"Mm. Little Aayla, it's you. Back already—from the Mandalorians?" Master Yoda asked.
"Uh… yes and no." The young Twi'lek Jedi stuck out her tongue. "Master Yoda, I brought the Mandalorians with me."
Hearing Aayla Secura's introduction, Max quickly led Christopher Rane to the door.
("Mm. The little old guy looks pretty kind and friendly—just not as adorable as Baby Yoda.") The instant Max saw Master Yoda in person, the thought popped into his head on its own.
"Hello, Master Yoda. I'm Max Vizsla. It's an honor to meet you."
"Mm!" Master Yoda's eyes lit up as he came forward without the slightest trace of pomp.
"Hello. Hello."
After greeting Max Vizsla and Christopher Rane with a handshake each, Master Yoda turned, one hand on his cane and the other gesturing them inside.
"Come in, young ones."
"After you."
Once Max and Christopher had taken their seats, Master Yoda bowed deeply to them.
"I'm sorry, Lord Vizsla. Wrong we were, the Jedi Temple. The museum matter. Apologies to you, I offer, on behalf of the Jedi Temple."
After receiving Yoda's bow, Max rose together with Christopher and returned the bow.
"Master Yoda, I accept your apology. I'm grateful for your attitude."
"Oh?" Master Yoda sat and waved them down as well. "Sit, sit, young ones. Your forgiveness—how to earn it, the Jedi Temple must?"
"Master Yoda, I want to clarify something first. In my view, how the Jedi Temple judges the incident of a Vizsla ancestor infiltrating the Jedi Temple and taking the Darksaber a thousand years ago, and how the Jedi Temple chose to present that same incident to me today as an invited guest—those are two entirely different things."
"Mmm." Master Yoda nodded and motioned for Max to continue. "Go on. Please."
"A thousand years ago, it was during the Mandalorian–Jedi War. At the time, the Vizsla ancestor—part of the Mandalorian side, an enemy faction—entered the Jedi Temple and took the Darksaber without asking. If the Jedi Temple regards that act as theft, I can understand it."
"But," Max raised a finger to emphasize the point, "after Tarre Vizsla became a Jedi, he did not abandon the name Vizsla. He was not only a Jedi—he was also a Vizsla."
"Moreover, when the Darksaber was forged, Tarre Vizsla received substantial help from Clan Vizsla—Clan Vizsla provided high-purity beskar for the hilt. That also proves Tarre Vizsla remained a Vizsla."
"So, from a Mandalorian perspective—and from Clan Vizsla's perspective—our ancestor 'inheriting' the Darksaber as an ancestral legacy is reasonable, and it also aligns with the secular law of the Galactic Republic."
"Different positions, different angles—people will understand the same thing differently." Max summed it up. "So if the Jedi Temple insists that what happened a thousand years ago was theft, I object, but I can understand why you see it that way."
"But as a descendant of Tarre Vizsla, and of the Vizsla who took the Darksaber—an invited guest to the Jedi Temple—I was effectively lectured to my face that 'a thousand years ago the Vizsla ancestor stole the Darksaber.' That is an extremely malicious and serious humiliation of me personally and of Clan Vizsla. I have a very strong objection to that, and I cannot understand or accept it."
"Mmm. Agree, I do, with what you say. How to handle it—what do you want?" Master Yoda asked seriously.
"One." Max raised a finger again. "If what happened today was simply an accident—an oversight—then you've apologized. Have the responsible person apologize as well, and we put this matter to rest."
"Two." Max held up two fingers. "If what happened today was deliberate, then only after the responsible person is dismissed and removed by the Jedi Temple can talks between us and the Jedi Temple continue."
"I want to see a specific, detailed investigation report, and I want the corresponding disciplinary outcome." Max stood and bowed to Master Yoda. "Thank you for the trouble, Master Yoda."
"Mmm. Reasonable, your request is." Master Yoda nodded in approval. "Investigate it, I have ordered the Council of First Knowledge and the Council of Reconciliation to. The report—within today, you will receive."
"Master Yoda…" // "Master Yoda,"
Max's words were cut off by someone entering.
"Oh dear—I've kept you waiting far too long. My sincerest apologies." The kindly-looking Chancellor Palpatine strode into the office at a brisk pace. The moment he stepped inside, he plastered on a smile and hurried to apologize to Yoda.
"Nothing, it is. The affairs of the whole galaxy, you must handle. Busy, you are. Understand, I do." Master Yoda rose and shook the Chancellor's hand.
"Chancellor!" Max spoke up to greet him.
"Oh!" Palpatine turned and shook Max's hand, looking genuinely delighted. "Lord Vizsla—you're here as well!"
"And this gentleman is?" Palpatine asked, extending his hand toward Christopher Rane.
Christopher stepped forward, took the Chancellor's hand, and introduced himself. "Hello, Chancellor. I'm Christopher Rane."
"Good, good. The Rane clan—noble lineage."
Then Palpatine smiled at Aayla Secura and extended a hand with a teasing tone. "And this lovely young lady must be Lord Vizsla's girlfriend, hmm? A Twi'lek Mandalorian—now that's quite rare."
("Dank farrik. Palps, you bastard—what are you playing at now?")
Aayla Secura took Palpatine's hand, visibly awkward. "Chancellor, I'm Aayla Secura, a Twi'lek Jedi—not a Twi'lek Mandalorian."
"Oh—oh, my apologies, my apologies," Palpatine said at once, bowing his head repeatedly. "Master Secura, these old eyes of mine… please forgive a confused old man."
"You're far too kind, Chancellor," Aayla said politely.
After completing the round of greetings, Palpatine turned back to Yoda and sighed theatrically. "You see, Master Yoda—Lord Vizsla and Master Secura standing together, what a perfect match. No wonder an old man like me mistook it. Ah—what the Jedi Temple sacrifices… for the galaxy's great love, you must give up private affection. Whenever I think of it, I'm filled with admiration and gratitude for the Jedi Temple."
When Palpatine noticed the faintest tightening of Max's brow, his professional smile became a real one.
("This young Mandalorian is strongly connected to the Force—no weaker than Maul or Tyrallus. In him, the light and the dark sit in a delicate balance. If I give him a hand—or if the Jedi Temple gives him a push—he'll tip completely into the embrace of the dark side.")
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PS: The "Baby Yoda" in the TV series The Mandalorian is named Grogu. He was born in 41 BBY and is of the same species as Master Yoda and Master Yaddle. At the time of this chapter, Grogu is in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, diligently being a baby.
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