The Jedi Temple.
John was sitting cross-legged on the floor, eyes closed, deep in thought. It had been five weeks since the duel and he was mostly healed. He was placed in a strong Bacta tank and had many treatments, almost too many, he was pushing the envelope of safe medical practices. But that was the only way he could be saved.
Sora had taken care of him, had administered his treatment with an intense obsession. Not letting him die under any circumstance, willing him to stay alive.
It had worked.
But he still had some healing wounds from the battle. His right arm looked as though it had been out in the middle of the Tatooine desert for hours on end.
The sunlight was filtering in through the big, long windows, casting shadows throughout the floor. It was midday.
This provided the perfectly solemn mood for his meditation, to help him concentrate. He was deep in thought, trying to focus on his meditation, trying to calm his mind.
Deep below the surface his emotions were a torrent. He was depressed, guilty, and enraged. But if he was to continue to be a Jedi Knight he had to get a grip on them, get a positive control on them, and learn to grieve in private. He could not show it, but he was still grieving, grieving for his father, and grieving for Death. And trying to discern what the future had in store for him.
A light rapping on the floor caught his attention and brought him out of his reverie.
The Grand Master entered the room, hobbling on the floor slowly over to the young Jedi.
"Nice to see you up, Padawan Zaun." He greeted.
John nodded in return.
"Meditating, you are?" He asked.
"Yes I am." John sighed, trying to get back to it but seeing the Grand Master willed something else.
"Master Yandle, is my name." He explained.
John arched an eyebrow in his direction, surprised.
"Changing things are, in the Jedi Order. About to push for rule changes, the Council is." Master Yandle explained.
"Including the names of the most senior Masters on the Council?" John asked.
"True this is, being proposed by Master Koprende it is." The Grand Master continued.
John was speechless, stunned by this revelation. "Master Koprende? Nealis? That means that.."
"Yes, that it does, Knight Zaun." The Grand Master replied grimly, but with a crooked smile.
John shook his head in disbelief, "wait, Knight Zaun?"
"Yes, now Knight of the Republic you are. Protector of the Republic, passed all the trials you have." The Grand Master grinned.
"I have not even taken the trials yet!" John protested feebly.
"Have taken them, you have, beat Death you did, up for them you were. Your Father, dead he is, your Master, I will use my executive power." Master Yandle was pacing, circling him.
"Why?" John asked, getting his wits back about him.
Master Yandle paused and smiled crookedly. "Great Knight, your father was, like him I did."
John chuckled, "You have never shown any interest in him before. And have been in the past quite rude."
The wizened Jedi smiled amused to himself. "Politics, even among the Jedi, complicated they are."
John smirked and had to stifle a small snort of derision.
"I understand." He finally said when he got his wits back.
Temple Hallway
In another corner of the Jedi temple a Republic Marine Lieutenant was moving around the place, lost, down one hallway and up another.
He was dressed in simple combat dress, and he was looking for the Grand Master.
"Excuse me?" He held his arm out for a young Jedi stopping him there, the Jedi turned to him snobbishly.
"Yes?" The young Jedi asked.
"I am looking for the Grand Master, and John Zaun, I need to talk to them." He requested.
"Well it's a good thing that they are in the same place," The Jedi responded stuffily, "meditation room four. Left side of the temple."
"Thank you young Jedi," The Jedi nodded politely before scurrying off.
Meditation Room
John was now in deep mediation with Master Yandle, trying to remember his past and the past with his father.
He was interrupted by the opening of another door in the back, both him and Master Yandle turned as one and took in the visitor.
The stranger looked wide eyed at the two of them.
"What do you want?" John asked.
"Right, sorry, I am Lt. Maddux, and I am here to see…well the two of you."
"Why? The Jedi Master asked next.
"Well the military has sent me to beg an audience with the Jedi, about John Zaun." He explained.
"About me?" John returned sounding puzzled.
"Yes. I have come to give you your orders, if the Jedi Order allows it. They want to give you a permanent military position. With the rank of Lieutenant." The officer explained.
"Why?" John asked his puzzlement growing.
"Because you have been an acting Lt. off and on for a while, you have a lot of military experience, and you are a Jedi. That could be vital to any operation." The officer sat down in the only chair.
"Odd request, by the military, this is." Master Yandle came forward.
"Not really. At every time in Jedi and Military history the Jedi Knights have taken a role in the protection of the Galaxy. They have sometimes become warriors, and generals, and officers, and even commanders." The officer lectured.
"This, I know." Grand Master Yandle continued. "But it has not been done in a while." He turned to look at John, "but Master Skywalker did intend for the Jedi to be put in all walks of life. Understand this Lieutenant Jedi he is, above all else."
"Right, we understand this, and we agree with this. But we do need him, and perhaps the first of many." The officer finished.
"Agree with this I do, approve of this I do, controversial this will be. Knight Zaun." Master Yandle turned to regard the Jedi before him. "Understand you do, what has been put before you?"
John nodded.
"Want this you do?" The Master probed.
John regarded the officer. "Should be interesting."
"Splendid," Lt. Maddux offered his hand in congratulations, "welcome on board Lt. Zaun."
John smiled and firmly grasped his hand, and was surprised at the leathery feel. After retracting his own he looked down and in his palm were two rank boards with the rank of Lt. dully engraved in them.
John glanced up and smiled at Maddux.
"Thank you."
Maddux nodded, but then his com link beeped. "Excuse me."
"How does it feel, Knight Zaun?" Master Yandle asked happily.
"Feels good, different." John replied, wondering where he was going to stick the rank insignia.
Maddux turned around back to the two of them, his features were pale and troubled. Alarm and panic was radiating off of him through the Force.
"Lt. Maddux, what do you have to tell us?" Master Yandle asked the troubled Lt.
"The alliance we have been hunting down, that is what they call themselves, they have just declared war on the Republic, it has begun." The Lt. replied breathlessly.
Coruscant parade grounds and ship section
John Zaun was standing outside on a balcony of one of the Chancellor's many estates throughout the city world.
This one over looked a large patch of the Planet that was reserved for the launching of ships, either en masse, or just on special occasions.
Today was both of them… it was indeed a special occasion.
The place was packed full of large arrow shaped transports as hundreds and thousands of Republic soldiers lined up in rows and battle lines.
John watched this, but he was not the only one there. The Jedi Council was there, certain key senators, Chancellor Loraan….
And Sora.
She was there watching the spectacle before her with wide eyed wonder, watching the ships and the gathering forces.
She was hanging off of John's arm lightly, having one of her hands on his shoulder and pressing her body to his slightly.
She was shocked and amazed at what was going on.
Though this had happened over and over again, through centuries passed, through wars passed, this very scene had played out a hundred times since.
The first of the ships began to rise in the air with a slight hum and a bang from the engines could be heard as they powered up and detached from the landing pad. First one, then three, then five of them.
The emotion around the assembled group was a surprising mix. A solemn unease coming from the Chancellor and the Jedi council. A bitter depression mixed in the case of the former.
Some of the Senators were curious, some were excited, and some were triumphant at their own political tickets getting punched or they now had more political power. Some were especially pleased with the money being funneled into the planets and their domains.
Sora had a slightly aroused wonder, but John could tell that she also understood the gravity of the decision.
As for John, his feelings were mixed. He was apprehensive, eager to get on with his new life, but solemn. Not only at the events that were transpiring, but at the events of his recent life.
He was now a Knight. But that hardly mattered. Galen was gone, so he no longer had that pillar of wisdom and his advice at the future. Death was gone, his best friend, killed by his own hand.
He was alone in this world.
But he felt a slight tug on his robes and looked to his right. Sora was there, looking as though she had just shifted her weight.
He realized that she was there for him, that they were both good friends and were still close, his only remaining friend in the universe.
With that realization something caught in his throat and he was forced to clear it.
Sora turned to him curiously, staring into his eyes. Then she smiled, it seemed to him to be a knowing smile. John had to fight the urge to blush.
Instead he looked skyward again.
The sky was a burnt orange as the sun was setting, the last of the transports were taking off, the first of them all John could make out was the ion engines burning brightly in the distance.
He pondered on the future, wondering what it would hold and how it would affect him and what adventures and challenges he had waiting for him.
In the distance a pale figure caught his eye, dressed in white robes and shimmering, it appeared to be curiously hovering in mid air, over a factory. One of the ships passed through his vision and by the time it cleared the figure was gone.
John shook his head and watched the last of the ships leave, the first of them were about to go to Hyperspace.
A/N: So Brings to end part one of what I hope to be a multi part story. It has been a joy, and an education, writing this. This is what I consider to be my first big published work. Granted I have written larger, and published, similar projects of similar and greater scope.
I would like to thank Susan for helping me to write it.
PJOZ, Amann, and others for reviewing it.
To Lee and Michael and Phil for helping me come up with this plot and this universe, and the other dozens of people that helped me form possible plots in my head for this. You are not forgotten.
To my Dad. For being supportive of me in this, and all my other silly endeavors. And for providing the occasional technical help.
It has been fun, hope to pick up the Saga in War and Adventure. Coming soon.
And I also highly recommend Amann's story Golden Dawn to anyone who liked and enjoyed reading this.
