Chapter Two
Across the vast expanse of space, two Jedi starfighters made the jump to lightspeed. The journey was over two standard hours, but the little ships arrived at their destination on time and on schedule.
Here we are, Joran thought to himself as the hyperspace tunnel around him slowed to a stand-still. Now home was in sight. Coruscant.
Coruscant was probably the largest planet Joran had ever been to. As the basis of the Republic, the Galactic Senate, and of the famed Jedi Temple and Academy, it stood as a beacon for those who favored peace and democracy. Even from orbit, the infinite number of towering buildings lit up Coruscant's surface like a fire ball.
Over thousands of years of civilization, the planet had been entirely enveloped by cityscapes and urban sprawl. Immense skyscrapers reached high into the atmosphere, and stretched down deep into the dark shadows. Crisscrossing the skyline were streams of unending repulsorlift traffic. Even in the depths of night, Coruscant was alive with glittering lights and rivers of traffic, a bustling megalopolis that refused to sleep.
Upon entering the atmosphere, the city planet became even more beautiful. Tall, modern skyscrapers rose from the planet's surface and nearly touched the sky while the lines of air traffic could be seen for miles in either direction. The Jedi's destination was evident: the Jedi Temple.
In recent years, and especially during the attack on Telos, the Jedi Temple's rooms were empty. The waters in the room of a thousand fountains lay still in reverence to the countless fallen Jedi, both those in exile and those lost to the snares of the dark side. The gigantic statues that lined the temple's entrance seemed more like tombstones now instead of monuments.
Joran and Rekkon quietly walked up the temple's steps and entered. To their surprise, the few Jedi that were left on the Council were there to greet them, but not with good news.
The first of the three masters was Master Atris. She was Echani by birth and it was self-evident by not only her beautiful white hair, but by the way she carried herself both in peace and in battle. She wore her familiar white robes that she had crafted herself when she had joined the Jedi Order. Now she was Joran and Rekkon's master, as they were her apprentices.
The second was Master Jolee Bindo. He was an older man with dark skin. He was serious and at the same time almost crazy. He could be quiet or irritable depending on his mood at a particular point in time. But despite his antics, he was the wisest and most knowledgeable Jedi on the Council. His anecdotes and words of caution were taken seriously as valuable training for both young and seasoned Jedi alike.
The third Master was younger than the other two, albeit one of the most experienced. Her name was Bastila Shan. She was a fiery and beautiful Jedi with shoulder-length brown hair and brilliant blue eyes. Joran at times believed he could mistake her for a pretty senator; however politics was definitely not one of Master Shan's favorite things. It was rumored that Bastila was the legendary Jedi who had resurrected Revan after he had nearly died and eventually taught him the ways of the light side. As far as anyone knew, Revan still walked a Jedi's path thanks in no small part to Bastila. However, her association with Revan was not something Bastila talked of often.
The council members all wore grim looks on their faces. Master Atris was the first to speak.
"We have sensed that you have encountered evil." She said, "The Sith perhaps?"
"It is true what you say, Master Atris." Joran said, bowing, "We have, um, encountered them."
"Your speech is a bit faulty, young Skywalker," Old Master Bindo mused, "Do you care to explain?"
"We had discovered them digging on Tatooine and Rekkon," Joran faced his fellow apprentice, "Made a motion to attack them without provocation."
"They needed to be stopped," Rekkon interjected, "They uncovered a clue left behind by Revan."
Master Atris raised her hand. "No doubt you have a reason for your actions, Rekkon, but you are out of turn."
"A clue?" Bastila asked, intrigued by what the young Jedi meant, "What did you see?"
"It was a holoprojector I guess," Rekkon said, trying to describe the object, "It opened up and displayed a map of the galaxy, but there were some pieces missing."
"A star map?" Master Bindo asked, his old eyes lighting up a the description, "Well, I haven't seen one of those in a long time."
"You know if it then?" Joran asked, eager to learn more from Master Bindo. The old Jedi closed his eyes as he remembered.
"Yes, As I recall Revan found many such devices in his attempt to locate the Star Forge. Terrible thing. They're never in one piece, that'd be too easy for the random mercenary or traveler to discover. They were left like puzzle pieces; you have to have all of them to see the big picture. Revan knew this."
"So there are others," Joran said aloud, "They said there were others."
"Yeah, to bad we couldn't get a good look at it before that Sith Lord blew it up. And-" Rekkon paused. The Master listened intently for him to continue.
"A Sith Lord?" Master Bindo repeated, "Bah, two younglings like yourselves would never hold your own against a real Lord of Sith."
"We did it." Rekkon said in a challenging tone of voice, "Maybe if you'd come with us instead of sit here you'd believe us."
"Rekkon Terak, I order you to tame your tongue at once!" Master Atris scolded fiercely, "Be mindful of your feelings! I should like to have a discussion with you privately once the rest of the council has finished with their questions." Rekkon looked down at the marble floors.
"Yes, Master," he said humbly.
"Atris," Bastila said, "I believe these two speak truly. I can see the scars that they bear. They were impossibly out manned against this Sith yet they held their own. For that they have my admiration."
"Hmph," Master Bindo crossed his arms, "When the time comes they shall prove to us that the can hold their own against a true Sith."
"Then we shall see," Atris agreed. Joran and Rekkon would have to leave the matter up to the wise council of the Jedi.
"I believe," Bastila said, "That the council should deliberate on this matter. This mysterious Sith you mention is disturbing indeed and will make matters worse with the Republic." With that, the three council members advised the apprentices to meditate in order to refocus their minds and quickly retreated to their private chambers.
"You didn't tell them about you new power, Joran." Rekkon said quietly.
"I didn't wish to disturb them, Rekkon," the young Jedi answered, there is enough to worry about without bringing that into the light."
"It'd probably just make them wary of you," Rekkon said, crossing his arms, "As if they don't sense enough of what's happening."
"Care to explain that?" Joran asked.
"You know them. Ever since our training began they have been watching us, making sure we don't even think about the dark side. They drone on about how it will be our doom."
"It is dangerous, Rekkon. The dark side was strong enough to lure Malak and Revan down its path. They were thought to be the strongest of all Jedi."
"Listen to you," Rekkon sneered, "You talk like Master Bindo and you're not even on the council. I'm not your apprentice, Joran. I don't have to listen to you."
"Hold on. You asked the question and I answered." Joran said, trying to calm Rekkon, "You're starting to act strange."
"Whatever," Rekkon waved him off, "I'm going to my chambers." The Jedi walked away, not once turning back to face Joran. The young Jedi looked on as his friend disappeared around the corner and hoped that their relationship could be mended.
Joran turned to his own chambers to meditate on the many things that had happened that day. The star map, the Sith Lord, and whatever it was that that the Council was hiding from them.
- - - - -
"The real question is this; should we tell Joran and Rekkon what we know of Revan and the events surrounding the Star Forge?" Bastila was trying to get Atris to see things from her point of view, but right now, each of the three members could not agree on anything.
The council was being held high up in the central tower of the Jedi Temple. It overlooked the brilliant Coruscant skyline that was now turning shades of red and orange.
The room itself was round and contained twelve seats, of which only three were filled. The empty seats made the room seem abandoned and desolate without Jedi Masters to fill their places.
"We will tell them nothing." Atris said, responding to Bastila's question. "They are not of age to be trusted with such matters."
"I believe that young Skywalker is perhaps ready," Jolee said, "He has proven himself to be wise and cautious."
"But to what end?" Atris said, "His mind is still easily broken. It was broken once, and it can be again." An air of silence fell upon the threesome. This was a subject they did not talk of often.
"What of Rekkon Terak?" Jolee asked, "Much anger and impulsiveness I sense in him. It will be some time before he is ready." Atris lowered her gaze.
"Yes," she said, "I feel sometimes as though I have failed that one. Perhaps he was not meant to be trained."
"You have not failed, Atris." Bastila consoled, "You have done a wondrous job in training both of them at once. The only thing you must do is have faith in them."
"I believe," Jolee said, changing the course of the deliberations, "That we should focus our energies on finding this Sith Lord. His presence was unknown to us until Joran and Rekkon discovered his intentions with the star map."
"Strange," Bastila said, "I seem to have felt his presence, but not as a foe. This one seems familiar to me."
"Such a familiarity comes from one who travels with such a person," Atris mused, "Bastila, you know of this one?"
"Perhaps," Bastila, "It's not something I have spoken of in long time."
"At any rate," Jolee said, "Joran and Rekkon need to know about their pasts; the good and the bad. We will gain nothing by lying to them."
"It will come in time." Atris resolved, "I am their master and that is the decision I have made."
"Then you propose we do nothing?" Bastila questioned, "What if they uncover the truth before you decide to tell them? Trying to cover it up will cause them both drift farther."
"I have said all I have to say." Atris said, ignoring Bastila's question, "We will tell them of the dangers of dark side and about Revan's fall."
"But are your words alone enough to keep them on the path?" Jolee asked, "There is no way to resist the temptation of the dark side unless one truly understands it. Keeping them boxed up in a false universe will not make them immune to the dangers. They need to experience these things."
"I fear they already have," Atris responded, contemplating the recent news of a new Sith Lord.
"If you ask me," Jolee continued, "Their encounter with this dark lord will affect them either in a positive or negative way. It will be the way we as their mentors guide them now that will make the difference. Let's not forget our purpose to train the next generation."
"Then this council is adjourned." Atris said, "I believe that we must-". A loud beeping noise cut her off. A computerized voice announced.
"Emergency message from Republic Intelligence."
"Accept message," Atris commanded the computer. In seconds, the projected bluish image of Admiral Carth Onasi was displayed. Onasi was the most decorated war hero of the Republic; serving in both the Mandalorian Wars and the Jedi Civil War. He was also partially responsible for the defense of his home world, Telos. Right now, Admiral Onasi looked very grim as he delivered his message.
"Admiral Onasi contacting the Jedi Council on Coruscant."
"Greetings, Admiral." Atris said, "What news do you bring?"
"Unfortunately, nothing good. We've been scanning the Malachor system for any clues as to why Malachor V was destroyed. We weren't making much progress. All our technicians have been able to figure out is that it may have been timed by a count down shadow sequence."
"Admiral," Bastila said, "Surely this is not the point of your transmission?"
"Of course not. It's what found inside the remains of the planet's core that has us worried."
"What did you find?" Atris asked.
"I'm not sure how to explain this, Master Jedi. In the center of the core we found evidence of something being built, or rebuilt."
"I'm sorry for being rude," Master Bindo asked, "But what is it exactly that you are taking about. What's being built?"
"You wouldn't believe it if I told you." Onasi said, shaking his head, "I'm sending you a visual now." The image of the Admiral withered away while static filled the holoprojector. Then the hazy image from Onasi's ship flickered to life in the center of the Council Chamber.
Atris did not recognize the image. To her it was just a simple shape though it was obvious that it wasn't good. But Jolee and Bastila knew of it all too well. They stared in disbelief, haunted by the fact that it was a reality.
Those three tall spires surrounding a large sphere. Its image echoed of the dark side. A tool of conquest and tyranny.
It was the Star Forge.
Someone had rebuilt it.