CHAPTER 6: A FAREWELL TO INNOCENCE

Telon returned to the darkness of Khal-Du-Rim. This time, Neepo went with him. They followed the catwalk until they came to the tunnels. Through tunnel six they went, past the torture room, past the crypt and down the hall they went until they reached cell one one three eight.

"Open it." Telon ordered.

Neepo did what he said and Telon entered Muergoth's cell.

"Padawan Kilnu, back again?" The darkness said. "This time however, you failed to bring me my crystal."
"Let's go." Telon said avoiding the topic. "I'm taking you back to the Temple."

Muergoth stepped into the light and Neepo cowered with fear despite the fact his face was still covered with a hood.

"Were you sent by Master Brignah?" Muergoth asked.
"I was." Telon said. "Now let's get this over with."

The three began thier voyage back to the turbolift. Each inmate that took notice made a comment to one of the three individuals. Muergoth played to them and took thier complements. After a while he began to swear he'd return to release them. Each comment irritated Telon more then the last. Muergoth continued his grand parade until Telon told him to quiet down or he'd be forced to put him back.

Muergoth decided not to test it and got quiet. Neepo escorted them all the way to the great gates where he removed Muergoth's shock bracelet.

"Will you require and assistence, Master Jedi?" Neepo asked out of a sense of duty.

"No, thank you Neepo. Your service has been most helpfull." Telon said.

With that, Neepo returned to Khal-Du-Rim and the great gates closed behind him.

"Thanks for the help, padawan." Muergoth said as he turned to leave.

"That's it?" Telon asked. "You're just going to walk away."

"I believe your reward is awaiting you at the Temple Padawan Kilnu." Muergoth said. "Besides that isn't all; I may call on you yet again for your services."

"I'll never serve you." Telon swore, intensity burning in his eyes.

Muergoth let out a slight chuckle, said: "You all ready have;" and then turned and went on his way.

Anger burned inside of Telon. He had been fooled, he was nothing more than a pawn in Muergoth's sick game. He hated being tricked, he hated being used, but most of all he hated being outsmarted. Not even the though of his beloved crystal could make him feel better.

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Upon thier return to Coorascant, Masters Yala and Sarla began work on the Jedi code. They knew however, that they could not handle this task alone. They summuned the rest of the council to help them formulate these rules. The Jedi had always held themselves to a higher standard than the rest of the galaxy yet it seemed it wasn't enough to keep the darkside at bay. They knew the code would be based greatly in the rules they laid down when they first picked up lightsabers to defend thier communities.

Peacfull resolutions were a way of life. Fighting was saved for only the most extreme conditions and only for defense, never for attack. The Jedi had always abided by rules of a higher conduct, mainly because they were devised by the philosophers of Dagobah who created an intelligent form of fighting. The two Jedi masters figured this was partly due to some foresight on the part of the philosophers, yet for all their planning, the darkside still found a way to surface. This thought was somewhat chilling, the two realized that all thier planning may be in vain.

None the less, they would create a code as planned, they would do all they could. The Jedi would be tested. The darkside would be thier biggest challenge ever. It was unlike any other foe they had ever fought before, this foe was not an external force with overwhelming numbers and invincable technology, this foe was even more dangerous, it existed in everyone of them. The Jedi spent thier life learning to take the internal strength of the force and adapt it to exterior uses, but the darkside was internal; it was a foe that could only be avoided by one's choices and superior character. The time would soon come when the force would test the character of all.

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When Telon returned to the Temple he had forgotten all about the treachery of Muergoth. He thought only of the crystal and the awesome power that await him.

He looked everywhere for Master Brignah. When finnally he found him, Brignah was boarding the turbolift that headed to the council room.

"Wait!" Telon called out as he ran to catch him. Telon entered the lift just before the doors closed.

"Hello Padawan Kilnu, is there something I can do for you?" Brignah asked as the turbolift began to ascend.

"You can give me my crystal." Telon said bluntly.

"Why, whatever do you mean?" Brignah played dumb.

"It's done, Muergoth is free. Now give me my crystal." Telon demanded.

"Give you what? I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about." Brignah continued his niavity.

"We had a deal!" Telon insisted.

"Well it's too bad that I don't give a damn, isn't it?" Brignah sneered.

Telon's eyes burned with anger, "Give me the crystal or I'll- -" he began.

"Or you'll what?" Brignah challenged. "Or you'll kill me? You don't have the strength; your feeble skills are no match for mine. You'll tell the council? Be my guest. Tell them that Muergoth, the man who tried to kill and usurp them all has escaped from the dungeon of Khal-Du-Rim and it's all your fault."

Telon's anger subsided slightly and he asked a question he should have asked much earlier. "Why? Why did you do this? Why did you want Muergoth released?"

"As a council member, let me give you some council, young Telon: stay out of this. Things have been set in motion that are too big for you. Young padawans are not meant to contend with the awesome power of the darkside." Brignah said as the lift stopped and the doors opened. "Stay out of this for your own damn good."

Brignah headed for the Council room and Telon followed, as far as he was concerned thier conversation was far from over. The doors swished open and Telon saw something he didn't expect all eleven other council members were in thier seats.

"We've been expecting you Master Brignah, but Padawan Kilnu, I'm afraid you are quite unexpected." Master Thriknog said.

"Young Telon has just confessed something to me." Brignah said. "He told me that Master Muergoth has escaped from the dungeon of Khal-Du-Rim and he was the one responsible."

"Is this true, Telon?" Sarla asked, not wanting to jump to conclusions.

"I'm afraid so, Master. I'm also afraid that I was tricked into doing so by Master Brignah." Telon confessed.

"Telon, I cannot believe you would say such a thing, after confiding in me. I'm sorry if you feel betrayed, I had to tell them, but that's no reason for you to make up stories about me." Brignah lied.

"Silent you should be." Yala said, he could see through Brignah, and knew something wasn't right.

"He offered me the key to the great holocron if I were to do this." Telon explained. "I can't explain or justify why I did it, and I intend on taking full responsiblility, I merly wanted you to know Master Brignah was involved."

"It's a lie!" Brignah blurted out. "You know the crystal is in the vault, I put it there after our last meeting."

"No proof have we of the time you placed it there." Yala pointed out.

"Master Brignah, in light of these alegations, I believe it would be wise if you step down as amember of the Jedi council." Sarla said.

Brignah glared at Sarla in anger. "Oh, you do? It's personal, isn't it?" He asked. "You've always hated me Sarla, ever since I replaced Von- Dil." Brignah declared.

"Replace Von-Dil, no one can." Yala said simply.

"I don't think it's personal, Brignah. I'm afraid I agree with Sarla." Thriknog said. "I believe you should step down. I also believe you ought to be restricted from any missions until we sort this all out."

Brignah's nostrils flared, but he knew better than to say anything. He meerly stormed out.

"As for you Padawan Kilnu; the treachery of Muergoth runs deep, we know what you were up against. The power he uncovered was too great even for Von-Dil. We have disscussed this before, and none of us blames you for your weekness. You were unfortunatly placed in a situation you never should have been in. Therefore we will ask that the courts reduce your punishment, whatever it may be. However, helping a criminal escape is a crime, and the law mut be served." Sarla said.

"I am ready for the consequences." Telon said nobely.

"When fulfilled your debt to society is, then speak of your return to the order we may." Yala said.

"Thank you, Master." Telon said as he bowed respectfully.

As Telon left the Council room, he felt tears form in his eyes. Not tears of anger or sadness but tears of shame. He had done a terrible thing and he would forever carry it with him. he was to be turned in to the Coorascant Guard in the morning. Tonight was most likely his last night in the Temple, and he would need it to say goodbye.

Telon's first stop was Occala's quarters. Occala was his finest freind, if anyone could help him in his darkest hour, it was her. He knocked softly on her door and a moment later, the door opened and Occala was in the door frame.

Telon stared at her with his somber face; the face he made when he wanted her to ask: "What's wrong?" She stared back with a somber face of her own, she had tears in her eyes.

"I heard." She said before breaking down completely and pulling her friend into a tight embrace.

"How?" Telon wondered, holding her back and losing it himself.

"Brignah stoped here just a minute ago, he told me everything." Occala explained. "I just don't know why he did."

"Because he is a sick man who delites in misery." Telon explained. "There is no other reason."

"He said they're sending you to Khal-Du-Rim." Occala said. "Is that true?"

"I don't know. I don't know what's going to happen." Telon said.

"Are you scared?" She asked.

"Terrified." He admitted. "Do me a favor, Occala."

"What?" She wondered.

"Don't forget me." He said.

"Of course not, Telon. I'll never forget you."

The two friends stood there in an embrace for a long while. The whole time, Telon wished things were simpler. He wished for the days when he padawans. He wished that day they had found Von-Dil had never happened. He wished he had never come accross the tiny little crystal that turned his life around; and he knew that somewhere Muergoth was laughing at him.

Up next: Padawan Yoda!