Chapter 2
A second order
"It is very good to hear the benefit of your presence on Telos, Master Jaedu." Greeted Master Zym. They were before the council, the light of the setting sun over the city of Corucant kept the room lit, and kept the grave faces carved into the Jedi Masters faces' standing out. Mona and Jaedu stood before the council, the only empty chair being that of Jaedu, standing finishing her debriefing.
"A very tragic event, which cost the republic a great Senator, it was a very fortunate coincidence that you two were there to prevent a even greater tragedy." Added Master Kantuu.
"Thank you Masters, but however I do not feel it was a coincidence that we were there." Responded Jaedu. She gave a stern look at Master Zym, who gave a slight nod.
"Of course, there are no coincidences in the force." Said Master Kantuu.
"Maybe, Master, with your permission, we may investigate this further. Telos is a system the Republic cannot afford to lose. If the culprits behind the attacks were found and stopped, we can prevent losing the Chancellor and him being replaced with someone less tolerable with the Republic." Requested Jaedu. Master Kantuu looked around the room at his fellow Jedi, who seemed to all be thinking over the request. Master Zym kept his gaze on Jaedu, it almost seemed as if the two were in deep conversation. Mona thought this ridiculous though, in all her learnings of the force, not once did she learn it was possible to talk within each others heads.
"I agree," Began Master Kantuu. "It would seem that losing Chancellor Nuilo would be losing a great asset to the Republic. You have mine and the council's permission. Go when you are ready, occasional status reports would be necessary."
"Thank you Master."
"And of the padawan?" asked Kantuu.
"She will be coming with me. I believe this may be the final task before it is taken into consideration of being a master." Replied Jaedu. Mona looked at her teacher and smiled.
"You believe she is ready? She is extremely young!" exclaimed a Jedi to the right of them. Jaedu turned to him and answered curtly.
"Yes, I do believe so; otherwise I would not be requesting it. Do you mistrust my judgment, Master Whixly?"
"To be extremely honest with you Master Jaedu, I do not." Several of the Jedi looked at him with surprise. Few looked as if he had said what many wanted to. The remaining Jedi looked either unmoved or shook their heads. "Why would I trust in someone, who believes that an extinct race is waging war with us? It is insane! The Sith have been quit for Three hundred years!"
"You are wrong there!" Exclaimed a Jedi across from him. "If the Sith are 'extinct', then why is it we have had several Dark Jedi attempted to raise a large power? Why is it that we have found stranded Sith fleets out beyond the outer rim?"
"Master Hileem, they are broken pieces attempting to revision a lost hope. There are some stragglers out there now, I will admit, but they are nothing more than pirates now! There is no way the Sith are gaining power, we would be able to sense it!"
"The Sith are the reason my mother is dead! What do you have to say about that?" Yelled Mona, losing her temper.
"Saxrithium, with all respect, your mother was victim to a Dark Jedi who thought highly of himself, not a Sith." Responded Whixly. Mona began to tremble out of anger.
"It was a Sith Master and his apprentice!" Mona lowered her voice into a low growl. "They killed her because she convinced the Senate to crush the new group of Politicians calling themselves the 'New Empire'. You know this Master."
"Enough, there is no more to be discussed her, you are dismissed" Master Kantuu said, with a scowl." Mona looked as if she was about to continue shouting at Whixly, when Jaedu grabbed her by the shoulder.
"Mona, now is not the time. We must go." Jaedu whispered, attempting to pull Mona with her, but she wouldn't budge. "Mona." Mona turned and followed her master out of the Council.
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The two Jedi were slowly walking in the hallway from the council. The sun was barley visible, beginning to fully dip over the horizon. The lights of the Jedi temple were light, as were the rest of the city. The combination of light glinted off Mona as she stopped walking and looked out one of the many windows. The sense was the typical on Corucant, but none the less breathe taking. The many buildings forever reaching into the sky, the many lanes of traffic zipping through the atmosphere were all a beautiful contrast to the setting sun. Mona took a deep breath, and allowed herself to calm down. She did not take easily of her mother's death, even after all the years it had been. She was there when it happened, she was there when the Sith lord cut down her mother and several other Senators. Jaedu, being a newly appointed master at the time, dueled the Sith lord and killed him, after nearly being killed herself. It was Jaedu who then took Mona in, made her a apprentice.
"I cannot believe the order, as well as the Republic, denies the existence of the Sith. It is foolish, irresponsible." Mona breathed, before picking up her voice, once again trembling with anger. "It was shoved in their faces, all the evidence, and they chose to ignore it."
"You heard Master Whixly, the Jedi who do not believe the Sith are attempting to rise believe these events are just singular maniacs who thirst for power. The order does know there are still Dark Jedi, but they do not believe that they are creating any alliance or anything of the sort of the Empire again." Jaedu responded. "Indeed, foolish. Almost unintelligent. The Sith rose to power before, it is only ignorance and self denial to say they cant do it again. The problem is, the order is so stubborn; they need physical proof that there are more Dark Jedi than the few who have been discovered. They think that there have only been a couple, and not many, therefore they believe the Sith cannot rise to power."
"But the group that called themselves the 'New Empire', the reason my mother was slain, that is not any proof to them?" Mona glared at the horizon, as the sun snuck beneath it. Jaedu sighed.
"The order, as well as the republic, believed them just to be some gang, or mock clan. There were only a few who believed otherwise, who knew what was going on. The order didn't find it strange that a Dark Jedi was a assassin of the group. The order still denies that he was a Sith Lord. But I fought him; you should have felt the hate, the power, the disturbance. I knew he was not any typical Dark Jedi. I knew he was more." Jaedu paused, and looked at Mona. "Your mother was great at her work. She knew what was really at hand, that is why she put a task at making sure the New Empire did not get a seat in the Senate. Corucant has yet to see another Senator as great as she was. Both myself and Master Zym knew this, and trusted her deeply."
Mona turned to look at her Master, her friend. She gave a weak smile. "I must thank you, Jaedu. Without you I would be nothing, without you, more people would have died. I want you to know I would follow you into anything, even if it meant my death." Jaedu returned her smile.
"It is nice to know that. I think you are old enough, and wise enough. I want you to be on this investigation with me for a simple reason. I want you to help me hunt the Sith. I have been on them for years, as have many of us. It is a difficult path, but I must know if your willing to accept." Jaedu said. Mona's eyes lightened up, and Jaedu's voice became serious. "Know this: if the order was to find out we were carrying out operations behind their back, they would almost immediately exile us. This is a risk you take if you accept."
"I accept!" Mona exclaimed. "I will do what ever it takes to make sure the Sith are non existent!"
"Also, do know, this is for the security of the Republic, so we cannot not get lost in revenge!" Jaedu added. Mona nodded. "Then we must depart, its time to show you something that you are now ready for."
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They walked past the cantina on the ground level. There were many Civilians shuffling in and out, as well as walking on the pavement. Next to the cantina was a market place, which signs were out shined by the cantina next door. A street band played in the middle of the crowd. Some watched the band, and some drunk civilians were attempting to sing a tune with the music. Mona and Jaedu were walking briskly through the crowd, Mona a few paces behind Jaedu. The two Jedi continued for a bit, before turning down an alley way. After a couple minutes of walking, Mona spoke.
"Master, where is it we are going."
"Just up to this abandoned Casino right ahead." Mona rolled her eyes.
"Ok." Mona said sarcastically. "What for?"
"It will explain itself, patience young one." Jaedu said. The two reached the Casino. For a abandoned building, it was quite pretty, thought Mona. The neon signs were still up, a few letters missing, and besides the fact that they were off. The building looked pretty up kept. The two Jedi entered the building. Jaedu took Mona up a flight of stairs, and then into a room. There was an office door, in which they walked through. It revealed a large room with several desks, a large Vault door, and another small office door.
"Wait here." Said Jaedu. She walked into the office and turned on a lamp which, to Mona's surprise, actually worked. Mona watched through a window as Jaedu then use a holocron. A large noise was sounded from the Vault door, and then Jaedu switched off the light and proceeded to the Vault. She put in a combination on a small screen, and then pulled open the Vault. Inside was a small, dimly light hallway. "After you."
Mona slowly walked through the Vault door, followed by Jaedu, who closed it behind them. The hallway was short, leading to another door. This one was a large silver one that shone bright in the dark red hallway. Jaedu walked in front of Mona, and pulled the lever on the front of the door. The door open, revealing a bright room, with occasional outlines in black, and several chairs in a circle, most of them occupied, save three. Mona followed Jaedu into the room.
"Welcome Mona," Greeted Master Zym, "To the Council of the Lone Wolves." Mona looked at some of the people in the room with surprise. Master Hileem, Master Jupirnar, Master Syphuldias, and few other Jedi and Senators Mona did not know. Jaedu nodded and sat down in one of the empty chairs. "This is a second order, consisted of the ones who know the truth of the Sith, and make it their goal to hunt them down. We are in a way, violating the Jedi council in every way, but we put our lives on the line to ensure the safety of the Republic. We are glad you are to finally join us. Please, take a seat next to your master, and we shall begin our meeting."
Mona was a little shocked from the sudden surprise, but was not at all uncomfortable or disappointed. This could be what had kept her through the intense times of her training, to get back at the Sith. To free the Republic of these scum. To fight, to avenge. Her emotions swelled in side her. She walked over to the seat next to her master and sat, beginning to observe the crowd.
"Mona, allow me to introduce the fellow members of our group. Jedi Knipes, Jedi Walkins, Jedi Trider, Senator Knickles of Naboo, Senator Friews of Olderan, and I am sure you meet our recently deceased, Senator Melado, your mother's successor."
"Senator Melado was a part of this organization?" Mona asked with huge curiosity.
"Yes, he was." Zym said sadly. "He was, after your mother's death, grieved. Swore to avenge your mothers death, and called upon us when no others would listen. He founded the Council of the Lone Wolves. He loved your mother dearly." Mona's head went fuzzy. She had never though of Melado like that. She knew him only by acquaintance, nothing more. To learn that he had feelings about her mother was a new, unrecognized feeling.
"We must," Zym continued, "Look at recent events. The recent assassination attempt on Telos was successful. The Sith eliminated their target."
"But Master, wasn't the target the Chancellor. And weren't the assassins the Rithur Clan?" Mona asked, puzzled.
"The Chancellor was just an extra target. Their goal was to eliminate Melado. The Sith attempted to kill the rest to stage an attack on the Chancellor. Not something the Republic would look into as a Sith movement. The Rithur Clan were, however, the ones who carried out the orders. Yet, we know the Sith were the ones who ordered the attack." Zym paused, and then stared at Mona. "I know you must be confused, Mona, but know this: Our organization has been in a indirect war with the Sith. They are striking from the shadows, and we are desperately trying to fight them off. They are gaining power and influence, and we are attempting to subdue it. The Republic and the order deny anything we bring to them as evidence, because it can be related to a common disturbance rather than a Sith attack. Therefore we created a new order. There is a new disturbance in the Force, and it is not dark. It is the Sith covering their tracks, but it is still there."
Mona was confused, yet she understood enough to keep her satisfied. It was as she wanted, to battle the Sith, to save the Republic. All those dreams that are made as a child, able to come true when never thought possible. She was excited, as a new fire burned inside her. She wanted to meet the Sith in battle. She wanted to hear the call of war. She needed revenge. It fueled her, kept her positive.
"Jaedu, I know you got permission from the council to investigate this matter. That was clever thinking on your part. Now you and Mona can travel to Telos without any suspicion. Go at once, try to find out where these Sith are taking refuge. This may bring us one step closer to finding their base. Meanwhile, myself and Master Hileem will travel to Geonosis. We have a excuse of a diplomatic mission to be there. If there are any findings, contact a member at once and we will call another meeting. And Mona," Mona looked up. "Welcome aboard, and may the Force be with you all."
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Mona and Jaedu were aboard their cruiser to Telos. It was a familiar flight. Mona was ready to travel. The call for battle rained inside her like a beast trying to break its way out of its cage. Jaedu seem to notice Mona's feelings, for she addressed her in a serious tone.
"Excited? I don't want to destroy your fun, but until we can find the Sith's whereabouts, this is going to be a very subtle mission. We might not experience any fighting what so ever." Mona however didn't look at all disappointed.
"Master, I do not worry over such things. I am just happy to be making a difference and making a impact on the Sith. We will find them Master. I will make it my goal to. They cannot escape the two of us." Jaedu smiled.
"We will see, Mona. Now get some rest. Who knows what Telos has in store for us."
Note from the author: Here it is Chapter 2. The story is beginning to unfold. Chapter 3 is on its way! Please rate, comment, or message me and let me know what you think or if you have any questions! Updates will be located here at the end of each chapter! :D