Jedi Temple

John Zaun was shuffling behind the billowing forms of Galen and Death. His eyes were down cast as he was making his way through the halls of this most sacred of temples.

He looked up suddenly, startled. He had lost site of his father and of Death, he must have taken a wrong turn. And now he had no idea where he was in the large facility.

He would not panic, he was too dead inside to do that.

Instead he picked a likely direction, and walked down that way, staring down the hall and reaching out with the Force to feel his father, feel where he was. Instead he picked up an odd fluctuation, an intense blast of emotion before he could pick up Galen.

He arched his eyebrow and followed it, wondering what it was that was causing such a wave of powerful and intense emotions.

As he approached the sounds of hissing and clashing Lightsabers reverberated grandly down the walls of the hall he was in. Curious, all sense of guilt or shame at his actions, but with a sense of caution, he continued, pressing himself against the wall.

He peered into the recreational room and saw a dazzling display.

An Orange shaft of energy was swinging and jerking through the air against a Green shaft. An intense display of grunts and moans greeted his ears as the two of them attacked and counter attacked with sweeping, but precise, strikes.

He was entranced by the majestic display.

The two combatants snapped off their weapons with a hiss, and then bowed at each other low to the ground.

They then broke out into a fit of laughter. There were two of them, a Man and a Woman Jedi. The Woman was clearly the Master and the man the apprentice.

She was physically fit, with soft brown eyes and her hair was cut short, right down to her neck. Rich mahogany Brown was its color. The man had piercing blue/gray eyes. He was a bit on the buff side, and close cropped hair, in almost a military style.

"Well that was fun." The Woman smirked at the man with a wink.

"Yeah, it was." He grinned back, moving over to her and giving her a hug.

John was startled, and guilty, the full force of why he was here hit him in the stomach again. He nearly gasped.

She hugged him back and muttered to him to where John could not hear them. He nodded and moved around her, putting his arms around her waist and stomach from behind.

"It's going to be soon my love." He soothed.

"I know, Amann, but I do not know if I can keep it going that long. It's so hard." She whimpered slightly, not sounding at all like a Jedi Master.

"I know, I know." Amann sighed. "But look, it's only going to be a couple of months until I can take the trials. And then we can come forward. At that point it will not matter how we feel about each other, even if they suspect that we had our relationship before I became a Knight there is nothing they can do about it. We will no longer have the Master Student relationship. We will have to be careful until then."

"I just do not know, it's still so far from now." She moaned. "I do not know if we can…if I can hold on that long."

"Well, you are going to have to…for both our sakes…we will just have to be care-Hey what are you doing here?" Amann noticed John and then yelled at him.

John ran like a startled rabbit, panic started to roll off the Jedi Master as he fled down the hall.

He turned left, then right, and down another hallway.

He finally slowed down to a normal trot as passing Jedi and other Sentients started to look at him confused, worried at his sudden panicked appearance.

"John?" The voice of his father asked from behind him, obviously concerned.

"Father!" John ran into the arms of his father.

"What's wrong?" Galen asked, "we thought we had lost you."

"Oh nothing." John dismissed, figuring it was none of his business what he just saw, "I got lost is all."

"OK." Galen said, deciding not to press it for now. "Come we are running late for the council meeting."

John followed Galen down the hall, biting his lip, worrying about what he was soon to face.

They arrived in the Council Chambers, most of them were alert and attentive but some of the others were stirring, looking bored, until they saw that their query had finally arrived.

"You are late," the Second Master reminded them.

"I know, I got lost." John volunteered shrilly,

"Oh that makes everything all better now." The Second Master smirked, half amused and half annoyed at the situation.

"I am sorry for the delay." Master Zaun simply apologized.

"It is accepted" The Second Master granted, and then turned to the Grand Master of the Order.

"Master and Son Zaun, young Death, gathered here today you are, for the judgment of a grave crime." The Grand Master explained, letting them know why they were here, for official book keeping. "Of the gravest importance this matter is. In Jedi History, nothing like this, happened has not. Explain yourself young Zaun."

John sighed, and then told his story the best way he could.

"It started a couple of months ago, I developed, a crush on this girl…" His voice caught in his throat painfully, he cleared it and continued. "Over several months I began to suspect her boyfriend was using the Force to manipulate her. Then I saw him do what looked like a Jedi Mind trick on her. Controlling her actions. I snapped. I could not take it anymore and I had to come to her defense, to save her."

"So you beat a boy within an inch of his life?" One of the Masters on the council asked skeptically.

John's voice quivered as he answered the question, " I did get a little carried away…yes."

Galen closed his eyes and waves of pain rolled off him for the whole room to feel, they tried to ignore it, getting to the duty at hand, truth be told it annoyed some of them.

"Master Zaun, what do you have to say for yourself?" The Second Master pressed, turning to regard Galen with a probing stare.

Galen opened his eyes slowly, and then fixed the elder Jedi with a stare of his own. He took a moment to compose himself before responding. "No excuse, the responsibility is mine and mine alone. I put him in that situation and did not probe when I knew there was something amiss about him. I failed him, so he failed."

"So you did." The Second Master harshly rebuked.

Galen closed his eyes again and nodded, he felt ashamed. John felt shocked at the situation that was developing before him. How could he do this? How could his own father take the fall for something he did not even do? And how could the council let him get away with it?

It was his problem, his mess, his mistake, why should his own father pay for something that he did to himself.

The whole situation made him angry, and filled his soul with a rebellious steel.

"But what about the other Jedi? What punishments will he face?" John questioned boldly.

The Council descended into a shocked and uncomfortable silence, some of them even shifted in their seats awkwardly. Finally the Second Master decided to probe the meaning of the questioning behind the brash youth. "What other Jedi?"

"The one at the school, the one who I fought. The 'Force Sensitive" I did battle with." John was shocked that he had to remind the council, which just served to anger him further.

"There are no other Jedi at that school boy." The Master had him the question before snapped dramatically, his sense through the Force expanding outwards.

Galen arched an eyebrow at the senior member of the council but did not decide to comment. He could not comment, not now, not how he felt or the position he was in.

An uncomfortable silence pervaded the Chambers, as the Councilors looked at one another awaiting each other to make some sort of decision.

"We will need some time to consider the evidence, and the testimony." The Second master nodded at the group.

They bowed and left the room.

"Well, that was…uncomfortable." Death remarked.

"Yes, it was." Galen replied, with his voice dry and dripping sarcasm.

"Look, I also want to take responsibility with this." Death frowned. "I mean, I provided a bad example and did not do my part in it."

Galen sighed. "Look, we all played a role in this, we are all to blame for our failure."

John just stayed silent watching the two elder Jedi argue with one another.

Death sighed. "Well I should go get some lunch." Death tousled John's head before heading out. "Take care kid." He shouted over his shoulder.

John turned to his father and shifted uncomfortably, he stared down at his feet tentatively.

Galen hardly knew what to say.

"So, you acted on your own?" He asked his son.

"Yes I did." John replied simply.

"Well, why?" Galen continued to press his son.

John looked up with narrowed eyes and glared at his father darkly. "Because you were not there, you would not have understood anyways. You were never there since I have been alive."

Galen closed his eyes, pained. Then he sighed. "I have been such a terrible father to you, a much better Master and teacher to Death than with anything I have done with you. I guess I just do not know how to deal with it. The responsibility. And I lost it, I just could not bring myself to bear. I kept myself distant, and for that I will forever beg your forgiveness. Even though I am not sure I will get it."

Galen was tortured, he failed, and he knew it.

John sighed too, his eyes tearing slightly. "Why father, why?"

Galen smiled wanly. "Oh….oh John. You were a…..reminder of the past. A reminder of my Arkadi, and it has been so painful for me the last couple of weeks watching you grow. I have tried to be there for you…but you have not always made it easy for me over the last couple of months."

"I know." John's voice cracked "and I am sorry. I am so sorry, and I will beg your constant forgiveness."

Galen smiled, a sad smile, but genuine. "Well, all we can do is move forward and move on from here, and try our best to heal our wounds, and to spend time with each other."

"Well, I will try." John smiled.

"As will I" Galen smiled, clapping his hand on both shoulders. "Though, we cannot know what the future holds." Galen warned, suddenly getting a bad feeling.

"I know father, I know." John responded, feeling contemplative. "Tell me about my mother?" John asked, feeling curious all of a sudden.

Galen sighed, stroking his beard. "She was, wonderful. One of the prettiest girls I have ever seen. The prettiest I have ever had the fortune of meeting. Sharp as a whip though, and kind, a perfect person for me."

John looked on with rapt attention hoping that his father would continue.

He did not disappoint. "She made me remember what I was fighting for and always kept me grounded. Even when she did not have too much Force Sensitivity herself. She was kind and charitable, and a helluva cook too."

John smiled, grinned, he was hoping to have more conversations like this, more questions that he could ask, but he did not get the opportunity.

"The Council will see you now." A pretty young Jedi aid came out of the Council Chambers.

Galen got off the ground and nodded, "we will be there in a second, we are just waiting on Death."

"He has been sent for," the aide smiled as suddenly they heard a huffing and puffing as Death ran to catch back up with them.

The three of them entered the council chambers.

"Reached our decision, we have." The Grand Master announced.

"Go on." Galen said after a silence of several seconds.

"John will become my new padawan." The Second Master ordained.

"I will?" John gasped.

"Yes. You need disciplining, you need seasoning, you need to be watched. You are going to be put on the probation for the duration to determine if you will make a Jedi Knight. If not, you will be exiled. We will deal with any situation as they arise." The Master explained.

"Is that all?" Galen asked, shocked, he could not believe his fortune or his luck that his son was getting another chance. Hoping that he would make the best of it.

"Yes that is-" The Second Master was interrupted by the appearance of the Jedi aid. She bowed to the council. "What is it?" The Second Master inquired curiously.

"Chancellor Loraan has just established communication with us, between us and the military, he says it is urgent."

The Second Master cocked his eyebrow. "Come, John, Master Zaun, Death, we will go answer the Chancellor's summons."

John was surprised again, but he tried to hide it as he made his way to follow the Second Master out.

"Wait." The Grand Master's voice pierced the air. "Come I will, see this I must." He pressed a button as his couch floated off the ground so he could join them.

The Jedi Com Room

John Zaun walked into a darkened room. A light blue hue was coming from the walls, making it look cold, and military. Around the communication display were the holograms of four people.

Chancellor Loraan, with little hair left on his mostly bald head, and what few of those that were left were gray. He wore simple black robes that did not have many of the ornaments of his office.

The second one was a high ranking Republic General. He wore gaudy and ornate medals pinned to his chest after many years of, mostly political, service. He looked old, and contemplative, aggressively analyzing friend and foe alike.

The third was a member of the Republic Diplomatic core, Kamioan by the look of her, her long neck and pale gray skin contrasting oddly with her flowing black gown.

And the fourth was a simple aid to the Chancellery, always following him, always in his presence, always jotting down notes and giving opinions, sometimes close to the Chancellor. She was a young aid, simple were her clothes, a tan jump suit.

"Finally the Jedi Masters have graced us with their presence." The General said disdainfully.

The hologram of the Chancellor shot him a look, before proceeding. "I take it that you have heard of the events that have been transpiring in the New Galactic Territories?"

"On Planet LJ-115?" The Second Master asked to make certain.

"The same." The Chancellor nodded.

"We are well aware of the events, a Jedi was killed in this crisis, Supreme Chancellor" The Second Master bitterly reminded.

"We have made all recourse in this situation, to no effect. After the death of the Jedi a couple of days ago, and the distribution of the report from the diplomatic office, I feel we have no choice but for a Military Option." Chancellor Loraan explained, pain lurking in his eyes.

"We will be ready Chancellor, already we are putting together a plan to deploy a Battalion of the Omegas, three Cruisers, and One Division of Regulars." The General reported confidently.

"Based on our investigation we will be facing at least a Division of troops, and unknown Droid support, we cannot just go in there. But, all diplomatic inquiries have failed." The Ambassador sorrowfully reported.

"I agree." The Chancellor held up a hand. "Which is why I am ordering that the Division of Regulars should attach themselves with an armored force on Kandar."

"That will delay our attack." The General scowled bitterly.

"But not by long, and it will give the Jedi enough time to help, that is if the Jedi are in a position to help?" The Chancellor asked.

"We are." The Second Master said with confidence.

"How long will it take you to get your forces into position with the Jedi?" The Chancellor queried the General.

The General sighed, resigned to the Chain of Command "Two weeks."

"Very well, the diplomatic core has two weeks to reach a peaceful solution to this problem, I want nothing less then the planet back and full diplomatic relations. If you cannot secure those two conditions, than the military will attack."

The Ambassador nodded, gulping.

"Questions?" The Chancellor gazed around the room. "No? Good, dismissed."

The holo projector turned off.

John frowned as he went to go ask his father something. "Why was the General so rude?"

"I do not know the man myself, but his reputation indicates he does not like to be kept waiting, that is probably all it is." Galen tugged at his chin.

"Well gentlemen, I suggest we get to the fighter and locker bays." The Second Master clapped Galen on the shoulder.

"We have a war to prepare for."