Chapter Four
Stepping into the round chamber at the very peak of the Jedi Temple, it dawned on Evajo that this was only the fourth time he'd been here in his entire life. He had a vague recollection of his initial tests in front of Master Yoda as well as coming here to ask for permission to go to the funeral of his father and being sent on an important mission to Alderaan six months before. However it soon became apparent that things were not as they were during his last visit. The only Council members still remaining were Yoda, Mace Windu, Ki-Adi-Mundi and Plo Koon. The Clone War had left a huge dent in the Jedi Order and this was the sign of how deep that wound was. The months of war had prevented any more masters from taking places on the Council, preferring to focus on the battles themselves.
The two Jedi bowed to the Council before Forchess spoke to Master Windu. "You called us here..."
"Indeed," Windu said. "We have heard several disturbing reports from the planet Anax."
"Rumours of revolt and civil war there have been," Yoda interjected.
"Exactly. We received a distress call from their prime minister just several minutes ago and felt you would be the right person to send."
Forchess raised an eyebrow. "Anax? The name is familiar but I'm not sure where I've heard it."
The name rang a bell in the back of Evajo's mind too. Then it clicked. "Yes, Master. It was liberated from the Separatists several months ago. Many Jedi died."
Yoda nodded sadly. "Wary I am of this being repeated young Evajo." He turned to face Forchess. "That is why you must go there... end it before it begins you must."
Evajo's old teacher had no complaints about this. "Do you have any more information that we need to know?" he asked cautiously.
Mace Windu pulled a small device out of his robes and pointed it at the centre of the room. With a small click it activated a hologram in the centre of the room, which caught everyone's attention. "This is the message we received from the planet."
The recording began to play, showing a nervous middle-aged man addressing the Jedi. He spoke with a slightly fearful edge to his voice. "I am Blars Neeton, prime minister of Anax. Riots are breaking out all over the planet. Our security forces are holding them back but we need assistance. I have arranged some discussions with the leaders of this rebellion to settle the conflict but we need neutral mediators. That is why I have called you... Please. Civil war is on the horizon and it must be quelled."
The image disappeared in a flicker of blue light. The four members of the Jedi Council turned to Forchess. "Do you think you would be able to settle this?" Plo Koon asked him. From the way the alien Jedi held himself it was clear that he had yet to recover from the injuries he sustained on Geonosis.
"I feel I would need more information on the background of the planet. The minister did appear a little... vague on the origin of the problems."
"Noticed that we did," Yoda mused. "Out of fear, perhaps that discovered by these rebels his transmission would be."
"Nonetheless caution would be required," Windu added, Yoda silently nodding in agreement. "As you suggested, more information would certainly be useful."
Forchess turned to Evajo. "Would you do that for me?" he asked. "I know you don't need much of an excuse to spend time in the library." He smiled after his last statement. "I will remain here and talk more with the Council."
"Yes, Master," Evajo replied and bowed. He really wasn't used to no longer being an apprentice. "Shall I leave now?"
Forchess nodded and his old student walked out. As the doors to the Council chamber closed shut behind him he wondered what exactly was being discussed back in the room he had just left. Surely it wasn't something that could be kept hidden from him. It wasn't as if he was a student anymore. He had some kind of authority. Unless of course it had nothing to do with the mission itself. Maybe it was related to the Separatists and their ultimate plans.
Evajo couldn't help but be intrigued at the prospect of knowing more. The Council must have access to information that the rest of the Jedi knew nothing about. No doubt it is for the best but there was something... something he couldn't quite put his finger on that worried him about this war.
Stepping into the round chamber at the very peak of the Jedi Temple, it dawned on Evajo that this was only the fourth time he'd been here in his entire life. He had a vague recollection of his initial tests in front of Master Yoda as well as coming here to ask for permission to go to the funeral of his father and being sent on an important mission to Alderaan six months before. However it soon became apparent that things were not as they were during his last visit. The only Council members still remaining were Yoda, Mace Windu, Ki-Adi-Mundi and Plo Koon. The Clone War had left a huge dent in the Jedi Order and this was the sign of how deep that wound was. The months of war had prevented any more masters from taking places on the Council, preferring to focus on the battles themselves.
The two Jedi bowed to the Council before Forchess spoke to Master Windu. "You called us here..."
"Indeed," Windu said. "We have heard several disturbing reports from the planet Anax."
"Rumours of revolt and civil war there have been," Yoda interjected.
"Exactly. We received a distress call from their prime minister just several minutes ago and felt you would be the right person to send."
Forchess raised an eyebrow. "Anax? The name is familiar but I'm not sure where I've heard it."
The name rang a bell in the back of Evajo's mind too. Then it clicked. "Yes, Master. It was liberated from the Separatists several months ago. Many Jedi died."
Yoda nodded sadly. "Wary I am of this being repeated young Evajo." He turned to face Forchess. "That is why you must go there... end it before it begins you must."
Evajo's old teacher had no complaints about this. "Do you have any more information that we need to know?" he asked cautiously.
Mace Windu pulled a small device out of his robes and pointed it at the centre of the room. With a small click it activated a hologram in the centre of the room, which caught everyone's attention. "This is the message we received from the planet."
The recording began to play, showing a nervous middle-aged man addressing the Jedi. He spoke with a slightly fearful edge to his voice. "I am Blars Neeton, prime minister of Anax. Riots are breaking out all over the planet. Our security forces are holding them back but we need assistance. I have arranged some discussions with the leaders of this rebellion to settle the conflict but we need neutral mediators. That is why I have called you... Please. Civil war is on the horizon and it must be quelled."
The image disappeared in a flicker of blue light. The four members of the Jedi Council turned to Forchess. "Do you think you would be able to settle this?" Plo Koon asked him. From the way the alien Jedi held himself it was clear that he had yet to recover from the injuries he sustained on Geonosis.
"I feel I would need more information on the background of the planet. The minister did appear a little... vague on the origin of the problems."
"Noticed that we did," Yoda mused. "Out of fear, perhaps that discovered by these rebels his transmission would be."
"Nonetheless caution would be required," Windu added, Yoda silently nodding in agreement. "As you suggested, more information would certainly be useful."
Forchess turned to Evajo. "Would you do that for me?" he asked. "I know you don't need much of an excuse to spend time in the library." He smiled after his last statement. "I will remain here and talk more with the Council."
"Yes, Master," Evajo replied and bowed. He really wasn't used to no longer being an apprentice. "Shall I leave now?"
Forchess nodded and his old student walked out. As the doors to the Council chamber closed shut behind him he wondered what exactly was being discussed back in the room he had just left. Surely it wasn't something that could be kept hidden from him. It wasn't as if he was a student anymore. He had some kind of authority. Unless of course it had nothing to do with the mission itself. Maybe it was related to the Separatists and their ultimate plans.
Evajo couldn't help but be intrigued at the prospect of knowing more. The Council must have access to information that the rest of the Jedi knew nothing about. No doubt it is for the best but there was something... something he couldn't quite put his finger on that worried him about this war.