Chapter 3

The mission, simple as it was, was easily completed, and over the course of the next year, the two were able to arrange several missions together. It was only a matter of time though, until the two were found out. This was why he had been recalled to the Temple. Only this time, he expected to be cast out of the Jedi Order. Strangely, Cestus was not as disturbed by this as he thought he would be.

He had seen the stagnation of the Jedi Order, the dogmatic resistance of the Council to anything that challenged the way the Order had conducted its affairs for decades, if not centuries. He entered the Council Chamber straight backed and eyes forward, more like a man to be celebrated instead of made an outcast.

"Know you why you are here Jedi Cestus?" asked Master Yoda. Cestus looked straight into the old one's eyes unflinchingly and said: "Yes Master Yoda, I do." Mace Windu spoke next: "You seem unconcerned with the probable outcome of this meeting. Why is that?"

Cestus spoke clearly, deliberately choosing his words: "Masters of the Jedi Council, I expect to be cast out of the Jedi Order today for my collective actions as a member of the Jedi, not just one event or series of events, and since I know that is what will happen today, regardless of anything I say, I would like to take a moment to tell you of an insight I had back during my confinement here in the Temple after the emissary debacle."

Before Cestus could continue, Yoda said: "So certain are you?" Without skipping a beat he said: "Yes Master Yoda. I respectfully remind you of my proficiency with Force Sight of future events." "Always in motion is the future, difficult to see it is," said Yoda. You are quite right Master Yoda, but since my affinity is with specific events as it relates to the Living Force, and not with sweeping events of the Cosmic Force, I know I am right in this so please hear me out."

Mace Windu spoke tersely and said: "Speak then Jedi Cestus." Cestus took a breath and started with: "I have always been something of a maverick. Even though I was raised since infancy in the Jedi Order, I have always acted as the Force has directed. In this, I am not ashamed. During my travels in the year before taking Tala as Padawan, I discovered simple truths to the Jedi way. These ways were reinforced after I had taken on a Padawan. During my confinement, these truths crystallized into an epiphany."

Mace said: "What would that be then?" "My epiphany, the one that I would like to share with you here today, is that there is no light or dark side of the Force, only the Force itself." This statement generated in the assembled Jedi Masters the equivalent of a panic stricken riot out in public. Mace Windu was the first to recover as he virtually hissed out: "Explain."

Cestus waited for the fervor to die down and continued: "There is no light or dark side, only the one Force. It is simply the intent of the user that determines its orientation. As Jedi, we strive to use our powers for the good of all. To heal the sick and injured, to fight the cruel hearts that exist in any society, especially one as large and far reaching as the Republic. The Sith, our ancient enemy, have used it for their own benefit. For power, control or just plain cruelty. To make an example, if I use the Force to gently constrict the ability to breath in a sentient to accomplish my mission, but don't kill them, is that the Dark Side? Conversely, if a Sith does the same thing only crushes the neck of the same sentient to accomplish their mission, the only difference is the intent. It may sound like the ends justify the means but it isn't, only one point of view."

"Agree with you, we do not," said Yoda. Cestus said: "Just an example Master. All I'm trying to say is that the Council has blinded itself to the total scope of the Force. The Order as it stands today is stagnant; the Council's perspective is more like a tunnel than an open cavern. Though my ability to see large scale events is uncertain, I do see a great darkness coming in the future. There is still time to avert this darkness, if the Council will only open its Force eyes and allow the Jedi to spread its collective fingers and allow some leeway in its teachings."

"Be mindful of your feelings Cestus. You are on the brink of falling to the Dark Side if you continue this line of study," said Mace Windu. Cestus shook his head sadly and said: "I can see now that speaking was a waste of time so therefore I must let you feel it. Until now, I have been repressing my true power in the Force simply so that I would not alarm anyone. Had I fallen to the Dark Side, as you contend Mace, then I would revel in that fear, drink of it like I would a sweet nectar, or the kiss of a beautiful woman, but I do not wish that. Feel the Force around you, and you will understand what I'm trying to say."

Cestus closed his eyes for a moment and mentally unlocked all of the barriers he had erected to keep his Force signature in check. Awareness like nothing he had ever experienced before flooded into Cestus but was still harnessed and fully controlled by him. There was a sudden screeching sound around the entire Council Chamber as the various seats the members sat in were pushed back by half a meter from where they were originally.

When he opened his eyes, it was to see the awestruck faces of the entire Council looking at him in shock. The various senses he picked up from them was of uncertainty at first then something almost like acceptance for a moment, then finally the dogma of established ways and means reestablishing itself. "Very impressive Cestus but all we feel is an equal mixture of light and dark."

Again, Cestus shook his head sadly and said: "I'm sorry you still choose to remain blind to what I have said and more importantly to what you have felt in the Force. What will you do now? Kill me? Take up your weapons and strike me down because I choose to open myself fully to the Force and not just your point of view?"

Ki Adi Mundi spoke then: "We do not kill our own until and unless they fall to the Dark Side and demonstrate that they are a threat to everything and everyone. That you could even consider the possibility that we would strike you down as a threat to us is truly sad. Well do I remember the Padawan who stayed with me for a time to learn from me while Qui Gon Jinn was away on a mission deemed too dangerous for his Padawan to accompany him."

Mace Windu spoke when Ki was finished. "You are no longer fit to carry a lightsaber or call yourself a Jedi in our eyes. You will surrender your weapons to us and leave this Temple. Lest you think us petty or cruel, we will give you passage to any planet in the Republic and a small sum of credits to tide you over until you can find a niche for yourself out there. Though it may not seem so right now Cestus, we wish you the best. At such time as you find the error of your ways, you will be welcome back to the ranks of the Jedi. Until then, you will not be welcome back within these walls and should you try to start your own sect of Jedi, we will find you and stop you. Fare you well Cestus Rau, fare you well."

Cestus, seeing that no one would listen any further, placed his weapons on the floor and opened himself fully to the Force and said: "Leave Tala out of this. I was senior Knight on each of our missions. I will bear the full responsibility for our unions." For a scant second, each Master's eyes glazed over as Mace Windu said: "Worry not for Tala. You were senior Knight on your missions. You and you alone will bear the responsibility for your unions."

Cestus Rau, left the Council Chamber and encountered Qui Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, now grown into the young adult he had seen in the Vision all those years ago, and a little boy, nine or ten years old with ice blue eyes and wearing ragged clothes altogether too thin for the season on Coruscant.

Qui Gon's eyes lit up at the sight of his friend and former Padawan and shook his hand saying: "Master Cestus, it's good to see you my friend. How are you?" Cestus smiled and said: "You too old friend but you should know that I am no longer regarded as a Master. In fact, I'm not even a Jedi Knight now. I have been cast out and must leave this place, but enough of me old friend, what of you?"

Qui Gon's eyes lost a little of their light as he absorbed the news. "You will always be a Master to me my friend, more so now than ever. I felt what you did inside the Council Chamber. Only a true Master could successfully plant a Force suggestion in the minds of so many other Masters in the same place at the same time. You already know my Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi." As their eyes met, Cestus bowed lightly and said: "I see you are on your way to your own Mastery young Kenobi. Take care of yourself. Who is the little one?"

Obi-Wan blushed a little at the compliment and returned the bow with one of his own. Qui Gon motioned to the little boy who stepped forward. "This is Anakin Skywalker. He is to be trained as a Jedi. Anakin, this is Cestus Rau, a Jedi Master who was once my Padawan. He will be leaving on an extended sabbatical, but never forget him, he is one of the few to master using two lightsabers, a skill I think you will need some knowledge of if I am any judge."

Anakin took the offered hand in a firm grip and said: "Glad to meet you sir." Cestus said: "You too Anakin Skywalker. I see an immense destiny for you. Be strong and perhaps we shall meet again."