Star Wars - Floral Murdock

Chirrut meets Matt, a boy who is not only strong with the Force, but also has inexplicable sensory abilities. And Matt is also blind. How did he end up in charge of this kid again?

13 BBY

“I told you not to mouth off to Stormtroopers, and yet here we are again,” Baze griped as he and Chirrut walked down the hallway towards the living quarters of the Guardians of the Whills.

“I managed to drop to the ground in time. The Force protected me.” Chirrut sniped back, intentionally reopening the age-old source of bickering material.

“The Force may be powerful, but I was the one who stunned him.”

Their argument came to a stop as they entered the healer’s quarters. Altais, the temple healer, would have none of that.

“I'll be with you in a moment,” Altais called as she shuffled something around towards the back of the room.

Chirrut heard footsteps, along with the elderly Torgruta woman’s sigh as she took in the sight of them. “Chirrut, are you bleeding again?”

“No, I just fell on my wrist.”

“Come here, I'll look at it.”

Soon afterwards, Chirrut's wrist was wrapped in a bandage. “Thanks, Altais,” he said, getting up to leave.

“Wait --- Chirrut, I’ve been meaning to talk to you.”

“About what?”

“You remember how we found that boy on the streets the other day, and took him in?”

“Yes.”

“Well, he's blind. And there's. . . There's something wrong with him. He's in terrible pain, and I can't figure it out for the life of me. I'm starting to think that it might be psychosomatic. I was wondering if you would talk to him.”

“I can do that,” Chirrut replied. It was the least he could do for Altais, even if he didn't have much experience with children. Honestly, he wasn't entirely sure what Altais expected him to do with the boy, but he'd try his best.

“He's in here,” Altais brought him to a small room next to her chambers. “Matt? This is Chirrut.”

Chirrut heard rustling, as if the boy was moving restlessly on the bed. Matt let out quiet noises of pain as he entered the room.

As soon as Chirrut stepped closer, he was hit by an onslaught of sensation. The harsh rub of rough fabric on skin. The smell of herbs, sweat, and bacta emanating from Altais. And the sounds--- people talking, their footsteps echoing through the halls of the Temple. Other Guardians cooking and working and praying, all as loud as if they were in the room.

Chirrut stepped back, reeling from the accudental contact with Matt’s mind. The boy was strong with the Force, that much was obvious now that Chirrut had come back to himself somewhat. But that sensation of feeling everything? Chirrut had never heard of the Force manifesting itself like that before.

No wonder the boy was hurting, if that was how he experienced the world. Chirrut was at a loss for what to say.

“Hi, I'm Chirrut,” he said, careful to keep his voice low.

“I'm Matt,” the boy said, sounding as if it pained him to speak.

“I'm here to try to help you. I don't know what's happening to you, but I do know that you have the Force. I can teach you to use it, and that might help you manage your senses.”

“I have the Force?”