[Master Zho's Log, Stardate 3682.08]
The stillness of the Jedi Council Chamber was profound. It was a place of consecrated silence, designed to filter out the noise of the galaxy and focus the minds of the Masters on the subtle guidance of the Force. Standing before the semicircle of great Jedi leaders, including the venerable Master Zao and the formidable Battlemaster, the torn fabric of my robes felt like a screaming breach of protocol.
I stood alone, gripping a small data-slate that summarized the disaster of the last forty-eight hours. The Council had convened an emergency session based solely on my encrypted priority transmission requesting an immediate, unprecedented allocation of resources for a single youngling.
"Master Zho Ngani," Master Zao, the presiding Council member, began, his voice calm and measured, yet edged with grave concern. "Your transmission was highly alarming. You speak of an initiate whose biological Force connection rivals the legendary heroes of the last millennium, yet you classify him as 'feral' and 'a danger to the Temple's structural integrity.' Please summarize the findings and the reason for demanding an immediate Unorthodox Training Protocol."
I projected the most critical piece of data onto the Chamber's central holoprojector: the Midi-chlorian count.
Midi-chlorian Count (per cell): 19,800
A deep, collective intake of breath swept through the chamber. Even in the Old Republic, where powerful Jedi were numerous, a count this high was an anomaly.
Master Kai, the Order's historian, stroked his beard, his eyes wide with historical context. "Nineteen thousand, eight hundred. That level of concentration places him in the highest echelon of living Force sensitives. It rivals the Exile, and is higher than any Master currently seated here. He is a vessel of staggering raw potential. "
"Indeed, Master Kai," I confirmed, turning off the projection. "But that potential is utterly unrefined. Inosuke Hashibira is a child of pure, aggressive instinct. His mind lacks the cognitive framework for compassion or obedience. When awakened in the medical bay, he attacked and dismantled Droid 72-Y and Droid 88-A. He then resisted all attempts at meditation, utilizing his Force sensitivity to power his body into a state of aggressive stillness he calls 'Beast Breathing.'"
Master Sael, known for her rigorous adherence to protocol, looked severely displeased. "And the attempted integration into the Youngling Class, Master Ngani? The report simply states 'Total Failure.' What does that entail?"
I took a stabilizing breath, choosing my words carefully. "It entails a complete breakdown of discipline, Master Sael. When introduced to his peers, Inosuke perceived them as 'prey' and 'weaklings.' He launched himself forward, screaming threats of violence, asserting dominance, and forcing every child in the class to abandon their basic levitation exercise. He then demonstrated an unholy physical flexibility to kick me during restraint, damaging my personal anatomy and further traumatizing his classmates."
A few Masters exchanged worried glances. The Battlemaster, a veteran of countless engagements, finally spoke, his deep voice carrying the weight of strategy. "His aggressive focus is what concerns me most, Ngani. Did he utilize the Force during this display of dominance?"
"Unknowingly, yes," I explained. "His Force connection is so profoundly integrated with his physical being that his very state of high alert accelerates his entire metabolism, giving him superhuman speed, strength, and resilience. He is a natural warrior who wields the Force subconsciously as an extension of his will to survive. When we instructed him to levitate a stone, he did not lift it; he Force-pushed it horizontally into the wall, purely through aggressive intent. He does not understand peace; he only understands power."
I held up the data-slate, my resolve hardening. "Masters, this child is a ticking temporal bomb. He is a danger to Temple property and the psychological wellbeing of the other initiates. But he is not Dark. He is terrified, feral, and utterly alone. If we try to force him into the standard curriculum, he will see it as a fight, and he will eventually win, likely escaping or inflicting serious damage in the process."
"Why not simply return him to the isolation of Naboo, Master Zho?" Master Belis questioned. "His nature is incompatible with the Jedi path of peace."
"Because of the magnitude of his power, Master Belis. We have found a being of unimaginable power. If we abandon him, he will learn to hate the 'softness' he finds in civilization, and whatever Dark influence eventually finds him will have a vessel of unimaginable strength. We must teach him that true strength lies in compassion, control, and the service of others. We must show the wild boar that there is comfort in the garden."
I laid out my proposal, requesting a complete overhaul of his initial training.
"I request the Council establish an immediate Unorthodox Training Protocol (UTP) for Inosuke Hashibira. This must include:
Dedicated Mentorship: I will personally oversee his training, but I require Padawan Satele Shan's continued assistance. She has demonstrated an uncanny ability to communicate with him using his own terms—strength, fighting, and the promise of meat. She has established a behavioral contract with him based on Bantha steak rations.
Environmental Mitigation: He must be contained in a heavily secured, separate training environment until basic impulse control is established. He cannot interact with the Youngling Corps again until he understands not to threaten them. I require access to the Shadow Training Annex beneath the Archives, which is rated for severe physical Force disturbances.
Specialized Curriculum: We must discard meditation initially. His first steps into the Force must be entirely physical, leveraging his natural aggression. This involves endurance runs, acrobatics, and conscious Force application to his physical movements, teaching him to channel his speed and strength, rather than simply letting his body draw on the Force instinctively."
The Battlemaster spoke again, his gaze piercing. "This UTP is an immense commitment, Ngani. It is costly, and it prioritizes physical combat over spiritual peace."
"It prioritizes survival over immediate structure, Master," I countered, standing firm. "We cannot teach him peace until he is safe from his own internal chaos. We must tire the beast before we can soothe the spirit. We must give him the tools of conscious control before his instinct turns lethal."
The Masters fell into a long, quiet deliberation. I felt their collective consciousness brush against my mind, examining my intentions, assessing the raw truth of my report. The silence felt heavier than any Force Clamp.
Finally, Master Zao looked up, his expression resigned but resolute. "Master Zho, the Council finds the circumstances regarding Inosuke Hashibira utterly regrettable and highly volatile. However, we cannot ignore the sheer magnitude of this Force signature, nor the grave threat he poses if left untaught."
Master Zao delivered the Council's judgment.
"The Council approves the Unorthodox Training Protocol. You are granted immediate authorization to utilize the Shadow Training Annex and any non-sentient security measures required to ensure the safety of the Temple. Padawan Satele Shan is officially reassigned to assist you. You are authorized a specialized Bantha Steak Stipend from the Commissary's emergency fund."
I felt a slight wave of relief, quickly followed by the immense weight of the task.
Master Zao concluded with a chilling final directive. "You have one standard cycle, Master Zho, to demonstrate a basic level of compliance and control in this child. We must see progress in his ability to consciously restrain his physical Force power. If he is still destroying Temple facilities or actively assaulting personnel after that cycle, the Council will have to reconsider the safety of his continued presence here. The potential for the Dark Side to claim a being of this magnitude cannot be tolerated."
I bowed deeply, accepting the severe terms. "Thank you, Masters. I understand the gravity of the task. We will begin his physical conditioning immediately."
As I left the calm, ordered chamber, the true cost of my success hit me. I had secured the resources, but I now faced an ultimatum. I had one month to turn a feral warrior into a disciplined student, or the Jedi Order would take matters into its own hands.
I pulled out my datapad and sent a simple coded message to Satele: The beast has been fed. Prepare the Annex. Tomorrow, we run.