Oath
Rin and Dante had stepped outside of the Thunderbolt, Phaete and Tun had gone out just before the two left the ship. Sekula was the last to leave the ship, eager to stay on board due to the colder temperature on the surface of the planet. It was evening and the stars were out. The Sith hadn't followed the group to the planet. No signatures had been detected and it was still likely that the Sith might have sent a small party or a cruiser to meet the voyagers. Time certainly was against them. The second key had to be found here and then the group would be on their way.
Noticing that everyone had gone outside to gather an idea of their surroundings, Sekula pulled Dante aside; closer to the interior of the ship as he pulled the Jedi up the ramp. Cautiously, he whispered to the Knight, "Dante, that group of Sith who followed us and assaulted us were ready for us. Those ships look like they are rigged for silent running." The Jedi merely nodded, trying to grasp the idea of what the commando was trying to tell him.
"You think someone might have given them the information about us?" He asked the commando. Sekula nodded.
"I think we have a spy on board. I don't know who. I mean, we can personally vouch for my team, and I sincerely doubt the Jedi are spies. I think--"
"Haden," the young man finished the thought. He nodded. "I suspected as much. I don't know about him. I thought you knew him?"
"A long time ago, yes. When he was thinner, of course. He must have packed on a few after the...well I'll tell you anyway. We did a number of runs for several clients. I, uh, got pulled back into the war, when the Mandalorians came knocking. I heard Haden had lost his ship, one helluva beauty, I tell you. Not the Devil's Maiden, mind you. I took that one." He couldn't help but grin at the Jedi, reminiscing about his old days. "Yep. He had something much better. Harlequin's Blade." The commando whistled as he reflected on the memories of the saucer-like ship. "Yep. That was a thing of beauty. It almost rivaled the Ebon Hawk herself. But, as we all know, that baby is thing of artistic genius. I think we'd die before a Republic officer pilots something like that."
"So you don't know what he's been doing for the last 4 years?" The Jedi Knight asked the commando, cautious not to offend his friend.
"I know he has been an information gatherer. I know after the loss of the Harlequin, his career plummeted. He found himself in the cantinas nearly as often as I did. That's probably what gave him the belly." The commando smiled with mirth.
"Are you confident that he can be trusted?"
"No, Dante, I don't think we can trust him. I don't know what to say."
"All right, we'll keep our eyes on him. I just don't feel anything from him except honesty. We may have to see who else is eager to commit subterfuge. Something just doesn't feel right. There's something elusive around us and I can't seem to figure out what it is." The Jedi turned around, eager to look around as well and noticing his companions weren't paying any attention to Sekula and himself. "I know you'll stay on the ship, but if you pick up any transmissions, let me know, ok? There's more to this than what meets the eye." Sekula nodded soberly.
"All I need now is a drink," he mumbled to himself as he continued inside the ship.
As Dante walked off the ramp, he looked at his companions and especially Rin, who seemed to know the area. The terrain seemed more like plains with cracked grounds, with the obviously cold winds. There were highlights of some mountains over the ridge, that seemed to pierce the indigo sky. The sky had not a single cloud, the stars were almost out. There was a faint glimmer of light and some smoke that expanded through the air. As they continued to stand in one place, they couldn't help but feel the bite of the cold, if just a bit. Their clothing's nanosensors were matching the temperature of the body, trying to maintain a comfortable temperature for the group. The only ones who didn't feel the bite of the cold were the furry wookiee and his Padawan, K'Grhuk.
"Now that we are off Tatooine, my Padawan and I can help you out," the wookiee growled excitedly.
"Yes, though I am sure we will have the second key soon, without your assistance," the Iktotchi Master replied. He started walking towards the possible encampment, eager to get the mission underway. The wind brushed his cloak, threatening to pull it away from him. The Master pulled his robe tightly around him, continuing to walk towards the encampment.
Looking puzzled, it was Tun who spoke up first. "What's going on?"
Everyone continued to exchange looks. Dante finally chose to answer. "Your Master has a manner unbecoming of his stature. Everyone, wait inside the ship. I'll get Phaete-- Master Phaete." Before anyone could open their mouths, the Jedi had already left, running to catch up with the Master. His blood began to warm his body as he ran and caught up to the Iktotchi. "Master Phaete, you and I have to talk."
The Iktotchi paused and looked at the Jedi, noticing a somewhat stern tone in the voice of his subordinate. "Very well, Dante. What is it you wish to speak about, while the Sith come closer to rain down fire upon us?" The Master's tone was very sarcastic.
"I thought you were an observer, nothing more. As the Council said," the Knight said to his counterpart.
"I was, until I realized how poorly organized you were. I can see now why the Council had Alec accompany you."
The young man clenched his jaw. In his mind, he recited the Jedi code. There is no emotion, there is peace. "We're not disorganized. And Alec was my Master. We had spent a lot of time understanding each other and his skills as both a mentor and ally for me was why the Council sent us to go. It was a natural placement where we would best serve the Order. His death has not hindered us."
"Oh, you fail to understand, Knight," the Master said, vehemence creeping into his tone. "I am not insulting a man such as Alec. I am merely saying that you are inept and without him, the mission is doomed to fail. I still cannot see why you have achieved the rank of Knight."
There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. "I had been trained by Alec, I had surpassed him in several things. I am not inept as I have proven to the Council many times before. I am merely upholding the mandate of our mission. You have been alienating the rest of us, Master. I came back to the Order to inform them of the situation's dire circumstance. Tell me, why did you let those wounded soldiers wander back to the city through the desert?"
"They are the enemy, nothing more. And my business is my own, Knight Ravenmoon."
"They were still people. They're dead now, Phaete. You sent those people to their deaths. We are Jedi, we have to uphold that which separates us from the Sith."
"They were the Sith. You're right, Dante. We are Jedi, they are Sith. They would have killed us without a moment's hesitation."
"No, you're wrong. They were bound and we had a duty to perform: the preservation of life. What you did was monstrous and I will inform the Council of your actions."
"Just like how you slaughtered their comrades as you infiltrated their camp site? Or just like how you sent those slaves to Coruscant? Just like how you lied to the Order that those same children were Force-sensitive?"
"No, those were children that needed a home. The Jedi on Coruscant is in a much better position to help them than we are right now."
"You're wrong, I'm afraid, Dante Ravenmoon."
There is no passion, there is serenity. Dante looked at the Jedi Master, the unmistakable feeling of horror creeping into him slowly. "What do you mean?"
The Iktotchi raised his eyebrow-- if he had one, in the first place. "I informed the captain of the freighter that those children were not to go to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant."
"What did you do?" The man asked him. There is no chaos, there is harmony.
"Shortly after we made our way to hyperspace, the ship turned around for Tatooine."
There is no death, there is the Force. "You doomed those children back into slavery?" He asked. Dante felt the horror creep into him and felt the Iktotchi Jedi through the Force in a way he never thought possible. He felt a flash of the feeling and mind of the Jedi Master. He had deliberately altered the freighter's course. He had enjoyed watching the Sith doom themselves to death. He was feeding off the sorrow and despair that was beginning to slowly consume the Knight.
"Not slavery, just back to the planet Tatooine. Though what may lie in their fate is entirely up to the Captain."
"You're a Jedi. What you've done is truly horrific. It was unbecoming and dishonourable of a Jedi."
"Perhaps, but I am your superior. Vrook was right, whelp. You will benefit from my guidance."
"Such as Tun? Is she even your Apprentice?"
"Tun is as she will be," the Master replied evenly.
"And that is?"
"She is now the Apprentice of Rin Mesa. She is a failure to me, and you are obviously not qualified to lead. You couldn't figure out which holocron was even real, when we were on Tatooine. I shall lead and you shall follow."
"You're drunk on your own power, Master. I have no choice but to arrest you. Jedi Master Phaete, in the name of the Republic, the Jedi Order and the Galactic Senate, you're under arrest." He unclipped his lightsaber, igniting the cerulean blade. "You're charged with corruption and violating the Code of the Jedi."
The Iktotchi looked at the Knight, clearly impressed with the actions of the young man. "I am a Master of the Jedi Order, I am a Master in the Council. Do you really think this is wise, Dante Ravenmoon?"
"I have no other choice. You've demonized the Order and you have violated the code of the Jedi, by harming the people we swore to protect. In the name of the Jedi Order, in the Council, you are under arrest. Your lightsaber, please." The young man extended his hand towards the Jedi Master. The hum of his lightsaber filled the silent moment with its haunting sound.
"Hmph," the Master started. "It would appear that my initial assumption of you was correct." He revealed his lightsaber, which flew to the hand of Dante. "I amthe Council, while we are on this mission, Dante. Don't you forget that I can end this mission."
"You're under arrest, Phaete. Whatever power you believe you had has been suspended."
After they returned to the ship, Dante made sure that Phaete was confined to his quarters. The commandoes, as well as Lon and Simon, had elected to stay back and make sure the incarcerated Jedi Master wouldn't try anything foolish. After their altercation, Dante had to wait outside for a while to make sure that he followed the tenets of the Order.
The cool air flew around him, cooling him off. He was saddened by what he had to do, yet his heart was heavier because of the unknown fate of the children. He had promised them freedom. He had promised them a new life that was their own. He had failed them and he knew that those children were lost. He walked slowly towards the lighted encampment, heavy in heart towards those children, but eager to get this mission over with. The war was taking its toll on everyone and the urge to let anger wash over him to wipe out the Sith completely was very tempting. He found himself entertaining the thought of being seduced to the Dark Side, if only for a short time. He knew it would consume him forever, whether or not he left the Dark Side. No, when this is all over, I will find those children, he thought to himself. Determined as possible to restore hope and peace to some corner of the Galaxy, Dante looked up and continued walking towards the single light that shone in the darkness.