Chapter 11

The pre-dawn chill of Coruscant's upper atmosphere clung to Kaedan Dorn as he stood on the Temple's landing platform, surrounded by a group of excited younglings. The sleek Jedi transport ship before them hummed softly, its engines warming up for the journey ahead. Despite the early hour, there was an electric energy in the air – today was the day of the Gathering, when they would travel to the sacred planet Ilum to find their kyber crystals.

Kaedan's expression was a mask of calm, but internally, he was a maelstrom of emotions. Excitement warred with anxiety, anticipation with dread. The night terrors that had plagued him for weeks had reached a fever pitch the night before, leaving him with fragmented visions of destruction and the acrid taste of ash in his mouth.

"Nervous?" a voice beside him asked. Kaedan turned to see Zara, the young Twi'lek girl who had become one of his closest friends among the younglings.

He managed a small smile. "A little," he admitted, the half-truth coming easily. "It's a big step."

Zara nodded enthusiastically. "I know! Can you believe we're finally going to get our crystals? I wonder what color mine will be..."

As Zara chattered on, Kaedan's gaze drifted to the Temple proper. In one of the high windows, he caught a glimpse of a familiar silhouette – Anakin Skywalker, watching the proceedings with undisguised longing. Their eyes met briefly, and Kaedan gave a small nod of acknowledgment. He knew Anakin had already constructed his lightsaber, but the older boy had expressed envy at missing out on the traditional Gathering ceremony.

"Younglings," Master Yoda's gravelly voice cut through the excited murmurs. "Time to depart, it is. A great journey ahead of you lies. Not just in distance, but in spirit."

As they filed onto the ship, Kaedan couldn't shake the feeling of Yoda's eyes on him. The ancient Jedi Master had been paying him increasing attention lately, and Kaedan wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.

The journey to Ilum passed in a blur of hyperspace and hushed conversations. Kaedan spent much of it in meditation, trying to center himself and prepare for what lay ahead. He knew the challenges of the crystal caves from his past life's knowledge of Star Wars lore, but experiencing it firsthand would be something else entirely.

As they approached Ilum, the ship broke through the planet's thick cloud cover, revealing a landscape of endless ice and snow. The younglings pressed against the viewports, awed by the stark beauty of the frozen world.

"Whoa," breathed Raz, a Zabrak boy. "It's like a giant crystal itself."

Kaedan nodded, equally impressed despite his foreknowledge. "The whole planet is strong with the Force," he murmured, more to himself than anyone else.

The ship set down near the entrance to the crystal caves, a massive structure of ice and stone that seemed to pulse with energy. As they disembarked, the biting cold of Ilum hit them like a physical force. Kaedan pulled his cloak tighter, grateful for the thermal underlay.

Master Yoda led them to the cave entrance, where an intricate design was carved into the ice. "The Force, you must use, to open the way," he instructed. "Together, you must work."

The younglings gathered around, reaching out with the Force as they had been taught. Kaedan closed his eyes, feeling the familiar surge of energy flowing through him. To his surprise, he found himself naturally taking the lead, guiding the others' efforts until, with a great grinding of ice, the doorway began to open.

As sunlight flooded into the cave, Master Yoda's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze fixed on Kaedan. There had been something different about the boy's Force signature just then – a depth and control that went beyond mere talent.

"Enter, you may," Yoda said, his voice carrying a hint of something Kaedan couldn't quite identify. "But remember – the real journey, inside yourselves it lies. Trust in the Force, and find your crystal, you will."

As the younglings entered the cave, Yoda remained at the entrance, lost in thought. The boy's progress was becoming impossible to ignore. Perhaps it was time to have a more in-depth conversation with young Kaedan...

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Meanwhile, light-years away on Coruscant, in the opulent office of the Supreme Chancellor, a very different conversation was taking place.

"Tell me more about this... Kaedan Dorn," Palpatine said, his voice dripping with feigned casual interest as he addressed the hologram of Mas Amedda.

The Chagrian hesitated before responding. "Information is limited, Chancellor. He's a youngling, not much younger than Skywalker. But the Jedi Council seems... unusually interested in him."

Palpatine's eyes narrowed. "More so than young Skywalker? How curious. And what makes this boy so special?"

"Reports suggest his progress in Force abilities is unprecedented," Amedda replied. "And there are whispers of... unconventional ideas. Challenges to traditional Jedi doctrine."

A slow, predatory smile spread across Palpatine's face. "How very interesting indeed. Keep a close eye on this situation, Mas. I have a feeling young Kaedan Dorn may prove... useful to our plans."

As the hologram flickered out, Palpatine turned to gaze out at the Coruscant skyline, his mind working furiously. A new player had entered the game – one that could potentially upset the careful balance he had cultivated for years. But where others might see a threat, Sidious saw opportunity. If this boy was as special as the Jedi seemed to think, perhaps he could be turned, shaped into a powerful ally... or eliminated before he became a true threat.