Here is the next chapter.

Enjoy the read.

Chapter Twenty-Four

A new mission

Odessa

Jedi Temple

Solana Amell was meditating in her room.

The Jedi Knight had taken to meditate wherever she could and sometimes meditation helped clear her head and find a path in the many missions she and her padawan had taken together over the few years they worked together. However, it was that same padawan that was the cause of her sudden undecisive.

Ever since she had taken her under her wing, Ellana had been the model padawan. She was gifted in the Force, much more than Solana was at her age. Despite her obvious advantage, she wasn't arrogant about it. Her simple beginnings might have played a part of it, however, Ellana usually was quick to anger whenever a Dalish elvhen was involved. She wasn't even eighteen and yet, Solana doesn't feel like she has anything else to teach the younger girl. Her conversation with Master Illuzen came back to her mind as she sat in her room. Did she feel like Ellana was ready for her Trials?

She doesn't know.

Solana can already sense that Ellana will become a great Jedi, one far more powerful than she was right now. She wanted Ellana to be able to rise through the ranks but she was worried that her indecisive nature was holding the younger girl back.

Solana let out a small sigh, opening her eyes.

The sunlight was coming through the closed blinds, meaning that it was getting closer to midday. It was one of the many times that Solana wished she could speak with her old Master. Lexi T'Perro always seems to have the answers, but her Master went missing many years ago now and was probably dead somewhere.

No one had known where she had gone, though when Solana had searched the security system, she found that her Master had left the Temple one day and just never came back.

She was drawn out of her thoughts when she heard the entrance opening, and a familiar presence was felt. It seems that Ellana had returned from whatever she had been doing. Solana stood up from the rug she had been kneeling on the past few hours, and went into the living room.

Ellana was holding a pad in her hands as she was reading through something and looked up toward her as she approached.

"Master," she greeted.

"Hello Ellana," she greeted with a small smile, "Getting some homework done?"

"Just reading on some reports," Ellana answered, "They still haven't found the Red Skull leader."

Solana let out a small hum. Ellana seems to be still carrying the guilt of allowing him to escape from her literal grasp as she had said. Taking a seat upon a couch across from Ellana.

"It wasn't your fault," she said.

Ellana's shoulders slumped.

"It's doesn't feel like it."

"We put an end to their operations," Solana told her gently, "All of the people who were taken are back to their homes and families. We have the Jedi on the Frontier on the look-out for him as well as the others in Citadel space."

"But he is still out there," Ellana argued looking at her, "What if he started another group like the Skulls again? What if…?"

"If he does something like that again, then we will be there to stop him," Solana countered her, tilting her head lightly.

Ellana fell silent, before lightly nodding.

"Alright," she said.

Solana chuckled softly.

"Actually, there was something I wanted to talk to you about," she said.

Ellana looked confused, but she came to seat beside her, facing her waiting for her to continue. Solana took a breath and looked at her padawan. Her silver eyes were inquiring, the red hair falling over her forehead as well as the newly added vallaslin that decorated her skin.

"You are a Senior Padawan now," Solana started, "And given the years we've spent together, I can tell that you are very gifted in the Force. It makes me wonder; do you ever feel ready for the Knight Trials?"

Ellana's eyes grew round.

"Me? A Knight?" she asked, shock in her voice.

Solana nodded.

"Isn't too soon?" Ellana asked, "I'm still only sixteen."

"There isn't really an age limit on when one becomes a Knight," Solana explained to her, "It is up to the Master's discretion. I have taught you much of what I know and it's still amaze me just how quickly you advanced through them."

Ellana looked down from her.

"Am I really that strong?" she asked.

Solana tilted her head.

"You must have at least sense it."

Ellana frowned.

"It wasn't easy at first," she said, "However, as the years passed by, it's started to become easier…I always thought that's how it works. Are you telling me it's not?"

"Very few Jedi advances that quickly," Solana told her.

"Oh…," Ellana murmured.

"It was just a suggestion," Solana told her drawing the younger woman's gaze toward her, "If you don't feel ready for it, then we will continue as we always have done before. It's just with how quickly you were progressing, I simply asked if you had given it any thought at all."

Ellana nodded.

"When I feel ready," she said, "You will be the first to know Master."


That conversation marinated within Ellana's mind for days. She was surprised that Master Solana wanted to promote her for the Knight's Trials. She was only sixteen, and she knew that most people that become knights were always in there mid-twenties or older, depending on their Padawan ship. She thought that it was the way things were done in the Order.

But a Knight at sixteen?

It has never been done in the history of the Order before. Ellana had studied enough about Jedi History to know that the youngest Jedi to have been knighted at been nineteen years old, but that had been in the Sith Reign of Darkness when the Jedi's numbers were barely over a hundred members. Ellana had never thought of becoming a knight herself as the notion was always seemingly in the future but never in the now for her. Master Solana feels as if she had nothing more to teach her but, Ellana still feel like there was a lot of things she needs to learn from the woman herself.

Or maybe she was just forming an attachment to her Master, as the woman was someone she knew since she was a child?

It made her feel conflicted.

She let out small hum, turning her attention at the location she was in. It was a large garden that was built within the Temple itself. It was a go to place for meditation as a peaceful yet tranquil atmosphere was settled in the area. They were Jedi present within the area as well, some were meditating while others were walking through the gardens talking to each other and debating topics among themselves.

This place had become a favorite for her to meditate when she needed it. She usually dragged either Scott or Sara there with her to help them with meditation whenever the twins were. Scott and Master Illuzen had returned to their post at the Frontier on Freedom's progress which was the settlement they had been stationed on.

Ellana had expected to be sent to one of the Jedi Outpost that were built on the Frontier however, Master Solana had returned them to the Temple and had been there since then.

Her comm beeped.

She pulled it out of her robes pocket and activated it.

"Yes?" she asked.

"Padawan, meet with me in the Council Chambers," Master Solana spoke out.

Ellana feel herself straightening up. A summon from the Council. That could only mean that there was a mission they were being sent to. Not wasting anytime, the young woman pulled herself to her feet and quickly made her way toward the Council chambers.

As she was arriving, she found her Master standing there waiting for her to arrive. The blonde woman glanced at her with a light smile and nod of greeting.

"Is it a new mission?" she asked.

Solana chuckled a bit.

"Go and find out," she told her.

The two entered the familiar room. Most of the seats were empty, save for Master Carlyle and Master Jinn. The two Jedi Masters glanced up toward their approach.

"Ah, you are here," Jinn spoke out with a light nod, "We have a mission for you."

Ellana straightened.

"Where will we be going Masters?" she asked.

The two Masters glanced at each other for a moment.

"This is a mission for you Ellana," Master Carlyle said calmly, "A solo mission for you."

Ellana can feel surprise at that. She had done work alone before but her Master was always there nearby to step in if things went wrong. But now, they were sending her on a mission by herself?

"A mission by myself?" she repeated.

"A simple mission that the Citadel asked for an attaché of the Jedi," Master Jinn explained, "The Councilors even had one of their Spectre assigned to the mission as well."

Ellana frowned lightly.

Spectres were known to be the Citadel Council's sword. Elite operatives that operate with the power of the Council authority behind their back. Ellana remembered crossing the path of a Spectre before, a turian called Saren. The Dark Side of the Force clung to that Turian like a cloak, despite not being Force Sensitive and she knew that the turian was not someone she will ever fully trust.

"If a Spectre is assigned then there is no way it's just a simple mission," she said.

Master Carlyle chuckled softly.

"A bright mind as usual," he said, "Given the strings of mission you have gone with your Master. The Council feel like you are ready to start shoulders some more responsibility as a Senior Padawan."

She glanced at her Master, seeing the look upon her features. The woman had complete confidence in her abilities. Ellana knew that look all too well, after all, it was a look she had seen many times in the years they've worked together.

"I am honored to be chosen Masters," she answered.

"Good," Master Jinn answered, "You are to go to the Citadel to meet with the Spectre and from there your mission will begin."

She gave a bow to the Masters before walking out of the room along with Master Solana. She can feel the weight that had been placed upon her shoulders. The trust of the Jedi Council was something that many Jedi took very seriously. As the leading body of the Order, they were considered to be the most powerful and wisest of all of the Jedi.

"Am I really ready for this Master?" she asked.

A soft chuckle escaped Solana's lips.

"You are far more ready for this than you know," she told her, "The Council believes and trust that you can handle this mission. Trust yourself to be able to handle the responsibility."

"Is it strange to not feel ready?"

"No it's not," Solana said, "Even when I was proposed for the Knight Trials by Master T'Perro, I didn't feel ready for it. Even now, as a Knight and your Master, I still feel like there are things she could have taught me."

Ellana glanced at her.

"However, as your Master now," she continued turning toward her, "All I can tell you is to trust in yourself and your abilities. Trust in the wisdom of the Council and moreover…trust in the Force."

Ellana turned her head away from her Master. Maybe it's time for her to stop doubting herself. Ever since that conversation about her knighthood, she had been out of sort…but maybe, a mission is all she needs to get back in the swings of things.

She looked up at the woman beside her and gave a light nod.

"Okay Master."

Solana smiled back.

"C'mon," she said.

"Wait…you're coming with me?" she asked, following her Master through the hallway leading toward the hangar of the Temple.

"I'm simply taking you to the Citadel," Her master answered her, "I have something to do at the Temple we have there."

A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she followed after her Master.


The Citadel

"Having the Jedi involved in this matter?" The Turian Councilor asked looking toward his colleague, a frown upon his features, "Is it really wise?"

"The Jedi are our allies Sparatus," the Asari Councilor, Tevos answered him, "I know your people have a hard time trusting them given their stance with the genophage…"

"The Jedi patrol of the Frontier is what is keeping the peace since the Krogan Rebellions," the Salarian Councilor told them, "From the reports, they managed to put an end to a massive slave trade recently."

"We need their presence on this mission Sparatus," Tevos told the turian, giving him a stern look.

Sparatus let out a scoff.

"Then, our Spectre will be placed in charge of the mission," he said.

The other two gave a light nod, showing that they understood his stance on the matter. Given the importance of the mission itself, having a Spectre and a Jedi present might give them some peace of mind. Sparatus didn't trust the Jedi that much, being a military man all his life before he became a Councilor, and the Jedi despite working as an ally to the Council…whose to say they will always stay that way?


Hope you have enjoyed the read. sorry haven't updated in a while. Life kind of got busy lately.

Next Time: A rountine mission

Jacques0 out.

R&R