Now it was Maralow's turn to have a bad feeling about the situation.
He and Hotaru stood before the Jedi Council, heads bowed respectfully.
They had been waiting there for several minutes, and were getting slightly
edgy. What had they done, that they were called so urgently to Coruscant?
Had the Council heard about Maralow's most recent indiscretions, and Hotaru
was here to punish him? No, that notion was absurd; why would the Council
get a 23-year-old Knight to punish him? It was more likely that she, too,
had done something to earn a public shaming. Ah, what was another mark on
his record anyway? He was respected, in his own way, and he didn't need
the praise of these stiffs to get by.
Maralow's thoughts were interrupted as a trio of Knights and a Padawan entered the Council chamber, led by Master Yoda. They took their places before the elders, also bowing their heads respectfully, all with the same puzzled expressions in their eyes. It wasn't possible that all three of them were here to be punished – or was it?
"Greetings, Jedi Knights," Yoda said as he seated himself in his low, cushioned council seat. "Wondering, you are, why we have called you here." They all nodded slightly, still glancing about the room; all of them noticed that Mace Windu was absent from his seat.
"You are to be sent on a very dangerous, very important mission. Each of you was destined from birth to play a part in this, and we have called you together to start the cycle," said another Council member, speaking for Mace.
"What is this mission?" asked a Knight Maralow had never seen before; he eyed her varicolored robes and confidant stance and decided that she probably had a lot in common with him.
"Know the full story, we do not," Yoda replied. "In time, know more will you than any of us, Aleena Tarlana."
The knights and Padawan shifted uncomfortably in the palpable silence; what sort of a mission was this, which the council members didn't know about? The Padawan Obsessive voiced the concerns of the group in a simple question: "But how are we to know what to do when the Elders can't tell us?"
"Tell you, we will, when the final member of your team joins us." Yoda settled more comfortably into his seat, his hands clasped in front of him and a searching look in his eyes. Each of the knights felt somewhat unnerved by this; Yoda was staring them down as if they were no more than children, apprentices to be molded and taught. In truth the two-foot Master was only trying to sense any fear or apprehension in order to ally the collective fears of the Knights.
The silent examination was ended as Mace Windu strode into the council room, leading a tall, braided Padawan by the sleeve of her tunic. The Padawan looked both enormously relieved and absolutely terrified by the presence of the other six in the council room, and she took her place in line with a guarded expression on her face. Mace Windu sat in his council seat beside Yoda, still fixing the newcomer with a piercing stare. She shifted uncomfortably, like a ranat squirming under a hawkbat's hungry stare.
"Welcome, Blade Celebare," Yoda said, greeting the apprentice. "Gathered now are we. Master Windu, the Holocube."
Mace took a small silvery cube from one of the voluminous pockets of his robe and set it on the floor in front of him. The Holocube glinted in the setting sunlight, and everyone in the room felt the Force-sensitivity of the tiny object. It seemed to gather energy from everywhere, collecting it like a magnet collects metal. A few moments after it had been set on the floor the cube began to hum, and a small projector popped open from its top. A bright beam of light shot from the projector onto the floor, and a small three-dimensional figure appeared. It seemed to turn to each of the beings in the room, greeting them, and then focused its attention on the seven Jedi in the center of the room.
"Master Ssanten," Jennaria acknowledged. The Knights had all seen projections of the ancient Trandoshan Master before, during lessons with Master Yoda. When he was alive Master Ssanten had dealt in matters of fate, and had been well known for his ability to predict the future. An angry Sith had ended his life.
"Greetings, chosen ones," Ssanten's image said in a raspy hiss. "Today is a day that I have foreseen, when the Seven will be gathered and the time for action has come. Each of you has a role to play in the Coming of the One, and it is He who will bring balance to the Force. I have foreseen it all, and I will tell you what part you are to play." The image then shut off abruptly, and the cube folded back into shape. The seven looked towards Yoda, puzzled. They all had the same question in mind: Where was the rest of the message?
"Heard this, we have," Yoda said, lifting the cube to him with the Force. "Now, take this cube you must, and hear your part."
"This Holocube will only open again when one of you holds it. You must be alone, and what you are told must be shared with no one unless the message says otherwise. We were given this instruction," Mace Windu explained. "Each of you will hear what Master Ssanten has to say, and then pass the Holocube on to whomever you are told to. A transport will be ready for you tomorrow morning. Aleena Tarlana, you are the first." Without any further explanation, Mace stood and handed the small cube to Aleena. She cupped her hads around the warm object, a look of mixed trepidation and excitement on her face.
"You will hear the message in private, in your room," Mace said, returning to his seat. "The rest of you, also wait in your rooms. Blade and Obsessive, your masters have been informed that you will no longer be traveling with them. You may go."
The seven left in silence, Aleena first, Blade last. They each had burning questions, but Mace's tone of voice had warned them against asking anything. They could only hope that the message of the Holocube would give them the explanations they desired.
Once the Jedi had filed out, Yoda let out a small sigh. "Prepared, are they? Know, we do not, what they will face. But sense their peril, I do."
"Indeed, but we are not to know what awaits them," replied a long- necked Master. "For once, it is not our place to ask, but only to watch."
"Changed, it has," Yoda remarked with a hint of irony. "The students are we, and they, the Masters."
"Should we send for Qui-Gon and his apprentice now, or tomorrow?" Mace asked.
"Leave it for tomorrow," Yoda replied wearily. "Let them rest. Sense much sorrow in their future, I do."
Aleena Tarlana sat crosslegged on her bed, staring at the closed, still Holocube in front of her with a mixture of excitement and distrust. What she had been told to do… it seemed impossible, and she couldn't see the point of it. Yoda hadn't told them anything about not understanding the cube's instructions. How could she know whether she was doing good or evil if she didn't know to what end this 'fate' would lead?
Aleena stood abruptly and stretched her arms, then looked over at the time-counter on her wall. Nearly three hours had passed since she entered her room, even though it had only seemed like a few moments. She briefly wondered whether or not the other six would have time to hear their messaged before dawn; the Coruscant night was long, though, and their messages weren't necessarily as long as hers. She carefully lifted the holocube from the bed and tucked it inside one of the pockets of her robe, then strode out of her room and into the dark corridor. She almost felt like a little girl again, sneaking out at night to visit her friends.
When she reached Malarow's room she stopped and paused, recalling what the holocube had told her to tell him. She rapped her knuckles lightly on the durasteel door, then pulled the holocube from her pocket. Malarow opened the heavy door and peered out, and on seeing Aleena let out a sigh of relief.
"I thought I might be last," me muttered. "I'm dying to see what this is all about."
Aleena was about to respond when she felt an involuntary meditative sate fall over her. Her eyes rolled back slightly in her head, and just before she ceased to see things in the real world, she noted Malarow's rather disturbed expression.
"Seek the silver-haired Master where she sleeps and take whatever gift she offers," Aleena said in a misty voice. "Hear my message with all haste, for you must seek the Hidden Sith before the sun rises."
"Uh… all right," Malarow said cautiously. He took the holocube from Aleena's outstretched hands, then retreated swiftly into his room. Aleena seemed not to notice, and a few moments after the holocube had been taken from her, she fell to the floor in a faint.
A/N: Ah, chapter 2… hopefully I corrected a few character mistakes and whatnot. MordorianNazgul, is your Jedi's name spelt "Malarow" or "Maralow"? I'd hate to have to keep switching back and forth throughout this whole fic. Anyway, what did you guys think? Loved it? Hated it? Don't care? Tell me! Chapter 3 will be up as soon as I can figure out a few minor plot things.
Maralow's thoughts were interrupted as a trio of Knights and a Padawan entered the Council chamber, led by Master Yoda. They took their places before the elders, also bowing their heads respectfully, all with the same puzzled expressions in their eyes. It wasn't possible that all three of them were here to be punished – or was it?
"Greetings, Jedi Knights," Yoda said as he seated himself in his low, cushioned council seat. "Wondering, you are, why we have called you here." They all nodded slightly, still glancing about the room; all of them noticed that Mace Windu was absent from his seat.
"You are to be sent on a very dangerous, very important mission. Each of you was destined from birth to play a part in this, and we have called you together to start the cycle," said another Council member, speaking for Mace.
"What is this mission?" asked a Knight Maralow had never seen before; he eyed her varicolored robes and confidant stance and decided that she probably had a lot in common with him.
"Know the full story, we do not," Yoda replied. "In time, know more will you than any of us, Aleena Tarlana."
The knights and Padawan shifted uncomfortably in the palpable silence; what sort of a mission was this, which the council members didn't know about? The Padawan Obsessive voiced the concerns of the group in a simple question: "But how are we to know what to do when the Elders can't tell us?"
"Tell you, we will, when the final member of your team joins us." Yoda settled more comfortably into his seat, his hands clasped in front of him and a searching look in his eyes. Each of the knights felt somewhat unnerved by this; Yoda was staring them down as if they were no more than children, apprentices to be molded and taught. In truth the two-foot Master was only trying to sense any fear or apprehension in order to ally the collective fears of the Knights.
The silent examination was ended as Mace Windu strode into the council room, leading a tall, braided Padawan by the sleeve of her tunic. The Padawan looked both enormously relieved and absolutely terrified by the presence of the other six in the council room, and she took her place in line with a guarded expression on her face. Mace Windu sat in his council seat beside Yoda, still fixing the newcomer with a piercing stare. She shifted uncomfortably, like a ranat squirming under a hawkbat's hungry stare.
"Welcome, Blade Celebare," Yoda said, greeting the apprentice. "Gathered now are we. Master Windu, the Holocube."
Mace took a small silvery cube from one of the voluminous pockets of his robe and set it on the floor in front of him. The Holocube glinted in the setting sunlight, and everyone in the room felt the Force-sensitivity of the tiny object. It seemed to gather energy from everywhere, collecting it like a magnet collects metal. A few moments after it had been set on the floor the cube began to hum, and a small projector popped open from its top. A bright beam of light shot from the projector onto the floor, and a small three-dimensional figure appeared. It seemed to turn to each of the beings in the room, greeting them, and then focused its attention on the seven Jedi in the center of the room.
"Master Ssanten," Jennaria acknowledged. The Knights had all seen projections of the ancient Trandoshan Master before, during lessons with Master Yoda. When he was alive Master Ssanten had dealt in matters of fate, and had been well known for his ability to predict the future. An angry Sith had ended his life.
"Greetings, chosen ones," Ssanten's image said in a raspy hiss. "Today is a day that I have foreseen, when the Seven will be gathered and the time for action has come. Each of you has a role to play in the Coming of the One, and it is He who will bring balance to the Force. I have foreseen it all, and I will tell you what part you are to play." The image then shut off abruptly, and the cube folded back into shape. The seven looked towards Yoda, puzzled. They all had the same question in mind: Where was the rest of the message?
"Heard this, we have," Yoda said, lifting the cube to him with the Force. "Now, take this cube you must, and hear your part."
"This Holocube will only open again when one of you holds it. You must be alone, and what you are told must be shared with no one unless the message says otherwise. We were given this instruction," Mace Windu explained. "Each of you will hear what Master Ssanten has to say, and then pass the Holocube on to whomever you are told to. A transport will be ready for you tomorrow morning. Aleena Tarlana, you are the first." Without any further explanation, Mace stood and handed the small cube to Aleena. She cupped her hads around the warm object, a look of mixed trepidation and excitement on her face.
"You will hear the message in private, in your room," Mace said, returning to his seat. "The rest of you, also wait in your rooms. Blade and Obsessive, your masters have been informed that you will no longer be traveling with them. You may go."
The seven left in silence, Aleena first, Blade last. They each had burning questions, but Mace's tone of voice had warned them against asking anything. They could only hope that the message of the Holocube would give them the explanations they desired.
Once the Jedi had filed out, Yoda let out a small sigh. "Prepared, are they? Know, we do not, what they will face. But sense their peril, I do."
"Indeed, but we are not to know what awaits them," replied a long- necked Master. "For once, it is not our place to ask, but only to watch."
"Changed, it has," Yoda remarked with a hint of irony. "The students are we, and they, the Masters."
"Should we send for Qui-Gon and his apprentice now, or tomorrow?" Mace asked.
"Leave it for tomorrow," Yoda replied wearily. "Let them rest. Sense much sorrow in their future, I do."
Aleena Tarlana sat crosslegged on her bed, staring at the closed, still Holocube in front of her with a mixture of excitement and distrust. What she had been told to do… it seemed impossible, and she couldn't see the point of it. Yoda hadn't told them anything about not understanding the cube's instructions. How could she know whether she was doing good or evil if she didn't know to what end this 'fate' would lead?
Aleena stood abruptly and stretched her arms, then looked over at the time-counter on her wall. Nearly three hours had passed since she entered her room, even though it had only seemed like a few moments. She briefly wondered whether or not the other six would have time to hear their messaged before dawn; the Coruscant night was long, though, and their messages weren't necessarily as long as hers. She carefully lifted the holocube from the bed and tucked it inside one of the pockets of her robe, then strode out of her room and into the dark corridor. She almost felt like a little girl again, sneaking out at night to visit her friends.
When she reached Malarow's room she stopped and paused, recalling what the holocube had told her to tell him. She rapped her knuckles lightly on the durasteel door, then pulled the holocube from her pocket. Malarow opened the heavy door and peered out, and on seeing Aleena let out a sigh of relief.
"I thought I might be last," me muttered. "I'm dying to see what this is all about."
Aleena was about to respond when she felt an involuntary meditative sate fall over her. Her eyes rolled back slightly in her head, and just before she ceased to see things in the real world, she noted Malarow's rather disturbed expression.
"Seek the silver-haired Master where she sleeps and take whatever gift she offers," Aleena said in a misty voice. "Hear my message with all haste, for you must seek the Hidden Sith before the sun rises."
"Uh… all right," Malarow said cautiously. He took the holocube from Aleena's outstretched hands, then retreated swiftly into his room. Aleena seemed not to notice, and a few moments after the holocube had been taken from her, she fell to the floor in a faint.
A/N: Ah, chapter 2… hopefully I corrected a few character mistakes and whatnot. MordorianNazgul, is your Jedi's name spelt "Malarow" or "Maralow"? I'd hate to have to keep switching back and forth throughout this whole fic. Anyway, what did you guys think? Loved it? Hated it? Don't care? Tell me! Chapter 3 will be up as soon as I can figure out a few minor plot things.