Chapter Four
For Xendor, completing the Trial and defeating Loki the Destroyer was more bittersweet than he thought it would be. On the one hand, he spared Loki despite his vow of vengeance if he was allowed to live and on the other... The other hand was that he would be a hero whose respect would be rivaled only by Arden Lyn should she have succeeded in her trial. Did he really want that respect though?
Could he bear to live with the burdens that were brought about by that fame? Or was he better off being the nobody that everybody hated simply because of his clan name? He knew he would find out in due time but he was not necessarily sure that he wanted to. True that he would be able to merit a little more respect in the ranks of the Order than before but what if he didn't want that.
What if he began missing the mystery surrounding his identity before the Initiation Trials came, this year? "Our next destination is the Jedi Temple on Ossus, the Council will most likely want to see you," his pilot told him after he boarded the ship. "I don't doubt that anymore than I doubt the success of my duel spreading across the Republic pretty fast soon after," Xendor replied. "Probably not, we'll be at Ossus shortly and meeting with Arden Lyn at the Council Chambers," the pilot said.
"So she did survive her trial?" Xendor asked. "Yes, she did. She's presently with Master Awdrysta Pina, who already had to go back there for a Council meeting," the pilot answered. There goes the old man, pulling strings and doing work for himself again Xendor thought, smiling.
"No doubt, the Council will probably want something with me as well as with Arden Lyn. I wonder what they would have in mind for me though," he said aloud. "They'll probably have you train under a Jedi Master until you're ready to be put in a class and made a Knight," the pilot suggested.
"If I get lucky, that Master would be Master Pina since he doesn't exactly bear any hatred for me just because my name is Kashi Mer," Xendor stated. "You might just get what you wish for, young boy. But be careful: the path Pina will have you take could be a painful one," the pilot said. "What do you mean?" Xendor asked.
"Let's just say he's not afraid to use some of the ancient methods of Jedi training, including rigorous physical 'activities' that might break your spine or worse," the pilot answered. "Excellent, that should be right up my alley. My ancestors were adapted to cope with those kinds of conditions before they were all destroyed by the Jedi," Xendor retorted. "Suit yourself, we'll be arriving at Ossus in a standard hour and you'll have to make your way to the OverSeer from there," the pilot said.
Xendor nodded and sat back, deciding to meditate on what his future could be now that he had successfully obtained the means to integrate with Jedi. Would it upset the spirit of the Talisman and the spirits of his ancestors or was this what they had hoped when Pina ordered Xendor to be spared? He thought about consulting the ancient artifact to see if this was the case. However, he decided against it soon enough and instead, resorted to relaxing for the rest of the way back to Ossus.
"I've seldom done more than ascend the steps of the Temple before. To think that I'll actually be going into the Temple this time is still phenomenal," Arden said. "It always is for the Initiate who survives their Trial as you have," Pina replied with a smile. "Halt, in the name of the Council!" two Jedi Guardians, in full uniform, stated.
"Calm down men, I am Awdrysta Pina the Green Blade. This is Initiate Arden Lyn, she has just completed her Trial and I seek to bring her up to the Council," Pina replied immediately. "And what was her Trial?" one of the Guardians asked. "To find the Black Firestone, guiding artifact that leads the wielder to the Oracle," Arden answered, pulling out the stone as proof.
At first, the Guardians froze, unsure of how to respond to this magnificent success but Pina soon remedied that. "Step aside, boys. Arden Lyn is one of us now," he ordered. The younger Guardians obeyed their senior's order and Pina beckoned Aden to come with him into the Temple.
Slowly, Arden walked forward in order to savor the excitement she felt at having finally entered the Temple for the first time. When she finally caught up with the old man, he confessed his pride in her desire to savor the moment. "You will not have many more like it once the Council is through with assigning you missions," he added. "What's that supposed to mean?" she asked.
"You'll find out within the next year or so," he answered. After that, he led Arden through the Temple and toured her in the facilities as they did so. She saw the sparring chambers where students trained and honed in their skills and the library where they went to search for more knowledge. Even the Chamber of Meditation was a sight for her to behold.
"As you can see, the Jedi are very oriented in peace and philosophy rather than the hardiness of combat when they are here in the Temple. But it doesn't stop several students from focusing on combat and they eventually become our Jedi Warriors and Combat Instructors," he explained. "The Jedi Order has always spoken of peace and yet is not unwilling to rush into combat, why?" she asked. Pina was a little puzzled by the question but laughed to acknowledge that he had figured out what she was asking.
"Tell you the truth, Arden Lyn, I do not know why. Perhaps, it has something to do with the origin of the Order back when we were known as the Je'daii. After all, several soldiers were responsible for its formation as well as several scholars, priests, and philosophers," he answered. "But you'd think, especially with the Despot War, that diplomacy would be more frequently attempted," she said. "I agree: one would think but sadly, the structure of our Order is hardly ever that fair," he replied grimly.
"The Council allows you to say these things? It's a wonder you're still a member of the Order," she exclaimed quietly. "Tiberius fears me too much for that but he did require that I go on more offworld missions," he replied with a smile. "At least he's making use of his fear and not panicking like a little bitch," she stated.
Both of them shared a laugh just in time to arrive to the Council Chambers. "You are late, Master Pina!" a Councilman exclaimed. "Just had to pick up someone that might interest you, Master Tiberius," Pina said. Arden had to use all her willpower not to smile at how much this man looked like he might as well be panicking at the sight of Awdrysta Pina.
"Who's that, a new pet of yours?" Tiberius asked. "Just a girl who happened to be lucky and obtain the Black Firestone from Tython," Arden answered before Pina could think of something better. However, the reaction on Tiberius' face assured that he wouldn't be saying anything ill of her even if he was thinking it. "If the Council will come to order, Master Awdrysta Pina will be taking his seat and the Initiate he has in tow will be seated next to him," Tiberius stated when the members gathered.
"What is an Initiate doing here?" another Councilman demanded. "You will find out when she is called to the center but for now, dear Priam, let us attend to other business," Tiberius said. "The Penal Worlds are demanding more supplies, particularly weapons. The guards there are saying that pirates are becoming an increasing problem in their region and see prisoners joining them all the time," Priam said.
"That is something the Chancellor should look into, not us," Tiberius said. "The only reason it's come to us is because the Chancellor has agreed to put the motion on hold for a price. He wants to know if we would be willing to send one of our Knights to oversee the efforts against the pirates. What shall we do?" Priam replied.
"Tell him that we'll see if we can find someone but if not, he'll have to go without and approve the motion," Tiberius stated. "Is that really wise, Master Tiberius? After all, you would quintessentially be allowing the Chancellor the right to wage war without any chance of diplomacy," Pina chimed in. Initially, everyone was dead silent including Arden though she had already decided to shut up and observe for the moment.
Though to no surprise for her, Tiberius was the first to make the reply that would answer Pina's question. "With pirates, the chances of diplomacy (even if we allowed the formality) would be like admitting weakness. We can either use diplomacy for its purpose and stall them or let the Republic hit them with all its might and crush them forever," he said. You stupid idiot, you really think the pirates will just roll over and let the Republic crush them with a single blow? Arden thought but didn't say.
Half-smiling from the shadows produced by the wall her seat stood against, she continued to watch as Council members listed problems and Tiberius quickly created solutions. Some of them genuinely impressed Arden and others outraged her to her core, something that may have been sensed. "And now that business has been concluded in all important sections of the Council agenda, I do believe that we have a guest who has something interesting in her possession," Tiberius said, looking at Arden. Rising from her seat, Arden moved to the center of the Council chambers where all the members could see her and the artifact she beared in possession.
"Councilman, I come before you with a gift and one that I don't think you'll be willing to turn down. Since you know I am only here due to completing a very special Initiation Trial, I'll get to the point: my task was to acquire the Black Firestone from the Je'daii Temple of Knowledge on Tython. I produce the stone as proof that I am the first in thirteen hundred and five years to even touch it," she said rapidly. As she promised, she produced the stone from a pocket in her utility belt and levitated it for a moment with the Force.
"Another Initiate completed a Trial recently with equal significance: a young man called Xendor Kashi Mer defeated Loki the Destroyer in his own domain and returns to the Ossus now. Nonetheless, I am phenomenally impressed with your success in acquiring an artifact that caused the Despot War. Which is precisely why I decree that you, Arden Lyn, should be allowed to skip the rank of Jedi Padawan and be ascended directly to a Knight in addition to being given a designation," Tiberius stated. All the Council members, even Pina who seldom did, agreed with him on this charge but Arden stopped them in the middle of their applause.
"There's a catch isn't there?" she asked. "Right you are little one: you have to use the stone for its purpose and find the Oracle. Document everything you see and everything that the Oracle does, confirm if it truly has the power to use astronomical alignment to grant premonitions," Tiberius replied. "Should be simple enough and the rewards are pretty great, I'll take the challenge but on a single condition," she said.
"If it is within my power," Tiberius said. "Select Xendor to be the warrior you send to help the Republic crush those pirates, extend him the same offer to persuade him. I don't know why but I think Pina can relate when I say that I think Xendor will be best used on a battlefield," she explained. "I am in favor of such a notion, perhaps then you will understand why I ordered him alive," he agreed.
Arden sounded surprised by that comment and Tiberius smiled though it wasn't a smile that said he agreed for the same reasons. No doubt, it was more of the hatred for the name "Kashi Mer" which was a hatred that Arden Lyn still didn't understand. What was so dangerous about a name if its existence only continued out of the kindness of a Jedi like Awdrysta Pina? Arden asked herself. "Very well, we shall extend him this deal as well as select him but we will not be responsible for him accepting either the offer or the mission," Tiberius warned.
"Good enough for me," Arden said. "Is there any further business before this Council is adjourned?" Tiberius asked, ignoring her now. All the Council members shook their heads at most and Tiberius adjourned the meeting, sneering at Arden before leaving. "What was that for?" Arden asked Pina.
"I think you'll find that, bound as he is to the Code, he doesn't like to comply with it when opportunity presents itself," the old man answered. "I see, much like the Chancellor of the Republic. Now I'm starting to see the resemblance between the corrupt Jedi and the corrupt democratic official. Should I be seeing that?" Arden inquired.
"Only time will tell if that sight will aid you but be pleased with yourself, he has extended you a magnificent offer and has agreed to pass it onto another. You don't get those kinds of opportunities every day," Pina told her. "Maybe but I'm already beginning to wonder if I will come to regret it someday," she said. "If it turns out to be the right thing, that fear will be ill-founded though I can see why you'd have it in the first place," he said reassuringly.
"Will a ship be ready for me soon?" she asked. "Yes, one is being fueled up and will be ready to take you to Pelgrin before sunrise. I suggest you get some sleep in the meantime and keep the stone nearby you for safety," he answered. Arden agreed and thanked Pina for everything, even to the point of hugging him rather affectionately.
After she left to find her room with the aid of a guide, Pina continued to his own chambers alone. In all my life, I have not seen a woman like that little Arden since I met my wife all those years ago. If this is indeed my daughter, my brother has done an excellent job in raising her to the light of the Jedi he told himself proudly. Though he was hoping he was right, he wouldn't mind being wrong all that much; after all, Jedi were forbidden from feeling such attachments as this, right?
Arriving to the Temple for the first time, Xendor had to admit that he was astonished at being allowed entry to the inside of the Temple for the first time in his life. "Halt in the name of the Council!" two Guardians in uniform stated. "Whoa, take it easy. I'm Xendor Kashi Mer, the only Initiate to have ever defeated Loki the Destroyer in fair combat," Xendor replied quickly.
"In that case, we shall escort you to the Jedi Council so as to prevent you from losing your way. Come and we will take you," the second Guardian said. With each warrior flanking him, Xendor walked inside the Temple for the first time and marveled at the architecture and the history of it. Never in his life had he seen so much beauty and wonder all in one sitting nor did he think he would again.
Even the Palace of the Kashi Mer could compare to the humility of this temple's splendor. I could never get tired of seeing the sights this place has to offer, ever the young man thought to himself quietly. When he finally arrived at the Council Chambers, only the leader named Tiberius was there. But when Xendor was introduced Tiberius dismissed the Guardians to return to the Temple entrance and leave the two of them alone.
"Initiate Xendor, I have heard of your success long before you even arrived here. I must say that I am genuinely impressed and would like to extend an offer to you. Help Republic forces overthrow pirates that are giving them trouble on the Penal Worlds and you'll be allowed to skip the Padawan title. I made a similar offer to Arden Lyn when she retrieved the Black Firestone and requested that I extend it to you as well, what say you to that?" Tiberius asked immediately. "I would be more than happy to take the offer, all I need is a location or series of locations to go to," Xendor answered rapidly.
"The Chancellor will provide that sort of information to you in his office on Coruscant when you go there to join the forces being launched for the fight to secure the Penal Worlds. I shall arrange an appointment for you to go there in two days time but in the meanwhile, explore the Temple, rest well. All the formalities that I am to bid an Initiate who has completed his Trial and is allowed entrance into our sacred establishment," Tiberius replied. I'll definitely be exploring this Temple, that much is for sure Xendor thought but didn't say.
And as he did so, he was awed by the width and height of the corridors that led to several chambers ranging from ones designed for spar practice to one designed for meditation and slumber. There was an outside pavilion for eating food where many Padawans, Knights, and Masters would mingle. Lastly, there was a magnificent library that tried its best to sort its information with the oldest information being on the far left end of Xendor and newest on the nearest right to him.
It was here that he observed far more information in the lefthand shelves than he observed in the righthand shelves. He wondered if this was deliberate or if this was just a mistake of categorization due to the weathering and other relevant conditions of the scrolls and texts. Also observe that some of the scrolls appear to have been thrown into a fire then fetched back out the Talisman added. Xendor did notice that and was curious to see what information the partly-burnt documents contained.
He was surprised to see that these doctrines were ones that told of self-discipline in a Jedi and how it could be achieved. The Conquer Arrogance tenet through to the Conquer Recklessness tenet were missing along with Aggression and Materialism. He also noticed tenets missing in the Responsibility doctrine: Practice Honesty and Honor Your Promises alongside Honor Life. It confused Xendor and made him wonder what the hell these burnt points in the doctrine were meant to be.
True that nothing of the Public service doctrine was missing but he was starting to become suspicious of that. He couldn't believe that someone had accidentally let some tenets of the doctrines burn but keep others around in the Self-Discipline and Responsibility doctrines. Before Tiberius and all the present members of the Council were born, these documents were intact. As if that wasn't interesting enough, there was no war in their era except their campaign against Kashi Mer.
Tells you a little something about those who govern the Order at present, does it not? the Talisman telepathically interjected. When it said that, Xendor did indeed agree that it told him something although he hated admitting what it was. After all, the Jedi had given no mercy to those of his fellow Kashi Mer who survived the supernova that destroyed the original homeworld. He remembered his mother being felled by a score of arrows and spears from Republic soldiers in front of him.
Unfortunately, he also remembered being equally helpless when a Jedi kneecapped his father and decapitated him with relative ease before moving on to kill him. But Xendor smiled when he remembered seeing Awdrysta Pina's spear come down in front of him before hearing his voice. "No, this young boy will be spared and taken with us as atonement for what we've done here!" he had ordered. Smiling at the memory, Xendor decided to put the burnt documents aside and keep exploring the sights he wanted to see in the Temple before he needed to go to Coruscant and meet the Chancellor.
But even as he enjoyed the sights and stood in awe of the people that helped make it all the more wonderful, he had to wonder. Why did Pina choose him to be spared out of all the young children that were sure to be slaughtered by the Jedi Order? Were there other survivors that had escaped the wrath of the Order and Pina had simply picked one that couldn't escape? Was Xendor royalty of sorts which would most likely explain Pina's benevolence in the face of his annihilation?
He didn't know why he had been spared but he did know that he wanted to repay the old Jedi in kind as soon as he had a chance to do so. After all, both he and Pina had a curiosity to know more than was permitted for the Jedi Order, not for self-benefit but for the Order's benefit. For as Xendor discovered that day, the Jedi were becoming exclusive in who they chose and what elements of the Code were being used. It was something he hoped to have regress before the end of his life even if it meant that he was to die in the process.