Disturbances
"We've spent the last two days combing over the facility. There is no sign of Atris, Master Jace," the pint-sized blue-hued Dante said inside the Council Chambers.
"I understand, Dante," the dark-skinned man replied, nodding his head grimly. "And what of the artifacts?"
"It would appear that many—if not, most—of the artifacts are here. The only ones missing are the Sith holocrons. Cyrin, I was led to believe that they were stolen by Malak or destroyed in the Enclave."
"So was I, Dante. It would appear that Atris knew of them for a long time—perhaps she even took them. What is your current status?"
"We ran into one of her…Disciples… He was well armed and skilled in the ways of the Jedi Arts. He was obviously ordered the wait there for us—or anyone who made their way into the Hidden Academy. Cyrin, it was Mical. It turned out he was strong in the Force—far stronger than I could have ever imagined."
"Where is he now?"
"He is dead. I was forced to kill him or risk losing the life of my Padawan and myself—and any hope of retrieving the artifacts. There were too many deaths already," his voice had a twinge of regret at the death of the man, but it also contained the fierce protectionist view he held over Rena and himself.
"Before he died, did he make any attempt to say where Atris is now?"
"No, he didn't. But Mical referred to someone as Traya. I have a suspicion it may yet be Atris. I fear she will never return to the Master she once was, and what's more, she may have joined the Sith."
"The past war has consumed much of the Jedi—I am not surprised it has even taken some of the Masters," Cyrin Jace said quietly. The other members sat quietly within the chambers, listening attentively to Dante's report. "Dante," he said after a few moments, "return here with the artifacts. Download whatever information you can from the Academy and let Admiral Onasi deal with the facility in whatever way he feels fit to. Perhaps we may yet learn the whereabouts of Atris—or this Traya."
"Very well, Master," Dante replied. He hesitated for a moment before asking, "has there been any news of the Senate's decision with the Jedi Order?"
Jace sighed, stroking his chin as he replied. "The Senate has continued to grow complacent—but there has been no decision as to what their intentions are towards the Order. Several Senators have grown complacent and Chancellor Dodonna is doing her best to keep order within the Senate. We've also received word from the ambassadors from Kashyyyk that there is a situation developing there. We've dispatched Frreral to investigate—he should be back here shortly."
"Very well," Dante replied. "Has there been any news from Gideon?"
"No," Ash said, "and we do not know what has happened to him. Chancellor Dodonna tells us that Director Gran'gerst reports a disturbance within that area—but apparently CorSec is handling it. I do not fully trust that one's intentions, but Dodonna surely is telling us the truth." He paused for a moment. "From someone's point of view," he added quickly.
"Hmm, I'll arrive to Coruscant within three days. Dante out." With that, the image faded away.
Jace turned to the others in the room and sighed. "We need to have a meeting with Dodonna and find out which Senators are causing this ruckus against us. And we will need to move quickly, if the Order is to survive."
"Do you think this Traya is responsible for causing dissent within the Senate?" Tarn asked.
"It seems too convenient—but we have been too isolated since Sion and Nihilus' assault," Ash said thoughtfully. "And surely Kreia is not alive—Theresa said she had made certain of that."
"Perhaps she hasn't been telling the truth," Sneed suggested.
"Or perhaps another one has taken up the mantle of Traya," Len suggested alternatively.
"It is also possible that Kreia may have survived the ordeal on Malachor V—and is now seeking retribution," Tarn added as he noticed the others continued to speculate.
"Regardless of whether or not any of these are true, we still need to determine who is behind these startling chain of events," Jace said, returning to the point. "If Kreia still lives—or the mantle of Traya, for that matter—we must seek to end it before we reach whatever goal she or he seeks to achieve. The list of our enemies is growing larger everyday."
