Counselling

It was later the same day that Hexer managed to call what members of the council were present together. Master Windu was present transmitting a hologram from where he remained on Geonosis. Ki Adi Mundi, Adi Gallia, Saesee Tiin and Depa Billaba were the council who had attended in the flesh. It would have taken time to arrange the council's full attendance.
"We understand you wanted to see us with utmost urgency, there is something gravely troubling you Hexer Brune." Ki Adi Mundi used an open hand gesture to encourage openness and the sharing of information.
"I overheard a gang boss named Oorbo; he's working with the Trade Federation. They plan to assassinate the Senator of Manaan, to stop him from allowing free trade to the republic. They don't want the troops and people getting medical supplies."
"This would be a serious threat indeed. The medic supplies are vital if we are to keep this war afloat, battles are arising all across the galaxy." Master Windu informed the rest of the council.
"It seems then that a Jedi should be sent to protect the senator." Adi Gallia had concluded.
"Another must also be sent to the planet Manaan." Mater Tiin added, to accepting nods from the council.
"I shall go and begin negotiations on Manaan; I shall take a Jedi Knight with me." Adi Gallia nominated herself for the role and the council all accepted her offer.
"You, Hexer, must protect the senator; you alone know the face of the enemy we deal with. May the force be with us all." Master Windu concluded the meeting quickly, probably due to the work he was doing planet side, his hologram disappearing in a flash.
"Surely someone better suited should protect the senator. I would be better suited in diplomatic negotiations." Hexer complained, though he covered it with logic Hexer was actually very anxious to be in such a dangerous position.
"Master Windu is right. This is a journey you must follow." Ki Adi Mundi said insightfully. "It is no coincidence that you uncovered this ploy, the force has caste you to protect the senator."
"I shall do as the council has ordered." Hexer left the council room and began calming his nerves and not letting his negative emotions get the better of him. Fear is a thing of the dark side and so he cast it out of his mind indefinitely.

It was many weeks before the Selkath minister would arrive on Coruscant for the vote, meaning that Hexer had a lot of time in the temple to reflect, within the period of several weeks, Hexer learned many things, causing him to make more progress in his abilities more in that short space of time than he had the previous year. It was only days after Hexer met with the council that he was tasked with taking a lecture. A common thing for Jedi Consular to be tasked with, it was unusual though for one as young as Hexer to take such a lecture. It made Hexer feel great warmth that the council had trusted him with such task, one reserved usually for Masters of the order.

The numbers of attendees were near to triple figures and consisted of mostly Padawans; though several Jedi knights and a class of excelling initiates were also there to listen to him speak. The subject he had chosen to take was 'The subtleties of the force in decision making.' The area in particular he felt would mean a learning experience for him, as well as those who came to listen.

"Welcome all." Hexer introduced himself calmly, allowing the calmness of the force allow him unhindered speech and stopping him from shaking and sweating. "As a Jedi walks through life, he does so in the hands of another. Whether we choose to or not the force is with us always, guiding the way we think and the way we act, commonly without us realising. To me, this is an element of the force I find unnerving. It can sometimes seem frightening that we are not truly in control of events but it is the way of the Jedi to embrace this, trusting in the way of the force whole heartedly. It is when our trust in the force is shaken that we are most in danger to our volatile emotions and along with it, the dark side of the force." Hexer was conscience to annunciate clearly, trying to achieve an intellectual par with Jedi Masters but not to confuse the less experienced of his listeners. "When we are faced with adversity, death, pain and war it is the duty of the Jedi to accept that it is the will of the force. My personal focus in meditation has been to try and understand the will of the force in these harsh times. I am not ashamed to admit to all of you that this goal has, thus far, eluded me. Maybe it is because there are no answers to such questions. It was only a short time ago that I realised the force shouldn't be something I questioned and instead be something I should allow help me through my life's decisions. I'll pause for a few questions quickly before I move on to the main body of the topic." His first question came from a young Togruta girl among the Clawmouse Clan of Jedi initiates who were present. Hexer was shocked; initiates never usually had enough confidence to ask questions in their classes, let alone in front of the whole hall. This young girl though stood boldly with a large smile on her face shaking her arm in the air. Just looking at the girl Hexer could tell that she would one day show great talent.

"I believe it our personality that defines us." Shouted the girl, so loud in echoed about the hall.
"Child that is not a question. You mustn't just make bold statements" Said the Clawmouse clan's supervisor.
"Sorry. Don't you think it's our personalities that drive our choices and not the force?" It took a moment for Hexer to think up a clear and understandable answer for the initiate.
"I'm not trying to say that the force makes our decisions directly. More that it shapes events around us to influence and dictate our decisions. To think that the force controls all you do is a steep step to take and an unnerving concept. You are right young one, in my eyes. It is our personality and experiences that shape how we act. Our personalities are our own but are experiences are the will of the force. It's complicated, do you understand?"
The girl gave a nod and a large satisfied smile. One that made Hexer feel warm and look forward to the day he took a Padawan of his own.

When no more questions were asked Hexer moved on to discuss many areas: force-reflex actions during lightsaber combat, looking into the future and sensing danger. All of which were ways the force helps a Jedi to make the decisions that he or she does. When Hexer had finished all he had to say those that had gathered left quickly and quietly. Though some of the younglings had caught their own enthusiasm from the young Togruta and wanted to stay, they had other classes and couldn't. Hexer collected the data pad that he used as reference during the lecture. When he looked up he realised that there was only one Jedi Knight who had stayed behind. It was Kallar Durn, rather than mocking Hexer as he usually did he met him with a warm smile. No doubt due to our now concurring ideas on the war.

"Great lecture Hexer, you're intellectual ability is much beyond that of a standard Knight." Hexer said walking down from his seat in the back row of the hall.
"Your flattery is appreciated Kallar. I sense you have news you wish to share." Hexer walked close to Kallar so that they could speak in hushed voices, there were a few Padawans who were taking a long time to pack up and leave.
"You are right, as always Hexer." He replied with hints of sarcasm. Kallar had never liked it when Hexer read his purpose from him before he had said anything. Useful at times Kallar always felt it was rude when talking to a friend. "You informed the council about the plans on Manaan. A move I commend. It's just... Bilt Ondoroy left with Adi Gallia earlier today to set up Republic stations there. I presumed if anyone else would be sent out it would be you, I wanted to ask you to look out for him... if the opportunity arises." Hexer smiled at Kallar, it felt like the first time he had ever smiled at the man, but Kallar's sentiment had touched him.
"I am bound to Coruscant for a few months pending the vote in the senate on sending Kolto supplies to our troops on the front line; if the council chooses to send me there than I would consider it my duty to defend him with my life." Stated Hexer, Kallar nodded in agreement.
"Bilt would do the same for you. Thank you." Kallar made his thanks brief and left before Hexer could even say anymore. Saying thanks, it seemed, was a difficult thing for him to do.

Hexer met with his old master in the gardens of the temple at least once a week to discuss developments and debate their views. Aamaw disagreed strongly with the war, amazed that Hexer did not take the same viewpoint as him. In the last of these meetings before the vote in the senate Hexer went with an agenda to gain all the advice he could for his upcoming mission.

"Your mission is not one that requires violence Hexer. You will remember this I'm sure. When protecting someone your work is done best if none see your work at all." Hexer heeded these words, though he knew violence should be avoided he had always thought it would be inevitable. "You must foil the planning of the assassination, not the attempt itself. This, at least, would be the action I would take. It is also, I believe, the Jedi way." Aamaw, despite being a pacifist, had seen a lot of action his time. Many a time during Hexer's own training they were sent on missions which turned to violence against the best wishes and actions of his wise and careful master. Aamaw was actually a very skilled combatant; using the power of his voice he could blow away crowds of people. This often put a swift end to combat situations such as when he and Hexer were protecting settlers on Dantooine from local mercenaries. The pair were pinned back against a wall with only a speeder for cover, stepping out Aamaw let out this powerful shout from his numerous voice boxes, it blasted near 20 mercenaries into the sky. Hexer's training with Aamaw were the best years of his life, and he believed always would be. Hexer always felt unashamed when he thought about his feeling for his master. Though the Jedi shun attachments Hexer loved Aamaw like no other, he was both like a Father and Hexer's only real friend.

"You are right master. I shall meet with the republic soldiers I'll be working with and look through all of the floor schematics, looking for ventilation networks and sewage systems. If we can calculate their options we can place men along all of their paths." This plan came to Hexer impulsively.
"Patience Hexer, you must think about undercover work or having allies on the inside. There is much more for you to take into consideration but your thoughts are a good start. You cannot be so reckless as to catch them in the act, you must strike before."
"Thank you for your council master, I have learned a lot. What of the early news on the war?" Moving on from his urgent inquiries they resumed normal discussion.
"The 'chosen one' returned with his master Kenobi from missions elsewhere. The boy has lost his hand... and a great deal more it seems." Master Aamaw was clearly troubled by the boy and so Hexer inquired further.
"What did he lose? Can you tell?"
"It is hard to be specific, but a certain decision in his life has been made. One that I fear could be the death of us all. Alas, I am just a suspicious old man with far too much time on my hands. I only hope to see the dark side eradicated from the galaxy." Aamaw looked deeply sad and troubled. He unsheathed his lightsaber from his belt and the green blade shone out from it, blending well with the plants of the garden. With a glazed over look he began to remove a thorny weed from around the base of one of the beautiful rare plants. He sheathed it quickly once the chopping had been done. "A lightsaber is a Jedi tool... and a Sith weapon."
"Master Kenobi is a skilled Jedi and truly aligned with the light side of the force. Skywalker is surely in safe hands." Hexer had looked up to Obi-wan when he was a Padawan, hearing of the courageous act of battling against Darth Maul. He was what all Padawans dreamed of being.
"Kenobi has a mixed past himself you know, I was peers with his Master Qui-Gon. He was a rebellious mind and flirted with the dark side on occasion; both he and Kenobi are susceptible to attachments. If the chosen one is the same, it could mean doom for us all." Hexer was troubled by his master's suspicions and wondered if he was seeing things where there were none.
"Master, you are troubled... Maybe some time of planet would be valuable to you."
"I have spent too much time attempting to peer into the future and it has paid heavy tolls on my mind. I have a trip in mind, a planet called Vykos, it is a most beautiful planet, yet some sort of fungus is killing all of the wild life and contaminating the many rivers. I am to investigate, but keep it as a private issue."
"Master! If you do this privately you will be out of contact, if something happens you will be unable to contact the council. You should make it an assignment." Hexer was worried for his master; he was a valuable friend of his.
"No. I wish to distance myself from all things council and chosen ones. I shall return when the war is over." Hexer smiled at this, this was a typical decision of his master in recent years. He felt old and tired, lacking patience for fast moving affairs.
"Then I wish you well my master." The shared a friendly embrace. "Promise you won't go too crazy rafting on the rapids there. Wouldn't want you getting hurt."
"If anyone needs safety it's you Hexer. This war is very dangerous indeed. There will be much death before the end." With those swift words the pair parted ways for what would turn out to be a very long time.