(Time Skip)
40 BBY - Location: Coruscant - Jedi temple
On one of the balconies that hung from the temples sleek outer walls, stood the Master of the order, Mace Windu. Gazing outward from the terrace balcony, overlooking the breath taking scene of the massive Ecumenopolis that is Coruscant. He took in the sight of countless ships, skycars and speeders moving about the surface, with no end in sight.
"Did not keep waiting, you, I hope"
"Not at all grand master"
Windu gave Yoda a deep bow who had just entered the balcony, riding a hover pod that brought him up to Windu's waist level.
"Now then master, I'm curious on what this matter is you wanted to discuss with me"
"Hmm, yes. Young MoonCrest, the time for his gathering, has come"
Hearing this Mace Windu slightly narrowed his eyes.
"I see. I suppose it is time. Seems we will need to have him join along side another clan who are also planned to soon have their Gathering"
Normally it was tradition for younglings of the same clan who have been together for years to attempt the 'Gathering' an important rite of passage of the jedi order, as one.
Yoda glanced up at Mace with a side glance, sensing a feeling of unsettlement coming from Windu.
"Hmm, I sense much worry in you. Concerns, you have?"
Yoda asked Windu.
It was no surprise that Yoda noticed right away that Windu had something on his mind.
"---Yes, its about Zell MoonCrest. Over the last two years the speed of his growth has been most impressive. No current initiate has shown to be his equal. Some of the jedi's that have instructed him over the last 2 years have even advocated that he may be ready for his initiate trials now in fact, to become a padawan"
"Much progress made, he has. But worried by this, you are?"
Windu scowled a bit as he thought.
"He has shown the potential to possibly become one of the greatest jedi the order has ever produced, I will not deny this. But as of late, he's shown some---troubling tendencies, that make me question his readiness"
"Such as?"
Yoda asked with a raised eyebrow
"For the most part he's accepted most of the order's teachings and principles without issues, just like any youngling should. But recently I've been receiving word that he's started questioning some of those very teachings"
"Questioning you say?"
"Yes, for example, he asks why we only accept children below a certain age, or how we still claim be a neutral organization separate from the Republic yet receive a large potion of our funding from them. He's even asked why we have no representation in the senate, despite our order serving the Republic loyally"
"Hmmm---not uncommon it is, for young ones to asks questions and not fully comprehend our ways, answers we must give. In time understand he will"
"But from what I've heard, even when he is given answers from his instructors, he still showed signs of being unconvinced. I fear that this resistance, as small as it may be could possibly stifle his training"
As Mace Windu said, over the course of the last 2 years Zell was moved from master to master as the high council had planned, learning from various masters and teachers the Jedi had to offer. Some of them even being council members, such as Plo Koon, Poli Dapatian, and Even Piell.
This allowed them to keep a close eye on Zell's progress and to watch for any bad traits or habits he may develop.
And for the most part things were fine without any issues. Zell understood and accepted his lessons well, constantly meeting the expectations placed on him. But later on during sessions where he was instructed on the principles, philosophy, and values of the Jedi followed, Zell would question certain points of the jedi's code and way of life. Ones, he found difficult to wrap his head around and accept.
At first this was simply ignored, seen only as a minor concern brought on by the willfulness of youth, after all like Yoda said it wasn't uncommon for some younglings to show some difficulty conforming to the jedi code while still young.
For most cases they simply grow out of this as they mature and progress in their training.
However Zell wasn't like the other initiates. He noticed several aspects of how the jedi operated, that he found questionable, and tough to just accept blinding. While he agreed with the majority of the core tenants of the Jedi, such as showing compassion and reason to others, standing for justice and truth, being willing to sacrifice oneself for the greater good and so on.
But on some other points, he felt conflicted, and he never hesitated to voices his doubts. In hopes of finding clarity.
Like how he asked why were their order so closely tied to the Republic and allowed it to have so much influence on them, when their supposed duty is to the people of the galaxy. While the Republic does govern a large portion of that galaxy, its still just a part of the greater whole that the Jedi are sworn to protect.
Or why the Jedi were so adverse to attachments, believing them to lead to the dark side. There are confirmed force sensitive groups and cultures in the galaxy who practice the force and have no such restrictions but they are seen not falling to the dark. Such as the Baran Do Sages, of the Kel Dor. A group that the order's own master Plo Koon have studied techniques and knowledge from.
Most masters when faced with Zell's inquires just gave him typical Jedi like replies on these questions. Warning him about asking questions and seeking out answers that could him astray. But those never satisfied him. And while Zell never voiced his discontent with they warnings, they could sense it. And some of them reported this to Mace Windu, leading to his concerns about Zell.
"In truth I was against us veering away from our usual methods, but with most of the council agreeing to it, I held my tongue. But now I feel that this is a result of us using such an unorthodox teaching style with Zell"
Yoda remained silent, digesting the words as he listened to Windu's doubts.
"We may have been hasty in our decision back then. I may have been better to stay true to our usual practices"
"Change the past, we can not. Guide him as best we can, now. All we can do. Find his way, in time he will"
"---hmm, I suppose"
Yoda could tell Windu was still unsure. But not wanting to undermine Mace's concerns Yoda refrained from trying to convince him too strongly.
"Faith in Moon-Crest, we must have"
Windu only gave a nod in return to Yoda, giving tacit acceptance to the grand master.
The two would then separate, going about their duties.
***********
The next morning Kit Fisto was walking down a corridor reading a holo message he had recently received on his wrist communicator from the high council. As he finished reading it he reached his destination, a repair center of the jedi technical department.
Specifically the one that he's aware Zell visits often to build and tinker, where he first started in fact. Zell often made an effort to visit several different repair centers around the temple to practice his craft and just given a helping hand if needed, but this one were he first meet Kazdan Paratuse was the one he was seen at most often.
Entering the center, he surveyed the work floor, in hopes of finding the person he sought.
As his gaze swept the area, what came into sight was someone different, but who most likely would be able to aid him in his search. Fisto maneuvered himself through the busy crowds of technicians and piles of machinery, making sure not to disturb anyone's work. Soon reaching the department's head, Kazdan Paratus, who appeared to be in the middle of reviewing a datapad with an inventory list projected on it. He was currently going over the stock of a recent shipment of droid parts they just received.
"Good day master Paratus, please forgive my disturbance but I was hoping you could help me find someone"
"My goodness if it isn't master Kit Fisto, its been a long time since we've see you here. Not since you began working on that prototype lightsaber if memory serves me well. How is that coming along by the way"
Kazdan laid his datapad down on a near by desk to face Fisto.
"Slowly, but its getting there. Nothing worth doing can be rushed"
"I'm glad to hear that, I'm looking quite forward to seeing a lightsaber that can be effectively wielded under water. Now then, you said you were looking for someone?"
"Yes, has Initiate Moon-Crest been around here lately, I have an important matter to speak to him about and I know visits here frequently"
"Yes, He's actually in that adjacent room over their, working on a special project"
"Oh--may I aske what kind of project"
"We recently acquired a heavy damaged C1-series astromech droid that suffered a tragic collision with a malfunctioning runaway hover lift in the hanger bay. Originally, due to the severity of the damage we were going to simply strip it of any reusable parts and then scrap the rest of it. But when Moon-Crest saw it he seemed to took quiet an interest in it. So I gifted it to him, and said that if he could manage to fully repair it on his own then he could keep it, to do with as he pleased"
"Really? A heavy task for one so young"
"I would have said the same, back when I first met him, but after seeing how far he's come with his mechanical skills, I'm more than confident he's up to the challenge"
The two walked towards the room Kazdan mentioned and entered.
Inside one could see walls covered with shelfs filled with various droid parts and components. As well as several computer terminals positioned side by side on the room's back wall, with multiple cables and wires connecting out of them, that sprawled out on to the floor. If followed one could see them reconnecting to the main body of a clearly busted astromech droid.
In front of said droid, kneeling, was a now 11 year old Zell, who was at roughly 4ft 10ins in height, and who was in the process of sealing a large crack on the damaged astromech droid's chasse using a high powered plasma welder.
Sensing the two presences as they entered the room, Zell turned off the tool pausing his welding. Removed the welding mask he was wearing to protect his face from flying sparks, and rose to his feet. Turning around to face who it was, he gave a respectful bow to the two masters.
"Master Paratus. Master Fisto? greetings, do either of you need anything from me"
Zell was aware of Kazdan's presence do to the two seeing each other at the center earlier that day, but Zell was kind of surprised to see Fisto here. Afterall never once had Zell ever run into him at any of the tech centers he practiced at before.
"No, nothing from me Moon-Crest. I'm just showing the the way for master Fisto here"
"That's right, I need a word with you to discuss a matter"
"Well then, I'll leave you two be"
Seeing his part done, Kazdan left the room, closing the door behind.
"Now then, before we get to my business, I've heard that you've taken quite the interest in this droid, right?"
"A bit, I suppose"
Zell said placing his hand on top of the droids head.
Walking around the droid in a circular motion. Fisto got a good view of its current state. Multiple large breaches in the frame, bundles of fried wiring hanging out from the holes, shattered and missing buttons on its panel, and so on.
"If I may ask, what in particular about it caught your attention?"
"Nothing really. It just---seemed---too sad to me"
"Sad?"
Fisto asked.
"Yes, you see I've actual seen this little guy several times in the hanger. Mostly whenever I had star ship mechanics lessons or were testing in one of the piloting simulations there. And though not often I even spoken with it a few times. Never about anything meaningful or for very long but, I quite enjoyed our chats. So when master Kazdan gave me an opportunity to save it, I just couldn't sit by and allow it to be striped and then toss away"
"I see"
Fisto replied happy about Zell's answer.
"I suppose that sounds kinda foolish huh. I mean droids are built to serve and then thrown away when they break down, right, especially if they break down as bad as this guy right here. And here I am trying so hard to fix him"
Fisto walked up to Zell and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Its not foolish at Zel"
"In this galaxy of ours too few people treat our mechanical friends with the respect and dignity they deserved, and too many simply see them as tools to used and tossed when convenient. I'm very happy to see that you think different from them"
Zell was pleased to know that master Fisto thought like he did. Zell worked regularly with members of the orders Technical department thought not as an official member. From these interactions he had seen a wide arrange of people and seen their many opinions in regard to droids.
Most hold no particular feels what so ever towards them. Some share his and Fisto's feelings of friend and comradery with them. While other view them like Fisto said, as mere tools. From this, for a time a small part of Zell worried if his thoughts on droids were flawed or wrong, but after hearing Fisto's words of support, such doubts vanished from his mind instantly.
"Thank you for the kind words master Fisto"
"so how are its repairs coming?"
"Slowly I'm afraid. Hardware wise I should have it patched up in a week or two. We have spare parts for C1- series astromechs in stock so we're covered on that front. The really issue lies in its software and programing however"
"Whats wrong? any problem with its memory core or central processing unit maybe. Were they corrupted or damaged in the accident"
"No, those aren't the issue. The thing is, its personality matrix has been completely wiped"
"Truly? How did that happen?"
"From what I've been told, it seems that during the collision in the hanger bay this guy was knocked backed into a low voltage power junction, and suffered quite the shock. Since it was low voltage, it didn't suffer any sever electrical damage, but the power surge cascaded across its systems and managed to penetrate deep enough to reach its neutronic subsystems, Ai core code and so on. But the personality matrix was hit hardest. Lucky the component was destroyed, but---coding within is wiped entirely, and with it this guy's original self"
"Couldn't you simply download a new personality into it then, if the module itself is still intact"
"I could, but if possible I'd prefer not to. I'd like to believe that every droid, like every person is unique in there own way. So I'm hoping I can restore who it was originally. Like you said master they're not simple tools to be simply used, fixed, and than discarded. They are beings who should be respected like any normal person"
The personality matrix was a droid component that was responsible for the knowledge base and personality of the droid in which it was installed. In some way it was the droid equivalent of a soul. The piece that made some droids themselves.
As Fisto listened to Zell's dialogue, and he smiled a bit. He himself also had a close relationship with a few droids, so he could understand quite well where Zell was coming from.
"Sliver lining though, its memory core is mostly intact. Ordinary its only used to record events a droid experiences, but sometimes they are modified to store other bits of critical data and info. By going through it, if I'm lucky I may be able to found back up copies of the original personality code. And reinstall it back into the matrix. Its not a guarantee, but I think its worth a shot"
Zell explained while pointing at a nearby computer terminal displaying a large quantity of data and and code.
"Then I wish to you all the best in this endeavor. But sadly it must wait. The time for an important trial for you has come"
Zell showed a confused face looking at Fisto with a tilting head. Kit Fisto then proceeded to explain that the time of Zell's gathering had come.
*************
40 BBY - Location: Illum
On the ice covered world of illum a small silhouette could be made out looking outward from atop a large glacial cliff, into the vast frozen expanse of the planet.
This figure was a heavily bundled up Zell wearing a thick fur cloak, which he was using to help stay warm while facing the falling snow and tundra winds of the planet.
"This land may look lifeless, harsh and desolate, but It has a certain beauty to it when looked at from high up"
He marveled over the frosty landscape.
"Initiate Moon-Crest! please come back this, I ask that you don't stray from the group and walk off on your own. This world can be quite treacherous for the young and unprepared, like yourself"
Once on Illum and disembarked from the ancient Paladin-class corvette (The Crucible). A ship who's creation dates all the way back to the era of the Old Republic. Zell swiftly broke off from the youngling group he had arrived with and would be undertaking the "Gathering" with. In order to explore this brand new environment.
An action that wasn't to unusual for him now most days.
After the fiasco that resulted in Zell being removed from his clan, rumors of the event spread like a among all the order's initiates. And just like rumors do, as they passed from person to person they ended up being distorted bit by bit. And this case was no different.
Eventually the rumors became so diversified that there existed varying versions of what happened that day.
But while they differed, they all had one thing in common. For one reason or another they all pointed at Zell being the main source of the trouble.
Causing all the other younglings to view him as a troublemaker. Someone they needed to avoid. Making them stir clear of him constantly, to avoid getting pulled into any similar affairs like before.
But as usual Zell did not give this any attention.
A fact that was seen even now as he felt no qualms about separating from the other children.
However this could have also been because this was Zell's first time being outside the Jedi temple since he arrived as a baby. Making focus less on his peers and instead desire to soak in the sights of this new world to the fullest.
But before he could get his fill he was called out to by professor Huyang, the ancient architect droid professor of the jedi order, who for millennials have helped countless jedi construct their lightsabers.
Responding to the call Zell moved back to the group and gave an apologetic bow to the droid. Though disappointed that his sight seeing was interrupted, he didn't want to cause trouble for the professor, who's expertise he respected highly.
"Apologizes professor Huyang"
"Well that's quite alright, but please, from now on try to stay with to the group. We wouldn't want anything to happen to you"
"Understood"
"Its just that this is my first time off Coruscant, and I guess all the new sights got the better of me"
He said embarrassedly has he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Well I can't fault you for that. Afterall I understand, I have traveled to Illum many times, but my optic sensors never tire of seeing this world in all its glory. But such tales are for another day, come now lets not keep the others waiting"
Zell walked with Huyang until he was reunited with the youngling group who would also be participating with him. Not including himself they numbered six in total.
As the initiates talked among themselves while moving towards the designated ice cavern, Zell scanned the small crowd for any familiar faces. But fortunately none stuck out, meaning this wasn't the Convor clan, much to his relief.
After his separation from his clan previously, Zell had have no contract with them what so ever, since. Either out of a desire to prevent further conflict, or just simplely from a lack of interest in their lives Zell made every effort to avoid his old clan mates.
Soon Zell and the group reached the entrance of the traditional craven the jedi use to perform the gathering. And standing at the entrance stood the jedi chosen to supervise this group of younglings, Jedi master Fay.
(Image of Fay)
"Greetings initiates, I am Jedi master Fay. Today I have been chosen by the high council to oversee your Gathering"
'So this is master Fay. I've read many texts about her exploits throughout known space. Her abilities in diplomacy and negotiations must be unparalleled to have ended so many armed conflicts through mediation alone'
Zell watched and admired the centuries old jedi master who was a living legend within the jedi order.
'But I wonder why is she here? From what little I know about her she, does she prefers a more nomadic lifestyle? Moving from place to place resolving conflicts, and rarely if ever returned to the temple. So how come she here now? Seems some what contradictory to what she would normally do, seeing as she refuses to take a student. So why agree to oversee a group of up in coming students?'
Master Fay proceed to give a quick lecture on kyber crystals, lightsabers, their place in jedi history and culture. As well as how they would only have a few hours to find their crystals and make it out before the waterfall freezes over the entrance. Trapping them inside.
That last part had shaken the younglings, as the fear of possibly being trapped showed on all of their faces. Well, all except Zell, as he saw through this falsehood.
He found it skeptical that the jedi, the so called keepers of peace, would leave children trapped and possible die in a cave just for not completing a traditional rite fast enough. He was sure there must be some countermeasures or plans in place, encase a youngling does end up trapped.
After giving few more words Fay finished her explanation and directed the initiates to process into the cave.
As the younglings entered the cavern together anxiety and fear could be felt radiating off of them as they walked. This was true of Zell as well, thought to a much lesser extent.
As they moved together through the cave, one by one the initiates were uncontrollably separated from each other. One fell into a crack in the floor that spontaneously opened under their feet, sending them into a completely separate chamber. Another accidently walked down a different path from the group, losing track of them after stepping away for a brief moment to investigated mysterious echo down a side passage way.
Similar events continued to occur, slowly pulling the younglings apart.
Be it by a weird string of coincidences, or fate itself, all of them would soon end up isolated. Forced to go on, alone.
Zell included.