After exiting the high-speed elevator, Solo entered a small, oval-shaped room where only one Jedi was seated.
After a brief memory lapse, he finally recognized the Jedi as a Kodian.
"Honored..."
"My name is Entora Elio, Knight..."
"Solo Victor. It's a pleasure to meet you, Master Elio."
Master Elio asked, "You've come here to select an apprentice, correct?"
"Yes, Master Elio." *What else would a Jedi be doing here?* Solo thought.
"What is your apprentice's name?"
"Ahsoka Tano, a Togruta."
"Ah, I remember that Youngling. She's often impulsive and easily swayed by her emotions. There are few unchosen Younglings left from her cohort. Are you certain you wish to select her?"
"Yes, the Force guides me." Solo knew he was lying through his teeth, but this explanation usually sufficed.
The Master closed his eyes. "If that is your will, then so be it. I hope she becomes a worthy Jedi. I'll handle the paperwork. You may leave now."
***
On the other side, Ahsoka silently practiced a series of combat maneuvers, but her movements were distracted, clearly reflecting the turmoil within her.
She couldn't understand why she was still a Youngling.
Many of her peers had already become Padawans.
Some had been personally selected by their Masters, while others had mustered the courage to request Jedi apprenticeship themselves.
Yet no one seemed willing to take her as a Padawan.
"I'm clearly talented! I've even assembled my own lightsaber! Master Yoda himself praised me!"
"Sigh..."
If things continued this way, her fate would be decided by the Council.
And the Council might assign her to the Service Corps or the Agricultural Corps.
"Hmph, never! That will never happen!" A surge of anger enveloped the Little Togruta.
She began pouring excessive force into her movements.
"Look, look! A Jedi Knight is here to take a Padawan!"
A voice rang out from the crowd of Younglings awaiting training.
Ahsoka didn't stop practicing, but her eyes involuntarily glanced over.
In the corridor, a strange Jedi Knight stood against the wall.
He was the strangest Jedi she had ever seen.
Beneath the typical Jedi robes, the outline of armor was visible, its metallic components gleaming faintly. His gloves and collar were dark brown.
Moreover, this human Jedi Knight had a bandage wrapped around his forehead and a bulging backpack slung over his shoulder.
He looked... weathered.
And the Jedi Knight was carefully scanning the Younglings as they trained.
Ahsoka continued practicing her movements, but her mind had already drifted elsewhere.
*Wow, he must have been one of the Jedi who participated in the Geonosis raid. I've never seen him before. What's he doing here? Could it be...? No, impossible.*
*Is he here to take an apprentice? And the war has started. The news said the Jedi have been appointed as generals.*
*Sigh, if only I could go to the battlefield! I could prove my worth there.*
"Commander Ahsoka Tano... that sounds good. But Apprentice Ahsoka Tano sounds even better..."
"Ahsoka Tano?"
The little Togruta, lost in thought, startled violently and whirled around at the sound of the voice.
The blade of her lightsaber traced a complex arc, nearly striking the approaching Jedi, but his timely activation of his own lightsaber blocked the blow.
The surrounding onlookers froze in shock.
Tano had been training with a real combat lightsaber.
"Oh!" Ahsoka blurted out in a panic.
The Jedi chuckled. "That was close. I almost lost my life there."
*See? I messed up. How could this happen? How embarrassing! How did I not notice him?!*
Feeling dejected and guilty, Ahsoka stammered, "I'm sorry, Knight. I..."
"It's alright. I like your style," the Jedi Knight said with a smile, shaking his head. "Strike first, ask questions later. I think you'd be a good fit for me."
*Could he be...?*
Ahsoka was momentarily at a loss for words.
"My name is Solo Victor, Jedi Knight," Solo said with a smile, clearly noticing the youngling's inner turmoil. "Ahsoka Tano, would you like to become my apprentice? I've already spoken with the Appointment Committee..."
"Yes! I would!" The Togruta girl's eyes widened, her response almost instinctive—a "mental shout" of affirmation. Yet her mind raced helplessly, unable to fully grasp what she was hearing.
"Excellent. Let's go then. We need to talk." Solo turned and headed toward the training hall exit. Noticing the girl hadn't followed, he glanced back to find her still frozen in place, staring blankly. "Hmm, don't want to leave?"
"Ah... no, no, I do! Let's go!"
The girl hurried after him, blinking dazedly, nearly forgetting to deactivate her lightsaber.
Whispers surrounded her, only intensifying the emotional storm raging within her heart.
*This is amazing! This is amazing! This is amazing! I'm going to be an apprentice! Finally!*
As soon as they reached an empty corridor, Solo suddenly turned to face Ahsoka, looking her earnestly in the eyes. "I'll take you as my apprentice, and you won't have to join the Agricultural Corps. But before we proceed, we need to establish three rules."
"About what?" Ahsoka asked cautiously, her mind racing to formulate a response while bracing for the worst.
She couldn't quite define what this "worst" might be, but the fear was palpable.
"First, we're going to war, so... during combat, no arguing with me! Outside of battle, I encourage you to share your ideas and critique my plans. But in the heat of battle, if I say 'Advance!' you advance. If I say 'Halt!' you halt. If I say 'Run!' you run, even if you don't understand why."
"A Jedi never retreats!" Ahsoka blurted out reflexively, then quickly clamped her mouth shut.
"Ah yes, yes, if we retreat, that just means we're attacking in the opposite direction," Solo mimicked someone's tone, a sardonic smile twisting his lips as he glanced sideways.
Ahsoka felt her cheeks flush.
"So, do you agree to this condition?"
"Yes!"
"Then for the second condition: joking and teasing others is fine, as long as it doesn't interfere with serious matters. But..." Solo said sternly, "you are not allowed to tease me!"
"Uh... why is that?" It wasn't that Ahsoka particularly objected to this condition; she never considered herself excessive in that regard.
As for what others thought, she didn't know... and they were all wrong anyway!
But this condition was just plain weird!
And unfair! Yes, unfair!
"So, are you going to object?" Solo tried to raise an eyebrow, but the lack of eyebrows made the attempt... comical.
"No objection, Master," Tano said, barely suppressing the sarcastic remark that had risen to her lips.
Judging by Solo's expression, the Togruta could tell he didn't quite believe her.
"Alright, let's go. Pack your things. I have a feeling we'll be leaving soon."
To put it simply, Ahsoka Tano was exactly as Solo had imagined.
Though it was a bit difficult to take a fourteen-year-old girl seriously.
And right now, Solo had no idea what he was supposed to teach her.
Maybe Ahsoka could teach him something instead.
A goofy grin spread across his face.
He led his apprentice through the Temple's winding corridors and stopped at her door. "I'll wait here for you."
"I'll be quick, Master!"
With that, Ahsoka disappeared behind the door.
"Quick" stretched out a bit longer than expected.
While waiting, Solo transferred the settings from his predecessor's old communicator to the built-in communicator in his armor.
Suddenly, the communicator beeped.
Slightly surprised, he answered the call.
"Solo Victor?"
A small holographic projection of Master Shaak Ti appeared before him.
"Master, it's me. What can I do for you?"
Solo's mind raced. The Force's precognitive abilities were truly remarkable; his premonition had come to pass.
"As you likely already know, the Senate has appointed Jedi Knights as generals in the Grand Republic Army."
Solo nodded.
"If you're ready, proceed immediately to Hangar Three-R-Fifteen. You have your orders and your first mission."
"I'll be there right away."
Closing the communicator, Solo took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil within him.
"Ahsoka, stop eavesdropping," he called out to the door, sensing the girl's presence behind it just moments before. "Go pack your things. We need to leave."
The Force was a wondrous thing, after all, and the little one hadn't yet learned to conceal herself.
*Not that I'm much better at it myself,* Solo thought. *I need to work on that.*
"I'm already ready, Master," the young apprentice immediately sprang forward, showing him her small backpack. "Then let's not keep Master Shaak Ti waiting..."