The Council members sat in momentary silence as they processed what they had just heard from Obi Wan and Anakin's report. The silence was broken as Master Gallia spoke.
"Then that settles it, he is reckless and dangerous and must remain locked up".
"I agree with Master Gallia. If he is as well trained as we believe him to be, there's no telling what chaos he could cause if we let him loose in the galaxy" Master Rancisis said.
"He disobeyed the Council and went off to war. How can we trust him that he won't go against the Council again?" Master Koth asked. The room was quiet at that question.
"Let us not forget that when he was brought here, he didn't give us any problems" Obi Wan said. "If he was truly against the Council he would have either said or done something to resist. And he wouldn't have been so persistent in us getting him here".
"And we should keep in mind, that we don't know the reasons he disobeyed the Council back then" Anakin noted.
"Trust in the Force, we must" Master Yoda stated. "Given a great opportunity, we have. Find the Sith Lord, we can".
"Master Skywalker made a good point" Master Plo said. "We don't know what his motives were during that time, and it was different then. Perhaps we should hear from him what his reasons were. He's been straightforward with us so far, and now we can see how willing he is to cooperate with us".
"I say we take a vote on it" Master Koth suggested.
"I second that" Master Piell said.
"Very well, those in favor rise from your seats. And those that oppose, remain seated" Master Windu said.
The first to stand up we're Anakin and Obi Wan, followed by Masters Plo, Mundi, Fisto, Secura, Tii and Yoda.
Masters Gallia, Koth, Piell, and Rancisis remained seated. Mace had remained seated because he had initiated the vote.
"Very well, we shall hear from him"Mace said, as he pressed the button on the arm of his chair as everyone who'd stood up sat back down.
As the automatic doors slid open the figure in the black bodysuit walked in, his wrists free of the force resistant binders and a neutral expression bore on his face. He proceeded to the center of the room and bowed respectively and turned to the one who spoke to him first.
"It seems you were telling the truth after all" Master Windu said. "However you neglected to tell us that you had committed insubordination".
"Yes, because I knew if I did, I wouldn't be in the position I'm in now" Jake responded.
"And what position is that Knight Delarus?" Master Tii asked.
"The position where I get to tell you why I did it" he replied.
"And what makes you so confident that we want to hear your opinion?" Master Gallia asked.
"Two reasons. One, if you had already decided to keep me locked up I would have never gotten to speak as I am now. And second, I sensed the outcome of your vote".
The council members were surprised. How could he have sensed their emotions? And Master Fisto asked that very question. "How did you sense that?".
"It was easy, I could sense your feelings as clear as I do now. I can sense that some of you trust me or want to hear my side of the story. Others not so much" Jake said as he showed a quick icy look at Master Gallia.
"That is something we'll cover later" Master Windu said. "Right now, we wish to know specifically why you disobeyed the Council during your time?".
Jake looked at the Koruun Master. "Because I was needed".
"According to the records, the Council provided Revan with some Jedi. What makes you think you were needed so much that you took it upon yourself to go to war against the Councils wishes?" Master Mundi asked.
"Because I was" Jake replied sharply. "The Council gave Revan very little help. When the Republic practically begged the Council for aid against the Mandalorians, who were murdering and conquering the galaxy with ease, they sat just like you all are now, and did nothing".
Jake stopped for a moment, allowing himself to regain his cool. He took a deep breath and released his emotions into the force, and then spoke again as all the Council members listened closely.
"When the Mandalorian war first broke out, the Council stayed out of it in fear that if we went to war we'd fall to the dark side. But as the war grew, Revan continued to press the Council for us to get involved. They denied him, and he and a few Jedi very close to him went to Cathar. I was actually one of the Jedi that went with the Council to Cathar to bring them back".
"But as we confronted them, we were enveloped into a Force Vision. That vision showed us what the Mandalorians had done to the Cathar years before. We watched them mercilessly exterminate them. It was that vision that changed both the Councils view and my own on the war. After that, the Council did not push Revan as much, but they still remained weary of it all and gave him as little support as possible".
"And so I decided to go against the Council, because I wanted to help those who fell prey to the Mandalorians. I didn't go for any joy of battle, I went to help those that needed it. And through it all I saw what the Mandalorians were capable of and what they did, and it only affirmed my belief in my choice".
Jake stopped for a moment, and then resumed. "You all have every right to not believe me, but you have no reason to. I have told you the truth, and I know you all can sense that and now my fate, and possibly many others as well, rests in your hands".
The Council members looked at each other in silence, communicating with each other through the Force. After a few moments Master Windu looked to Master Yoda, who gave him an affirmative nod, and then turned back to Jake.
"Jake Delarus, it is by the authority of the High Council of the Jedi Order that you are reinstated as a fully active Jedi Knight. You are hereby released from containment and given one weeks time to prepare yourself for assignment. Your possessions will be returned to you, and you will be assigned quarters here in the temple".
"Thank you Masters, I'll make sure you don't regret this" Jake replied gratefully, as he bowed respectively.
"See that you don't" Mace replied sternly. "This meeting is adjourned.
The Council members rose from their seats and exited the room, leaving only Jake, Obi Wan and Anakin left in the room.
"Thank you, I owe you both a lot" Jake said gratefully, as they started to leave the room.
"We're happy to have you with us, and you owe us nothing" Anakin said.
"Yes, we look forward to working with you Jake. But you've got a lot to catch up on, so you'll need to start right away" Obi Wan said, as they left the Council room.
Over the last week, Jake had been studying about the new galaxy he now called home. Due to the small amount of time, he had only been able to catch up on the last fifteen years from the current time, and only a few years after he had left his galaxy so long ago in his spare time. He had been saddened when he had learned Revan had fallen to the dark side, but was happy when he learned that Revan had been redeemed and had saved the galaxy.
Now he found himself in an arena style training room in the temple, practicing and training until he was to be assigned to somewhere by the Council.
Right now he was practicing his saber techniques. Jake had always studied in form six, known for being a jack of all trades form, a combination of different things from the other forms combined into one. It was not known for having any particular strengths, but also not any particular weaknesses. He also had some training in form two as well.
He swung his lightsaber high smoothly, stopping it just before it decapitated the stationary training dummy. He pulled it back and spun around and attempted a balanced trust at its mid section. He stopped it again and stood up and deactivated his lightsaber, the whole purpose of this specific training bit was intended to help him perfect his balancing and control of his weapon during combat.
He reached down and grabbed the small towel he had attached to his belt and wiped the little bit of sweat off his forehead. He set the towel aside and attached his saber to his belt, and walked over to another section in the room and sat down on his knees. Around him were six medium sized crates that weighed about fifty pounds each.
After a moment his eyes were closed, and the crates began to hover off the floor. They hovered in the same spot for a few moments, appearing as though they were weightless. Then they began to swirl around him, and he seemed as though he was putting little effort into it. He seemed to be calm and at ease on the outside, and he reflected that on the inside. He opened his eyes to see the familiar presence he had felt watching him. Jake stood up, and the crates stopped swirling, and then moved to the side of the room and set into three stacks of two.
"Impressive, you seem to be able to do that with little effort" Anakin said, as he approached Jake.
"I always found an interest in telekinesis, so I trained in it more and it's a lot easier for me to do than it is others" Jake replied.
"It never hurts to hone your skills, especially in something so commonly used. Speaking of, would you care for a friendly spar?" Anakin asked.
"Sure, but don't expect me to go easy on you" Jake replied, as they both ignited their lightsabers.
Their spar had ended in a stalemate, neither one of them able to get an upper hand on the other. Now they were sitting up in the seats overlooking the room.
"I must say Skywalker, your one hell of a swordsmen" Jake complimented. "I do believe if we both were trying our hardest, you would beat me".
"Your not so bad yourself, for an old man" Anakin replied slyly.
"Old man? I'll have you know that my body has only aged twenty six years" Jake shot back. They both shared a small laugh and then there was a moment of silence.
"They don't trust you" Anakin said.
"I know. I hardly trust any of them either" Jake replied. "But I expected that, and I honestly don't care".
"You don't care?" Anakin asked.
"No, I don't. They don't trust me because they don't know me. I have to let my actions speak louder than my words. That works both ways, as I will have to see how they are before I trust them".
"Their stubborn, and their very strict" Anakin said bitterly. "Take it from someone who's experienced them for awhile".
"I'll keep that in mind" Jake said thoughtfully.
As they stood up to leave, Jake's comlink began beeping. "Delarus here" he responded.
"Jake, this is Obi Wan. I need you to meet me on the roof of the temple as soon as possible. The Council has assigned you to come with me on a very important mission. Our ships are ready when you get here".
"I'm on my way now, Delarus out" he replied as he cut his comlink off. "We'll talk more when I get back Anakin".
"Very well" Anakin said with a nod. "May the Force be with you".
"And with you my friend" Jake replied, as he left to meet Obi Wan.
It was mid afternoon, as the sky was almost fully orange as it normally was at this time of day. The air was nice and warm as Jake stepped out onto the roof. He spotted Obi Wan over by two star fighters, talking with an astromech droid.
As Jake made his way over to him, he stopped momentarily to admire the view. As he looked around, he narrowed his gaze on a particular building. He frowned as he felt that familiar dark presence that he felt the day he arrived. It was more hidden now, but still there.
"Jake" Obi Wan called, causing Jake to lose his focus on the presence.
"Sorry, I was admiring the view" Jake said as he walked over to Obi Wan.
"That's alright. This is your new ship" Obi Wan said, showing the standard red and white Jedi starfighter. Jake smiled as his attention was turned to the green and white astromech that was in his ship, who was happily beeping and chirping.
"Hello little fella, what's your name" Jake asked as he stepped up onto the fight and knelt down by the droids dome. The little droid let out a response through some beeps and whistles.
"R7-E4. A pleasure to meet you R7, I look forward to working with you. I'll make you a deal R7, I'll take care of you, if you take care of me. Deal?" Jake asked. He smiled as the little droid let out a series of happy beeps and chirps.
"Glad to see you two are already well acquainted" Obi Wan said as he climbed into the cockpit of his fighter. "We'll do a little flying around Galactic City so you can get used to your ship before we leave".
"Excellent. Where are we going by the way?" Jake asked as he began to get into his fighter.
"Mandalore" Obi Wan replied as he began strapping into his seat.
"Mandalore?" Jake asked in horror, as he stopped as he was about to get into his fighter. "Why in the blazes are we going to Mandalore?".
"The Council wants us to go there and investigate their possible involvement with the Separatists" Obi Wan replied.
"Alright" Jake said hesitantly. "But don't expect me to trust a single one of them".
"The Mandalorians aren't like they were during your time Jake, you'll see for yourself when we get there" Obi Wan said as Jake sat down in his fighter. "And if it eases you, the Duchess of Mandalore is an old friend of mine".
"Like you said, I'll believe is when I see it" Jake replied, as his fighters cockpit began to close. Obi Wan closed his fighters Cockpit as well, and then a few moments later, they were taking off and flying through the city.
As they flew by the Senate building, Jake reached out into the Force and made sure Obi Wan could not hear what he was about to say. "I don't know who you are, I don't fully know where you are or what you plan, but this I swear. Whether it is by my hand or by those that I aid, you will be found and you will be destroyed. Such is the will of the Force". He finished his force message just in time to see Obi Wan's fighter pull up and head for space. He followed, as they ascended up into the atmosphere and attached to their individual hyperspace rings. After a few moments, they disappeared in a flash and where on their way to their mission.
"You will be found and you will be destroyed. Such is the will of the Force". He had heard the message from the mysterious person that had sent it. He had felt his presence nearby, and also when he had left the planet. This was not good, he could not have someone interfering with his plans. He saw a small light on his desk flashing, which meant he was receiving a call. He stood up and walked to the other room, and sat down at his secondary desk and answered the call. The holoprojector sprung to life, and the hologram of Count Dooku appeared before him.
"My Master" the Count bowed respectively. "I believe I have found more information on the mysterious disturbance".
"What have you found?" Sidious asked.
"Apparently, there was another Jedi that accompanied Skywalker and Kenobi on Contruum, one that we've never encountered before" Dooku replied. "General Grievous fought this Jedi, and said that he fought differently than those he faced before. He managed to get this image from the factory before it was destroyed".
The hologram switched from Count Dooku to an image of a Jedi in metal battle armor fighting against General Grievous. Sidious studied the image of the young man for a moment. "This Jedi was just on Coruscant, have your agents keep an eye out for him. He is able to sense me here, and he must be eliminated at all cost".
"I will do everything in my power to do so my Master" Dooku replied.
"Good, see to his demise as soon as possible. We must not have anything interfering with my plans. Continue on my apprentice" Sidious said. The Count bowed one final time to his Master, and then ended the transmission.
Sidious turned in his chair from the holoprojector to the large window in his secondary office that overlooked the sprawling city. He folded his hands, as he thought about what had transpired so far. No Jedi had been able to sense his darkness before, not even when they were in the same room with him. Even Master Yoda hadn't been able to sense it clear enough, and yet this Jedi could. He had a lot of work in to plant the dark side on this planet enough to blind the Jedi, and then this Jedi shows up out of nowhere and can sense it much more clearer. And then that thought hit him, what if this Jedi wasn't from here?.
He pondered that thought for a few moments, if this Jedi was not from here his senses would not be nearly as dampened as the others. But how could that be? How could this Jedi not be from here, it was nearly impossible. This was something he would further have to investigate if he was to continue on with his plans. He already was preparing to make a plan in case Count Dooku failed to eliminate this Jedi. But now he needed to find out more about this Jedi, and how he was able to sense his darkness.
But one thing he did know was this, no one would stop him in his ultimate quest for power.