The Survivor

One

The Trial

"Thought That I could trust you, but now I've got trust issues."

"I'm innocent."

The words echoed through my head, over and over again. I was innocent. I hadn't even been there when the Republic base had been invaded. Clones were my friends; I would never kill them. I would never betray the Republic.

Not that it mattered to Tarkin. Here I stood, thrown out of the Jedi Order, being forced into a trial for a crime I would never even think about committing. My old friends thought I was guilty. My master, Shaak Ti, thought I was guilty.

They all thought I was guilty.

The only people who might still have even an ounce of faith left in me were the Bad Batch. But they weren't here. They didn't even know what was happening. I'd been arrested the second they left Kamino for a mission.

There was no one to help me. No one to save me, to fight for me, to prove my innocence. The security cameras had caught a cloaked figure, my height, with my lightsabers, invading the Republic base. My DNA had been found.

But I hadn't even been there. Hadn't ever set foot on the planet. I had witnesses say they saw me that day, but large gaps in between times, which would have given me time to invade the base and be back before anyone noticed-if I'd even done it.

I was innocent.

The thought seemed to be a hopeless, useless thought. A pleading. No one cared. Why would they? Everything pointed to me. In their eyes, I was on my way to the dark side. They shouldn't pity me.

But it wasn't true.

"Jora Dame, former padawan and member of the Jedi Order," Chancellor Palpatine's voice rang through the room. "You have been found guilty of invading a Republic base. The court has asked to bring upon the most serious punishment, death. You are to be brought upon the firing squad-"

"Wait!"

I turned, dangerous hope feeling me. Anakin Skywalker walked forward from a hall, four Temple guards behind him, a prisoner between them that I couldn't see. I remembered him from the two missions we'd been on together.

"Ah, General Skywalker," Chancellor Palpatine said. "Another interruption during a Republic Trial. I hope this is important."

"It is. I've caught the person who invaded the Republic base and framed Jora Dame. May I present Kayan Sumi, member of the Jedi Order!"

No.

Skywalker stepped aside and the Temple Guards moved forward, revealing a teenaged boy a year older than me, pale olive skin and black hair in a strict buzz cut. His face was contorted in an anger I'd never seen.

"Barris Offie was right!" He yelled into the echoing room. "The Jedi are responsible for this war! They're not keepers of the peace, they're politics and warriors!"

The Temple Guards pulled him back. And empty, numb, sour feeling washed over me. Kayan. He'd been my friend. My best friend, second to Caleb. And yet he'd betrayed me, purposefully planting evidence against me.

I watched, broken, as he was taken away, out of the room. Seconds passed after he disappeared, and I finally moved my eyes to look at Skywalker. He gave me a sympathetic, encouraging look before turning and walking away.

The hovering platform I was on drifted back to the side. Clones in red armor escorted me out of the room, taking the familiar path to the jedi Temple. I had a feeling I knew what was going to happen next. I had a feeling I knew exactly what I would say.

"General Skywalker!" I called, spotting him a few feet away. He stopped, turning to look at me. "Thank you, I said. "But... why would you help me?"

He gave me a small smile. "I know someone that went through what you just did. I couldn't let it happen again."

He turned and walked away without another word. I watched, knowing he meant Ahsoka. I'd been at her trial. The clones led me back to the Jedi Temple, where I waited for the Council to arrive.

Seconds ticked by, turning to minutes. I fidgeted with my free, uncuffed hands. My request for a transmission had been denied. There was no way to contact the Bad Batch. I was alone. Completely alone.

Though I had a hard time even thinking about the Jedi right now, I tried to keep the code on repeat in my head. The do not dwell on the past, do not feel emotions. That would be the only thing to keep me in check right now.

It might have been the only thing that kept me from turning, from leaving, all these years. If I felt, I knew it would be dangerous. I never let myself feel. I wouldn't risk it.

The doors opened and I stepped inside. Master Yoda, Mace Windu, Plo Koon, and Shaak Ti stood in the room. I stayed silent, my face neutral, crossing my arms. Ahsoka had been right to leave after what had happened to her.

Barriss and Kayan had been right.

"It seems we've made a mistake," Mace Windu said, his voice as calm and full of authority as always. "But, without this trial, you never would have discovered your true self and may become a better Jedi because of it. This was your great trial."

"Return to the Order, you may," Yoda added.

I didn't need time to think it over. The only reason I had to stay was for the Batch or for Caleb. But they didn't need me. They'd understand why I would need to leave. Every ounce of trust I'd ever had, was gone now.

"You're right. I have discovered my true self during this," I said. "And I do not belong with the Jedi, that much is clear. I'm not coming back."

As soon as the words finished leaving my mouth, I turned, the doors opening for me as I appeared. No one said anything. No one protested as the doors closed. No one protested as I took the elevator down and left the Temple.

A small, weak part of me hoped that maybe, just maybe, Shaak Ti or even Plo Koon would show up and try to talk to me or say anything. Just to show they cared that the bond wasn't broken. But no one came.

I walked down the stairs of the Temple slowly. It would be hard. I didn't have credits, my lightsabers, friends, or anything. I was homeless and broke. Alone and scarred. For the very first time, I had no one.

But it was better this way.

1118 Words

Written September 7th, 2024 (3-4 am)

Published September 8th, 2024 

Playlist >