The Story of forgotten Jedi Owen Sun
Chapter 43: Sentencing
Several days had passed since the battle on Solar and Owens detainment by the Jedi Council, since that time he had been held inside a containment cell deep within the military base on Coruscant.
Owen had spent much of his time meditating trying to center himself calming his fear and anxiety of the precarious situation, he still had no idea what the council was going to do with him…
Meanwhile in the council chambers.
Inside the Jedi Council chambers the debating seemed never ending as each member continued their deliberations not certain of what Owens fate would be.
"A decision must be made, the longer we detain Owen the more he detaches himself from us" stated Windu.
"Well you all know where I stand, I am in favor of exile…we cannot allow the other members of our order to believe they can do as they please, their must be no question that amongst our order the Jedi Councils word is law" stated Ki-Adi-Mundi.
"I agree that Jedi Knight Sun's defiance is inexcusable, but I am in favor of imprisonment...at a timetable later set by the council" inputted Gallia.
"Masters Mundi and Gallia speak out of turn perhaps, those punishments seem…rather drastic, especially exile" argued Master Rancisis.
"Umm yes, to my knowledge exile has only been passed down to an unfortunate few in our orders history" added Koon.
"The punishment is stiff I agree but we cannot condone this kind of behavior, we have already seen lesser acts in recent past…Jedi Knight Skywalker and former council member Billaba to name a few" reiterated Mundi.
"Yes but exile…imprisonment…that's going much too far!" disagreed Rancisis.
"Master Rancisis please, we must consider every option" diffused Windu extending his hand to calm the Thisspiasian.
"Despite the defiance he was able to stop the Separatists and radical faction keeping the world within the Republic" pointed out Shaak Ti.
Master Yoda agreed. "Um yes, what kind of council are we condemning actions such as this"
"But Master Yoda do not forget the means by which he did so" reminded Master Fisto.
The wise Yoda lowered his head nodding at Kit Fisto's sensible argument.
An awkward Silence hung in the air.
"A sentence must be handed down, I suppose we shall…continue deliberations" stated Windu.
A few days later…
Pacing in his cell Owen grew more impatient with each passing minute forced to wait and wonder about his future in the Jedi Order. With the time it was taking he began to think there was little hope left…
"They may just banish me…but would they really go that far…or maybe the reason why their taking this long is because they don't know what to do with me…" pondered Owen.
He plopped down to the metal floor. "(Sigh) I grow tired of this cell, how many more days must I be held here"
Interrupting his slumber on the floor the door to the holding cells hissed open revealing a heavily armed clone trooper. "You've got a visitor" he said.
Stepping through the door was Owens long time friend Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Obi-Wan was a bit surprised when the trooper didn't leave. "Excuse me trooper but would you mind"
"I'm sorry Master Jedi I'm under strict orders to guard this prisoner" replied the clone trooper.
Obi-Wan needed to talk with Owen in private. "Perhaps you can make an exception this once" he convinced using his Jedi mind trick.
"Uh…yeah, sure, just…just make it quick" agreed the susceptible clone trooper.
Approaching the force shield Owen greeted him. "Obi-Wan" he said just happy to talk to someone.
"They've certainly gone through a lot of trouble to make sure you're locked up tight" noticed Obi-Wan.
"The council just now started allowing visitors…they must be close to a decision" he added.
"What do you think they'll do with me?" wondered Owen.
Obi-Wan shook his head lightly. "(Sigh) I don't know…your one of our best Owen but what you did…"
"I've got to ask…what were you thinking?" questioned Obi-Wan.
"C'mon Obi-Wan you know why, I couldn't just stand there and do nothing" replied Owen.
"But you threw everything you ever worked for away when you left…your entire future is jeopardized now" stated Obi-Wan.
"I knew the risk before I left and I stand by my decision, even if I could go back I wouldn't change anything" stated Owen.
Convinced of Owens firm decision Obi-Wan moved on. "Besides the battle itself what else happened on Solar…I sense something different about you" sensed Obi-Wan.
After a long standing pause Owen responded. "Let's just say I got…closure"
"Closure?" pondered Obi-Wan.
"Some things are best left unsaid old friend" stated Owen.
"I understand" replied Obi-Wan sensing it was something personal.
"Whatever the council decides, I will submit to their decision" confirmed Owen.
The door to the holding cells then hissed open again. "Sorry Master Jedi, times up" interrupted the clone trooper.
"Thanks for stopping by" thanked Owen.
"Before I go Owen I just wanted you to know that whatever the council decides…" Obi-Wan stopped in mid-speech struggling to find the right words.
"What?" wondered Owen.
Obi-Wan looked intently at him. "Brothers you and I…we shall always be Jedi brothers"
Owen smirked. "Thanks again old friend"
"Anytime" replied Obi-Wan as he left the holding cells.
Several hours later…
Night had descended on Coruscant as Owen slept peacefully in his Jedi sleeping trace on the cold metallic floor of his holding cell.
Suddenly Owen was abruptly woken up by two heavily armed clone troopers. "It's time, the Jedi Council has made their decision" informed the clone trooper.
Shackling his hands together they brought him to the Jedi Temple.
On the way there Owen began to think of the grim reality of his life without the Jedi, what would he do, where would he go?
He couldn't imagine himself wandering the galaxy a lost Jedi exile. Or staring at a bare cell for the rest of his days, the flickering hum of a force cage his only companion.
Entering the council chambers a shiver ran down his spine as all he received was the cold stare of each Jedi Council member. "You may leave" instructed Windu to the clone troopers.
"It has taken us much, much time to bring you here tonight, and even more deliberating on what to do with you, but we feel we have come to the right decision" explained Windu.
"Oh boy…here it comes" thought Owen.
"Are you ready to receive your judgment Jedi Knight Sun?" asked Windu conducting the sentence.
"I will submit to my punishment" answered Owen.
"Very well" replied Windu.
"Before you left against the councils wishes we felt you were ready to become a Jedi Master…but your recent behavior has forced us to reconsider our decision" began Windu.
"So as punishment for your blatant disregard of our authority you will not be given the rank of Jedi Master" added Windu.
The council's decision cut Owen deep as he still very much maintained his desire to become a Master and teach the students and younglings of the Jedi Order.
Owen figured there was more coming…
But amazingly after a moment of dead silence there was nothing more. "Is there anything you wished to say about our ruling Owen?"
"Uh…no Masters" replied Owen still astounded.
"Consider yourself fortunate young Sun…very fortunate" stated Mundi not happy with the council's final decision.
"M…may I leave now Masters?" asked Owen stifled.
"You may return to your quarters but for the time being you shall be confined to them, is that understood?" informed Windu.
"Yes Master" replied Owen.
As he began to leave the council chambers Windu called back to him. "And Owen…this must never happen again" he stated firmly.
"I assure you Master Windu it won't, thank you" answered Owen as he left the council chambers.
The council continued their discussion as he left. "He seemed very worried" noticed Windu.
"Yes, I think he expected much more" commented Gallia.
"Um indeed" replied Yoda sensing everything that took place on Solar.
Descending in the turbo-lift Owen felt like he was getting away with a crime, surely denying his acceptance as a Master was regrettable but he expected a punishment far worse, he didn't try to question it any further however…the forces will couldn't be denied and Owen Sun had been spared.
Still fathoming the council's decision the doors to the turbo-lift suddenly opened and Master Cin Drallig stood before him. "Master Drallig" Owen greeted stunned to see him.
"I sense the council has made a decision, and the right one I might add" stated Drallig.
"I expected something much more severe but it seems I was wrong" replied Owen.
"So the force has saved you from yourself yet again" stated Drallig.
"Yes, and let's hope for the last time" replied Owen.
They began to walk down the long hall of the Jedi Temple.
"It did come at a price though, I will not become a Jedi Master" informed Owen.
"You should not concern yourself Owen, in time you shall earn their respect back and get another chance" assured the wise Drallig.
Owen began to weigh everything in his mind. "By going to Solar and coming to the aid of my people I sacrificed my rank as a Jedi Master…I wonder what I would have done if I known for sure that I was already accepted?"
"I think we both know the answer to that" commented Drallig.
Owen smirked nodding.
"Remember, through the force some sacrifices must be made if a greater good can be served" imparted Cin Drallig.
"Your always teaching me aren't ya" replied Owen with a chuckle.
Drallig smiled. "Always"
As the two continued their walk through the long hall Drallig needed to know one more thing.
"So…when were you going to tell me about Solar?" wondered Drallig referring to what really happened.
Owen returned a half smile. "Maybe some other time"…