Here is chapter 4. It features a new character. Of course, like allways, I'll also ask you to please visist my homepage which u can find on my profile page. Anyways, here it is.

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Jedi Master Zade Rad'hyth sat in his throne-like-chair inside the Jedi council room. His position was near the back end of the circle that made up the twelve seats for each Jedi council member. He had been named the youngest member on the current council, at the age of 34, only a half year ago. He may not have been on the council long but he was already viewed as one of the wisest members on the council, at least by some of the Jedi knights. The rest of the council however, viewed him as problematic. While the rest of the council seemed to favor more brash and more forward tactics, Zade favored more thought out and peaceful tactics. By many Jedi, Zade was viewed as the true Jedi Master on the council... yet he was often left out and discarded in most discussions... such as the one today.

He was human, male, with a slender but athletic build. When he stood he reached about 1.8 meters in height. His skin tone was dark and his black hair was tied back into short dreadlocks. Unlike his fellow Jedi master who wore gray robes with dark red trim, Zade wore dark blue robes with black clothing underneath. He liked standing out amongst the other Masters because he differed with them on nearly every matter. Why not look the part?

The council sat in their seats as they watched a holo-image of a chalactan, a human like species, Jedi Master Borru. Master Borru was currently leading a troop of republican soldiers into a space battle with a Sith armada. He contacted the council asking them for their orders, "Our forces outnumber the Sith nearly two-to-one. However, their armada is located just outside the planet Hypori. If we engage them in battle innocent lives could be lost. The Republic general is telling my unit to join their forces and fight the Sith. The force is warning me against it though."

Master Klypso nodded her head, "Yes, we must pursue the Sith at all costs, Master Borru. Innocent lives may be lost but even more will be prevented if we can destroy this armada."

Master Borru took a deep breath and shook his head, "I feel that this is not a wise course of action."

Zade leaned forward in his seat, "Hmm... I also feel uneasy about this. Perhaps you should withdraw your unit-"

"Master Rad'hyth, surely you don't suggest leaving the Republic to face the Sith alone." Master Cled Amousous, third chair, said.

Zade looked over at him, "No. I'm suggesting that we tell the Republic to withdraw from their attack all together. Master Borru seems to be uneasy about this, as do I. You all must feel the same."

Master Klypso ignored Zade's suggestions, "Master Borru, engage the Sith. They must be eliminated."

Borru's hologram remained silent and motionless before he nodded his head, "Very well. I'll command my unit to engage the Sith..."

His image fizzled away into static as he disconnected the holo-message. When his image vanished completely Master Klypso looked over to Zade, "Master Rad'hyth, as always your opinion is appreciated but you must realise that the Sith must be stoped at all costs."

Zade curled his upper lip at the tone his name, Master Rad'hyth, kept receiving. Zade just shook his head and sighed, "At all costs? At the cost of innocent life and fallen Jedi? Are we knights for the people or for the republic?"

Master Klypso clenched her jaw and looked toward the rest of the council, "Today's meeting is dismissed." The other council members stood up, "Master Rad'hyth, would you please stay. I'd like to have a talk with you."

Zade rolled his eyes as he sat back down into his chair. It felt like his days back when he was a youngling. Doing something wrong and having to wait behind as the rest of the class was dismissed. Zade and Klypso waited in silence as every other member of the council left the council room. Cled Amousous walked passed Zade with a wide grin on his face. Zade took a deep breath and tried to exhale his frustrations away, to no avail. When the room was empty save the two, Klypso looked over to Zade from her chair, "Master Rad'hyth, perhaps you were just too young to join the council. Perhaps you'd like to resign?"

Zade shook his head and smirked, "No. I'm fine. Perhaps you are getting too old. Perhaps you would like to resign?"

Klypso stood up from her chair and walked over to him, "Master Rad'hyth, what can I do to help you understand that the Jedi order's top priority is to destroy the Sith?"

Zade stood up from his chair met her face to face, "It's not the aspect of destroying the Sith that bothers me. It's the military like manners that's permeated itself into the order. It's no secret that the Republic has manipulated the council to fit their own plans. In fact my place on the council is the only one that was decided upon Jedi vote and not Republic influence. The Republic has the order wrapped around its finger. If you can provide me with one good reason why this is a good thing I'll listen. If you can't then I'll remain speaking my mind on the council."

"Do you truly believe that we do not know what is best for the order?" Klypso avoided Zade's request.

Zade held his chin high as he looked down at the shorter Jedi Master, "Not only do I not believe in the council's overall judgment but I don't even believe in the council's sensitivity to the force anymore. Master Borru and I both felt danger in this afternoon's meeting yet no other Master seemed to relay any of the same warnings. I think you have all become so spoiled and your ego's have been so stroked by the Republic you no longer feel the need to listen to the force. You don't even act on your own anymore! You only listen to the Republic! You are not Jedi, you are military commanders!"

Klypso stared into Zade's eye for what seemed like to Zade an hour before she turned around and walked from the council room without another word. Zade took a deep breath and slumped back into his seat. He felt things were only going to get worse from here. Before it was just an uneasy tension between him and the council... now he felt as if he was an outright enemy to them. Zade knew he'd have to keep eye on the council's actions just as he knew they'd be keeping an even closer eye on him.

Outside the cafeteria in the Jedi Temple there was a large lobby with statues of fallen Jedi knights placed in rows on each side of the lobby and ivory colored pillars placed in between each statue. Zade leaned against one of these pillars rubbing his heads with the palm of his hands. The door to the cafeteria opened as a Jedi Master and two padawans exited the cafeteria into the lobby. The Jedi Master was Sarval-Styr, the Klatooinian Jedi Master that once sat in the same seat in the council that Zade now occupied. Sarval was joking around with the padawans until he noticed Zade. He patted the padawans on the back, "Take care with you're final trials and may the force be with you."

Sarval walked over to Zade with a chuckle, "You look as if you're having a bad day, Master Rad'hyth."

Zade put his hand up to Sarval, "Please... I've grown to hate my own title, Master Rad'hyth... Master Rad'hyth... Just call me Zade."

Sarval laughed, "Trouble on the council my young Jedi Master?"

Zade rested his head back against the pillar as he looked at Sarval with an exhausted look on his face, "My head is killing me! I can't concentrate on healing myself because of the constant stress from the council is clouding my mind. I may be losing my mind."

Sarval reached over and placed his hand on Zade's shoulder, "I understand what you're going through Master R-uhh... Zade."

"How did you deal with it, Master Sarval-Styr?" Zade asked.

He shrugged his shoulders, "Well... my term as council member expired. That's how I coped. Now I just have to... hold my life in their judgment. Which should frighten me more than it actually dose."

Zade sighed, "So, what time exactly did the council loose it mind?"

Sarval had to think about it for awhile, "A while ago. By the time I was accepted into the council the Republic had already influenced half the council. It was sort of an us-versus-them mentality which goes against everything the Jedi stand for. It really came down to the Jedi who fallow the traditions and those who manipulate the traditions to fit their own will... You know it wasn't really brought out that it was a war among the users of traditions until six years ago."

Zade sat a bit forward with peeked intrest, "Six years ago? When Darth Vultous was slain?"

"No" Sarval said, "Shortly after that. When padawan Laan came before the council he accused the council and the traditions itself to be flawed. He said the faulty traditions were an easy area for the Sith to target. I don't think he realized at the time that is was the Jedi themselves that were targeting the old traditions. Shorlty after that we were the ones that realized that fact though. Laan sort of brought our attention to something that deep down inside, we all knew."

Zade slumped back against the pillar and thought to himself for awhile before he started laughing, "Ha ha! Laan. I remember back when I had just passed my trials and became a Jedi knight. My first mission as a Jedi knihgt I was teamed with Master Tal and his padawan, Laan. We were sent to the Corellian star system to find a hidden Sith stronghold. Turns out it wasn't the Sith but rather a group of impersonators pretending to be the Sith. Laan, still just a teenager, was first to discover this and when he found the group of imposters, without us, he beat them and hung them upside down from the top of their stronghold with some tree vines. He kept them hanging there until Master Tal and I arrived. Master Tal scolded Laan for going on ahead of us but we both laughed about it later when Laan wasn't around."

Master Sarval joined in Zade's laughter, "He was quite the character... very apt in the ways of the force too."

Zade stopped laughing and sighed, "To be honest... if I wasn't away from the temple at the time Laan had his vision... I probably would have joined him in his fight against Darth Vultous. Hmm... I wonder what ever became of him."

"He contacted me a few years ago. He had tried his hand at bounty hunting for awhile but couldn't stand doing dirty work for even dirtier people. That's the last of what I know." Sarval said.

Zade stood up from his lean against the pillar and shook his head, "Things have truly gotten out of control. I foresee this turning into a war within the Jedi order."

Sarval's face turned stone cold serious, "I believe... it already has. The only thing that has yet to happen is mutiney."

Zade lowered his head and shook his head at the thought, "Has such a thing ever happened in the order?"

Sarval took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, "Once before. Many, many years ago. It was almost the end of the Jedi..."

Zade crossed his arms over his shoulders and was about to say something when a female Nikto Jedi Master, Zummi Quint hurried over to them. Nikto are a humanoid species with tan, leathery skin and flat faces with multiple breathing holes on their cheeks and jawbones. At least four small horns protrude from the Nikto's forehead. She gave a quick bow to each of them before she put her hands on her hip and sighed, "I just received news that Master Borru and his entire unit have been destroyed."

(Note: Here is an example of what a nikto looks like: /meta/rd/expand/expand.html?worlddatabank&img/databank/species/nikto/img/moviebg.jpg&widthundefined&heightundefined&importundefined

Zade uncrossed his arms and dropped his jaw, "Destroyed? The enitre unit?"

"Not just the Jedi unit but the Republic unit as well. Not only that but a giant scar has been left on the planet Hypori's surface." She added.

"Hypori?!" Zade looked over to Master Sarval-Styr, "That's where Master Borru's unit engaged a Sith armada. Only the Sith armada was less than half in number that the Republic's was. How could they all be destroyed?"

Sarval had a somber look on his face and in his tone of voice, "This is quite a tragedy."

Zade closed his eyes and tried to concentrate everything his mind could handle on the situation. He tired to search the wide radius of the force for any traces of the battle near Hypori. Some wise Jedi of old could concentrate on battles that had already passed, no matter how far away they were and still able be to relive moments of the battle. Zade was trying to do the same. Master Sarval and Master Quint watched Zade as he reached out to the force. Zade kept concentrating until a small, blurry image appeared in his mind. The image was of the Republic warships fighting the Sith warships in space as the planet of Hypori floated in the image's backdrop and gave of an ominous red glow across the battle. Laser fire flew back and fourth between battle ships as smaller fighters engaged in dogfights between the larger warships. Zade could just barley meke out a Jedi starfighter, Master Borru, and only moments later a large beam of light ripped through his vision and thought the republic forces. This violently threw his mind back into the present.

Zade screamed and covered his eyes as if the beam of light was right in front of him. Sarval had to grab Zade before he fell backwards into one of the statues in the lobby. Master Quint looked at Zade with amazement, "What did you see?"

Zade was gasping for air. He had to wait until he caught his breath before he could respond, "I-I'm not sure. Something destroyed the Republic armada with one shot... but I couldn't see what caused it."

Sarval had a slight smirk on his face, "Zade, I don't think I've personally seen anything like that before in my lifetime."

Zade lowered his eyebrows and clenched his fists, "I knew it! Master Borru and I both told the council that we had terrible feelings about engaging the Sith armada but they didn't listen. Instead they listened to the Republic commanding officers!"

Sarval and Quint both looked upset when Zade told them of this. Master Sarval looked over to Quint, "This is going too far. Something will have to be done..."

It was the day after Master Borru and the Republic armada was destroyed. Zade had told the rest of the council about his vision the night before and as a result a meeting was called for noon the next day, which was now today. Zade walked into the council room and saw the other eleven council members had already arrived early and started the meeting without him. He frowned as he took his seat, "I was told to meet at noon."

Master Klypso shrugged her shoulders, "Forgive us. The other eleven members all arrived early so we decided to start things."

Considering the meeting was about his vision, Zade didn't understand how this, "early meeting" could be more than an accident. This was premeditated. They wanted to talk about something with out his knowing. It didn't take long for him to find out what that was. Master Klypso looked over in Zade's direction as soon as he sat down in his chair, "Master Rad'hyth," again with the foul tone to his name, "the council has been discussing what happened to Master Borru and you're vision after the fact."

"Also we've been discussing you're foresight into the matter. You felt a warning before the battle even took place." Master Amousous added. Zade was surprised, they were actually acknowledged his warning before the battle took place yesterday. Could they actually be leading up to an apology? He seriously doubted it.

"You're vision has added a major question to an already difficult problem. What caused this slaughter?" Klypso asked rhetorically.

Zade rubbed his chin as he thought about it, "We should begin an investigation."

Master Klypso smiled, "Yes, we agree. In fact that is what we were discussing before you arrived."

"Sooo..." Zade said skeptically, "What have you gone over so far?"

"We've decided to send a Jedi to Hyproi and check things out. We want them to leave immediately." Master Klypso answered.

"Immediately?" Zade repeated, "But if they leave now they could run into the remains of the Sith armada... or even the cause of the Republic unit's destruction.. It could be dangerous."

"That is why we are only sending one Jedi. A small fighter should be able to... weave through any remaining Sith ships and avoid them. Hopefully the cause of the destruction is still there and we can find out what happened." Master Klypso told Zade.

"I understand... it still seems risky though. What Jedi would-" Zade suddenly realized what was happening. Why they began the meeting without him. Zade for the first time in years felt legitimate anger. He stood up from his seat and stared each and every council member in the eyes before facing Klypso, "You want me to do the investigation?"

Klypso smiled, "You are one of the best pilots in the order. If anyone can avoid the Sith, it is you. Besides you seem to have more foresight than any of us." She then looked at Zade with an arrogant look in her eyes, "After all, we are all so distant from the force, almost as if we were nothing but Republic commanders."

Betrayal! Zade was given this mission not just as a way to rid him from the council for a little while, or if the Sith catch him, forever, but he was given this mission as revenge for his words aginst the council earlier. Zade walked over to Klypso's seat and gazed daggers down at her, "Very well, I'll take this mission. Only because you're words about me being one of the best pilots is true but do not get me wrong.. You're actions are cowardly and vindictive. Things will not got any easier for you even if I die. But if I survive though, you can guarantee things will be brought back into the light. Allow me to repeat you're words, no matter what the cost." He turned his back to them and started walking toward the exit. Before he left he looked back over his shoulder and shot back at her, "Farewell for now, Master Klypso."

\-V-/

It was cold and dark inside this large tunnel. The tunnel was completely manmade of a thick, heavily insulated, gray metal. There were two sets of railed tracks that carried train-like-transports across the tunnels on one side of the tunnel. On the other side of the tunnel was a large platform. At one end of that platform was a silver, bullet shaped train. On the opposite side of the platform was a large, black, sliding door built into the side of the tunnel.

A group of a half dozen unique looking characters stood in a line in front of the large doors. Standing around the group were the ominous looking Sith Troopers. Each trooper stood up straight as they faced the doors. The unique group of characters stood in anticipation for those doors to open. Moments of waiting later the doors started to open. A white light peeked through the doors, blinding the line of characters. The only thing visible was the silhouette of a clocked figure. The figure stepped from the light into the tunnel as the doors closed behind him. The figure was tall and well built. Through his black cloak his broad figure was well defined. The figure walked over to one of the troopers are removed it's cloak revealing his face. He was Quarren, an alien species. They had squid like heads, donning the rude nickname, "Squid head". Quarren's heads are characterized by the four tentacles that protrude from their jaws. They have deep turquoise eyes, and each hand is capped with finned or suction-cup tipped fingers. This Quarren was a frightening individual. His name, Bast Zephyrus, a Sith.

(note: Quarren: /meta/rd/expand/expand.html?worlddatabank&img/databank/species/quarren/img/moviebg.jpg&widthundefined&heightundefined&importundefined

The Quarren stood before the group and began speaking in the common language, though with a very thick and hard to understand accent, "Do any ov' you uuunderstand what lay beyond thosssse doors?" Bast pointed to the doors with a finned finger, "Beyond thossse doors lay the pathway to the Sith. The pathway to the dark ssside! 'Veel (feel) it! The dark side v'lows (flows) throughhh this planet'sss veins! Hyarsythe academy hasss trained some of the greatest Lordsss in the history of the SSSith. Do any ov' you believe that you can sooomeday become one ov' those Dark Lords? Iv' not, then youuu don't belong here. The only goal ov' the Sith is to use the dark side of the v'orce (force) to become the true Daaark Lord and lead the Sith into victory over the Republic and the Jedi. Thisss must be something that you give you're whole selv to. You willll not be shown mercy. Youuu will live and die as a Sith!"

Nobody in the line flinched. They allready knew there was no turning back. They were told of the academy's hidden location and if they suddenly decided to turn back, they'd be killed. Bast walked closer to the line, "You have alllll been accepted to Hyarsythe academy becaussse you have great v'orce potential. More than most studentsss. That is why you stand be'vore (before), Hyarsythe academy. One ov' the greatest Sith academiesss in the galaxy. You shalllll not v'ail (fail) the Sith's... trust... in you or else you will suvver (suffer). The price v'or v'ailure is suvvering!"

(Note:I hope Bast's accent isn't too annoying or hard to understand. I hope not.)

A Sith trooper walked up next to Bast with a holo-board in his hand. On the board was a list of each individual in line. Bast took the board from the trooper and walked to the right end of the line, "I shall v'eel you're presssence in the v'orce. Most ov' you have aaalready been recommended for Hyarsythe by a Sith but I v'irst (first) must test to sssee how strong you truly arrre."

He placed his hand above the first potential student's forehead. This student was an alien type species and had a very large forehead that reached all the way to the back of her head. Bast concentrated on the student and started humming to himself. Moments later he pulled his hand away from her, "Muuuch anger I v'eel in you. You're power is lacking buuut great potential I v'eel in you."

He pounded something into the board, checking this student off as accepted. He stepped over to the next person in line. This student was a male human. This human looked as if they had once been a slave. Ragged clothing, scars over his body, scrawny build, long unkempt hair. Bast placed his hand above his forehead and repeated the process, "V'ear! (fear) Youuu are av'raid (afraid) to enter Hyarsythe academy. You are av'raid o'v deathhh. Here youuu will be taught to harness that v'ear into anger, and anger into powwwer."

He made his way down to the next potential student. This student was the largest of the six. Both in height and in mass. This one wore a white hood over their head masking their face. Bast placed his head under their hood and on to their forehead. He repeated the same exact process as the past two students. This time Bast took a step back, "Powerv'ul, very powerv'ul. A harnessed powwwer. A powerrr not untamed as the other students arrre. You're emotionsss are calm and trained. Whether or not thisss is good or bad... we have yet to dissscover. However... I dooo sense great potential in you. More than any other student I havvve yet to meet. I will be watching your progressss closely-" Bast looked down at the holo-board for the student's name, "-Ceddes."

The student removed his hood revealing his face to Bast. His long black hair fell down across his face casting eerie looking shadows across his face. He took a slight bow forward toward Bast. As he bowed forward his silver necklace of a wolf fell forward causing a light to reflect in Bast's eyes, "I will live for the Sith..." He looked up and stared Bast in the turquoise eyes and cocked a smile, "and I swear on the name of Ceddes Nemea that I will die for the Sith."

Bast chuckled to himself as he went on to the next student. He had accepted Ceddes, Ceddes Nemea. He had accepted me. I was now a part of Hyarsythe and the Sith. I would train in the ways of the Sith and the dark side. I would become a Sith... and in doing so... I will destroy them...