And how could he blame them? He had murdered a Jedi, his very own father, helped take down another Jedi during her trials here on Coruscant and had lead other Jedi tasked to chase him down on a path of wanton destruction that included sabotage of a Republic Navy star ship. Yet since his grandfather had redeemed him and brought him back to the light several years ago, he had done nothing but do his best to serve the Jedi and the Republic in any way they sought fit. Thankfully the High Council had decided he could best serve in the ranks of the Jedi rather than stand trial for his crimes.
Still, he had served faithfully as his grandfather's Padawan, and he had learned much of the Force, or at least the light side of it, anyway, and for the last year or so he had felt that it was time he undertake the trials. Deep down he knew he was ready. He knew he had the skills. Yet Master Solumi skirted the question whenever it arose, or chided him to be patient.
"Grandfather, where is it we're going today?" Tyr asked, hoping it would be something interesting, or at least offer him an opportunity to learn something.
"We'll be spending some time with the kids at the Memorial Orphanage and Adoption Center over in Xylune Sector," Tanner replied.
"Really?" Tyr replied, trying his best not to sound disappointed, but failing miserably. "I was hoping to be able to learn something today."
"And you think that's not possible?"
"Oh, I have no problem entertaining a bunch of kids. I understand the necessity for the Jedi to give to the community and spread goodwill and all that, but I just think my time might be better spent learning and preparing for the Trials," Tyr offered. "I know I'm ready for them, and I can't imagine what else I need to know. I'm anxious to start making up for my past in my own way."
"Ready for the trials?" Tanner asked skeptically. "The Council will decide when you are ready, although I suspect they'll lean heavily on my recommendation."
"And just when will that be?"
"Patience, Tyr," the older Jedi admonished. "Don't be so quick to rush into things. It's one of the things that sent you down the path of the Dark Side in the first place."
Tyr sighed and hung his head. He was about to apologize, when Master Solumi spoke. "Ah, here we are."
They walked entered the building and met with the director for several minutes. The man gave them a tour of the facility and introduced Tyr and Tanner to most of the staff members who were present. They exchanged pleasantries and took time to talk with the staff for a while. Eventually the director took them to a large room filled with various games and activities. They stood outside and looked through the window in the door, watching for a moment. Younglings of many different species ran about doing various activities, although the majority were human children. Many of the older ones were engaged in some sort of ball game outside while others were reading while many of the younger ones were playing with blocks or dolls or other toys and still others were outside playing on swings and other playground equipment. The director explained that during the regular days, the children were in school, but that today was one of their scheduled free days and were allowed to play as they chose.
"Thank you very much for the tour, Director," Tanner said. "I have some other engagements for now, but my apprentice Tyr will be happy to spend a couple hours with the children."
Tyr's jaw nearly dropped. He had expected his grandfather to stay, and was a bit dismayed to find out that he was about to be abandoned. Neither Mastor Solumi nor the director seemed to notice Tyr's astonishment.
"That's most gracious of you, Master Tyr," the director said to him with a bow.
Tyr watched the receding form of his grandfather as the elder Jedi walked away. "You can just call me Tyr."
"Very well. If you'll follow me in. The children have been most excited at the prospect of meeting a real Jedi," the director informed him. He took Tyr into the room and immediately the younger children rushed over, recognizing the garb of a Jedi and began bombarding him with questions. The director hung around for a while, but then soon dismissed himself as well, leaving Tyr alone in a sea of little hands and faces.
After a while, the excitement level of the kids began to wear down after they figured out he wasn't going to do anything more with his lightsaber besides show them the metallic cylinder, and Tyr found time to play games with the kids throughout the morning while answering all the questions he could. Eventually he noticed that while some of the older kids had come over to talk, not all of them had. They seemed a bit begrudging of his presence, although they eventually let him play hoop ball with them. In the end, they were all laughing and having a good time. Even Tyr found himself enjoying the time spent with the kids.
Tanner Solumi returned by mid-afternoon and found Tyr and some of the older kids lounging in the shade taking a break between games of hoop ball. He spoke as he approached. "I see you're getting along pretty well. The director told me everyone seemed to be having a great time."
Tyr and the kids jumped up to their feet at the arrival of the older Jedi. "Yeah, they're pretty great kids," Tyr said, ruffling the hair of one of the boys standing near him.
Tanner turned his attention to the children for a moment. "Did any of you get a chance to tell Tyr your stories? Let him know why you're here?" Silence followed as the kids shook their heads no. Tanner put his hand on one human boy's shoulder. "Would you mind sharing?"
The boy appeared to be about 10 standard years of age with sandy brown hair and freckles across his nose. The easy smile that had been on his face most of the day was gone without a trace now, but he spoke anyway. "My mom and dad went out on a date and got killed by some bad guys."
"Can you tell us a little more?" Tanner prompted. Tyr looked at him suspiciously, wondering why this was apparently so important.
"Well, it was when I was about four, and they dropped me off at a babysitter, and they went to a club to go dancing and these Sith showed up and killed a Jedi and my parents were outside and got killed," the boy said, a pained look spreading on his face.
Tanner looked over at Tyr strangely... realization dawned on Tyr. Several years ago he, Anya, Trychon and Raezyr had killed their first Jedi outside a nightclub here on Coruscant. Thinking back he couldn't recall any bystanders getting in the way, but then again, he remembered not caring about bystanders at all.
More realization flooded over Tyr. This place was named the "Memorial" orphanage. Tyr came back to the present as the next child, a Togruta female, told her tale. Her parents had been riding a light-rail train when four Sith had entered, slaughtering everyone aboard.
The next child told how her father had been a guard working at the Galactic Senate Building and had been killed trying to protect some Representatives. Her mother, in grief had committed suicide a day later.
One story bled into the next, and Tyr listened, but it was all a blur. The awareness of just how far-reaching his actions had been came crashing in on him, and it was more than he could handle. He excused himself and rushed out side, emptying his stomach over the railing and into the vast darkness a kilometer below.
Tyr wiped his mouth and stood staring into the black depths of the bowels of Coruscant, trying to recover, trying to process everything as his thoughts raced to his other deeds around the galaxy, people he'd murdered and ships he had destroyed. As he struggled, he stared over the edge of the skyway and the dark void below threatened to swallow him.
He was suddenly aware of his grandfather's presence. "How can I reconcile all of this, grandfather? How can I come to terms with the deeds I've done and lives I've destroyed? How can the Jedi accept me after all of this?"
Tanner put his hand on his grandson's shoulder. "Darth Tyrazzapon committed those deeds years ago, but the Jedi Tyr Solumi waged a war against that Sith Acolyte and destroyed him. Now Tyr must go forth and do the work of the Jedi Order and try to serve those whom that Sith of years ago attempted to dominate and destroy."
Together the Jedi Master and his apprentice walked toward the Jedi Temple in silence. Each thinking their own thoughts, ever aware of those around them, but alone in their minds. Finally Tyr spoke. "Grandfather, if when we have some more free time, may I go back and help out at the orphanage?"
"I think that can be arranged, Tyr." Tanner Solumi replied.
They walked on in silence for a few more steps and this time it was Tanner's turn to break it. "I have sneaking suspicion that the High Council will call on you to take the Trials for Knighthood very shortly."
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