Judgment of a path: Observer's reckoning

Chapter 5

The steady, percussive 'thump-bump' of combat boots was all that Vonta, the Observer Jedi, could hear on her way to this court of the Aing-Tii that was about to judge her. The female Aing-tii that accompanied her moved soundlessly as if she were not even there. The shear size of this creature seemed to belie its grace. She was a rather large creature. Vonta would estimate her to weigh in at around 300 to 600 pounds.

The garments she wore felt slightly heavier. That told her that the gravity here was more then the galactic average. She shakes her head. Observations about her captor's biology can wait for another time, now she must focus on her current situation.

She was being judged for the crime of her being a seeker of the old ways. No, not really judged in the sense that she committed a crime. She was being judged at her worthiness to use that knowledge that she discovered wisely.

Taking up a position directly behind her escort she stared at the sentient burning a figurative hole in her head. This one that she followed, when asked about the consequences of failing to meet the standards of the Aing-tii avoided directly answering the question of what her fate would be if she proved unworthy.

That could mean any number of things. From death, to an exile to some uncharted planet, to merely being watched and forced into complying in the future. None of those options suited her well.

They had been walking for ten minutes when they came to another arched doorway not unlike that of her quarters.

She entered and immediately noticed the echo of her footsteps as she took her first steps inside. The harmonics of this room were amazing to the Observer. Light click-clacking sound her army boots were magnified so that it resounded with brilliant clarity in the space.

Even the barest whisper was brought out into the open. That applied to all present. There was also the steady clicking and high-pitched noises that she had heard upon her arrival and assumed made up the Aing-tii language.

The lights brightened and she found herself in the center of a circle of seated Aing-Tii. This was the very spot that she first arrived. Injured and barely conscious.

The female Escort spoke telepathically, Vonta assumed that it is for her benefit.

"Good members of the council," She waved her hand in a semi-circle to include all ten of the seated Aing-tii, "I come before you today to defend the accused, Observer Jedi Vonta Horn on the count of seeking out the ancient and lost ways of the force."

The largest of the ten seated near the center of the council makes a formalized, "Very well Adjudicator, advocate for the defense. We, the Council of Ten, recognize this Observer Jedi's right to a defense. Please begin."

Vonta was perplexed. This female was her defense counsel? But she did not say much anything about her stance since the started talking just minutes ago. How was she to defend herself if she did not know what the count is as stated by the council?

She grimaced this was going to be a very trying proceeding.