A/N: Well the 4th was 15 days ago. Sorry there, finals and all. Also 300K words!


Chapter 58: Truth and Reconciliation


Far away from any mere mortal's grasp, a woman knelt her thoughts deeply intertwined with the force. She was remiss at all that had been occurring. The force was in pure turmoil, the darkness was rising, and the light needed hope. She was barred from direct interference, especially after what happened in the one world shared. Alas, Father was right, they still has much to learn but she couldn't stand idle, not while Darkness was already working against her despite their Father's request and had been for a long time, now it was her time to act she needed to give a nudge.

The day prior on Tython, after the meeting of the Jedi council over the most recent disturbance in the force. Satele was walking out to the hall leading from the council's chamber. With their response to the Grimm figured out, Satele spotted Surik as she tried to slip away, though the Grand Master approached with her face bearing a scowl that told the former Exile that this was going to be interesting. This feeling was confirmed when Satele spoke. "I want all of your Remnant Jedi to link up with Lie Ren over Coruscant, I have authorized his request," Satele ordered, her voice firm as she looked into Surik's silver eyes, though Surik then asked curious about how hard Satele wanted her to commit to this.

"I hope that Ren understands that with all the damage done, they can't save Nar Shaddaa?" Surik asked if she would be responsible for both of these measures. Satele saw that Surik was trying to dissuade her from making the move that Ren was making by commandeering all of the Remnant Jedi.

"Yes, though if they are as mortal an enemy as they are on Remnant we cannot risk them getting a hold in our galaxy, Surik," Satele said as she felt the clutch of anger as she looked to Summer. The latter looked to be none too pleased herself, as it felt like Satele was directly targeting her though Satele only furthered this thought as she continued. "Surik, while my mind says that I should not tolerate all that you have done. Especially for Zaffre, but alas, we need to be united as if the Grimm threat is as bad as you say," Satele stated not pleased to have no way to punish Surik for the borderline traitorous action of freeing the Malserik that they held. Though Satele looked into Surik's eyes, keeping her guard up with her. Though she then felt the call of the force, deciding to let her mind calm, as the force let her be at peace with her thoughts he heard a voice, the voice of a woman state in her mind through the force.

"Darkness is rising, you need peace. You need redemption, bring the order back to the light," hearing this shocked Satele, she had never heard the force speak before. Though it caused a new line of thinking, an epiphany We need unity, we cannot split the Jedi, this whole quarrel is idiotic we have both made errors, and as a mother myself, I cannot criticize her for being one as well. with that thought concluded, Satele knew what she must do as this epiphany guided her. Leading her down a path of peace the Grand Master then continued her train of thought, We cannot be at one another's throats any longer. This pain has gone on for too long, we need to act. Surik seeing the pause in Satele wondered as she then said rather snidely.

"Satele, I know I have made some questionable decisions as of late, but you're right, we need unity just under who is the debate, just know everything that I do is for the good of the Jedi Order," Surik added as Satele looked to the formerly exiled Jedi. Though, then Satele spoke calmly, her mind changing on the topic.

"Surik, I know you want the Jedi to thrive. My grievances with you have been over your lack of openness, and the fact you operate like you are above the Jedi Council, I have my own failures to own, but it is our duty as Jedi to work beyond them" Satele stated rather calmly, "We need trust and support to survive what is to come I want to know everything that occurred in those four hundred years, hold nothing back, and if the raid on Waldstahl makes mainline news, I will take full responsibility" Satele said as she extended an olive branch to Surik, hoping for a unified Jedi order. "Surik, despite all that you have done, we do need you, so I am going to give you a second chance and attempt to recover our order, from the division sewed by you trying to throw me away. If you do this and forgive my hostility, I am even willing to forgive what occurred with Revan, but we the Jedi as a whole need honesty from you Surik." The red-haired Jedi looked to the Grand Master, confused as she thought that she was going to further admonish her. Her quick change of heart concerned her but she could feel that Satele was being genuine and that scared her. Hearing this, she pulled out her holocomm and made the call as Satele watched.

"All combat-capable Remnant Jedi please report to the Shuttle bay for briefing," Surik stated, putting out the call to arms. She then looked to the Grand Master, who seemed to be a beacon of light, trying to calm the situation. Satele nodded and sent out her message to exempt Blake and Karlile from the order. "So what now?"

"You go brief them, then make that report, understood, and if you feel up to it try to apologize to Artorika and your Remnant Jedi," Satele said as she wanted to see if Surik would actually cooperate with her. Though unfortunately, she could not accompany her as she had to check on Blake as she was worried that the blast from Nar Shaddaa could have adverse effects on her volatile mental state.

Walking away from the tense encounter, Surik's mind was racing, I didn't expect Satele to forgive me, is this some kind of trap? The white-clad Jedi's mind was spinning with confusion. It makes no sense, after her outburst, she suddenly came to her senses!? What is going on? How could she have calmed down so quickly? AND Why do I feel like I have to go along with this!? Surik's mind raced with these thoughts as she made her way to the shuttle pad outside. She saw the teams of CFVY, SSSN, and CRDL standing there, before the shuttle. She approached and began to tell them why they were called. She saw their faces furrow with a pinch of anger as these padawans heard the name they never thought they would hear again, Grimm as she got them underway. She had her own tasks to take care of. Though she did stop mid-stride, looking back to them as they boarded the shuttle. Motivated by Satele and her trust, she looked to the three teams and mouthed, an "I'm sorry" to them. I will tell them when they get back. Surik thought as she suddenly felt guilt for her action. With this, she lamented, that she was going to write that report now.


Cinder grinned at the message that she and Blake received as she turned as white blind eyes locked with Blake's amber. The reconstituted dark sider looked to the Woman she had brought to her side. Blake looked to be concerned as her body was healing and with the revelation that it was Grimm, she especially wanted to fight. Though the woman formerly known as Karlile looked to the Faunas and provided her opinion.
"There will be another time, Blake, right now you must recuperate your strength," Cinder explained as she looked, though there was a knock on the door. Cinder knew now she had to resume her identity as Karlile as she could not let Surik know that her memories had returned to her. Though the door opened to Satele Shan. who looked stunned to see Karlile in here as Blake had been taking her defeat rather harshly and not seeing people.

"Karlile please leave," Satele said as she took a seat in Blake's room. Thankfully the blind Jedi scrammed and left them. Though Satele noted something, Karlile was moving differently, She thought as she saw her mannerisms had seemingly shifted. The normally meek woman walked with a confidence that was unlike her. Though that was not why she was here, she looked to her former padawan and sighed.

"How are you holding up?" Blake looked to her former master with concern, part of her looked to immediately rat out Cinder, and her mind was a race with, I don't trust Cinder, but she is the only one that can help me, I can't trust Satele with my hatred. She thought as she began to bottle up that emotion, not wanting it to be let out.

"I am Fine, Karlile, managed to help me find my calm once more," Blake said, almost immediately feeling the weight of her lie, as this path would be the only one where she could slay the tyrant that was her former friend. She even shifted her lightsaber out of view to hide the inscription on the hilts. Though, Satele noted this and asked Blake.

"Is that your new lightsaber?" She asked, a bit surprised as she hadn't had the time to make her own new one yet. "May I see?" Satele asked as normally as she was trying to show Blake that she was there for her. Blake retreated further and handed the saber over. It was there Satele read the inscription, she looked at the second Candle Light and frowned. "Blake I understand your pain, I won't ask you to remove this, but I can tell you this is an unhealthy path to walk," Satele explained, she knew how she felt, Malserik's betrayal caused a similar amount of pain in the whole Jedi order. It was at that point, that Blake felt conflicted about her feelings as the Grand Master of the Jedi Order looked at her. Her eyes locked and she uncorked the bottle before the wax could metaphorically seal it away.

"Master Satele, how should I get over the emotions I am feeling?" Blake asked as Satele gave her a hand on her shoulder. Nodding to the faunas Jedi, Satele spoke.

"I understand the pain you feel, you weren't raised as a Jedi, and we have asked a lot of the Remnants, and I am not going to stop you from bringing her to justice," Satele said, she understood her former padawan's pain. Though she then gave her a piece of advice and hoped she took it as she handed Blake her saber back. "If you want to help yourself, you can find something you can care about, to take your mind off the dark thoughts you are feeling," Satele explained as she looked at Blake, who was confused. Though Satele was quick to continue, "as at the rate we are going we are all going to turn to the Dark Side from all this pain. That cannot happen while the Republic and Sith have put pressure on us, we must not falter, we must stand strong as beacons of light." It was as this finished up, Satele stood as she looked to Blake and said, "we need reformation…" as she stood up and looked to Blake who spoke up finally coming to a realization.

"I understand what you see, the Jedi as a whole are in pain…" Blake's voice was quiet and hollow, she felt somewhat played by Cinder, but she still felt no need to rat her out, as she hoped to bring her to the light while she aided her in bringing Ruby to face justice. Though Satele looked at the healing girl and said.

"Yes we are, we all need to heal, Blake, we are going to change the order," Satele said as she had a plan. This is insane, but what I am going to suggest is going to change the order. She thought and hoped the solution she had in hand would help her.

In the hallway, Cinder was worried about what Satele could be spewing off to the person she just pressured into temptation. She couldn't help but feel like there was something afoot as she walked down the halls, She was making sure to avoid Jedi as she walked through the halls, not feeling like potentially blowing her cover, so she disappeared and decided to wait this out, she needed to take account of this galaxy anyway. Though this was put on hold, as she saw Satele moving out after talking to Blake, she watched her carefully. The look Satele bore, and the fact she didn't have a lightsaber made Cinder realize Blake had not ratted her out. Good, good, she is on my side. Cinder thought as she started to make her way to her quarters as now she had to prepare.


Back in her quarters, Surik had started to fully recount all of her sins writing them onto a datapad. Starting with her time with Revan back when she was still a young but promising Jedi. Her first attempt with reconciling with the Jedi by helping with Revan's memories, erasing them. This was to make him a new person, a soldier of the republic after Bastilla brought her to them she was called in only to have her connection to the force completely severed. She used this point, in particular, to explain her mistrust of the council as she recounted how that her ability only seemed to put her in even more hot water due to her talent with that ability. She then went over her crusade to reconstruct the Jedi order along with fixing her wound in the force. She recounted how critical Mical was on that front, as he and a few disciples she had put on the path had started the Reconstituted Jedi order. Her memories of her old friend made some tears leak forth.

Thankfully she managed to staunch them so she could then describe how she destroyed Nihilus and Sion. Then it was time for the second battle of Malachor V. it was here that she was made her aware of Remnant as the second detonation of the mass shadow generator sent her to the isolated world. The next point was conjecture on her part and she noted it as such. Noting the being of Salem on Remnant was a reconstituted Darth Traya, noting the weapon had sent them to different points in the world's history, and also that the detonation changed her, made her younger. She then made mention of her old team STRQ, as she was found by Ozpin and enrolled in beacon for her 'unique abilities.' and she was on remnant for a good while. Though through an accident involving 'distortion dust,' she found her way back to Coruscant. She was without her friend from either side, Remnant or the Galaxy, though she knew what she had to write next as it struck a chord of shame. She found it hard to adapt up until she was contacted by Raven as he was planning to face off against Vitiate. During this time, Surik was confiding in her old ally. In the paragraph explaining that she made mention of something that was to be of major concern, the Star Forge still stood. Though that is when she admitted to her brazen manipulation of Revan, and then, the shameful acts that it lead to. As they took on Vitiate, Surik admitted she did not realize she was pregnant. In that fight, Revan was captured and she got hit by an attack that shunted her back to Remnant by Vitiate.

That is when she had to write of her manipulation of her old friends to return to their lives as if she had never left. That is when she wrote that she had Ruby. her writing in the next paragraph was quick, and during that time she had been waging war against Salem or as she knew her, Darth Traya. She then wrote that during a fight with said Salem was sent back with the power of distortion dust. It was then she returned to the galaxy during the sacking of Coruscant. She then had a few admissions of using her ability to rewrite memories to reprogram people into Jedi, including the twelve most recent Remnants and her releasing Zaffre to deal with Malserik. She was even leaving a note and apology to them for Lie Ren to administer. Writing this report drained Surik to write as it dredged up plenty of rough memories for her and took her well into the next day. She acknowledged her sins and then she looked over the document, and then sent it to the entirety of the Jedi Order. Though as she did so she felt her conscience ease. Well, let us see what they do now?" Surik asked herself as she wondered if she would be an exile again tomorrow.


The next day over Coruscant aboard a hammerhead class ship named, The Honor of Coruscant. The Remnant Jedi after being moved to a ready position in orbit per the council's strategy. Lie Ren was hearing the reports feeding in from Nar Shaddaa. The imagery was clear, it was evident beyond doubt the planet had suffered greatly. Lie Ren, Artorika, and Jaune were on hold till they got further reinforcements from Tython to deploy to Nar Shaddaa. This order to stay put came an hour after that meeting and led Lie Ren to have a sleepless night as he watched the information flood in. The numbers were making him sick as they had the death toll already as high as twenty-five billion lives lost. The footage was equally disturbing. A few ships had escaped, though the Grimm had started coalescing very quickly. How can they be so quick? So lethal? So destructive? his eyes widened as he realized this meant what Surik said was true, these things were just doing what they were meant to do, consume life. Lie Ren had a vague knowledge of Nihilus and what that Sith lord did. This was beyond madness, and what was worse in his eyes was that the embassy on Nal Hutta was unresponsive. When he first tried to contact them, he figured it was nighttime, but now it should have been day and nothing. That is when the door to the commandeered office opened and the blonde Jedi Knight entered.

"Anything Ren?" Jaune asked as he walked in, for once just in his robes with none of his armor on. Ren's look at him told him all he needed to know, as Ren very seldomly frowned that way. "That bad?" Jaune asked, taking a seat in front of his friend's desk. Lie Ren sighed as he looked at Jaune.

"I can't help but feel like we are incredibly lucky…" Lie Ren replied, his face bearing a grim look as he said as he looked over the reports. Jaune looked concerned and was curious as to why Ren would say that. Though he turned the screen to show him the report that listed 'twenty-five billion dead on Nar Shaddaa.'

"My God… that is insane, and the Grimm did that?" Jaune inquired, stunned by the shock of the statistic before him. It was at that moment, Lie Ren shrugged, this is madness, but I fear this is only the start of things to come. His face betrayed his concern and the Jedi spoke.

"I feel worse is happening, Jaune, we need to formulate what we are going to do as I am not hearing from our embassy on Hutta," though as he stood up he saw a new report come in. "What the… The Hutts are claiming they have control of the situation." Ren said as an image of a huge brown four-legged war droid that was trying to contain the Grimm. Then a new report came in that made Lie Ren question the sanity of those on Tython, it was a full report from Surik, though he then got a personal message from the normally white-clad Jedi that made him look to Jaune. His eyes went wide in absolute shock. "Jaune, you remember how you told me how Surik pressured SSSN, CVFY, and CRDL into becoming Jedi?" Jaune looked to Lie Ren concerned as to how that became relevant as to him it wasn't to this conversation. That is when Ren turned the screen back so Jaune could read it.


Lie Ren, Please, tell CRDL, CVFY, and SSSN about the fact I altered their memories, and give them the option to leave or stay, I am sorry to leave you this burden.

Surik

PS: please also tell Artorika I am sorry.


Jaune stood aghast that Surik actually admitted to this. It caused Ren concern as he was unsure of how to help the Remnants on the way through Hyperspace. That is when they saw the shuttle emerge from Hyperspace.

"Jaune, I know Surik gave me the task, but could you explain what happened, you knew them well before this. So can I ask you to tell them?" Lie Ren asked as Jaune looked at him, his face solemn as he nodded agreeing to do this.

"Yes, I can handle it Ren." this got Ren to sigh as another message came up, requesting all Jedi on the Council to join for a meeting, inclusive of him, and Artorika. Jaune noted his sigh and then looked at his friend. "I see, meeting?"

"Yes, Jaune," Ren said as he offered a nervous smile, as Jaune nodded and left the room.


Back on Tython, yet another meeting had been called, though Satele had invited Surik to sit in the chair next to her. Behind Satele was Blake who was standing in light tan robes with black accents along with some light traditional flair with bandages on underneath. Surik was unsure of what was going on as this meeting was sudden, but Satele labeled it as an emergency. Eventually, either through hologram or in-person master started to filter in. it had been clear from all that happened, Satele had been thinking. Filtering in Satele was taking account of the council. Master Surik, was next to her, on the other side was Re' Gal Dorm. Next to Surik was Haros Larikal. Though going from Dorm's side of the table, was Artorika, Lie Ren, Bela Kiwiiks, Gnost-Dural, Yorodle, and Leonelis. To the side of Haros came Loregris, Magna, Zanzu, Kaseoh, Akrad, and Nihihri. The sixteen members of the council were all present the Rattataki Master Haros spoke up.

"What is the meaning of this, Satele?" He asked pretty concerned and annoyed that they were all summoned here on such short notice. Artorika looked like she had just gotten out of bed. Ren looked awfully tired. The council was running ragged with so many meetings.

"I wanted to address a few things, in particular, the report Surik circulated last night," Satele stated, sounding more calm than normal. This got, Surik's half of the council to perk up, as they all looked to Satele. "I am not looking to remove her from her seat, right now with what we are seeing on Nar Shaddaa, we need unity," Satele proclaimed to get Surik's faction to relax. "I brought you here to announce, that I would like to name Surik a the Vice Grand Master to the Jedi order, giving her the ability to work alongside me at an equal rank," Satele explained as the council went wide-eyed. Dorm stood up and looked at Satele like she had lost her mind and yelled. Surik was right there with Dorm as this was completely out of the left side of the field.

"This is unprecedented!" he yelled out, he was not expecting this type of action from Satele. Though Satele looked at everyone in the room. Her mindset on what she needed to say.

"We need Unity, we have let ourselves be blinded by hatred and division, even I was starting to fall for this, and we are Jedi!" Satele said, her voice loud, but calm, firm as a brick wall, "Recently there was a call for me to be replaced, so to appease that, I made Surik an equal, we should be trusting of one another, not trying to oust one another, that is what the Sith do." Satele continued as she looked at Surik, "Surik and I both have failures, and so do all of you, we need to grow past them to stand up to the threats we are soon to face!" Satele declared as the council could feel the resolution in her voice, especially as she continued, "Going forward, we shall relax restrictions, we shall, let bygones be bygones. So no more talk of Yang or Malserik, they are gone, but we should not stop them if they seek redemption, but that redemption must be of their own volition, we cannot force them." That is when she looked to Surik, "Henceforward any use of memory alteration must be put through the council, is this fair Surik?" Satele asked as her eyes locked to Surik's silver ones.

Surik was shocked to hear all that she had just come from Satele. She looked back, then she realized, Satele is right, we will need everything we can muster to fight the Sith, the Grimm, and Traya Surik thought to herself as despite all the pain she had caused, the fact Satele was giving her another chance was astounding. Surik felt the call, the call to do right, Where did this all come from? Surik wondered as she gave her reply. "I accept this limitation, and I accept the role as Vice Grand Master," Surik said as Magna looked confused as the blinded Zeltron made a point to say.

"Okay, this is all well and good, but where did this all come from?" she asked as last she had seen just yesterday, Surik and Satele were at one another's throats. Though Satele spoke up and cleared the air.

"I heard the call of the force, and it told me that darkness was starting to rise in our own order," Satele explained as she then looked to the council. Her face bore the look of a person revitalized and pulled back from the edge. She then began to speak again. "We are all guilty of it, no exceptions, we have all gone against the Jedi code, and we need to return to it, we need to be the beacon of light, especially now with the Grimm being present." Satele explained as she stood up and once again stated, "We must work together if we are to overcome these upcoming trials, and the war with the Sith will be our great trial" Satele said proclaiming that the Jedi must now stand tall.


Away from Tython in the hangar bay of the Honor of Coruscant, Jaune looked to his friends, who were getting off the shuttle before him. "Sun, Scarlet, Sage, Neptune. Coco, Fox, Velvet, Yatsuhashi. Cardin, Russel, Dove, and Sky, can you all gather around, there was a message from Surik since you left." Jaune said as the Jedi looked at him strangely as he asked them to all gather around. "Recently there was a report that was circulated that Surik wrote, in which she gave clear details of what she had done, including the alteration of your memories, something that forced you twelve to become Jedi." This statement made the twelve fresh Jedi look at Jaune with concern, like he had hit his head. Cardin even stifled a laugh as Jaune gave them a look that tried to convey the seriousness of his claim. "Either way, you have been given the option to leave if you so desire." This gave Cardin the full ability to laugh.

"Jaune, I know you care about us, but let us do what we were trained to do, and fight the Forces of Grimm," Cardin spoke, his voice going from a chuckle to a suppressed laugh, as he found running away ridiculous now. "We are Huntsmen and Jedi!" He declared as Jaune took a sigh as Cardin rallied the others to his side. Jaune shook his head thinking at least this galaxy helped shape him up. He thought this as they all looked at one another. That is when the generally timid Velvet spoke up.

"Jaune we as huntsmen and huntresses have a duty to fight the Grimm and we as Jedi have a duty to protect this galaxy." Velvet spoke in agreement with Cardin as the rest of them looked at him and gave him a look that stated they would not back down.

"Yeah, Jaune let us have some glory, you don't have to fight alone!" Sun declared as he stood confident that they could try and help on Nar Shaddaa, despite how bad it was. Jaune gazed at his friends, sighed, then

"While, I am thankful that you wish to stay, I do request that you read the report Surik wrote, and the reports coming from Nar Shaddaa, as once we are there we will have work to do," Jaune stated, while he wasn't happy that his friends didn't believe him, he understood their conviction. At least this choice they are making for themselves. Jaune thought as he gave them one last inspection before telling them to get some rest, as they were going to need it.


A/N: So I am really playing with Star Wars lore going forward. Also after a reread or two, and establishing where this story is to go I realized, I really disliked where I had the Jedi going, they have too many level heads for this sort of division to last. (Doubly so when they are at war) Honestly, I feel I had been giving the Jedi a very short stick. I simply can't have that. So I decided for things to get a wee bit more interesting and have them reunify. I know it is a harsh 180 from what I had written but I am happy with it. Also, there are a few easter eggs in my writing this time.

Well going forward I have some good plans and next chapter, things go back to Remnant. RWBY gave me some new things to mess with and mess with I shall. So, with all of that out of the way, Thank you all for reading, if you have any comments, critiques, suggestions, or corrections, feel free to leave a review or PM me if you can, anything can help the Story. Now then, please everyone be safe, and may the force be with you all. Thank you all for reading, reviewing, following, favoriting, and sharing SWTOR X RWBY: Dark Side of a Rose!

Blitzing Raptor