Chapter 18
"Ah good you've arrived and right on time," Zhar greeted Skye as she entered the dojo. "As you are far more advanced in both age and skill than our typical Padawan candidates the Council has devised a test that is equal to those skills.
"As you must have noticed the aggression of the kath hound packs has risen exponentially. The reason for this atypical behaviour is both complex and easy to explain. The hounds are tainted by the Dark Side. There is area in the ancient grove that carries this taint, and is new. To face the Dark Side one must know it. You are to seek it out and put an end to its corruption and you are to do so alone."
The way the Twi'lek master delivered his orders unsettled Ravensong. Like the truth of her own identity he was keeping a secret barely masked. "There is something you're not telling me, Master. A mission is more successful the more reliable the INTEL is. Deliberately withholding information will be a deterrent. Or is this part of my mission as well?"
"It is and I will say no more of it. But know this; your actions in the grove will set in motion far reaching consequences. Go seek out this taint put an end to it."
Titling her head in submission Skye departed the training rooms as there was very little point in pursuing the line of questioning. As Zhar said it was a part of her quest. Just what kind of nexus of Dark Side power was this? Apparently, it was enough to spoil the minds of beasts to make them seem almost rabid and yet leave sentient minds untouched. That is a very specific kind of Dark Side pool. Which meant it was very deliberate.
That kind of deliberate manipulation could only mean that a person was responsible. Not just a person, it was a Force-sensitive- a Jedi. But why would a Jedi do such a thing... unless they were dark. Okay so presumably there is a dark Jedi is running around on Dantooine. But the masters haven't intervened. Why not?
Maybe they believed they weren't a threat just like the Mandalorian thugs. No. That isn't it. The dark Jedi didn't come here, he or she is from here. A student then. A student goes a little dark-sidey… suddenly the comment 'your actions in the grove will set in motion far reaching consequences' made much more sense.
Skye's mind raced backwards and forwards over everything she had heard since her arrival here almost three months ago. She had been so caught up in her studies the dark-manned woman gave little thought or attention outside them. But occasionally fragments of whispered rumours slipped through the cracks of her relentless pursuit of knowledge.
'She is lost.' 'She must find her own way home' 'Did you hear? Belaya and Juhani were ratted out to their masters for being lovers.' 'Belaya is sulking in her rooms and Juhani took off to who knows where.'
Skye opened her blue eyes to the world around her. Since her scouting days… (or at least the implanted memories of those days) the Nagai had had a habit of shutting out the immediate environmental settings to concentrate on remembered words, inflection of voice, tone, body language and often times what was not said. Sometimes the break between words was just as telling as the words spoken. It was like looking at the negative space in a painting which was just as important as the subject matter.
To confirm her hypothesis the young Jedi sought out the only other person who had answers. Belaya wasn't in the courtyard as she normally was. She was found with the little effort of asking a few of questions to a couple of younglings. She was in fact in the lower archives.
The former Dark Lord approached on such light of foot she startled the other woman.
"OH!" the human dropped the data pad she had been holding. "I didn't even hear you, Padawan Skye."
The Nagai grinned. "Guess we're even."
"Huh?" Belaya frowned then nodded. "Oh, yes right. I did startle you out of your trance."
A nonchalant shrug. "Sooo reading anything interesting?"
Another lost look. Skye smiled at this as it was a sure sign of the human's lack of concentration, a mind like that was easy to mine. "Um… no. Not really. I was er…assigned to help Master Dorak in the archives."
"Training to be a chronicler I take it?"
A blush. "Not exactly no. I was… distracted. My master thought it best I find… my sense of concentration here," she sighed forlornly.
Skye patted the human on the back. "Don't worry. I'm sure we all get a little distracted from time to time. So how long are you being punished for this…er…distraction?"
"My master did not say. Though when I asked her all she said was: 'Longer now.' I suppose I will be finished when she feels I cannot be…so distracted."
"Ah." A collegiate nod to disarm and a causal tone of voice to further the connection forming was all Skye needed to push the conversation into the direction she needed it to go. "Actually, you might be able to help me and I rather not ask Master Dorak. You see I'm facing my final Padawan trial. But I'm already a Blademaster from the Nagai monastery so the Council cooked up something special to truly test me. Apparently, there is a pocket of the Dark Side energy in the ancient grove. It's the reason all the kath hounds went bonkers. Have you ever heard of something so decisive like that? I mean if it's a pool of darkness wouldn't anyone getting near it become touched and go off half-cocked?" Skye watched Belaya carefully.
As the Nagai suspected all colour drained from the other woman's face. At first Skye thought Belaya was going to faint but she caught herself on the edge of the table. Ravensong wilfully ignored it. To draw attention to the little mental gray-out would draw attention away from the true target.
"I mean a Force-sensitive person like a Jedi could with concentrated effort withstand and overcome such an area. But a mundane? Not so much, well maybe a Mandi but they are already dark and twisty. But a farmer I don't think so. Not that farmers are weak minded it's just you never ever hear of a nerf herder going all dark-sidey, do you?"
Belaya was sweating now, almost trembling. Skye persisted. "So have you ever heard of something like that? I mean not even the kinrath or brith are affected, only kath hounds. Now that's fracking weird. My best guess it's not a what but a who."
"You…um…a who?" Belaya swallowed hard.
"Well yes. Think about it. Those big ol' sky-rays can't have that much willpower, even less than a hound. So why isn't it touching them in the slightest? The biggest danger the brith offer is a big load of shit falling on you. Probably knock you unconscious getting hit with a load of crap like that, it's not like a sparrow shitting on your head is it?"
The human laughed or at least made the attempt. "Yes...I suppose so. So…so you think it's a person?"
"That's my best guess. Facing a dark Jedi. Now that will be a challenge."
"Challenge yes." Skye knew Belaya was replaying in the theatre of her mind's eye the honour-challenge that took place between Skye and Onasi. Just what she wanted her to do. "What… if this dark Jedi surrenders? Do you still intend to destroy herr…them?"
"Jedi don't kill their captives, do they?" the scout was quick to pounce on the almost slipped word 'her'.
"What if…they fight to…to the death? What if…they are very good at…and too stubborn…what if you're forced to…kill? I've seen how good you are. What if they're not as good?"
Mercy was shown on the former Dark Lord's countenance. "If I can stop this rogue from doing something so monumentally stupid, I will." Skye pressed closer to the human, her winter blue eyes staring deeply in to Belaya's. "'She is lost. She must find her own way home.' Those words were parroted. They kept you from running after your girl when all you wanted to do was go to her. You fear the reprisals from your master and the Council. I will not kill Juhani though I won't guarantee she'll not have one hell of a monster-fracking headache if she will not see reason."
Belaya was trembling so badly Skye took a hold of her before the other Jedi's straining control on her emotions broke completely. "How…how did you know?"
"I listen." Skye said. "Being a scout was what I was programmed to be. So, I listen. I reason and I gather all the information I can, where I can and however I can. And sometimes, just sometimes that which isn't said is the loudest voice of them all."
KOTOR~KOTOR~KOTOR~KOTOR~KOTOR~KOTOR~KOTOR~KOTOR
The swoop bike ate the kilometres of the plains, turning them into a single emerald blur which was occasionally broken up by splotches of deep burnt sienna of rock formations.
There was no way she was going to hike all the way out to the Ancient Grove when she had a perfectly good or rather three perfectly good swoop bikes in which to use. It was simply ridiculous to walk everywhere especially when you could ride. Besides, while Zhar said she had to go alone, he didn't say how she was to get there.
That was what she told Nemo who was near the rear entrance of the enclave. He seemed to possess knowledge about her mission but when she had asked him what he knew he would not say, thus confirming the young Jedi's theory she was after this Juhani. Nemo, it turned out, was a master but did not sit on the Council. He even went as far as to say she placed too much importance on rank and station.
Maybe he was correct about that. Right now it didn't matter; she had a few other concerns dogging her.
Not even the bike stopped the kath hounds from hunting her. They were mad enough to actually chase her down whilst on the bike. The first time she'd driven them away with the Force, seizing the body of the great horned alpha male and hurling it into the rest of the pack, injuring several of the beasts. They scampered away with baying howls. The second attack had been far bloodier. A pack twice the size of the first rushed her; she opened fire with the bike's 55 mm. turret, and she circled around them with continuous fire. The laser bolts sliced through flesh and bone. When the pack finally broke and scattered only four of the twelve hounds remained.
LEAVE Skye commanded through the Force. Her will would not be denied. The four hounds shivered, their heads shook whimpering and whining as the two commands battled in their small minds for dominance- LEAVE!
Tucking their tails, the hounds rushed from the Jedi's position as swiftly as they had first charged her.
'I have just about had enough of this.' Skye growled as menacingly as the hounds had when they had attacked. 'I don't give a swamp rat's ass if that squirrelly little knot-head lost her lover, I'm going to slap her upside the head so fracking hard for doing this crap! This is bantha poodoo.'
'Nine hells they took my memories, and gave me false ones. Hi I'm Revan…no wait no I'm Skye Ravensong. Oh, like the way they linked my real name and my family name? Or my fake family name? You know they made me an ardent believer in the Night Mother but hells Revan could have been-I mean I could have been an atheist. Well sorta-Revan believed in the Force. Look 'Little Miss Broken-Heart', we all have fracking issues with the Masters, especially that shutta sleemo Vrook, but you don't go around throwing tantrums and making fracking hounds lose their bloody minds. Next you'll be hysterically ranting to…' she coughed, '…er…your…hum…self.'
The Ancient Grove came up on the horizon, the decrepit moss-covered pillar jutted out from the green earth like the fingers of a dead giant. Around the site were two…no three dead Mandies, from the scorch marks on their armour it was death by Jedi or more specifically by lightsaber. One had even been decapitated.
'She goes for heads and arms.' There was approval in Nagai's thoughts. 'An enemy can't fight if he doesn't have a head and can't carry a gun if he can't use his arms. Good girl.'
Eyes darted back to the woman she had just praised. She knew the name of Belaya's lover but had not known the race. A part of her assumed Juhani to be a human, silly and a bit biased to be sure. The whole way out here she had mentally prepared herself to battle a human not a Cathar. She had golden fur with brown tiger stripes and unlike most Cathar Skye had seen, crossed paths with and or took as lovers. Juhani wore her mane in a top knot.
The Cathar had stronger bone and muscle density than many races including Ravensong's own. They were fast too. 'She's probably a Guardian. Swift, heavy and deadly. Probably favours Makashi form or Soresu- maybe even Shien/ Djem So. I doubt she's a practitioner of Ataru. Use Niman and Jar'Kai.'
Like all Nagai, Skye liked her sword-battles won before she engaged. Her mind already calculating each move, she even saw the battle playing out. 'She's going to leap at me, counter with the draw-closer move, pull her in with the Force, knock her off balance. Use the seconds to land a mark of contact—Shiim then Force push her away, shove into one of the columns. Use Shiak precision strike, anger will overcome her, she'll try to use Sai tok or Sai cha to slice me in half or take my head like she did with the Mandalorians.'
This was how she had won all her arena battles on Taris as the Mysterious Stranger so swiftly. She meditated before each battle, seeing each match in her mind before she committed. It was no different now.
Skye approached the kneeling Cathar: one saber in each hand.
Juhani's eyes snapped open as she felt Skye's approach through the Force. "I will be your doom!" The Cathar yelped before leaping up, lunging for Skye- just as Skye had predicted. The blow that might have fallen a lesser foe was easily blocked by a black-purplish and emerald sabers.
"'I will be your doom?' Really?" The Nagai scoffed deliberately goading her opponent.
"What?" Obviously, this startled the rogue Jedi as did the sudden appearance of a black bladed lightsaber. Keeping with her plan Skye used the Force to slam Juhani into one of the pillars. All the air woofed out of the Cathar's lungs and she slumped to the ground.
"What you couldn't come up with something more...I don't know, imposing? ' I will be your doom' is... I don't know, it lacks a certain "muchness". And far too early in the game for something like that."
"Muchness?" snarled Juhani clambering to her feet in a thrice. That is not a word!" She sprinted ahead, launching herself at the Nagai, blue lightsaber raised, going for the Sai cha, to take off her head.
Skye catapulted though the opening in Juhani's guard. Stroke for stroke, the former Dark Lord and Juhani battled around the decayed remains of the ancient structure, locked in combat. Neither one taking the win.
"Real word or not, you're lacking it." Skye continued to taunt. Spinning away from the downward slash of the blue saber she made a swift gesture with her hand, sending one of the armoured dead bodies careening into the Cathar.
Juhani fell from the literal dead weight smacking into her. Her rage was evident in the scream she let out. The Mandie's corpse flew away from her as she used the Force to cast it back to the one who threw it at her. But the Nagai easily dodged the carcass with a backwards two-meter high backwards somersault. Skye was playing a dangerous game taunting the Cathar and she knew it. The younger Jedi was by far her superior in pure physical strength.
"I would have gone for a different war cry all together." Again, another taunt.
Her strike to Juhani's shoulder was countered but only just. "Like what?"
"Something boastful: 'You want me, come and get me,' has always had a nice taunting dig. Or 'you will not win.' " Skye's whirlwind attack pressed Juhani's skills- she was faltering, falling back. "But that should only be used when the odds are in your favour."
You cannot win, Revan. The memory of Bastila's boast aboard the former Dark Lord's flagship echoed in Skye's mind.
Ravensong flushed the memory from her mind forcefully. She leapt forward, with a series of complex, aggressive attacks. She moved quickly...pressing her advantage. This was no sparing match in the training room or with an enemy who possess little to no skill in melee combat. Juhani was Jedi trained and good. Very good.
Juhani was able to keep the Nagai's sabers at bay, but it required her to concentrate her full attention on controlling her own blade...leavening her vulnerable to the real purpose of the attack being unleashed against her. She suddenly realized the Jedi had been toying with her the whole time. Goading her into rash angry actions.
Anger and the Dark Side fuelled the Cathar, she used the Force, making invisible tendrils of energy to coil around the Nagai pushing her up off her feet and slamming her into the ground. Juhani took the tiny moment in her favour and leapt upon Ravensong's prone form, her saber raised above the Nagai's heart.
A sudden explosion of pain lanced though her when a bolt of green lightning shocked her body. She let out an agonizing howl, her body shuttered—convulsing as the energy rippled and tore into her nervous system. It was only a small shock but enough to make Juhani relinquish her captive.
"That stings, doesn't it?" Skye rose up to her feet and loomed over the Cathar with both sabers crossed like scissors across Juhani's throat. "Now do the smart thing. Yield! By the Night Mother you will yield. Or I will be your doom." The last four words were growled sending a small but very real wave of fear in the Cathar's soul.
"You are strong. Stronger than I." With no real choice left to her Juhani extinguished her blade, yielding to her conqueror and her fate.
"Why in blazes did you attack me?" Skye demanded taking a step back and thus allowing the other woman to regain her footing. Her own blades were powered down and replaced into the frogs at Skye's hips.
"I am Juhani and this is my grove. This is the place of my dark power."
"What here?" Skye looked around her with a sceptical expression painted on her pale face. "In the middle of a prairie and old stones. Can't say I'm all that impressed. I mean for a 'place of dark power' and all."
"This is the place you invaded! When I embraced the Dark Side this is where sought my solace. This is place is mine!" it was a snarl.
"Solace in the Dark Side? I never heard that one before. Yeah sure the dark can be a place of solace- me I've always liked the night. But going all dar ksidey, not so warm and cuddly. Dark-siders are more like stab-stab-kill and let's bathe in blood of virgin chickens. O'course you can't forget torture Tuesdays, always a classic favourite. Still not hearing why you attacked me." Skye folded her arms over her chest.
"You invaded." It was a simple answer, one that actually took the former Dark Lord by surprise.
"Fair enough. And so in your little green place of solace is where you've been corrupting the kath hounds."
"Yees," it was a sensually arrogant purr. "Aren't they pretty? My pets like the smell of the power I exude. They know their master."
"Um…exuding power…right… gotcha. Sure, it isn't the collection of dead bodies? Sun-baked corpses even in full armour are starting to go a bit rank."
The Cathar ignored the flippant jibe. "I wield true power. I wielded it when I struck down my master Quatra. Power enough to crush the life of someone such as you," her lips pulled back into a half-hearted sneer. "Or so I thought." Shame filled the younger woman, her shoulders slumped defeated.
Skye looked to the bodies scattered, couple of Mandalorians and then she spotted another body nearer one of the weathered and pocked-marked pillars wearing the traditional brown robes of a Jedi. "You slew Quatra-your master?"
"Yes, I struck her down in the middle of training. Consumed by my anger, I embraced the Dark Side, my true power. It was not enough." The defeatist tone became thicker in the heavily accented Cathar's voice. "What is it that you want, why do you come here? Why do you hunt me?"
Skye shrugged non-committally. "I just wanted to talk."
"Talk!" the other asked incredulously. "You who have beaten me so easily just want to talk?"
"Pretty much. Yep."
"I cannot believe it. You did not come to talk, you were sent to hunt me. Kill me now while you still have the power."
"Well that would defeat the reason I came here. I have no quarrel with you Juhani. I certainly have no wish to harm you."
"You…" Juhani fell back against one of the pillars, "I have done a terrible thing. I sit here thinking myself powerful by embracing the Dark Side, but I am nothing!" she slid down to the ground not daring to look up and meet the Nagai's blue eyes. "There is no way out, no way to turn back."
Skye slowly moved to the same pillar and sat beside the young beaten woman, and kept her voice still allowing the other to vent her fears, and confession.
"I always thought they held me back, that they were jealous of my power. It was only because I was not good enough to meet their standards. I never have been."
"Pfft. Come on now Juhani. You are a beautiful young woman who has much talent." Skye picked at the sleeve of her robe. "See? You even got past my guard. Have to get this patched of course."
This brought a shy smile to the Cathar's feline lips. "I thank you for you kind words young Jedi. You seem to know what affects me."
Skye could have sworn she saw Juhani blush just then. "It seems I still have much to learn. Both about being a Jedi and about myself."
"You never stop learning until you're in the grave." Skye said nonchalantly. "And I'm leaning new things about myself every day. Believe me. I know exactly where you're coming from."
"But I wish the cost of my ignorance wasn't so high. I wish that my master had not suffered because of me!" she was openly weeping now.
Skye pulled the young woman into a single-armed hug. "Hey. Hey come here." She held the Jedi close. Bonelessly the Cathar fell into her arms drawing strength and courage from them. "Juhani, even in death the Force will allow her to live on."
Tears streamed down Juhani's face. "If she were alive now, there is much I would say to her. So much I would apologize for. I think in my own way I truly loved her."
Skye wiped the wetness away from the golden fur and smiled gently. 'Ah now we're getting to the meat of it. You loved your master and when she made you give up the love of your life, you felt betrayed. I sorta understand that. Yep falling for the chick that 'killed me.' Kinda fracked up isn't it?' But Skye did not voice this.
"How can the Council ever take me back after what I have done?" the fallen Jedi lamented.
'Maybe they will just fry your brain and give you new memories. Seems the popular thing to do,' thought Skye mindful not to transmit it across to Bastila.
"I stuck my master down in anger! Unforgivable."
"I don't think so. Go back and show them you have rid yourself of the taint." Prompted the scout.
"I could, couldn't I? Show them I have forsaken the Dark Side. Maybe- just maybe they will take me back!" There was hope in the young woman's eyes. She pushed herself to her knees giving her a few inches of height above Skye who was still sitting. "Do you think they will, after what I've done?"
"Yeah of course they will. Sorta why I was out here in the first place, this was my test. 'Seek out the taint and still it.' I think it's pretty much stilled, don't you?"
The Cathar nodded so vigorously her top knot bounced. "I thank you Master Jedi. I will return to the Council. I will submit myself to their judgement and hope they can forgive me. If there was only some way I could make this up to you."
Skye smiled warmly. "Make sure Belaya knows you're okay."
"Belaya! She..."
"Worries for the woman she loves."
"Then you know…"
Both women were now on their feet. Skye clapped a hand on the Cathar's shoulder. "There should be no shame in that," she said firmly. "That lies at the feet of the Masters. I'm not trying to confuse you but the way I see it the Living Force engenders compassion, eventually even love. The Code is wrong in this. These emotions are not detriments to the Code but the embodiment of the Living Force."
"You believe this?"
"I know it. Trust the Force." Skye said simply. "I certainly trust it more than the Masters. They are only mortals, the Force is not, the Force is eternal. But right now, I know they will take you back."
The young Cathar nodded. "Thank you again. I know I will hear great things about you."
"Maybe," Skye responded.
"It's a long trek back to the Enclave. You want a lift?"
The Cathar shook her head. "No. I must take Quatra back and see that she is taken care of. I must do this alone, just as you came here alone. It is my duty."
"I understand. And Juhani."
The younger woman paused in her motion of taking her master's body into her arms as if she were a child.
"May the Force be with you."
"And with you Master Jedi."
KOTOR~KOTOR~KOTOR~KOTOR~KOTOR~KOTOR~KOTOR~KOTOR
Skye pushed the swoop bike into the maintenance bay of the Ebon Hawk. A small detour before she headed into the Enclave proper. She was barely on board when she was besieged by a very excited Twi'lek and Wookiee.
"Did you pass? Did you pass?" Mission issued her question like rapid fire pistol shots.
"I think so, I did my mission but nothing is official yet. I haven't reported in."
"Can we go with you? Please say we can go with you!" Mission pleaded.
"I don't know if you can fully go in, might be some super-secret Jedi thingy. But you can tag along as far as the Masters will let if you want, you too Zaalbar."
"I would like that," the Wookiee said. "I have never seen a knighting ceremony."
"Actually, it's Padawan, haven't earned knighthood yet."
"Yeah but you will have that down soon enough. Bet after you stop Malak, the Masters will Knight you for sure. Your Padawan trials must be pretty hard too though. Can you tell us what kind of test you had?" Mission looked to her hero with bright eyes.
Skye had no issue relating what her last test had been. She decided to tell them as they headed for the Enclave's interior. By the time, she had finished telling the tale both young ones had become so engrossed they almost believed they had accompanied Nagai to the grove.
As soon as she entered the central gardens the former Dark Lord was nearly pounced upon by Belaya. Pounce was perhaps too strong of a word but it was close as one could get without any true physical contact. Rushed would be more accurate.
"You have done a great thing! One of our own had strayed but you have brought her back to mm…us. You have returned Juhani to the order." Belaya smiled widely.
Skye shrugged.
"In this you deserve the highest praise!" Belaya could not, even if she tired to, keep the jubilation form her voice.
The Nagai could not be certain if the smile was a response to her or to the fact that Juhani was now standing beside her.
"Juhani, 'tis good to see you here."
"I must give you my thanks; because of you I am once again welcome within the Jedi Order."
"Ha, I knew they would! " Skye beamed. "Did you learn anything new about Quatra?"
"Quatra's injury was not as severe as I had believed. I was foolish to think I could ever harm a master such as she with my clumsy efforts.
'Okay you broke her down; you had better build her back up.' Skye thought hard enough hoping that at least one of the masters had heard her.
"The fierce competition between us was nothing more than part of my training. The Trial of Spirit. Quatra wanted me to understand the threat of the Dark Side. To see how easily it was to pull from the path of the Light."
"Where's Quatra now?"
"After our last battle Quatra had nothing left to teach me. I needed time alone explore the turmoil of my own spirit. Only then was I ready to follow a guide-you-back to the Light." Juhani smiled at Skye her voice taking an almost shy tone. "When I left, Quatra knew her work with me was done. There are other disciples in need of training. She could not stay to see if I passed this most difficult trial. With your help I have done so.
"The Council now feels I am ready to complete my training but they have asked me to wait here for the time-being."
"Hey I'm' glad to see you're not getting hung up on all this." Mission's ever bubbly personality rippled through the garden, causing the Cathar to grin. "The past is in the past you know."
"You have been given another chance to prove yourself." Zaalbar added. "I hope you use it well."
Juhani nodded, "I do not know what the Council has in store for me. But I will trust in the Force and the way of the Jedi to help me see whatever it is to come."
KOTOR~KOTOR~KOTOR~KOTOR~KOTOR~KOTOR~KOTOR~KOTOR
"You have done well my pupil; the ancient grove has been purified. "Juhani's journey down the dark path has been halted. Because of you she walks once more in the Light. But though she was saved do not dismiss what happened to her.
"Juhani is both dedicated and true to the ideals of the Order, yet she was still vulnerable to the Dark Side. As are we all. She struck her master in anger during her training and injured her greatly. But it was Quatra's choice to test Juhani in this way, and it seems to have made its point.
"Juhani has been redeemed and you have passed your final test. Congratulations Apprentice or should I say congratulations Padawan. You have proven yourself worthy of joining the Jedi. Let me be the first to welcome you as a full fledged member of our Order."
"Thank you master."
"I have taken the liberty of ordering your new robes as befitting your new rank." He pointed to a small metallic case near the threshold to the changing room just off the training room. "Adorn yourself in them and come immediately to the council Chambers." The Twi'lek smiled proudly and departed leaving Skye alone.
It did not take her long to shed the Apprentice robes and put on the new ones. For the most part they were nearly identical to her blue Zeison Sha robes, these however were not the robes and armour of an Initiate but of a Warrior. The under gee were the same linen and rough cotton that all Jedi tended to wear.
Ravensong definitely liked the look of the armour- silver and blue with a blue surcoat. The Nagai decided to show off a bit and garb herself in the armour.
Both Mission and Zaalbar had been allowed to remain in the Council chambers; they were not the only members of the Ebon Hawk's crew present. Commander Carth Onasi was also standing by- why Ravensong could not know. It was of no matter...the Masters were waiting.
"I must congratulate you on your actions Padawan Ravensong." Vrook said in a surprising appreciative tone. "You have saved Juhani, brought her back into the Order. and have given us great hope for your future success. May the Force be with you as you continue your journey. "
Weary of this sudden turn of approval in the human's voice, Skye couldn't help but give a sideways glance to the little green impish Grand Master before returning her attention to the man who all but despised her presence in the Enclave.
"Thank you master," she could not keep the shock from her voice if she tried.
"It is good to see Juhani has returned to the way of the Light." Vandar was still eerily smiling.
Skye figured someone must have doped them all in spice for such rousing praise.
"You are to be commended for your role in this," Vandar continued. "Your actions give us great hope for the future."
Oh, I get it now. This wasn't just to save Juhani but to see if Skye or Revan came back from the grove, wasn't it? And you're all still working on the assumption I have no clue who I am. Well I really don't, just a name but still…'
"Your training as an Apprentice is now complete, Padawan. And perhaps now it is time we dealt with the matter of the dream you and Bastila have shared. When we heard of the ruins in your dreams, Master Dorak recognized them as one of a series of ancient structures here on Dantooine.
"This one in particular lies to the east from this enclave. We sent a Jedi to investigate. But he has not returned. Perhaps sending him in the first place was a mistake. The Force is guiding you through your visions. It may yet be that exploring the ruins is tied to your destiny. That is why the Council has decided you should be the one to investigate this.
"The secret to stopping Malak may be contained within those ruins. You must investigate them and find what Malak and Revan were up to before."
"It will be done," Skye said solemnly. She looked over her shoulder to Onasi. So, that's why he was present. The Republic's watch dog. Of course, if he hadn't been allowed to go on the mission within the ruins, Carth's rampant paranoia would have taken over his mind like a bad rash.
"Master I need to know something." Skye said dismissing the commander's presence.
"A Jedi must ever be seeking knowledge." He said in the kind voice of his.
"Revan and her connection to the Force. If it is my destiny to lead me to the ruins, was it also hers that led her there? Surely, she trusted the Force as much as any of us. What if she followed the Force? Light or Dark, the Living Force doses not choose sides. We cannot assume just because she was the Dark Lord it doesn't mean she wasn't guided by the Force. How truly powerful was she- her connection to the Living Force?"
Bastila shifted nervously on her feet, turning her gaze away from master and Padawan.
"I knew Revan was a promising pupil, strong in the Force. But also, headstrong and proud. Such traits are not unusual in young Knights. That is why I did not see the true extent of the danger. Many of the young Jedi admired Revan. Including Malak. When Revan set off to challenge the Mandalorians, Malak was the first to join the cause; Meetra was the second and many more after.
"And when Revan fell to the Dark Side it was inevitable that Malak would fall as well.
"So, Revan was stronger than Malak."
"Revan was always the more powerful of the pair. When Revan fell, we had hoped the threat was ended, but Malak quickly assumed Revan's role and embraced the Dark Side as fully as his master ever had. Now Malak leads the Sith army against the Republic. The chains of vengeance drawing him ever further drown the dark path, fuelling his powers to where they surpass those of his old master. Only you and Bastila together can defeat him now."
Skye's gaze had been centred more on the other woman than the Grand Master during his speech; she noticed however that he had not said 'death of Revan' as he had before when she questioned him about Bastila. He said 'fall.'
As she was about to leave, a human male barged in screaming. "I demand justice. The Sandral family is a blight upon Dantooine!"
'Ohh this looks fun.' Skye toyed watching the scene play out. She folded her arms and leaned causally on the lentil of the council chamber threshold.
"They must be punished."
The Council will look into this matter Mr. Matale." Vandar said in his ever clam voice. "You must be patient. Your accusations have no proof. We do not want you stirring up trouble with the Sandrals if there is some mistake."
"Mistake!" the Matale man screeched. "My son Shen is missing! How can there be any doubt that the Sandrals are to blame."
"There are other possible explanations for your son's disappearance." Vrook piped up.
'Yeah like he wanted to get away from a barking old coot like you.' Skye added silently. 'You humans certainly like to screech.' She rubbed her pointed ears.
"Bah you Jedi are good for nothing but talk."
'Oh, I don't know we can always send you on your ass, you loon.' The Nagai playfully toyed with the idea. But she suddenly got a 'nudge' from Bastila who was still near Dorak who shook her head in a schoolmarm way of disapproval.
'Oh, come on it would be funny.'
'Skye, you are a Padawan now, you should not behave so childishly.'
Like you didn't when you sent Mission on her ass for pestering you." Skye smiled wolfishly causing her bond-mate to blush.
'I…I have no idea what you are talking about, the girl is apparently clumsy'
'Pfft. Liar.' Skye winked.
This time Bastila looked away as another shade of red crossed her eloquent features.
"I shall only wait so long before I take action on my own!" the venous snarl from Matale brought Skye right back to the intruder. He stormed off by wrapped in his vendetta.
"As dangerous as the threat of the Sith may be." Vandar said clearly addressing Skye. "We Jedi cannot simply ignore our other responsibilities."
'Oh no no no no.' Skye muttered under her breath cursing her curiosity that made her linger. 'Damn and blast.'
"The Council has promised Alan Matale that we would look into his son's disappearance. Should you have time Padawan, you may want to investigate this matter."
The way it was phrased clearly this 'may want to investigate' was not an option it was an order.
"As Master Vandar said there are other possibilities. Like the Mandalorian raiders that apparently were not a threat or the crazed kath hounds, he's probably dog chow by now or a slave."
"If Shen Matale is not returned to his father it may ignite a savage bloody feud between the Matale and Sandral estates. We must not allow that to happen."
"Your study and training are important of course but the Jedi are not a closeted Order."
"Pfft." Skye made it sound like an ill-concealed sneeze.
Vandar ignored the young Padawan's scoffing. "Our ways and teachings must spread beyond the walls of our Academies."
"It is in the real world that we truly prove ourselves worthy of the title Jedi." Vrook said, his voice this time had no bite to it; it was...almost sage-like.
And he did have a point- the real world is the only place a Jedi could truly shine. "You will do well to remember this Padawan."
Suddenly all the warm feelings she was having for the old human washed out. He just had to go and add that bit of snark to his comment.
"Not to mention I wouldn't mind getting out of this enclave for a bit." Carth said. "I mean come on, how bad can it be?"
Skye nodded 'yeah okay', "Very well Masters, I shall look into it as once."