A/N: Well here we are Chapter 39: Instabilities.
Chapter 39: Instabilities
While the battle for Waldstahl raged, on Tython, a verbal battle was being waged in the council chamber. The contestants were Jedi Master Artorika versus Meetra Surik. The council watched as Artorika accused Summer of using her powers of memory alteration for direct manipulation, Jaune testifying against Summer as well. The council all had their eyes on Surik as she was sweating nervously, but she knew she still had control, as she was being interrogated by the council, though she was glad Satele was not here to deal with this. Even Surik knew the Visorium order if it had returned could be a tremendous threat.
Artorika was calm in her accusations but she council knew, she would be disgusted by Surik's methods and always quietly protested her friend's actions, though now she was fed up and thoroughly disgusted by them. She could understand using it to recover those who had fallen, though she detested Surik for her actions of using it on those who were neutral to the war. She Remembered when Jaune came to see her an hour before this meeting.
An hour prior Jaune had come looking for her, he was distraught, considering what he had just learned, she couldn't blame him. He had seen his friends practicing velocities with Surik overseeing their learning. He told Artorika, he watched them train with blue and green training sabers and waited for them to be dismissed before confronting them. He had asked them what got them to change their minds on becoming Jedi, what they told him tipped him off to what had occurred,
"Jaune we always wanted to become Jedi," and Jaune parroted this to Artorika with the context of that being an outright fabrication, they wanted nothing to do with the War, let alone join the Jedi. This fact angered Artorika which caused her to call the emergency council meeting that she did.
"Surik, I don't know why you did what you did-" Artorika said only to get interrupted by Surik.
"We are on the brink of war Artorika, we need all the Jedi we can get, if that means I have to use my abilities to speed up the process of building up our forces, I will!" Meetra explained vigorously, making her actions sound to the council like a necessary evil, and this explanation swayed some of the more verbose members of the council. Though it was at this point Surik had Artorika right under her thumb, as what she said next turned the council against her, "Besides you are one to talk Artorika, you wanted me to rewrite Viridian Malserik's mind if you captured him," This line got all of the council looking at Artorika, all looks that said "she still has feelings for that traitor?" This one line shifted the entire tone of the council. Normally Satele would be here to reign the council in and defend Artorika's view. Without Satele present, Artorika and Jaune were taking massive amounts of verbal flak for this statement by Surik, Causing Jaune to fire back with what he had.
"Master Rose," Jaune spoke making a point by using her Remnant name, "I take it you know of what happened on the Pride of Alderaan?"
"I do not, Knight Arc, as you refuse to give us all the details," Surik replied, with a hostility in her voice as she knew he was the whistleblower as he had encountered her twelve knew Remnant learners and apparently he had tried to recruit them and they declined.
"I saw Ruby, your daughter," Jaune said, feeling the need to remind Summer who her daughter was, as she seemingly did not care about her anymore. "And she was a Sith!" Jaune continued trying to discredit Surik, though it backfired with her response.
"She will see the light eventually, she is a pure soul, Jaune," Surik said with a smile as the council remained quiet, "She is my daughter and she will become a Jedi when she is ready," It was at this moment Jaune saw darkness behind Summer. He frowned and left, the young knight had realized what Surik would do to her own daughter for her plans. He was quickly followed by Artorika, who was as thoroughly disgusted as he was.
Jaune had returned to his quarters as did Artorika, who was contemplating her next move. She had to wait for Satele to get back before she could make any moves. With that thought, she was worried about the outcome of the battle of Waldstahl, as they had not heard anything from Satele or anyone from the assault team. She hoped the operation was a success and the Visoriums were routed, but there was the other part of her that wanted Malserik to be alright. She knew he wouldn't be able to return to the order, but she just wanted him back, as impossible as that was. She regretted not helping him when she noticed the signs, she regretted that she couldn't stop him. Though one part of her regretted not going with her friend.
"The past is the past," she muttered to herself, "It can not be changed, Artorika," she continued to herself. She knew she would face repercussions for her views on Malserik, considering the most recent 'betrayal' of Xiao Long was still fresh in the minds of the Jedi. Which had caused the further clamp down on families in the Order. As it stood there were faction lines being drawn in the order, Satele and what were being called as the Arbiters by the Hardliners, the group that was in line with what Surik preached. Though there were the Pacifists and the Neutrals. This divide was concerning to those Jedi who didn't care for politics, as they thought this could fracture the Jedi.
On Coruscant, in the Jedi embassy, Lie Ren sat at his desk as the council meeting came to a close, he was frankly shocked by what he heard from Jaune concerning Surik's manipulation. He was skeptical about what Jaune said, but if what he said was true, Surik would be willing to go to any length to achieve her goals.
Lie leaned forward resting his head on to his interlaced fingers thoughtfully, This is most concerning, I will have to request leave from my post to go speak with Jaune, Lie Ren thought, he wanted to get the full story on this matter before he passed his judgment on either party. Though the most troubling thing he heard that night was that Jaune had seen Ruby on the pride of Alderaan and that she was a Sith. Out of the lost four, they did have thoughts that Ruby could have turned into a Sith, but everyone usually was optimistic about that fact. Along with that fact if Jaune hid that for this long Lie Ren wondered what else his teammate could be hiding. Checking his schedule he groaned with a tinge of frustration as he wasn't going to be able to leave Coruscant for a few months. if that was the case he could always summon Jaune to the embassy.
On the Fury, Satele was quietly sobbing next to Blake who was in the Kolto tank. Her operation to strike a blow on the Visorium order was a failure and an almost complete failure due to casualties. They withstood the attack, and she herself had lost her arm to Visorium, and almost lost her life to her apprentice. By the force Summer's daughter has fallen so far, though she has some light left in her, I hope. She is very strong in the force, she seems familiar though to me, why did I see Revan in her.it was at that moment, like a quick slap to reality Satele realized Meetra was lying about her father. Her father was not a Remnant at all, no... Her father was Revan.
This realization made Satele want to gag, that meant in some disturbing twist Ruby would be an ancestor to her. She was Related to Surik in a twisted turn of fate, Satele wanted to deny this idea as much as possible, though only one person had eyes like that and it was Revan. She immediately knew why Surik hid this information from her, she feared more criticism from the divided Jedi order. Satele despite being, the Grand Master of the Jedi Order still face criticism for her being a mother and having a lover, as some Jedi were less willing to be accepting of those with families since the Malserik incident. Satele only spoke to him on a few passing occasions. Though she admired Artorika for her persistence in the idea he could be redeemed, she was a knightly Jedi, with a pure soul to Satele.
Surik, however, was a different story she had lied and deceived the order on occasions but only to better the order. She wanted to defeat the empire and balance the force. Something she used often as her rhetoric, starting off Surik was not trusted but now she had a large amount of the Jedi behind her. Though, to Satele despite her cheery and bright attitude, she had a persistent dark aura around her. One of grief, sorrow, pain, and trauma, these emotions contrasted with here bright appearance.
Satele clenched her remaining arm on the bandaged Stub of her lost arm. She saw Ruby had a prosthetic and the Grand Master knew she would need one as well, along with a new saber. As she clutched her arm tighter. She saw the skill Ruby had in the handling of her weapon and it was impressive to the Jedi Master, enough so that she determined the next design of her saber would mimic Ruby's saber, though the way she would design it was a mystery to her.
Blake felt stinging all over her body as she felt the low rumble of a hyperdrive, she opened her eyes only to have them stung by the harsh liquid she was immersed in. realizing she was in a Kolto tank though the anesthesia had shut off that was supposed to keep her unconscious in the tank, mainly to prevent the panic that she was experiencing. She was scared, not sure what was going on Blake drew a pulse of force energy inside her and used it to blow out the tank.
Satele sensed Blake had awoken in the tank and was trying to figure out why the anesthetic had shut off. Though, before she could figure it out the glass of the tank shattered and behind her Blake was ripping the wires and tubes from her body. The wounds were not fully healed but it would have to do she felt the fear in Blake just from waking up in the Kolto tank, seeing Satele made Blake sigh with relief as she tore open a few of her wounds by moving. With blood trickling down her body from all of the blaster wounds, Blake tried to keep standing but the pain was quickly overwhelming her. Satele picked up Blake and moved her from the Kolto tank and put her on the nearby medical bed Satele had to help her now, as her escape from the Kolto tank destroyed the medical droid.
Though as Satele worked, Blake groaned as the purple shadowy field started to heal her wounds. Satele was informed of the Aura of the Remnants but she didn't know it had healing properties. All Meetra said about aura it was like personal shield projected from the soul, and that it can grant the wielder a Semblance. Though she also was cryptic with one explanation to if the Aura was linked to the force, Meetra gave a vague answer that said there was a connection, though, it was unknown to the Grand Master. Seeing the aura work Satele used her healing techniques to assist it in healing Blake.
Satele knew Ruby didn't harm Blake like this, as a matter of fact, she recognized the wound pattern, from old images of the Jedi Civil War. She had heard rumors that the droid was still operational, and working for Revan. If that was the case, that confirmed her that disgusting thought and it even made it worse as Revan recognized her as his child and wanted to protect her. This told the grand master that he had plans for her. Now that for the Jedi master was disturbing as Revan may have changed his opinion of the Sith or maybe sympathetic to them due to his 'daughter' being a Sith.
"please tell me that was a bad dream," Blake mumbled, distraught at the situation, Satele could look and see how horrified Blake was, she was in denial at what just happened. There was a hope in her mind that something just happened on the ship and she was injured, as her mind tried to come up with reasons to explain why she was injured, but alas the cold reality crushed her. Satele witnessed the tears roll down the side of her face as she realized the gravity of what happened.
Ruby had killed right in front of her and was fully willing to kill her by the end of it. Ruby was worse than Adam now, she had gone off the deep end. Then she had flashes of Ruby's eyes, the serene and joyful silver replaced by a dark, seemingly evil gold.
Satele put her hand on Blake's shoulder trying to sooth her nerves and soul. Though due to this Blake's entire opinion of Ruby had shifted, it had become twisted to a hatred. Something that Blake dwelled upon for the entire flight back. Her entire body had to be wrapped in medicated bandages to assist her aura in healing the grievous wounds she sustained. As the flight continued she meditated and remembered something Jaune told her, he told her that 'she might be able to get them back,' and he said it in suggested he knew something.
It was in that moment it dawned upon Blake, He knew, he knew about Ruby, he knew she would be on Drommund Kaas, even in Hiskal. Blake didn't know how Jaune knew this, but she had to find out.
After about a week of travel, the return to Tython was not a pleasant one for Blake as her blaster wounds had formed very painful and uncomfortable scars all across her body in the week-long journey home that where. Along with that whilst pondering the events of the raid she thought one thing, We have been apart for too long, Team RWBY can never exist again the way it was. Ruby is a monster who will use any tactics to kill her opponents. She is a monster that needs to be destroyed, and needs to DIE! I am more than willing to do it, Yang forgive me, but your sister is unredeemable, by the force Yang if you end up joining her you will leave me no choice but to kill you too.As Blake walked off the Fury on to Jedi Temple's landing pads, as she did, the Faunus Jedi was greeted by Karlile, one of the few people she trusted still in this damned galaxy.
Karlile, despite her age still acted like a child and very much like how the old Ruby did. Though she had become a full Jedi knight, like Blake and the rest of the lost four, despite her lost limbs, another trait Ruby had shared with the woman in front of Blake. She figured that Surik was indeed trying to get a substitute to her Daughter, which reminded Blake of the conversation from years ago, just after the second disturbance, the worst case scenario had occurred. Still angry, Blake walked past the girl, she needed to meditate and plot how to get vengeance on Ruby.
Satele could feel the dark emotions stemming from Blake's heart and after what happened. She knew Blake would need time to recover, but she would also have to be monitored, as during the ride back Blake had sprouted a hatred and a lust for vengeance against Ruby. Satele would say that this was justified, but she couldn't let Blake dwell on those feelings for too long. Though she had her own demons to tend to. She had to have a talk with Meetra Surik at some point, but right now the Grand Master of the Jedi had to go to the medical wing to get a replacement for the arm she lost.
Jaune had heard about Blake and Satele's return and decided to meet up with cat faunus as she walked out of the hanger. When he saw her covered in white bandages under her robe, the first thing the knight asked the shadow was "Blake! What happened to you?" Blake looked at Jaune for a moment, and then she slammed him against the wall and retaliated with a question of her own,
"You knew! You knew about Ruby! You knew she was a Sith, didn't you!" her voice was like a vocal slam to the Jedi knight, considering the way she had pinned him to the wall. Her accusations were true he did indeed know about Ruby. The glare off of Blake's narrowed eyes almost made her amber eyes look like they were glowing. Before he could respond, however, another voice roared in the halls, yelling
"Blake, release him!" Jaune was scared by the way Blake had snapped at him so quickly. It took her a second before she relented and released Jaune, who fell back to the floor as Blake walked off heading back to her quarters with a groan as she glared at Jaune just before leaving. At which the one-armed Satele ran over to Jaune to see if he was injured by Blake's actions. Pulling him to his feet, Satele could tell he was more mentally shocked than mentally hurt.
"Jaune is what Blake accused you of true," Satele inquired as she wanted to confirm if there was any basis to Blake's action.
"Yes, I did know Ruby was a Sith," Jaune admitted, much to Satele's disappointment, which caused her to ask,
"Then why didn't you tell us about this?" Satele asked of the young knight. Jaune looked up at the grand master that told her one thing, he didn't want to talk to anyone about it, he didn't want to remember that they were Sith. With that Satele could understand his actions somewhat, he was disturbed. At which point Satele, gave him an order,"Jaune, please file a full report of what happened on the 'Pride of Alderaan' all of the details, nothing omitted, Am I understood" Satele explained firmly, she was only being harsh as this information would be very important for the future. After which Satele left the young knight to go find Blake, and find out what happened while she was gone.
A/N: well this was a chapter I found I was forcing myself to write, as I really couldn't come up with much to add really, so much so that I was considering releasing this chapter with less than 3K, but I managed to avoid that. With that in mind, I did go back through and did another sweep through all of the previous chapters with Grammarly. Along with addressing an error, I made with chapter 12's Vader appearance mainly in the Irony in what he said, Thank you Endorfinator, as this gave me an Idea for next chapter as well! So please let me know if the change works!
With that in mind, I would like to say this Chapter is mainly to show what is happening with the Jedi. Now with that out of the way Review responses though these are only for the most recent chapter, as those who review an earlier chapter will get a PM response from me instead if possible.
Guest: Point on Skocia, and Malgus, but I will say I won't make Ruby into a rip off Vader.
That troll u H8: I might, or I may keep it with Ruby it's all dependent on what I feel like doing, though know that I have plans for that bird. (PS I don't hate you)
hornofdesolation: Thank you!
ToxicGentleman: Thanks! Yeah their lightsabers are bound to them so I figured it would make an interesting plot point that they could interact with each other's benefactors, as originally I only had Weiss speak with Vader in the original chapter 7, and considering how saber's have a tendency to tie themselves to their user I felt it would be interesting.
Now with all of that out of the way, feel free to ask any questions if you have them, or give suggestions or corrections once again if you have any please give them or leave a review. Alright everyone, be safe, have fun, and may the force be with you!
Blitzing Raptor
