka last night thanks to the disturbance in The Force they felt. Yet Grandmaster Yoda stayed silent on the matter. The two weren't sure if anyone else felt that disturbance, but he wanted to see the genuine reactions of the other Master Jedi present in the room. After all, it hadn't even been long before suspicion started to rise between a few of them. Were the two Togruta really fit to learn the Jedi Arts, and join the Jedi Temple, in the aspiration of becoming a Jedi?

Some pondered on how Master Shaak-ti was trained during this short conversation. Yet she was an oddity. Her methods were profound, and didn't like to choose one side or the other at times. She even knew to make the right call, but also voiced opinions of others should one need to say something. If she had a clear goal in mind, she would act on it.

It wasn't just that either. The normal recruitment period for the year had expired to recruit younglings, and it was getting harder year by year to find new younglings to teach. It was only normal for Master Jedi to have suspicion of letting two unknown individuals into the Jedi Temple. But one point did remain, and it was the fact that Master Plo found two force-sensitive children in one tiny little village. That was equivalent to finding a needle in a haystack with how wide the galaxy is. Master Windu couldn't help but raise his eyebrows hearing Grandmaster Yoda's praise of the two younglings before him. Unlike other Master Jedi, he was vocal in his opinions, and often took reign of meetings like these.

"You seem to hold these two in high regard, Grandmaster Yoda. But then again, it isn't often we get a recommendation by Master Plo. It will be an honor to receive the teachings of the Jedi. Yet I do not feel a vergence in The Force, Grandmaster Yoda. I am afraid the younglings here are not The Chosen One.", Master Windu said, showing a hint of disappointment in his eyes as he looked at the azure-skinned and orange-skinned Togrutas before him. Master Windu had hopes that because this situation was outside of their normal processing, there was a sliver of chance either Kohsaka or Ahsoka would be the child depicted in the Jedi Prophecy, but even with a sweep of his own force, Master Windu was quick to assume these two weren't. Grandmaster Yoda nodded to confirm Master Windu's disappointment.

"Indeed. The Chosen One, they are not. But the foundation training of the Initiate Program, they will receive.", Grandmaster Yoda said, speaking in confidence that the two young Togrutas before him will join the Jedi Temple. His decision alone, however, would not be what decides the two's fate. After all, it was a concession Kohsaka was currently in, the other Master Jedi would need to be in agreement to allow the two, who were standing in the middle of the room, to join the temple. As Kohsaka heard Grandmaster Yoda speak in confidence, likely due to the fact he had already encountered him the night before, he took a moment to go into his thoughts.

'To talk about the Chosen One like this, Master Windu must be referring to Anakin. Qui-Gon won't encounter Anakin until another year at least, when he is laying low with Obi-Wan to protect Padme's identity from her pursuers of the Trade Federation...', Kohsaka inwardly uttered to himself, waiting to hear the result of the concession before him. At the very least, he received confirmation that he wasn't the strongest user of The Force out there. But that didn't discourage him. After all, Kohsaka had a new life he now had. It didn't matter if he was the strongest force-user. Just knowing that he could use The Force alone excited him greatly.

Kohsaka didn't know if Ahsoka shared a similar opinion about The Force, since it was still new to her. Aside from answering their heritage earlier, she remained confused during most of this talk. It was definitely a lot to take in for a single person. The heavy pressure was constant. It took effort to not back down. Still, Ashoka turned toward Kohsaka, and to his surprise, began to whisper in his ear, trying to not disrupt the Master Jedi from talking amongst each other.

'Brother, what is the Initiate Program?', Ahsoka whispered in her eyes. Kohsaka hadn't explained to Ahsoka how the Jedi Temple operated, so he began to whisper into her ears, explaining how life at the temple worked.

'It's known as the Jedi Initiate. It allows younglings like us to receive training to become a Jedi and learn the Jedi Arts. Normally it spans over a period of four years, where younglings are recruited around age three to four, spending their next four years learning the Jedi Arts. There is a room in the temple to house infants and determine if they are good or not, but in our case, we won't be part of that group. We are four years old already, so we would likely enter an existing group of Jedi Younglings.", Kohsaka explained how the temple worked, whispering into her ear as he did.

'That would be the next four years...', Ahsoka whispered back, revealing a cute frown over her lips.

'It is a big commitment, yes, but this should cover our lodgings and expenses. Surely you won't back down, right?', I responded back with a playful tone.

'Of course not, Brother. I may not be in tune with The Force yet the way you are, but it looks really cool to become a Jedi!', Ahsoka responded back in confidence. Hearing that whisper, Kohsaka smiled. And well, if things didn't go their way from Grandmaster Yoda's appraisal of the two, they could always figure out some other course of action. It's not like becoming a Jedi wasn't the only way for the two to live.

While thinking that, the Master Jedi present began to murmur amongst themselves again, debating on what Grandmaster Yoda had said. As for Grandmaster Yoda, Kohsaka saw him smile, and proceeded to stand up from his seat. To the other Master Jedi, they all saw Grandmaster Yoda approach the two children, slowly with his wooden cane.

"Fear and uncertainty of what the future has in store, I sense in you, young ones. Joining the Jedi Temple, a big commitment it is.", Grandmaster Yoda said, looking toward Ahsoka specifically. Kohsaka also looked at her, as she was still feeling scared of entering a whole new place she didn't know about.

"Well, it is scary. Grandmaster Yoda. I do not know much of what becoming a Jedi entails. Is it really the right thing to do?", Ahsoka asked with worry in her eyes.

"Your worry, sound it is. Yet fear, do not let it take a hold of you, Ahsoka, was it?", Grandmaster Yoda asked, inquiring about the orange-skinned girl before him.

"Yes, Grandmaster Yoda. And this is my brother Kohsaka. We are the Tano siblings, as Master Plo previously pointed out.", Ahsoka said, introducing herself and Kohsaka to him.

"Good. Good. Listen, Ahsoka, Kohsaka. Fear is the path of the Dark Side. Consume you, you mustn't let it. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. And hate leads to suffering. Join the temple, protection we will give you. Ease your worries and doubt, it shall, hmm?", Grandmaster Yoda responded while seeing a hint of fear in Ahsoka's eyes. Yet by hearing him say that, Ahsoka felt it grip onto her, and her body became less tense. Ahsoka's expression softened. Kohsaka was inwardly happy seeing Grandmaster Yoda try to calm Ahsoka down, and at the same time, he inwardly mused to himself.

'I haven't heard Grandmaster Yoda say that in ages...', Kohsaka thought. It was clear Grandmaster Yoda was trying to ease their worries. He wasn't sure how Ahsoka would handle things from here, but for him personally, Kohsaka wouldn't let the dark side try to seduce him. After Grandmaster Yoda spoke to Ahsoka, who now showed a look of confidence in her eyes, he turned toward Kohsaka this time.

"Kohsaka was it? Fear, I sense not in you, but uncertainty for the future, yes. Have a chance to speak to me later, you will. For now, the Master Jedi of the High Council, vote you shall.", Grandmaster Yoda declared, tapping his cane, which drew everyone's eyes on him.

Hearing that declaration, Master Dyas was quick to take action, and spoke out to him.

"Grandmaster Yoda, before the voting begins, would it be possible to test the Midi-Chlorian count of these two younglings? Surely with receiving praise from your seat, no doubt will the count not be small. It may not be the level of what the destined Chosen One will be, but at the least, if they prove good results, they could join with the other senior younglings.", Master Dyas suggested, causing a couple of the other Master Jedi to stop their murmuring, and nodded their heads in response.

"To the light of day, your opinion has been revealed, Master Dyas. A temptation it is, hmm?", Grandmaster Yoda said, revealing a smile as he looked toward the cool-headed human sitting across on the other end.

"I only mean for the best of the Jedi Temple, Grandmaster Yoda. If these younglings are already experienced in combat, is there still a need for them to train with the other initiates, should they prove a good Midi-Chlorian count?", Master Dyas asked.

"Combat experience alone, a Jedi it does not make. Rushing things, it is not good, Master Dyas. To the reflection room, you will ponder. These two younglings, join the other younglings, they will.", Grandmaster Yoda answered, causing Master Dyas to turn silent.

"Yes, Grandmaster Yoda.", Master Dyas responded, seeing his opinion get shot down by Grandmaster Yoda.

"These two younglings will at least get trained as Jedi, Grandmaster Yoda?", Master Plo asked. "I can attest to the strength they displayed back on Planet Shili. These two can fend for themselves quite well.", Master Plo said, trying to give support to Kohsaka and Ahsoka. He was only there on Planet Shili at the end of The Hunt, but he could easily tell the Tano siblings could survive well on their own, even if they weren't in the presence of others.

"Even if we don't proceed to test their Midi-Chlorians, I can at least test their Force-sensitivity. That should appease your doubt for now as well, Master Dyas.", Master Windu suggested. Grandmaster Yoda nodded his head.

"Very well. To be trained as Jedi, doubts do anyone have left on Ahsoka and Kohsaka, hmm?", Grandmaster Yoda asked, shifting his gaze to all the Master Jedi present. Hearing this, this time, the Master Jedi remained silent. Not a single one of them shook their heads otherwise. It would appear all Master Jedi were in agreement. Kohsaka was surprised to see everyone in favor. He was sure there would be at least one Master Jedi to try and sway the two from joining the Jedi Temple.

"Then, with Aye or Nay, we shall vote.", Grandmaster Yoda declared.

"Aye.", Master Plo said.

"Aye.", Master Dyas said, surprisingly second. Not only did he agree, his gaze fell on Kohsaka again, with a look of interest in his eyes, trying to scrutinize him again.

"Aye.", Grandmaster Yoda was the third to say.

"Aye.", Master Yaddle was the fourth. She remained quiet during the whole exchange, but was quick to answer. She shared similar views to Master Dooku, doubting the current state of affairs taking place in the Jedi. Kohsaka wondered if he should approach Yaddle to potentially discuss both his vision, and what was to come.

"Aye.", Master Mundi answered, fifth. Just like that, the rest fell in line, not sporting any doubts or negativity on the present discussion. All of the other Master Jedi answered with an "Aye", making all twelve vote Yes on the matter. Seeing everyone in acceptance caused both Master Windu to raise his eyes, and Grandmaster Yoda to smile.

"Good. Good. Then Kohsaka, and Ahsoka, to the joining of the Jedi Temple, I welcome you two.", Grandmaster Yoda declared, going back to his seat.

Ahsoka watched on, showing both confusion and excitement in her eyes. She didn't know what becoming a Jedi fully entailed yet, but a new sense of adventure was bound for her. And likewise, to Kohsaka, he was glad that both of them will be joining the Jedi Arts. He couldn't wait to get his hands on a lightsaber that he could eventually call his own.