Chapter 20- Return
A/N let's see if I've fixed that problem
It had taken a week for the Alliance to pack everything up, Kalkan himself had reached a compromise of not letting either side of the war to have the key strategic world of Odesson they would have to fight for it but this was as far as Kalkan's tolerance of the Sith allowed.
Right now, they were headed towards Courscant to turn themselves over to the Republic, Kalkan had been told that Saresh had made it all but a dictatorship, but no one had complained when he took her prisoner. So was it really Saresh or simply people not liking the wind blowing in a more hostile stance. He was also told that the Jedi order disbanded, and though Satele Shan had left the order he knew it was false. The Jedi still fought alongside the Republic and they were coordinated. He needed to question Theron and Lana's sources on this.
Lana herself had refused to give up her Sith armour, or confirm that she was going to become a Jedi. But Kalkan knew that she simply refused to allow herself to admit that he'd convinced him, and was going to become a Jedi of her own will. Jaesa herself was more conflicted, she felt guilt over what she'd done but worried about the future. Nomen Karr had been released from a POW camp after a Republic raid. He'd be back at Courscant now, in addition, she still hadn't decided if she wanted to return to the Republic as a Jedi or a civilian. They'd have to decide soon.
"We're coming out of lightspeed in three, two, one" said Theron, he had been good at Lana's change in sides. The ship came out of lightspeed over Courscant, the five Thanta Class ships of the Alliance fleet came into being. The planet itself was protected by a fleet of forty Thanta Class ships with their hammer like design, as well as ten Valor class ships. Some have called this defence fleet excessive, yet Courscant had been attacked three time in the last 20 years, so it was time to learn from that mistake.
"Unknown force, your approach is unauthorized respond or we will shoot you down" shouted the customs agent. Well here goes nothing.
"This is the Jedi Battlemaster Kalkan Lux I'm turning myself over to the judgement of the Galactic Senate" he explained "and you can tell them that Vitiate, or the Sith Emperor or Valkorian or whatever is trapped inside my mind. And if I die, he's free again." Praying to the force that they'll believe him.
"The flagship Valiant will take you into custody, resist and you will be fired upon" replied the agent. Kalkan sighed a sigh of relief It was comforting that there was some faith to be had in whomever was commanding him.
The dock took less than five minutes, as Kalkan waited outside the airlock. Eventually though the doors open, at least hundred Republic soldiers came out to meet them, clearly they weren't taking any chances. In between them was, Lord Praven?
"Lord Praven you of all people were the one they sent to meet me?" asked Kalkan.
"No I was merely the one in charge of the Courscant fleet, it never ceases to amaze me how tolerant your people are of a previous Sith" he explained. Lord Praven, or Knight Praven as he was now had changed since Kalkan had last seen him on Corellia. Rather than his old Sith armour he was dressed in Jedi battle armour, he now handled a cross blade that was blue instead of red. His face showed signs of age and he himself held himself in a less authoritarian gesture.
"Where do the Senate wish to meet me" Kalkan asked.
"They would prefer that your allies be left here, while you take a private shuttle down" explained Praven.
"Sounds good, by the way how's it been being a Jedi" Kalkan asked as they made their way to the shuttle, curious he always liked to know how those he turned to the light were doing.
"It's comforting, relaxing and satisfying, more than a master and servants I have friends. The Light Side is fulfilling" he said, that sounded good but it was clear. Kalkan noticed though he wasn't letting his guard down, which was understandable. "Your weapons please"
"You'll never take my ultimate weapon" replied Kalkan, though he complied giving his lightsaber, Shinto and arm held blasters to Praven.
"We'll do what we can" replied Praven, but when handed a lightsaber he seemed curious. "This weapon is you're life"
"And I'm putting my life in the hands of the Republic" he replied.
They were entering the shuttle now, inside the shuttle there six seats, and no pilot.
"Where's the pilot?" asked Kalkan as he pulled down his safety harness.
"This ship is remotely controlled in case you tried to hijack it" said Praven. They clearly didn't trust me that much.
"What about the Republic, my agents said that Saresh was all but a dicator and the Jedi disbanded but I have reason to doubt" he asked, almost afraid of the answer but he had sensed Saresh, and her frustration with her lack of control. Something remained unclear.
"Saresh achieved full control of SIS and special operations, and only Satele Shan left" he explained, then why was his information faulty "the SIS became more brutal and lacked oversight, there were some who felt they had become little more than the empire" So that explained Theron and Jorgan's attitudes "and many Jedi felt that the council was disbanded since without Grandmaster Shan there hasn't been a Grandmaster until she returned"
"She's returned?" asked Kalkan, he hadn't seen her since Odesson.
"Yes she said something about the Republic not being too hard on the Empire" he said, Kalkan supposed she wanted to avoid a repeat of the Great Hyperspace war, she must have guessed that the Republic's victory was assured.
"We're here" said one of the Republic soldiers as the ship landed softly.