AN: I don't own Naruto/Star Wars: Legends
GRS 4:10:20
The holovids played out before the Jedi Council members in silence. Each replay of them had each other glancing to the others, silently trying to absorb the information and process it all. With each viewing, that felt more difficult to do with full objectivity towards the scene before them. It did not help that, for the Council, there were so few of them who were still present in the Temple. They'd called out for other members to return so that a verdict could be reached, but most with the missions they had would still need time before they would arrive and answer.
As it was, they were forced to wait, review, and watch. What they were watching wasn't pretty. A number of videos, all seeming to add up to point damning fingers, and each with their own pieces to a puzzle that had no image for them except a clear number of pieces that only vaguely matched at best.
Worst of them was vids that had suddenly been unearthed regarding what was known as the Huk War. There was no point looking for such things again when the other videos had been shown before, and yet suddenly people were sending this new video around, and it had been pulled up and brought before the Council to look it over.
It seemed innocuous at first, with a Kalee strike team moving in and clearing out Yam'rii. Then, as they move towards a pen of Kalee slaves, one removes their mask. Whiskered cheeks, and human face peaked out from under the shawl, as he held up his hand to them. The vid glitched, phasing in and out for a second and making no sound come through, but then suddenly one of them was moving towards him, arm grabbed, and the blur of a lightsaber cleaving through them before they were tossed away. The others in the cells rush out, those who had come in as the lightsaber whirled around, carving through them, then a sudden blast blew out anything else that might've been in the recording.
It was Naruto, no doubt, and need for consideration as to who it was. His actions though confused them, and there was something about the way he looked; a startled, wide-eyed expression, seeming to shout out as the Kalee he'd entered with suddenly had rushed them down. It didn't make sense, but neither did it suddenly appearing as part of the Huk War logs. The only explanation that had made sense was that it had been added to the logs. Recently.
Then, there was the imagery of what some were calling the Temple's Massacre. It was a killing of what some called only a few Jedi, but even so, it was damaging to see. The cloaked image stepping in as they spoke, moving suddenly into the center of them. It appeared that a few of those who had come to the meeting hadn't been prepared for an attack within the Temple and had come unarmed, making the attack and subsequent killings seem like they were being torn apart by elegant, smooth sweeps. Even attempts to throw them around looked to be quickly countered and ended before they could draw on the Force to stop their assailant. When the few who had lightsabers began moving to intercept, several were cut down before they could stand. Master Jmmaar was cut and killed in a way that was brutal, with each strike seeming to be intended to dismember and take him apart piece by piece. It had taken a few viewings to confirm, but eventually they determined that the master had been effectively tortured to death, by slow, methodical dismemberment.
What was strange was that one of the Jedi who had been in the room had taken a superficial wound. The Council could see it, and see the way that they laid down, as though dead, and an unfortunate amount of time before suddenly leaping upwards and cutting through the assailant's lightsaber. It took all of a second for him to reach down and grab Master Jmmaar's blade and cut through them, and the cloak fell away as the final Jedi did. Gripped it in their hand as a Kalee-masked assailant turned and looked over the carnage.
It was a plain, but unique mask. One that no one else in the Jedi Temple had. And then he walked away, went into a room, and the vids went silent for a time. After a small jump that the tech had edited for them, Naruto stumbled out, looking worse for wear, with the appearance that he'd been apparently hiding out in the room for a few minutes. Or hours, it had been difficult to determine.
Recognizing that something could have happened in the time that was skipped, Mace had asked for the full, unchanged holovids. He'd been told they'd do so soon, to help clear up the confusion. That had been two days ago.
Each of the Council members looked to one another, sighing and trying to take a moment between them all. Getting the other eight Council members to be able to show up at the same time had been more frustrating than they'd thought, as their missions had demanded much of their attention. They'd still reached out to inform them, but had heard nothing back as of yet.
After a bit, Even spoke up. "This is not a well done job for what it's trying to be."
"It's clearly a set up." Mace nodded, motioning to the vids. "I just can't figure how it is, so we can prove it and be done with it. Or, rather, who is trying to do so."
"The fact that it has spread through the Temple as quickly as it has is disturbing." Yarael Poof nodded, tapping his fingertips slowly. "This sort of thing is meant to be under investigation, to be brought before us, and to be reviewed and discussed properly. Now, I can hardly walk through the halls without one person or another trying to ask me about what I know, and speaking as though they've already made their mind up for a decision that is not theirs to make. With rumors of evidence that we have not seen."
"Troubling." Eeth muttered, gritting his teeth and shaking his head. "Someone didn't just let it slip. They must have sent it to people." Closing his eyes, he shook his head and sighed. "Our biggest issue though isn't just in the information leaks, but also in the amount of information we have. A cleaved lightsaber, a cloak, a unique mask that has a confirmed owner in the prisoner holovid, holovids that - as far as we've seen - seem to show him going into a room, then Naruto walking out of said room."
"The problem comes from this." Mace pointed, pulling up another vid; the recording of Naruto's fight against the padawans. His fighting style in it was defensive, stumbling about in some ways, with likely only muscle memory keeping him from being cut into and cut down. To each of the Council members, the vid was an assurance of one important thing. "He's not our killer."
"I agree." Even nodded, his scarred face curling into a near-snarl of a grimace. "He's practiced and trained in the art of Niman, but the strikes against the masters were closer to Djem So, if you can call such a weak stance as such. Someone who had trained themselves in the art of saber-to-saber combat. Or at least, bladed combat... which Naruto may have, if his exploits were not so thoroughly reported. The Dark Woman has been scouring the reports herself, to ensure that the proof is there."
"Naruto has proven he can hold his own in such combat..." Saesee shifted, knowing one of them had to voice that which felt most obvious to all there.
"A fight that, according to what we've been told, involved many Force techniques, from what young Aayla told us." Yarael interjected, getting several nods. "He is clever with his use of the Force, and is not the sort who would falter as such... did we ever get back his blood work? He had seemed as though he'd been injured, or intoxicated in some manner."
"Nothing yet. Each time I ask, they say it is taking time to run it through all tests possible." Saesee leaned forwards, eyes closing slowly as he exhaled through his nose in a huff. "... too much points to him, but too much also is being prevented to ascertain proof. Too many important pieces of information to disprove what we have seen... we're sure that we aren't looking too deep into this, are we?"
"No." Even held up his finger, nodding slowly. "It is our job to look into things, and to make educated judgement. To do otherwise would be a disservice to Uzumaki, and to the Jedi Order as a whole."
"And if he is the one who has done this?" Saesee rubbed his hands together, not making eye contact with the others. "I do not say this because I believe it, I think this is the most clearly fumbled set up I've seen in ages. I simply know that if we allow ourselves to be blinded by our liking of him... I must take the place of Master Shaak Ti in this instance. She has had her doubts on Naruto, and while I have not agreed with her, I do understand her wariness."
"But this is not a thing she would have cause to be wary of Naruto for. The evidence clearly has been set and placed in such a way that is clearly meant to set up Naruto." Even growled, shaking his head. "Think about it. A lightsaber in pieces, but left behind rather than collected. No one came around that room on the vids, and yet he left it, and his cloak behind for who knows how long exactly. He acted as though he had all the time in the world leaving, and managed to go down halls that were completely empty... but again, did not collect any evidence that was very clearly left behind. We've received his statement that he was in Archives before he'd suddenly lost consciousness, and have asked there. Master Tahl herself cannot say he was there from Archive data, but Master Jinn did attest to his having gone there before as he'd walked with him. We need to check the data there as well."
"More information that is missing." Mace sighed, shaking his head. "I feel we need another team to begin looking into this, and seeing what we can find."
"The question then... is who do we trust?" Even turned, looking to them all with a look of concern.
That question alone had them silent. After all this time, after all that they were enduring in gathering information, details, and the truth, suddenly they had many people they were uncertain of. Who could they trust to gather the information, if those they were trying to work with currently were not giving them the information they needed? Saying the information had been sent, and them having received nothing. Which Jedi would be unbiased, and would keep a clear head? Some of those they could think of normally were people who they had seen work with Naruto before, making it harder to find someone they could call out to. Someone they could trust.
As it was, the Jedi Temple was in what could only be considered a silent, cold riot, and the Council could do nothing but wait for other Council members to come to an ultimate decision.
[=-x-=]
Anakin was suspicious of everyone. His mind was a mess of disgruntled thoughts, and frustrations, as he tried to concentrate without success. The more he tried, and the deeper he went, the worse it became and the more he needed to rub his head and growled.
There were many people who had tried to discuss the killings either with or around him, and some who even tried to express condolences. Each time they did he grew to hate it more and more. He was currently being told to meditate and think about what he'd done just recently due to a few initiates who'd tried to talk to him, having given two of them a black eye, with one having a bloody nose as well. And yet he was in the wrong, when they'd kept talking about the event and discussing it like he'd somehow been hurt by Naruto and that they were sorry he wouldn't ever become a Jedi.
Grimacing, he tried to keep still. Focusing on the Force was one thing, but being told to meditate just to clear his mind wasn't something he was good at. Naruto had tried to begin teaching him Alchaka, but most of the masters seemed intent on teaching him how to sit still and clear his mind. Sit still, do nothing. All it seemed to do was let his mind to stew, and seethe as he tried to put it out of his mind. Instead of calming him, he only had the event on repeat.
Naruto being a killer made sense because he'd seen him do it, except that the Jedi weren't people he could see Naruto having an issue with like the Black Sun members. Master Jmmaar had been killed in a way so violent it could be thought of as someone with a grudge, but Anakin had tried to tell people that he'd seen Master Jmmaar go and talk to Naruto. As far as Naruto had told him, it had gone well, and that things had been better.
Better did not mean he was planning to suddenly break down and go on a murderous rampage.
Worse were how many people who were suddenly trying to tell him that they would take him on as their apprentice if things didn't pan out well with Naruto. He'd had several people who'd just come up to him, expressed their condolences, and then say that to him. It was becoming basically habitual for him to ignore them and keep walking, making it even harder for him to listen to many of his teachers.
He didn't want a different master. He wanted Naruto.
Then again, the fighting he'd had to those who he'd hit had given some others further doubts. Thinking that, since Naruto had been the one to bring him to the Temple, and that he still was so angry and aggressive, that he didn't belong in the Temple. That he should be given to the Service Corps now, instead of playing at the idea that he would become a Jedi. The fact they did it with him still around, as though he couldn't hear him, was infuriating.
As his mind drifted to those thoughts, some of the blocks he was trying to stack atop each other fell over, causing him to curse and rub his head. He couldn't focus. How did they expect him too when no one would shut up about it? And then everyone was acting like it was the most normal thing in the galaxy? It was just, so frustrating. Worse, it felt like the feeling permeated through the Temple. Like a mist hanging in the air, perpetually making everyone think about it, talk about it, that stirred further and further from the balance they claimed they upheld.
Hearing the doors open, Anakin peaked between his fingers, ready to be snap at them and growl at whoever entered. Thankfully, the faces of his friends peaking in brought a smile to his face. They made him have a moment where he felt almost something like an exhalation of the bad feelings he'd had just a moment before. It was amazing, how just the faces of people he actually liked helped him smile and relax.
"I heard they had you on block duty." Tru slipped in and flopped down next to him. "I can see you're doing a spectacular job at it. How high have you gotten?"
"Don't tease him," Zule flicked a finger at him, getting Tru to laugh into his hand as she sat next to Anakin. Her presence seemed to bring with her a feeling of enjoyment and a desire to have her around more - she'd called it a 'Falleen thing', but she was genuinely great to be around. "He's better than you already. Look, he'd got five there. You've gotten what, three?"
Darra also sat down across from them, shaking her head at them. "Sorry Nahdar couldn't make it. Apparently Master Fisto showed up, and he really wanted to impress him. He's supposedly looking for a new apprentice."
"You think he'll be Master Fisto's choice?" Tru blinked, caught off guard by the topic, clearly having not considered it.
"Possibly. Master Fisto is... well, he's Master Fisto. Who knows what he'll do." Darra laughed at that, shaking her head. Everyone knew Kit Fisto's reputation, and it made him all the more interesting to those who enjoyed a bit of saber training, as he had - allegedly - managed to master Shii-cho, something very few could say they'd done - or even considered doing.
"True..." Zule glanced to Anakin, sighing softly as she shifted about before leaning forwards. "... so..."
Everyone seemed to catch on, and despite the atmosphere, they all glanced to Anakin. Anakin hated it. It was unnecessary for them to look at him with such an expression, but at the same time they clearly didn't know what to do. He didn't know what to do. What could they do? Shifting and staring at the floor, Anakin said nothing.
"... you think they're going to let him go?" Tru asked after a moment, ignoring the glares from the girls. "I mean, he says he was innocent, and he's a pretty honest guy isn't he? So, maybe they'll let him go."
"They probably are thinking he did it but don't have anything to keep him away." Zule shook her head. "Which is stupid. If they don't have anything, then... doesn't that mean he didn't do it? It's poodoo."
"Guys, come on... we didn't come here to talk about this." Darra tried to drag their attention back, getting the other two to flush and shift about. "Anakin, did you want to do anything? Just, anything... something to distract you from all this?"
Anakin closed his eyes. What he wanted? The words slipped from his lips before he could think to hold them back, "I want to prove my sensei is innocent."
"Sensei?" Tru blinked, tilting his head in confusion.
"He..." Anakin blushed, looking away awkwardly as he tried to remember how Naruto had explained it to him. "Master is... fine. He knows that, but... in his world, they have a thing, uh, a word specifically for 'teacher'. That's what sensei means. And he said something about..." He frowned, scratching at his head. It had been a good thing to hear, but with everything going on he couldn't remember the rest. "Yeah, he said more... I just don't remember everything he said."
"I mean, the more you hear it, the more you'll remember it." Zule pointed out, grinning lightly. "So, if we prove he's innocent, you can ask him."
"Yeah, because we'll figure out how he's innocent." Anakin sighed, rubbing his face. "I mean, there's stuff we could try, but what if everyone else has tried it?"
"Then what if we find what they missed?" Darra asked, kicking out her foot and pushing against Anakin's leg. "Don't be a downer, it's your idea!"
"... wait what?" Anakin was startled when Darra stood up, her hand outstretched to help him up with the brightest smile he'd seen in days. "... I..."
"... well, come on, are we going or not?"
The other two seemed confused as well, but caught on faster than Anakin, standing up and glancing to Anakin with a curious look. As Anakin slowly grabbed her hand, he blinked when he was yanked up to his feet, looking between them. "... wha..."
"Well, you said you wanted to distract yourself from all this," Darra smiled, smacking his shoulder and nodding. "So, all we have to do is prove he's innocent, and that'll clear your mind!"
"But I was just saying that to..." Anakin slowly stared down at the blocks. "Won't the masters get mad if I just leave?"
"Eh." Darra shrugged. "I think they'll understand. And if they don't, then we'll all do it together when they punish us. Take the blame, I mean."
"I am not down for getting punished for this." Zule raised a finger, then slowly grinned. "So, how about we just, don't get caught?"
Anakin slowly looked between them, nodding more to himself than anything else. Yes. His mind seemed to sharpen, and it felt like he was suddenly strengthened by their confidence. Yes. He would do this. Or, rather, he would try this. He'd figure out how to prove Naruto was innocent.
Somehow.
[=-x-=]
Qui-gon frowned as he tried meditating over everything going on in the temple. His mind had grown weary, and he'd been forced to think, and rethink everything that had happened in the recent times, as he attempted to recall information only he should know. When Naruto had gotten in trouble, he'd tried stepping forward to say he had seen him enter the Archives. At the time, he'd hoped that doing so would help assist with clearing his name. Instead it had brought up more questions, and more concerns.
When the Council had tasked the Archive droids with searching for the information Naruto had pulled up, they'd come up with nothing. At first that would be easy to piece together; it could have meant he either didn't speak to a droid, which was very par the course for Naruto, or that something had been done. Except it had gone awry when one of the droids insisted it had served him, and that it should be able to pull up the information. After it had tried, it had made several confused comments, before revealing that it couldn't recall anything from that day.
Not simply the information about Naruto; nothing about what anyone had asked for that day. Not Tahl, Naruto, or anyone else. It was an entire day's worth of information just, gone.
That was what he was meditating on currently. After all that had happened, something like this could easily be overlooked. Who would take the time to notice that a day's worth of information about what people had been looking into, when a massacre had just happened? Would he have, had he not been trying to prove Naruto's innocence? Could this have gone unnoticed for years before someone had brought it up? What had been taken out? What was still there? Even with droids, with the expanse of the Archives, it would be near impossible to find out in a timely, organized manner.
It wasn't just one person's details either. There was a whole period of time that was simply missing. Every person who had been there was known to Tahl, and she'd been able to assist by quickly asking to get the information from them to clear things up on her end. Some hadn't looked up much else in that time, but more than a few brought up holocrons or details that they'd needed to research that wasn't on the list of checked out or pulled up information. Things that could've easily been forgotten, if not that it was clearly a block of information missing, that every person's information within that time period had been lost.
Rubbing at his neck, he considered the possibilities. The most likely possibility was one he wasn't liking; someone deleted it from the Archives. Not far fetched, but it implied so much, and with everything going on he wasn't sure if it was the right choice to bring it to people's attention. Except he needed to, as it pertained to their situation with Naruto as well. Which, in turn, could bring up more suspicion and panic to some who were already struggling with everything going on.
Upon piecing that information together, he'd been forced to take a look around, and notice the facts around him. People were scared. There weren't just Jedi in the Temple, but other people who helped keep things in order; technicians, gardeners, and so forth. For them to feel such fear wasn't out of the question, but there were Jedi who were also exhibiting the same fears. The whispers around the Temple that it was no longer safe, no longer a place where everyone could relax and enjoy themselves. The Temple had been under attack several times in recent years, but the deaths had been in such a manner that the Jedi had a feeling of control even despite such things. This was several Jedi, among whom several of which were Masters; with Master D'oon being one noted for being a capable lightsaber combatant. And they'd all been cut down, together, in the same room, at the same time.
The idea that it was a Jedi who had done it seemed to go over people's heads. At this point, it no longer mattered who did it, so much as the fact it had been done. Murder had been committed within the Temple. And, the more he'd looked into it, the more his concerns grew, and the more he needed this meditation to clear his thoughts.
People had been worried about it for the first day, and then it had almost dropped off to near nonexistence except to talk about in idle chatter as though they were brushing it quickly under a rug. The fact that a culprit had been caught seemed to immediately set them at ease, and almost act dismissive of the whole thing. No one dismissed that people had died, or that murder had been committed in the Temple, but rather they seemed to take it as a sign that the danger had passed because someone had been caught. That they were now in the clear, and could go about their daily lives once more.
Except that wasn't true. The real killer was still out there, with Naruto in a holding cell unjustly, waiting on the Council to find time to convene and discuss the occurrence. Worse, the longer they took to convene, the more sure that many would be that he was the killer, and the more likely they'd be unable to remember him as he had been. They would only see him as the person who'd been accused of murder.
What he could do? What could he do, with what he'd been given, and within the bounds of what information he had before him? What was he missing?
Hearing the doors opening to his chamber, he slowly sighed and shook his head. It felt like he had cobwebs cluttering his thoughts, a veil of darkness that he couldn't pierce through the veil to see the truth the Force wished him to see. It was like one who was fishing, waiting for something to grab onto the hook and be pulled in. However, he was the fish, and he was looking for the hook so he could be pulled along.
Looking towards the doorway, he took a moment before he spoke, a small smile crossing his face. "Feemor. Please, come in."
Watching Feemor enter brought a swarm of new thoughts, though not ones that were unwanted. The man was perhaps the greatest success story of his life, but it was not his own success; Xanatos had been proof of that. However, despite Xanatos showing his failings, the man was still an apprentice he'd taken. A man who had still taken in some of what he'd learnt, and grown into his own man. The short bits of time they'd had where they could speak to one another was a blessing of the Force, and times he could appreciate.
As Feemor sat down, the two stared at one another, entering loose meditative stances as they sat for a moment of silence. Then, Feemor sighed and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "... it's, been a while since we last spoke, isn't it?"
"Only a few months..." Qui-gon considered it, wincing inwardly. "Though, perhaps a bit longer than that. Still, shorter than some of the times we've been apart. We've been apart for years before."
"Years more recently." Feemor nodded, a quirk of his lips, chuckling and nodding. As soon as their laughter died out, the room fell into an awkward silence. Shifting about, the two simply sat and let the silence stretch out, until Feemor finally spoke. "I, would like your advice. I've been having some issues, and finding resolution is... not as simple as I would have hoped."
Qui-gon nodded, straightening slightly as he smiled lightly. "Well then, let's hear it."
Feemor nodded, breathing out slowly as his face scrunched up in consideration. "I... I've been unable to find ways to keep active with Sheeka. She's bright, and she's found ways to cope with being... stuck in the Temple. But she's also struggled with insight; letting the words of others shape her opinions around things she knows. I've been working with her for a while, trying to help her clear her mind, but..." He moved his hands in his lap slowly, like he was trying to place the words somewhere that seemed to not be falling into place. Eventually he sighed and rubbed his forehead. "By her age I had prepared myself as much as I could for the Trials, but the Trial of Insight... she continues being difficult for me to figure how I can help her.
"Her mental is usually sound, and her heart is often in the right place, but her ability to discern the truth hidden in words or intentions feels like it is not where it should be. Many people have offered their thoughts, and she considers them too deeply. She mulls them over, lets them sink in, and it affect her decisions. I don't dare say she's fickle, but when a strong wind blows... I fear she will be carried away by it if enough people say they agree on the issue."
Qui-gon slowly nodded, taking in that bit as he tried to consider how to assist Feemor. It was difficult to do so, as the one among his students who had been similarly like that had been Xanatos. Although, Obi-wan also had a moment where he'd been similarly as fickle; when he'd left the Order. It had been only for a short time, but he had been influenced by things he felt were good. Qui-gon couldn't blame him for that. Xanatos on the other hand had been seduced by his father for money and power, despite nearing his own Jedi Trials. The lack of insight had led him to fall to the dark side, and to cause his eventual disappearance and death.
"It's, difficult." Qui-gon's words were slow, and drawn out; signs he was struggling with his own thoughts on the matter. "Teaching insight often means breaking some of the trust you have, in the minds of some masters. Teaching them that they need to ask questions, when they've been raised to listen to and follow the words of masters to protect them. It makes teaching them that they need to think for themselves a balancing act for you as much as them. Teaching you was... easy. You always asked questions, and listened to the Force."
"The Force was the first thing to taught me to consider master." Feemor's smile was lightly sad, his eyes sliding to the side as he considered his own training. "You, only really needed to point me in the directions that were necessary."
"You were an example of a perfect student in a way. Always searching on your own answers, and coming to conclusions that I myself had come to as well. We've always fought together with much synergy, which has been the hardest part of my own growth. You..." Qui-gon paused, not certain what he himself wanted to say. That he wasn't a challenge in his own ways? That, despite the other padawan's he'd taken, Feemor had been a picturesque perfect student. He'd learnt on his own, but listened to his master's instructions. When it came time to expand his understanding in the Force he'd been receptive, and knew when he needed to trust his own understanding to expand on that. What critique did he have for a student like that? Or, maybe he could try to take it another way. "What have been your thoughts regarding her and her actions? Surely you've considered as much, if you've come to me for advice."
"I have thoughts..." Feemor nodded, shifting in his seated spot anxiously. It wasn't like him to be so nervous. "Mainly, I'd want to take her out of the Temple and have her see the galaxy more. Not for missions, or anything like that, but as training. Just to let her experience the world as it is, give her new perspectives. But the problem with that is that we're in lock down."
Qui-gon winced at that. After the massacre, the council had called a lock down for the Jedi in the Temple. While it hadn't applied to Jedi Masters who were given clearance by the Council to allow them to still assist the Republic, that still left many who were stuck in the Temple until it lifted. Many tried to protest it, saying that the culprit had been caught, but the Council had made it very clear that they needed to prove that it was Naruto, and not simply throw accusations around.
So far he'd heard nothing himself, but he had reached out in the Force, and felt that there was something wrong with it all. A darkness had perched itself in the Temple, and was watching, waiting. Something dangerous.
"I can't even take her out into Coruscant anymore." Feemor grimaced, rubbing his face in frustration. "I'm not a Master, not in the way you or they are... I can only do so much with what I am given. And while it's good, I can see that it's affecting her particularly poorly." A faint flicker of something crossed his face; perhaps, amusement. "She was anxious about Naruto before, but she's grown... more so. Some of those she's spoken to before have found her to be rather frustrating, as she has made it clear that she thinks that this is a set up, while they do not. It's not difficult to see why it would seem as such, it's just... what no one else seems to be able to answer. The question that no one can put voice to, and is leaving us all in confusion, that she keeps asking them."
"Oh?" Qui-gon perked up, the idea of a question that he may have overlooked bringing a faint gleam of hope to him.
"Who?" Feemor's eyes narrowed, his lips curling in distaste. "If it were another Jedi... who would think of killing other people, especially Jedi, in the Temple itself? If it wasn't a Jedi who did it, then how did they get the drop on Jedi? There were at least two Jedi Masters among them. Even Naruto, for all the confidence he has and the praise he's received, should have struggled with a fight like that."
Qui-gon opened his mouth to speak, but then paused. "They, were unarmed..."
"They are Jedi. We are always armed with the Force."
Feemor had a point. If they had truly been without their lightsabers, then they could have used the Force in a number of ways to attempt to throw Naruto about. But, nothing had happened. In the footage...
Qui-gon slowly stood up, a thought occurring to him. "I think you may have helped bring up an additional issue I had not considered for Naruto's case."
"... I did?"
"Yes." Offering a hand, he helped Feemor to his feet. Taking another moment, he smiled and clasped Feemor's shoulder. "You are wiser than you know my friend. I am proud of you... and if you trust those instincts, then I believe that you will help your padawan to become just as good, and wise as you."
"I... thank you." Feemor's expression said he still didn't fully understand, but he nodded and smiled, taking the compliment as it was. Sighing, and nodding to himself, he shifted as he began following Qui-gon out. "So... what was it that you found Master?"
"I think... that there's possibly something that might have been missed in the recordings." Qui-gon spoke with self-assurance, though it was clear that he was speaking without actually knowing everything. "And that there's a possibility that the person who performed this assassination was not even a Jedi."
"How is that possible? If they weren't..."
"Then they had something..." Qui-gon exhaled, his expression hardening. "Either a way to hide themselves, to enhance themselves... or to blind the Jedi to the Force."
AN: I would hardly call this the start of the ball rolling - but it's going to be playing pinball for a bit, and I'm getting things in place, and the tune is set for the dancers to take their places. More chaos is good; more confusion in the Order is better.
Not for them, obviously, for me. Because then I can have the goofy, fun things happening. I'm glad people have seen and caught on that I've been setting all this up for a while, and that this... this is some bs that needs correcting - if that's even possible. And the answer to that, is... we'll see some more of that coming up soon.
Q&A Time
Issexwithyourcloneincest: Are you saying you'd still end up making him go to his homeworks? Why? He doesn't even like the place
Who says he has to like it to return there? It's a world where he will be constantly reminded of or drawn to remembering. It's where he's from, and it's a world that isn't easy to forget - even if he did lock it away.
avidreaded: That sucks that not just his shoto but his warsaber were destroyed. The shoto was just the emitter, maybe it's repairable?
It was just the emitter, meaning the rest of the blade and it's crystal are still safe for potential reuse - if he can get them back, of course.
War Sage: What will happen to anakin?
Thus far, you've seen a hint of it; what will actually happen will come later. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten the boy.
Thank you all for your reviews, they are always great to read. If you haven't seen, the poll to go over the pairing options for Anakin on my Profile page. I look forward to seeing who you choose, and how I'll be able to consider and use it through the building story.
May this chapter find you well, and may the Force be with you.
