Jedi Temple.
Amann stood before the assembled group of the Council. The feelings around the room were mixed from intense rage to simple boredom, one of the Masters was even looking at her hands examining her fingernails in stark disinterest.
"Call this court to order, I do, of Jedi Padawan Amann we sit in judgment." The Grandmaster started sorrowfully.
"What exactly are his punishments?" One of the presiding Masters wondered.
"It appears Padawan Amann fell in love with his Master and a Superior, having a relationship with her, and hiding it from the Order. Getting attached to her and forming an improper bond given his position." The Second Master explained from memory.
"A grave crime indeed." The Master looking at her nails sat up straight, her eyes bored into Amann's aggressively.
The hairs on the back of Amann's head bristled and he narrowed his eyes, his emotions spiked and raged with himself. He tried to stay calm but his fist clenched and unclenched automatically.
The Grand Master's head swiveled around to study Amann, and he tried to shoot a psychic warning at the young Jedi. But Amann ignored it.
"I sense much anger coming from him, rage, despair, and sorrow. Dark emotions these are." The Second Master turned to the Grand Master with an arched eyebrow.
The Grand Master closed his eyes, pained.
"Well what are we going to do about it?" The Second Master arched his second eyebrow at him.
"In limbo Jedi Amann is, difficult is this decision for us. Nearly a Jedi he is, nearly fully trained he is. About to take the remaining trials he was, no mere simple Padawan he is, this does not happen often." The Grand Master explained.
"Still we have to do something." One of the junior members proposed.
The Grand Master shot her a withering look. "What do you propose, esteemed Master?"
She balked at the gaze and muttered unintelligibly.
The Grand Master's look swirled around the entire room.
"Exile." One of the more senior members proposed simply, "we set him free for a large number of years and let him wander the New Galaxy to learn and to atone for his actions."
"Ha!" Another Master snorted, "so just set him free to wreak havoc and potentially give into his dark emotions?"
"That was not my intention." He shot back, "we will watch him, we will monitor him, but it might be useful for him to gain acceptance." He looked around the room and was met with skeptical looks and gazes. "Look it is obvious we cannot promote him to a Knight at this time, that would be a scandal. We cannot keep him as a Padawan, and no Master given the circumstances will likely take him. He can leave and learn from all the Orders and Sects from this Galaxy, the New Galaxy, learning techniques and philosophies. Hopefully he will atone, and when his exile is over, he can come back or not to suit himself."
"Wise are your words Master, wise is this course of action. Jedi Padawan Amann?" The Grand Master addressed the young Jedi.
"Yes?" He snapped out of his trance.
"Do you understand our ruling?" Asked the Master who proposed the punishment.
Amann hesitated for a second and rifled through his memory, "Yes I do."
"Good," The Grand Master started, "escorted out of here, you will be. For a period of ten years you cannot visit the temple or the capitol, not may you have any contact with the Jedi."
"I understand," Amann bowed being led out, his face froze into an intense look.
Tatooine
John and Galen Zaun were sitting in a transport rocketing for the Desert like planet that was not far from where they were sitting, they were now entering the atmosphere.
John was fastened securely in his seat, bored and was busy fiddling with a pad, playing a game on it.
His father was busy staring out the window of the starship looking with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension at the orb below. John knew his history with the planet and knew it had been years since his last visit.
Galen Zaun was the Watchman of Tatooine, a special Jedi, a guardian and protector that was familiar with the planet, the people, and the environment. Though this position was as far as the Jedi Order was concerned, since he was the Watchman of Corellia as well, where he was born and spent much of his life and training. But as far as the people were concerned, and a popular sentiment in the Order, and the politicians and local elite, he was the Watchman.
He spent much of his early adulthood here, first as a Padawan to a Master, and then as a Knight. He spent a lot of time fighting the local drug lords and crime lords, trying to break the stranglehold of the Hutts on the populace that was begging for help. Galen came here as a Sentinel and tried to help the people, earning great respect and infamy.
Since then Tatooine had become a stepping stone, a transitional space between the Republic and the Hutts. Not an official planet in either domain now, but having major influences from both. And both parties had a major presence on the planet still, kept in constant check.
The ship bumped as it began the final approach to the ship facility, heading to land. Simultaneously his overly thin female character in his game yelled in pain and died. John cursed himself being too interested in history and going off on too many tangents.
John unclipped his harness and got out, following his father and the other passengers along for this side mission.
Sora was also on the planet and she said she would meet him on one of the more shady establishments at Mos Eisley. His Father was just here to sight see anyways and now that he was getting older his Father trusted him.
They got out into the hot, blazing, near blinding sun. John instinctively put a hand up in front of himself to shield his eyes as he squinted at the surrounding area, more of the passengers filtered behind him, most of them chatting excitedly.
There looked to be a small, but gaudy, procession waiting for them at the other end of the Space Port, they were politicians, obviously waiting because they were staring blearily at the two of them.
"Father?" John looked up at his Father, suddenly surprised that he was nearly as tall as his father now.
"Yes John, we have an official escort and meeting, someone must have recognized my name." Galen's tone was philosophic, but his eyes showed his unamusement at their situation.
The two groups met and regarded each other curiously for several seconds.
"So it's Governor now?" Galen regarded the leader of the group with a slight smile.
"Yes, so it is Master of the Jedi. And how long has it been since you have been here last, must have been…oh just after you got promoted to Master I think?" The Governor greeted with a haughty, but friendly, look.
"At least that long." Galen mouthed unhappily, feeling guilty that it had been so long.
"Well you are here now, welcome home my friend." He held out his hand and gave Galen's a firm shaking.
"Father, do you know this guy?" John asked.
"Yes son, yes I do. He and I knew each other from the early days of the Desert Gang Wars. He was a sheriff of a small town in those days, awfully political even then. And now he is Governor." His Father sounded chagrined.
"Bah! The people elected me to this position, oh the story that I could tell you about him! But he is so politically apathetic that he used to run off into the middle of the night whenever we would even bring up the subject." The Governor winked. "And what about you young Jedi?" He asked looking at John.
"Me?" John blinked, "well I have always found politics to be intriguing and a fascinating study, I try to keep up on it when I can."
"Oh really?" The Governor feigned a stunned expression. "Well maybe you have missed your true calling in life." He probed.
"I only said I was interested in politics not participating in the political process, I have a much higher, grander, and less bothersome calling." John stood his ground but bowed politely.
The Governor broke out into a hearty, stomach rending, laugh. "I see young Jedi, well he is just a chip off the old block, come come, let me show you my offices. Why he is just like you Galen!"
"In many respects he is." Galen smiled proudly shooting his son a furtive glance.
The Governor stopped and turned back to John. "Did he ever tell you about his stealth like powers, his powers of camouflage and deception? The ones that letshim melt into the background?"
"Yes he knows, I have spent long hours telling him of my exploits." Galen answered annoyed. "But yet adventure of that sort is a game for the young." Galen bowed gracefully.
"Ah, well the offer for the tour still stands?" He asked hopefully.
John waved his hand and shook his head in the negative. "I am sorry I can't, I have got other arrangements in Mos Eisley and need to find a Taxi Speeder."
A sly look passed over the Governor's face. "Meeting someone are you?"
"Yes I am," John replied evenly and then turned to his father, "Father may I go?"
"Yes son, contact me when you are ready to leave." Galen ordered.
John nodded before skipping off.
When he was out of sight and out of hearing range Galen turned to the Governor and gave him a dark look.
"Why did you call me here?" He asked the Governor.
"You accuse me of something?" The Governor responded hurt, "besides you should be glad you have not had an opportunity or the ability to come here for a long time."
"Yes that is true and I am grateful of that," he bowed, "but it was still by your summons that I came here. What's wrong?"
He shifted his position and gestured with his hand to the group that was waiting in the background, the group also shifted their position and one of them came forward, a young woman. "This is the Princess of the current Royal Family. Now that she is of age she wants to thank you for saving her mother, and thus herself, from the mercy of the Hutts. She was remarkably young at the time, barely a new born."
A look of shock came over Galen's face, but then he composed himself and bent at the waist in a bow. "I am honored mi lady, but come what do you have in mind?"
She blushed slightly, "I just want to thank you, perhaps a meal at my place? I make some of the best local cuisine. Just a way of showing my gratitude to you, and a way of us getting to know each other, now that I am getting the chance to meet you. Perhaps you could stay awhile?"
Galen smiled to himself in slight surprise and amusement. "Well the Galaxies and the Republic herself is in crisis, I cannot stay long but I should be able to have a nice quiet dinner." He felt humbled, and touched, and truth be told he needed the break.
"Splendid!" She broke out in a grin, and turned to the Governor, "Governor we will be needing that transport now."
"Yes mi lady." The Governor bowed.
They waited for the transport to take them to her place of residence. It was far into the Desert of Tatooine.
