New Poll up on my profile page regarding the idea of reposting my original ANP story, after a thorough review and rewrite from myself as a side project, to be done in addition to TSR and RoDV. Please go check it out and state your opinion there. (Poll closes next Tuesday.) Many thanks to those who review constructively, your words are appreciated. ~F
Chapter Thirty Four
Desperate Measures
Anguis felt something particularly interesting in the Force. He was currently in one of the very few personal moments that he was afforded as Chancellor of the Republic, eating alone in a private corner of a Coruscant high-rise restaurant, the owner practically falling over himself to be serving the leader of the Republic. The food was good, but it was the privacy that Anguis had desired, and he had to keep shifting his frequent haunts for his free time or be swarmed with the media wanting a statement about this or that subject.
But now, while he enjoyed some seafood dish whose origin was Mon Calamari in nature, he sensed an inkling of the Dark Side entering the world. Near to it was the bright flash that always signaled when Luna Lovegood came or left the system, but curiously the equally bright flash of her Padawan was absent. Without more information, Anguis had to presume either the boy fell in battle, was captured, or was indeed falling to the Dark Side and was with her, although he highly distrusted the latter option. The aura was far weaker than Luna's Padawan, and much less intense.
These thoughts drew his mind away from unwinding for the day to what he had to do about those who dwelled at the Temple, namely the Professors of Hogwarts and other Earth survivors. By and large they remained the guests of the Jedi, and rarely left the walls of the powerful structure, which made capturing any of them next to impossible. Only Colin had ever managed to infiltrate the Jedi Temple and escape alive, twice no less, but due to Anguis' own treachery, the younger man was no more.
Perhaps this new darkness that was speeding its way to the Temple would be of assistance to him in eliminating one dingy bat of a Divination Professor, at the least… Rising slowly, and dabbing at his face with the expensive cloth napkin, Anguis left money for the dinner, with much gratuity for the service and privacy, and took his leave with the Republic security officers that were charged with protecting him while he was away from the Senate Rotunda or his personal residence.
He wouldn't be able to act immediately, but there had to be means for him to find out what was going on inside the Temple, even if it was only minor. Perhaps a droid would serve his uses for the moment, one with simple programming to slip in, collect the data he needed, and return to him… the Chancellor of the Republic paused as he exited the restaurant, bypassing a family with an awestruck child, maybe no more than eight or nine, and bent down to shake the young boy's hand. It wasn't every day that you met the leader of the Republic during a family stroll, after all.
That was one thing that Drakis Malfay had going for him. While he didn't associate with many of the outside populace, he made sure that the rare times that he did were caught by certain of the media that hounded him constantly, so that the news of his involvement with the common people was well spread, even if it was only a minor truth.
The ride back to his suite in the industrial section allowed Anguis to dip back into his thoughts regarding those who threatened his rise to power in the Temple. Most of those refugees were mere nuisances, and would be brushed aside quite easily, but the major pains were the three professors, Flitwick, McGonagall, and Trelawney, especially the third with her apparent clearer ability to foretell and see the truth of matters.
It was almost amusing to learn that one so long considered to be a fraud had stepped into her own power so quickly after leaving Earth, but as it was partially at his expense, Anguis had a hard time laughing at the situation.
When the Republic security finally left him at his own home, Anguis had already formulated a small plan, and picked out the perfect droid to carry out his reconnaissance. An old, somewhat battered astromech droid, which he had happily referred to as Dobby, usually puttered along throughout the place, cleaning this or that and rearranging Anguis things. But now he had a far better use for the droid, along with several upgrades that the thing needed to pass off as a Jedi Temple droid.
Anguis was silent as he worked, but inwardly the cackle of victory was reaching a near crescendo.
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Johell nearly wept when he saw the Jedi Temple again. The magnificent structure radiated the peace of the Force, which he had desired so badly for so many years, but something was drastically wrong. It had to be just in his mind, however, as Johell knew that he was well tainted with the Dark Side, and therefore likely to be less than comfortable inside the temple, despite knowing that it was the place he need to be. Luna levitated the Emperor's Holocron, not wanting either of them to touch it again for fear of what it was capable of.
Once out in the hangar, Johell was not surprised to see Temple Guards there waiting for him. he offered his hands to be bound, but was left free, as the guards escorted him to where the Jedi Council would be, Luna training after to vouch for him if needed. only a few, less than a handful, of masters were currently in attendance of the meeting, Grandmaster Coven among them.
"Padawan Johell Asbfos," Master Antross started, and Johell stepped forward. "We are glad that you have returned to us in one piece, if not harmed by your forced stay on Korriban."
"Thank you Master," Johell replied with a nod, but he sensed what was coming before it was stated.
"You understand however that we cannot allow you to walk about the Temple with the aura of the Dark Side so palpable on you. There will need to be a time that you are held in the Temple security chamber, until we can work through the problems you've faced, and make sure that the Darkness leaves you for good before you can rejoin you place in the Order." Master Coven explained gently.
"I understand, and will accept any punishment of the Council, so long as I can indeed return to the Order once the need has dissipated." Johell said sincerely, looking down at his feet for a time.
"That is the outcome we look with great hope towards. You knowledge of the methods and priorities of the Sith Empire however is of desperate need for the Order, and so you will have many visitors, and as you are so cooperative, you will not be treated like a hostile prisoner. Limited access to certain areas of the Temple will be permitted, with escort, and every comfort will be provided as needed." Master Antross assured him, and Johell could only smile in relief. It was far better than his worst fear.
"To begin, we should at least what important information you might have that we should know, regarding the Emperor or other high ranking beings in the Sith Order." Master Coven asked, and Johell could sense the collective council lean forward, desperate for any knowledge on their foes.
"The Sith Emperor is probably the single most powerful Force user I have ever met in person…" he started softly, looking back at his feet, not wanting to see their reactions as he spoke the truth. "He is both horrifying and yet frightfully charismatic. Cruel yet just at the same time, his influence was everywhere in the Empire, and none had even a single bad word for the man. The Holocron we brought back was of his own design, so he has immense knowledge that was long forgotten, and I shudder to think what he would be capable of if he used the full breadth of his power."
"And the others? any that we could potentially seek out and try to hinder to slow the onslaught of the Sith?" Master Coven pushed gently, and Johell smiled a bit at the familiar warmth of the Jenets voice. He had missed them all so.
"I spent an overwhelming amount of time under the thumb of fallen Jedi Zhar Quelmok," he answered, "Who has been made, along with eleven others, into rule council members of the Empire, just under the authority of the Emperor himself, and personally in charge of the planet Korriban. There is much I'd have to complain regarding my treatment at his hands, but I fear that would be touching the Dark Side too much in allowing that emotion out of control."
"Tell us what you can, and if it becomes too much, we will stop and allow you to rest a while." Master Antross encouraged.
Johell took another breath and nodded, continuing, "Zhar is of close contact with the Emperor, more so than any of the Dark Council. If I didn't know better they seem like old friends, although Veneficus' place as superior is never questioned between them. But about the man who enforced himself as my master is both cruel and sadistic, but not altogether abandoned of his humanity. When requested by a former student of his to investigate a potential matter of treason, Zhar hastened to confirm or deny the possibility, without even asking for any sort of proof."
"A possible lingering of his Jedi training, but then again, possible something else entirely..." Master Coven mused, "Still, a small hope at the least."
"Master?" Johell asked, "Does the use of the Dark Side truly make one evil? Or is it the motivations behind the use of the Dark Side that changes a person?"
"That is a complicated question, Padawan, but we shall answer it for you, and then allow you to retire to your new chambers, as it is clear that you are wearied from such a harrowing journey." Master Antross answered, before turning to the Grand Master.
"The Force is neither good nor evil, it simply is…" she confirmed, "but the use of the Dark Side becomes something of an addiction, an illness that is increasingly difficult to cure the longer the connection. Technically one could say that the Light Side as the same effect, but the results are staggeringly different. While each makes use of its opposite harder for the particular Force user, the Dark Side also draws energy from the very life force of the being, slowly killing them as it is used, whereas the Light seems to sustain the mortal frames of its servants. The Dark Side also seems to have an even more dramatic effect on the psyche of the users, especially those who willingly do so and even enjoy the power that it brings. They become increasingly mad and demented, lusting for more power and more control until they eventually, sometimes after a lifetime of use, succumb to a mental breakdown and devolve into insanity. That is the true horror of a Sith Lord, not the madness they achieve while sane, but the ruin they can leave behind once they break…"
Johell could feel his own insides churing at the knowledge of the true insidious nature of the Dark Side, and a fear of that happening to him, "But it is reversible?" he pleaded.
"Of course," Master Coven said gently, "Like any addiction, the symptoms can be reversed, and much of the damage repaired, aside from those who take the steps way too far, but if you are referring to yourself, which I believe you are, then rest assured that you are nowhere near the point of no return. You have suffered no mental or physical damage, and with time and assistance from healers, the emotional distress will dissipate, and you will be stronger than ever in the Light. But…"
Johell's heart jumped at the pronouncement, and he waited in nervousness for the rest of the Grand Master's words, "There will always be a weakness toward the lure afterward, as it is a craving that truly never goes away, so you must be extra vigilant to protect yourself from the temptation of the Dark Side, and live the rest of your life as strictly within the Jedi Code as possible."
Johell nodded, understanding. "But still, you must be very tired, the Temple Guards will escort you down to your chamber in the security ward, and you may rest for the evening. Healers will meet with you regularly, as will many other members of the Temple that you both knew and will soon know." The Jenet mentioned, beckoning the four masked Jedi to come forward.
"Thank you, Masters, and goodnight…" Johell said, turning to follow his escort to a safe location for him to rest. He was unhappy about the seclusion from the rest of the temple, but he understood perfectly the reasoning. He was sacrificing some personal indulgence for the safety of his fellow Jedi, especially those too young to fully understand that dangers that his life had led.
But even as he settled down in the rather sparse chamber, there was something else that he could sense within the peaceful walls of the familiar Temple. Deep below the melodious calm of the beacon of the Light there was a kernel of tantalizing darkness that was impossible for Johell to ignore. What was worse was that he knew exactly what the cause of the temptation was. The Holocron of Darth Veneficus; probably locked away in the vault already. But it made no sense what he could feel its influence even now. And, despite all his relaxation and meditation techniques, it was still a long rough night.
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Luna couldn't find any peace at the Temple. Despite knowing that she did as what the Code demanded, and fulfilled the mission, and wishes of her Padawan, leaving him to the whim of the madman that was once the supposed savior of the Wizarding World would never sit right with her. She could sense the pull toward the Dark Side that the pain through their bond constantly fed her, and that the Sith Lord was likely using that exact pain to torment her and draw her out to attempt to kill her once again.
The small mercy of that was, so long as Veneficus' focus was on singling her out, Leon would live. But even that was not enough to motivate her out of depression the next morning, and Luna found herself wandering the halls of the Temple in a daze, not particularly knowing where she wanted to be, nor what she ought to do. Master Coven already knew, naturally, and had spoken to her for a short time, but even the comfort of her old master wasn't enough to allow Luna to take heart. The situation seemed hopeless to save her Padawan, and the emotional and indeed physical pain of it was staggering.
"My dear Luna, whatever is the matter?" said a voice as she turned another corner in her endless walking, and she blinked as her mind refocused on the present. Little Professor Flitwick was there in front of her, the other three from Hogwarts following behind as they were walking, datapads and other instructional items in their arms.
"Oh my, Miss Lovegood…" Professor McGonagall stated, once he got a good look at Luna.
"We succeeded in our mission to Korriban…" she started…
"Your Padawan was captured?" Professor Snape finished for her, "and knowing Potter as he is, the blasted madman is using that very knowledge to torment you every waking moment."
"How could you…" Luna started to ask, but Severus tapped his left arm in explanation, "I am familiar with the tactic, he clearly learned from the best, that boy."
"Come with us my dear," Professor Trelawney said, putting an arm around Luna and guiding her from the corridor, into the large meeting hall that he Earth-born wizards had been given to use for their own purposes. Rows of desks, complete with cauldrons and datapads had already been set up for some class or another that was probably set to start very soon, but the four Professors took Luna to the massive main table and conjured chairs for them all, even as Professor Flitwick summon some food and caf from a nearby dispenser for them all.
"I know what you must be feeling, Luna," Severus said, shocking the Jedi Knight with the sincerity and kindness in his words, "but there is no use in dwelling on the despair, because that is what the Emperor wants you to do. He will weaken you until he can hunt you down and eliminate you utterly. Trust in others is what he fears from you, and remember that if he is focusing so destructively on you alone, that means that he fears your power might be enough to thwart him. It was the same with the Dark Lord, and the cause of that fool that started our world on its down spiral by targeting the Potters so long ago."
Even the other Professor looked amazed that their old colleague seemed so much more open about his old life, and the black haired man glanced around at them all before explaining. "My time as a slave to that madman taught me several things through hard experience, and I've since figured out that I need to trust in you as much as myself, as there is no one that can challenge the Sith alone and expect to succeed. That much is certain with all the power that Veneficus, or Potter as I continue to call that brat, has gathered to his side."
Luna managed a small smile at the jab toward their dangerous foe, but she still was greatly concerned for the safety of her Padawan.
"Perhaps we need to start formulating a plan that this Sith Lord won't expect…" Trelawney stated, "An outright attack and rescue attempt from us of the young Jedi."
"It would be very difficult," Severus stated, being the resident expert on the Sith, "From what I was permitted to learn over the time I was imprisoned by them, his powers of foresight are massive, albeit there are indeed holes in it. I am certain that he knew I would eventually escape his clutches, but not when or how I would manage it. But if his powers are distracted, say by some battle or another, then perhaps he would be diverted from guarding the boy enough for a team to slip in and take him out of whatever fortress that he is in."
"But how would be locate the boy?" Flitwick asked.
"Simple… the bond I share with Leon…" Luna stated, seeing the glimmer of hope that was being shown to her from these wonderful teachers of her youth. "But the problem is that I think I know the dangerous situation that it is already… Leon is held on the Sith capital world of Dromund Kaas, within the very palace of the Emperor."
"Republic intelligence had several teams sent there early during the war, to find out if the threat was indeed sourced from that world." Flitwick said, consulting his datapad, even as his fingers flew over the controls, "none returned, and only partial messages and images on a city within the jungle were sent. It is likely that there is a massive presence there. Forming the numbers needed for a simple rescue attempt would be difficult."
"But not if we make the overall operation a direct attack on the Empire's fortress world, and use us as the commanders of said fleet, or even multiple fleets. Miss Granger already has scores of ships ready and waiting for manning as is, and the Republic has soldiers to spare. It's commanders that they lack, as most Jedi are not willing to act in such a military role." Trelawney stated, pulling a shawl around her tightly.
Luna was more than aware of this, she herself having sided with the predominant faction of Jedi that requested to obtain from taking up a military role, as it disagreed with their personally interpretation of the Code. The Order itself may be loyal to the Republic, and therefore had to lend its aid, but each individual Jedi had to make the decision whether to lead soldiers into battle or not, and even with their enemy being the Sith, something about active conflict didn't sit right with Luna.
But now with Leon gone and the only means of retrieving him being through the use of the military, she may have to change her priorities. "I see your plan, and while my heart still has reservations regarding the fleets and fighting openly in this war, I understand that it may be our only chance to rescue Leon, so I will accept along with you to take up commendations for fleet commanders." She said softly.
Professor McGonagall took her hand gently, "We understand your resistance, and it is something that has been a long thought out debate among us as well, but we cannot stand by while the people of this Galaxy suffer and die from a menace that originated from our world. Even the others are greatly considering joining the Republic army; most of those that were educated even slightly at Hogwarts are eagerly looking forward to traveling from here to New Terra to get new wands for themselves."
Luna nodded, her own resolve forming with every added piece of reason she was hearing, "Bring up a list of names and I will deliver them to the Council for submission immediately." She volunteered, almost blinking in surprise as Professor Flitwick brought up a list exactly as she had requested on his datapad.
"I figured that it would be something along those lines needed for approval, so I went ahead and gather the names of all those who were willing." He admitted as he passed the file to Luna's own device. She briefly scanned it, recognized some of the names of various people that had been students at the same time as herself, but pocketed it and rose. "I will bring this to the Council as soon as I can. I can't promise that they'll approve every name on it, but we shall have to see."
"It's the best we can ask for," Trelawney replied, smiling, even as the door behind them all slid open, revealing a crowd of wizarding students and many younglings and Padawans that were eager to learn from the Professors of Hogwarts.
Luna took her leave, wanting to meet with one more person before she submitted the list to the Council. If she was going to enlist in the army of the Republic, she was sure that Yoda would want to be there in the thick of things with her as well.
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Severus watched as Lovegood departed out the door as the last of the young Jedi entered for their lessons about magical culture and practices. He himself had thoroughly reviewed the list of submitted wizards and witches that wanted to fight the Sith Empire. There were some that he had outright refused, able to read that they would not be effective in any military capacity, but at the same time there were others that he had no right disapproving at their desire to be involved.
Ronald Weasley's name came to the top of that list, much to Severus' chagrin. The boy had lost so much during the war with the Sith on their homeward, Severus had learned from the other Professors, but instead of the natural anger that his family would usually express, the boy had been hardened like steel in a forge, becoming colder and more direct in his approach to others. The boy's mind however had grown more complex and strategic, and would make an excellent battlefield strategist. If Severus remembered correctly from so long ago, the boy had loved chess in his youth.
While not exactly the same as a fully fledged battle on land or in space, however the similarities were close enough that Severus was confident that a crash course through Republic officer training would be the most that young Ronald would need before he was placed in a commanding position with a fleet.
Severus himself had not signed up to join with a detachment, knowing that someone had to remain with the others who were unfit for combat at the Jedi Temple, assisting the Jedi in knowing what else awaited them if and when the Empire started to attack the inner rim and core worlds. Every scrap of knowledge they had about magic, and more so Severus' knowledge of the Dark Arts would be invaluable for the Order to know how to counter what evil Veneficus could throw at them with his heritage, let alone his power in the Dark Side of the Force.
He also knew that of the Professors, Trelawney was also remaining behind, as she had admitted that her combat ability was pathetic, and her limited foresight was even less of an advantage if it ever triggered. So she volunteered to coordinate their efforts from the Temple, and support Severus as he trained more Jedi and others that wanted to know what they could do to fight wizards' magic.
He would also be on hand to add supplemental potions to the supply rations given every Jedi, which he had found out that there was magic enough in the different Force sensitivities to allow them to take the same effects from potions as witches and wizards. Some of the Jedi researchers that had assisted him had their own theories, but Severus was looking for the practical rather than philosophy for the time being. If they survived this oncoming storm, then there would be time enough for such things.
He would however, be accompanying those chosen to fight in the Republic military to this 'New Terra' to see for himself the future that wizard-kind had made for itself, and meet with Miss Granger again. Without the need of house bias, he could say that he actually looked forward to such a meeting, as she had been one of his best students, even if she had at the time lacked the creativity to expand beyond what was placed before her in terms of instruction and rules.
Hopefully he would be proven wrong, and see the marvels that she was accomplishing for himself first hand.
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Gor-lak relished the initial rush of the Demici compound, testing the full capabilities of his magic against the energy blasters of these Countess' forces. Generating a powerful shield that redirected and absorbed the incoming attacks, the ork spirit unleashed torrents of emerald lightning upon their placements, allowing his soldiers to form up behind his shield and take their shots carefully. The long march toward Demici was littered with the bodies of their enemies.
That was until they reached the doors of the Manor house, and had to stop for the powerful auto turrets that activated upon their hostile advance, unleashing a barrage of high powered shots into their ranks. Most were absorbed by Gor-lak's shield, but it left the Ork rather weakened, while others cleaving the soldiers on either side of his barrier, leaving smoking craters in their place.
Behind his mask, the face of Sirius Black gritted as Gor-lak worked hard to maintain his field of protection. This was the point where he had to rely on others, as he defended them from the deadly blaster fire. "I want those guns scrapped!" he shouted behind him, just to make sure that they knew what was needed.
He could not turn enough to see what they were doing, and for a few moments of unrelenting pounding upon his shield, he wondered what they were up to, before he heard the distinct motions of something heavy being settled into place. Seconds later the hissing explosion of rockets replaced the noise, and with a pair of bright explosions, the turrets were demolished. The overwhelming fire subsiding, Gor-lak allowed his shield to fall, slumping slightly from the effort he exerted to maintain it.
"My Lord!" several of his men declared, and Gor-lak felt hands grabbing him, stabilizing him from falling. It was almost touching, that his own warriors actually looked up to him enough to protect him when he was weakened.
The weakness passed almost immediately, as Gor-lak drew strength from the very ground around him, withering several nearby plants, and he brushed the hands from him gently, "Thank you, I'm well now…" he assured the officers that had taken hold of him, "now about getting through that door."
"It's no use," the trooper nearest replied, "We lack the explosive required to break through that much durasteel."
"There is nothing that my power cannot overcome," Gor-lak declared, gathering much of his magic to him as he could. It was a risk of weakening himself again, but the massive bolt of emerald lightning impacted the door strongly, causing all the soldiers to jump back in alarm.
For several seconds, nothing seemed to happen, but then with a resounding squeal of ripping mental the door was blown inward, leaving a jagged hole for them to pour into the building through.
"Find the Countess, and bring her to me alive… kill anyone who stands in your way." Gor-lak ordered, even as the soldiers with him split into teams of five or six. He was about to turn and proceed alone himself, when he spotted a knot of four troopers standing at attention, awaiting his orders. Gor-lak smiled behind his mask, there was something for loyalty and the inspiration that it required to bring forth. "Let's move," he commanded, leading the way into the heart of the structure.
It seemed that the majority of the guards were already dead, as they met only light resistance from that point on, nothing more than a few guards and droids that were destroyed in brutal efficiency. It wasn't even a certainly, more of a vain hope that the Countess was even here, more likely having moved to a safe house to wait out this battle.
And yet once they entered the house proper, Gor-lak's magic detected the victim he sought, and the pushed through the remaining guards quickly to reach her location. Soon enough all that barred their path from the next leader of the Great Houses was a solid wood door. Gor-lak could tell that this would be an entrance of finery and the decadence that he had expected from this woman, and opened the door without resorting to violence, stepping inside with his guards behind him.
Lady Decimi was already waiting for them, an elegant dress that concealed the dangerousness of this viper. "Why, if it isn't the head attack dog of the Emperor, here for me already…" she said softly, turning to watch as the five armed men entered the lavishly decorated office space.
"Countess…" Gor-lak replied, showing no pity or mercy in his voice, completely uncaring about what trickery she was attempting, looking innocent and helpless. If she was anything like the others of the Great Houses, she had some scheme to try and escape or kill them already in place. why else had she remained here in this place, so open and underdefended.
"What? No clever comment or even a demand for my surrender, how boring…" she said, pouting slightly. Even without the added benefit of the Force that the adepts possessed, Gor-lak could tell she was about to strike, and subtly prepared himself. "Alas I will not be taken so easily by the likes of you!"
Even as he pulled a hidden blaster from her dress, Gor-lak was already conjuring his emerald blade. The bolt went wide, even as the ork Sorcerer-king dodged, spinning once to close distance, and bisected the Countess with a single stroke.
It was almost disappointing, in retrospect, that these powerful leaders were not warriors, but politicians, incapable of putting up any sort of resistance themselves, but more than willing to sent hundreds if not thousands to fight and die for their aims anyway.
The flamed weapons died away, and Gor-lak turned from the dead woman to address his guard, "check for anything of use to us informational, and prepare charges for this Manor as well, we shall send another message to the others that we cannot be denied upon this world.
The ork turned to look out the grand widows across the burning world. Even as he spotted his army moving across the streets toward another of House Dooku's rivals, his attention was directed upward, as something made a light blood out in the night sky.
"It seems the Republic has sent reinforcements to aid their allies here at last…" he said calmly.
Although, looking again, Gor-lak mused that it was a ship unfamiliar to him, flying the symbol and colors of the Republic, which left little room to guess where this ship originated from. "A New Terran design… interesting…"
He almost looked forward to battling with a Jedi, but there was still so much to do before the Republic forces reached them. "We need to move quickly, if we are to eliminate the rest of the Great Houses before engaging the Republic… Let's move!"
Even as the starships started to unleash transports and fighters to reinforce the people of Serrano, the Sith warriors hustled to detonate their charges and move on to the next manor of their largest target, the House of Malvern.
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Fae Coven stared blindly at the datapad in her hand for a long moment, unable to read the words for lack of vision, and understanding what was being asked of the Council but not fully comprehending the ramifications of this action. "Jedi Knight Luna, I am surprised that you of all Jedi would bring such a list to us, weren't you one of the strongest supports for Jedi to remain out of the main fighting of this war for the longest time?" Master Antross said, taking the lead as the Grandmaster thought hard.
"Yes, I had been Master, but recent events have changed my priorities, and now I know that we are needed to aid the Republic on both the front lines and behind them. It is the Sith we are fighting, and the will need the Jedi to counter their Dark Side Adepts in every battle they appear." Luna replied, not cold but stiffer than Fae remembered her being.
"Recent events like the capture of your Padawan?" Master Antross said, diving pointedly into the heart of the matter, "are you sure that you are not being driven by your emotions regarding this?"
"I am sure, Master." She affirmed, but Master Coven wasn't sure of the slight hesitation in her old Padawan's voice, "I need to be out helping others, and there isn't enough that I can do in just the Jedi's capacity with the war going on. We need to fight now, and rescue the outer regions of the Galaxy from the Empire, if true peace is to continue."
"And the feeling is the same for all these from the wizarding community that have lived with us for so long?" Fae asked finally, looking up at the cold face of Luna, "They wish to contribute to the war effort?"
"We wish to help end the problem that arose from our own world; to do our part from creating the monster that grew to this Sith Emperor." She said simply, and although Fae had a great many disagreements with the need of such an action for those words, there was nothing that the Council could do in this situation to stop her from putting the list through to the Republic war council.
"While there is nothing that we have to prevent you from going through with this, I strongly advise caution," Fae said, "Many Jedi in the past that have fought in war struggled with the draw of the Dark Side. If the horrors of war become too great, please return to the Temple for a time to refresh yourselves in the aura of the Light."
Luna bowed, seemingly more relaxed than before, "Thank you Masters, we will keep that in mind."
"May the Force be with you, wherever you end up going…" Master Antross stated, even as Luna turned as departed, list in hand, leaving the two leading Masters of the Order in silence.
"I understand now why she didn't want to meet and present this with the full council." Antross said, "Her aura is clouded already because of the loss of her Padawan."
"At times I wonder if the bond between Master and Padawan is a weakness to Jedi, or strength…" Coven replied, "if the Sith rely on emotion to power them, and we strive for peace, where is the line where one becomes the other?"
Master Antross was looking strangely at her, she could sense it, "Where are these thoughts coming from, my friend?"
"The Dark Side seems to be clouding everything when it comes to this war, and the view of the Force. It is as though we must redefine ourselves with every growing conflict, adapt and remain in a state of change to be able to effectively protect the Galaxy, or else the Sith will out maneuver us and eventually destroy everything we hold dear."
"But the Code governs how the Order is to act in every circumstance…" Antross reasoned, but Fae already had her counterargument.
"The Code was made specifically as a guideline tool, adaptable to every situation, already made and designed to change and flex as it was needed, why are the individuals of the Order expected to be rigid when the very foundation of their Order is not?"
Master Antross had no response, and Fae knew that she had won this debate, but in the end there was no true victory. The Order had progressed to a point where rigidity had become the mainstay of the system, and a single response for all situations meted out; adhere to the Code as defined thusly, rather than making sure that every Jedi had their own definition and loyalty to the Order based loosely upon the tenants of the Code.
This is why there were factions of Jedi that had broken away completely from the Main Temple, and formed their own stations around their individual planets of origin, such as the Green Jedi or Corellia, and demanded a separation from all things to do with the wider Order.
That thought reminded Fae that she ought to check upon those members of the Light, and see what they felt and thought regarding this war, and if there was room for an alliance against the Dark Side once more. The Baren Do, which normally held no affiliation with the Jedi had reached out to them, so why not those that were considered their cousins?
"I know we have no rights to stop Knight Lovegood from fulfilling the desires of the Republic for more Jedi commanders, but I do not approve personally of it. Her emotions must be unstable from the attacks on her personally from the Emperor and the loss of her Padawan." Fae continued, stating her fears aloud, "I worry that she may be tempted above what she is able to bear."
"Not only is Knight Yoda and his Padawan joining her, which I believe show a strong bond of trust between those two Jedi," Master Antross said, "But under your own opinion when she was knighted, and one that I've come to agree to, Knight Lovegood is probably one of the strongest of Jedi we have at the Temple. If by some means she falls to the Dark Side, then there is no hope for any of us at all in the same situation… She will persevere; I have faith in that much at least."
That amount of trust was encouraging to Fae, but she still held onto her own reservations. She herself had underestimated the power of the Emperor once, and it cost her ability to see, along with a great number of fellow Jedi their lives. She was not despairing, but the cost of fighting this Sith Lord was growing steadily higher than she wanted or expected.
"We're going to have to allow the Jedi to fight in this war to their fullest, aren't we?" she asked Master Antross after a moment of silence.
"Like in the old days of the Sith wars? Most likely…" he replied, sounding as enthused about it as she was.
"For growth, there must be conflict. Perhaps this is the destiny of the Jedi, so constantly be at war with the Dark Side, balanced by the evil that we face." Fae said morosely, "but we will support Knight Lovegood and her allies as much as we can. There are also some others I wish to extend the hand of friendship to once again, but to do that I need to travel to Corellia in person. Holos don't quite work well for me anymore…"
Master Antross didn't find her humor amusing, but did access a private terminal within the temple for her, arranging an escorted passage to the other Core world, which would make her ability to contact the Green Jedi more personally and direct, which the old Corellians admired greatly, rather than impersonal orders and requests from their antagonistic relatives on the capital world.
If anyone would be ready and willing to fight the Sith in open combat, the Green Jedi would be the most likely candidates, but only if Fae could convince them that the need for them to leave their precious world was great enough. For Luna's aid however, Fae would do everything in her power to make these fellow Lightsiders see reason.