FOUR
Jedi Master Anakin Solo walked briskly down the corridors of the Jedi Temple. He was alone on this trek to the command room of the Jedi Council. Allon was ordered to remain in his quarters as he had been since he had returned safely last night. The boy was in a lot of trouble as of now. What he did was inexcusable and utterly reckless. It all reminded Solo of himself when he was younger. But Solo's like actions were of no consequence in this matter. The council had been informed and they ruled that it was in the hands of Solo and therefore the man had made the boy sit in his room and meditate on his infraction. Allon had been allowed to complete his lightsaber because however much restricted fun it might have brought him, it was still part of a vital lesson in becoming an experienced Jedi. The weapon was promptly taken from Allon the moment it was finished being tested. Such a powerful weapon could not go into the hands of a reckless boy, no matter how strong in the Force he was. In a month, perhaps, the boy could regain the lightsaber and begin learning how to effectively use it. The door to the command room came-up. It was a solid black portal with no scars. Solo touched the door control, making the command room become visible. He stepped in. Inside the entire council was gathered around a massive holoprojector situated in the middle of the room. All twelve of the members looked to him as he entered. "Ah," Master Ketah the Hutt sounded as he turned his attention to the man's older sister. "Anakin has arrived. Will you now tell us all about why we are here?" Anakin came in eyeing his sister strangely. She was a strong woman like their mother was-A natural born leader. At times it seemed nothing affected her. But today was different, Anakin could tell. Both her emotions and face gave her feelings away. She was in a state few had seen her in a long time. Anxiety, stress, and what bordered on total shock and even genuine fear. Call it what you wish, but Jaina was deeply disturbed. "What is it?" He couldn't help to ask. Jaina Cracken seemed to disregard the question and instead stated, "I'm glad you're here, Anakin," She looked to the council. "I have asked my brother here for a few reasons. He is a respectable and capable Jedi Master who could be on this council if he ever willed it. And also because this matter concerns him deeply." "What is this matter?" Andur Naraga asked. Beside Cracken, Master Lowbacca spoke through his vocabulator; "We have received a holo recording. It is security holocam footage from the planet Bakura-their main city, Salais D'aar." Jaina nodded and activated a green tinted cone of light. It portrayed a modern city street that was teeming with people. The skilled Jedi eyes in the room automatically focused on the black cloaked figure standing in the middle of the street. It hadn't moved since the recording began. No one in it seemed to take notice of the statuesque figure. Suddenly, without any hint or preview, the figure shrugged off its cloak and activated a blood-red lightsaber. It was a man with short hair that was blacker than the clothes he wore. The citizens where startled. Some ran while others were frozen in place. The man vaulted forward with greater speed than the camera could catch; his blade swung down and sliced a decrepit old man in half. The saber-wielding man turned and hacked away retreating people. His merciless slaughter ran for a full five minutes until the streets were littered with dead bodies in all types of mutilation. The entire council and Solo now shared in the female master's mood. The act had indeed disturbed them to their very core, as it should any being. But it was not the source of their expressions. They were horrified with disbelief because they all, deep down, knew exactly who that man was. But if what they believed was true, it defied all the laws of nature. The Ishi Tib Razel Yi was first to be able to speak. "How.is this.possible?" Behind them, Anakin Solo balled his fist. "Draxx," He cursed to himself. "This is outrageous." Master Naraga sounded. "Surely there is some mistake here. That man cannot be Valen Draxx. It cannot." "Dis is note gud," Chenuk told them. "Note gud atall." "You believe this to be Valen Draxx?" Naraga asked Cracken and Lowbacca. Jaina was reluctant to answer, "We do." "Surely this is all a hoax." Talus the Verpine commented. "Has this holo been ran through the techs for authenticity?" Jaina nodded. "As far as they can tell, there has been no tampering with this recording. I have looked into the situation. The bodies exist. Those people are dead." " And what of Draxx?" The Calamarian, Master Obile inquired. Lowbacca answered, "Gone or at the least in hiding." "Then that is not Draxx." Dors Kef stated. "An imposter who tries to gain infamy from an established enemy." "No. I have come near Draxx before. His presence in the Force is the most twisted beam of darkness I have ever felt.I sense traces of that darkness now." Naraga admitted. "And this certainly seems like the type of psychotic tricks Draxx plays." "With da Force, no ting is impossible," Barcis was convinced of the findings. "Valen Draxx.disen man is." "Would you listen to yourselves!" Anakin stepped forward. "You've all gone mad!" He looked to his older sister. "Valen Draxx was powerful-yes. Perhaps he was even stronger than our grandfather was-stronger than Luke was. He was deadly enough to destroy everyone in our family except us. But my point is that he was. He is no longer" He regarded his Selquian best friend. "Andur, you saw him die. I knocked him into space and he was de-atomized by Courscant's star-you saw this.Draxx was powerful." Anakin said woefully, recalling old memories as he looked away. He turned back with resolve. ".But not powerful enough to escape the heat of this planet's primary-I guarantee you that." Anakin was stricken with too much grief to stay in the room and continue in the conversation. Andur started to follow in order to convince him to return, but Jaina stopped him by saying, "No Andur, let him be. He'll be back when he's ready. Right now we need the entire council's input into the situation." The alien looked at her, nodded, then returned to the deactivated holoprojector. "He is right you know," Naraga told her. "There is no way he could survive such exposure to cosmic elements." Jaina Cracken addressed the entire body of beings. "Whether this is indeed Draxx or merely some imposter, the man in that recording had great skill and command of the dark side. He is a threat." She got no opposition from the rest of the council. "Now that we are all aware of this threat, we must discuss what steps will be taken to stop it." "It would seem that we are at a disadvantage here. We no little about this incident, likely little of its instigator." Talus noticed. "Yes," Master Yi agreed. "Until he chooses to reveal himself again, we must learn what we can in order to fully control the problem." "A good idea," Cracken said. "Would you like to head that team?" "Unless you can find someone better to lead, I will accept." "I will join you, Razel," Talus told him. The Ishi Tib nodded in assent to his friend and colleague. "Good," The senior member said. "Our next business is to decide how far we will go to stop this man if he resurfaces." The naturally silent Tehani spoke-up, "He will resurface. This recording is definitely a message to all of us. One that is meant to keep us guessing." Her voice was a low purr. "Indeed. Do we have any suggestions?" Lowbacca asked. "What does the New Republic think of this?" Gorisk Kay'lya asked. "Bakura is a member. Surely they have spoken out." "Not quite," Master Lowbacca objected. "I have talked with the governor of Bakura. I assured him that the problem would be of greatest concern to the Order and that there was little the Republic could do to help." "That sounds a bit unorthodox, Lowie," Kay'lya admitted. "This is an unorthodox situation." "Still, I'm sure we and Bakura would benefit from their assistance." "This is true," The Wookiee agreed. "But there is a great dilemma that is being discussed in the Senate. They are too bogged-down with their proceedings that I doubt that a cry from Bakura would even become noticed." "You speak of Xarn. The overthrow of Emperor Fariba from the Tagii Imperium." "Yes." "Viry 'porint mater dat is," Chenuk commented. "Yes," Kay'lya told the diminutive master. He turned back to the Wookiee. "But I don't believe that merely because you disapprove of the senate's return to indecisiveness that you should boycott their much needed services." "First, Admiral, it is such behavior from the New Republic that almost doomed their government. It has been fortunate enough for the galaxy, and our order, that such politicians have been absent over the last two decades, but now it seems they have return and will certainly cause problems," The Wookiee replied through his vocabulator. "I do disapprove of the senate. But I was only thinking of their unneeded input and diplomatic questions. This is our problem." "We must support the New Republic and it's governing body." Obile reminded. "But not so much that we must rely on their approval," Master Lowbacca countered. "It was our decision to no longer be an official part of their government." "But we are officially their allies." The Bothan Master told him. "As was our decision." "It was their dependence on the Republic that led to the down-fall of the original Jedi Order. We are protectors, defenders, and mediators-not politicians. We cannot sit and worry about the senate questioning our ways and motives." "I thought the Senate understood this," Talus stated. He was the newest member of the council, elected in only a year prior. Jaina Cracken finally decided to step in and answer the Verpine, "They once understood that, but now things are becoming tense again." It was all true. After the invasion, the survivors of the massacres banded together and united the galaxy. The senate had become respectable, the Jedi were able to rebuild, and thousands of systems joined the Republic. But now corruption and intolerance had returned. Many Jedi feared that it foretells of new times of struggle.
Jedi Master Anakin Solo walked briskly down the corridors of the Jedi Temple. He was alone on this trek to the command room of the Jedi Council. Allon was ordered to remain in his quarters as he had been since he had returned safely last night. The boy was in a lot of trouble as of now. What he did was inexcusable and utterly reckless. It all reminded Solo of himself when he was younger. But Solo's like actions were of no consequence in this matter. The council had been informed and they ruled that it was in the hands of Solo and therefore the man had made the boy sit in his room and meditate on his infraction. Allon had been allowed to complete his lightsaber because however much restricted fun it might have brought him, it was still part of a vital lesson in becoming an experienced Jedi. The weapon was promptly taken from Allon the moment it was finished being tested. Such a powerful weapon could not go into the hands of a reckless boy, no matter how strong in the Force he was. In a month, perhaps, the boy could regain the lightsaber and begin learning how to effectively use it. The door to the command room came-up. It was a solid black portal with no scars. Solo touched the door control, making the command room become visible. He stepped in. Inside the entire council was gathered around a massive holoprojector situated in the middle of the room. All twelve of the members looked to him as he entered. "Ah," Master Ketah the Hutt sounded as he turned his attention to the man's older sister. "Anakin has arrived. Will you now tell us all about why we are here?" Anakin came in eyeing his sister strangely. She was a strong woman like their mother was-A natural born leader. At times it seemed nothing affected her. But today was different, Anakin could tell. Both her emotions and face gave her feelings away. She was in a state few had seen her in a long time. Anxiety, stress, and what bordered on total shock and even genuine fear. Call it what you wish, but Jaina was deeply disturbed. "What is it?" He couldn't help to ask. Jaina Cracken seemed to disregard the question and instead stated, "I'm glad you're here, Anakin," She looked to the council. "I have asked my brother here for a few reasons. He is a respectable and capable Jedi Master who could be on this council if he ever willed it. And also because this matter concerns him deeply." "What is this matter?" Andur Naraga asked. Beside Cracken, Master Lowbacca spoke through his vocabulator; "We have received a holo recording. It is security holocam footage from the planet Bakura-their main city, Salais D'aar." Jaina nodded and activated a green tinted cone of light. It portrayed a modern city street that was teeming with people. The skilled Jedi eyes in the room automatically focused on the black cloaked figure standing in the middle of the street. It hadn't moved since the recording began. No one in it seemed to take notice of the statuesque figure. Suddenly, without any hint or preview, the figure shrugged off its cloak and activated a blood-red lightsaber. It was a man with short hair that was blacker than the clothes he wore. The citizens where startled. Some ran while others were frozen in place. The man vaulted forward with greater speed than the camera could catch; his blade swung down and sliced a decrepit old man in half. The saber-wielding man turned and hacked away retreating people. His merciless slaughter ran for a full five minutes until the streets were littered with dead bodies in all types of mutilation. The entire council and Solo now shared in the female master's mood. The act had indeed disturbed them to their very core, as it should any being. But it was not the source of their expressions. They were horrified with disbelief because they all, deep down, knew exactly who that man was. But if what they believed was true, it defied all the laws of nature. The Ishi Tib Razel Yi was first to be able to speak. "How.is this.possible?" Behind them, Anakin Solo balled his fist. "Draxx," He cursed to himself. "This is outrageous." Master Naraga sounded. "Surely there is some mistake here. That man cannot be Valen Draxx. It cannot." "Dis is note gud," Chenuk told them. "Note gud atall." "You believe this to be Valen Draxx?" Naraga asked Cracken and Lowbacca. Jaina was reluctant to answer, "We do." "Surely this is all a hoax." Talus the Verpine commented. "Has this holo been ran through the techs for authenticity?" Jaina nodded. "As far as they can tell, there has been no tampering with this recording. I have looked into the situation. The bodies exist. Those people are dead." " And what of Draxx?" The Calamarian, Master Obile inquired. Lowbacca answered, "Gone or at the least in hiding." "Then that is not Draxx." Dors Kef stated. "An imposter who tries to gain infamy from an established enemy." "No. I have come near Draxx before. His presence in the Force is the most twisted beam of darkness I have ever felt.I sense traces of that darkness now." Naraga admitted. "And this certainly seems like the type of psychotic tricks Draxx plays." "With da Force, no ting is impossible," Barcis was convinced of the findings. "Valen Draxx.disen man is." "Would you listen to yourselves!" Anakin stepped forward. "You've all gone mad!" He looked to his older sister. "Valen Draxx was powerful-yes. Perhaps he was even stronger than our grandfather was-stronger than Luke was. He was deadly enough to destroy everyone in our family except us. But my point is that he was. He is no longer" He regarded his Selquian best friend. "Andur, you saw him die. I knocked him into space and he was de-atomized by Courscant's star-you saw this.Draxx was powerful." Anakin said woefully, recalling old memories as he looked away. He turned back with resolve. ".But not powerful enough to escape the heat of this planet's primary-I guarantee you that." Anakin was stricken with too much grief to stay in the room and continue in the conversation. Andur started to follow in order to convince him to return, but Jaina stopped him by saying, "No Andur, let him be. He'll be back when he's ready. Right now we need the entire council's input into the situation." The alien looked at her, nodded, then returned to the deactivated holoprojector. "He is right you know," Naraga told her. "There is no way he could survive such exposure to cosmic elements." Jaina Cracken addressed the entire body of beings. "Whether this is indeed Draxx or merely some imposter, the man in that recording had great skill and command of the dark side. He is a threat." She got no opposition from the rest of the council. "Now that we are all aware of this threat, we must discuss what steps will be taken to stop it." "It would seem that we are at a disadvantage here. We no little about this incident, likely little of its instigator." Talus noticed. "Yes," Master Yi agreed. "Until he chooses to reveal himself again, we must learn what we can in order to fully control the problem." "A good idea," Cracken said. "Would you like to head that team?" "Unless you can find someone better to lead, I will accept." "I will join you, Razel," Talus told him. The Ishi Tib nodded in assent to his friend and colleague. "Good," The senior member said. "Our next business is to decide how far we will go to stop this man if he resurfaces." The naturally silent Tehani spoke-up, "He will resurface. This recording is definitely a message to all of us. One that is meant to keep us guessing." Her voice was a low purr. "Indeed. Do we have any suggestions?" Lowbacca asked. "What does the New Republic think of this?" Gorisk Kay'lya asked. "Bakura is a member. Surely they have spoken out." "Not quite," Master Lowbacca objected. "I have talked with the governor of Bakura. I assured him that the problem would be of greatest concern to the Order and that there was little the Republic could do to help." "That sounds a bit unorthodox, Lowie," Kay'lya admitted. "This is an unorthodox situation." "Still, I'm sure we and Bakura would benefit from their assistance." "This is true," The Wookiee agreed. "But there is a great dilemma that is being discussed in the Senate. They are too bogged-down with their proceedings that I doubt that a cry from Bakura would even become noticed." "You speak of Xarn. The overthrow of Emperor Fariba from the Tagii Imperium." "Yes." "Viry 'porint mater dat is," Chenuk commented. "Yes," Kay'lya told the diminutive master. He turned back to the Wookiee. "But I don't believe that merely because you disapprove of the senate's return to indecisiveness that you should boycott their much needed services." "First, Admiral, it is such behavior from the New Republic that almost doomed their government. It has been fortunate enough for the galaxy, and our order, that such politicians have been absent over the last two decades, but now it seems they have return and will certainly cause problems," The Wookiee replied through his vocabulator. "I do disapprove of the senate. But I was only thinking of their unneeded input and diplomatic questions. This is our problem." "We must support the New Republic and it's governing body." Obile reminded. "But not so much that we must rely on their approval," Master Lowbacca countered. "It was our decision to no longer be an official part of their government." "But we are officially their allies." The Bothan Master told him. "As was our decision." "It was their dependence on the Republic that led to the down-fall of the original Jedi Order. We are protectors, defenders, and mediators-not politicians. We cannot sit and worry about the senate questioning our ways and motives." "I thought the Senate understood this," Talus stated. He was the newest member of the council, elected in only a year prior. Jaina Cracken finally decided to step in and answer the Verpine, "They once understood that, but now things are becoming tense again." It was all true. After the invasion, the survivors of the massacres banded together and united the galaxy. The senate had become respectable, the Jedi were able to rebuild, and thousands of systems joined the Republic. But now corruption and intolerance had returned. Many Jedi feared that it foretells of new times of struggle.