Disclaimer: Don't own Kotor 1, SWTOR, or Kotor 2. Bioware made K1 and TOR, while Obsidian made K2. Also, Star Wars is owned by Disney, not me!
The tall trees of Tython's forests moved violently as the wings of Republic shuttles lightly brushed against the branches. The shuttles flying right over them were Rendaran-class, its purpose for fighting against the Sith changed into carrying Jedi to and from the planet. Shuttles entering Tython mainly contained Jedi Padawans from other planets, while those leaving were Jedi recently knighted and sent to fight the Sith on the fringe worlds. Either way, the two pathways converged from a single point: the Jedi Temple.
The Jedi Temple had been built after the Sith Empire occupied the Republic's capital, a desperate maneuver to force the Republic to sign the Treaty of Coruscant. The temple on Coruscant had been destroyed by the Sith forces led by Darth Malgus. Without a home, the Jedi relocated to their ancient homeworld to rest and seek guidenace from the Force.
Acting as a replacement for the temple on Coruscant, the Tythonian temple focused more on the meditative aspect of the Jedi Order. The temple was not a fortress like its Coruscanti counterpart, as it based on the Alderaanian bastions with two small cupolas on the roof, surrounding the large, central dome. The trainings grounds spread out through the landscape, and the main entrance had a large promenade that extended from the front doors.
The main cupola of the Temple complex had multiple holoprojectors and statues displaying many heroes of the Jedi Order throughout the centuries. An enormous holocron shaped like a dodecahedron was suspended in the center, between the dual sweeping ramps that led to the upper story. Surrounding the large holocron were two smaller holocrons of the same shape. Many Padawans chattered with each other and their masters on the lower floor, ignoring a small group walking up one of the ramps.
The group was comprised of three; two humans, and a droid. Two of the humans bore the robes and lightsabers of the Jedi Knights. The droid was an astromech, its wheels trying to catch up with the other two Jedi in front of it.
One of the Jedi was Kira Carsen, who donned a set of robes with a lighter hue of brown, and hooked to her belt was the silver hilt of a double-bladed lightsaber. Her brashness shone in her blue eyes, and her red hair that had a small pony tail on the back. Yet, there was some uncertainty as she stared at her fellow Jedi.
The Jedi in question, Taran Darklighter, wore the typical Jedi robes over a set of green armor covering his chest and legs. The hood was placed over his head, its cowl concealing his face from the other Jedi. Hanging from his belt was an elegant, silver hilt that contained a blue lightsaber crystal.
Months ago, Taran was once a simple Jedi Padawan who just arrived on Tython, but he immediately found himself fighting against the dangerous Tythonian natives called Flesh Raiders. Defending the Twi'lek settlement of Kalikori village from the Flesh Raiders, Taran deeds and the construction of his lightsaber allowed him to be knighted.
Kira, eventually, had been transferred from the tutelage of Jedi Council member Kiwiiks to Taran, in spite of the fact they were approximately the same age. It was only a few months ago when she was knighted. Kira was not too fond of someone her age teaching her, but she got used to it.
To her, Kira saw Taran as a soft-spoken person, but this time, he was unusually quiet. It made Kira a little worried, but she did not try to show with so many Jedi around them. Instead she simply called out, "Hey you alright?"
Taran turned his head towards Kira, the cowl of his hood moving out of the way for her to see his dark complexion and his brown eyes. "I'm fine," he answered, though the uncertainty in his voice betrayed. "I'm just wondering about why the Jedi Council called us, that's all."
Their current visit to the ancient Jedi homeworld was not a social call. After finishing their business on Tatootine, the trio had been contacted by the Jedi Council, who ordered for them to return to Tython immediately. The urgency of this command had made Taran worried as to what was so important.
A small chirp from behind the two Jedi made them turn to their droid companion, T7-O1, an astromech who had been trying to keep up. The droid raised its circular head, and its single lens stared at Taran and Kira as T7 gave a series of beep and chirps. The assuring tone from T7 was meant to calm Taran, but it did not worked as the droid hoped.
"I don't doubt the Council's wisdom, T7, but it seems kind of strange," was Taran's response.
Before either Kira or T7 could say anymore, Taran continued to walk up the ramp and they followed the young Jedi to catch up with him. Walking up the ramp, the trio found themselves on the upper level with a pair of large, double doors right before them. Approaching the doors, the group saw them slid open, revealing the High Council Chamber.
A large domed chamber, the High Council Chamber contained a large table with a holocommunicator placed in the center. While three of the ten chairs surrounding the table had been occupied, it had been enough to make the Jedi Council.
At one end of the table was the Grandmaster of the Jedi, Satele Shan. Instead of the typical Jed robes, Satele wore a skintight outfit and her double-bladed lightsaber was attached to her belt. Her face showed much experience from the battles she fought in the Great Galactic War years ago. The once brown hair had some strands of gray on the side, a sign of proper aging.
Satale was present during the meeting with the Sith embassy on Alderaan, safe away from the destruction of the Jedi Temple. The Sith invaded the Republic capital to force the Republic into signing the treaty, which worked successfully. The Jedi, left without a home, relocated their ancient homeworld due to Satele's efforts.
Her blue eyes stared at the young Jedi before her and their droid companion as they entered. "It is good to see you again and well, Knight Taran," she greeted.
Stopping right at the table, Taran lowered his brown hood, revealing the short, black hair. His eyes turned to each of the Jedi Masters present to the meeting. "Masters," he greeted. "It's good to see you."
"It is good to see you too, young one," Kiwiiks greeted. She smiled at her former Padawan. "You as well, Kira."
Kira's old mentor was a Togruta with a few wrinkles on her red-skinned face to show her how her old age was affecting her, but her smile put away any concern of Kiwiiks' health. No one paid attention to the lightsaber resting next to her thigh.
"Master Kiwiiks," Kira gave her old mentor a nod.
The greeting between master and student had been cut short by another member of the Council, Jaric Kaedan. Much like the rest of the council, he was veteran from the Great Galactic War, and the scar over his right eye proved that. Kaedan's experience in the war gave him experience, but it was accompanied with paranoia and fear. It showed when his cautious eyes glanced at Kira. "Now that you are here, we must get down to business."
"We still need one more master to appear," Satele told Kaedan. "This was his idea to begin with."
"And he is already here," a filtered voice announced.
Kira, Taran, and T7 turned around to see someone entering the High Council Chamber-a Kel Dor, judging from the breath mask and the orange skin. The lightsaber on his belt identified the Kel Dor as a Jedi and his outfit proved that even further as Taran could tell the Kel Dor was a member of the Jedi Council. Taran rememberd
The Kel Dor passed the trio and towards his seat on the Council, his silver irises under the breath mask staring at the young Jedi. "I see the Hero of Tython has arrived as instructed," he commented as he arrived at his seat and sat down.
Taran could feel a blush of embarrassment appearing of his face, but he was able to hide it. "It is an honor to meet you, Master."
Fortunately, the newly arrived Jedi Master gave his name as he sat down. "I'm simply a humble servant of the light," he spoke. "With all master present, I believe it is time for this meeting to commence."
"Yes," Satele spoke before returning her attention to the young Jedi before her. "I'm sure you have many questions. We will try to answer then as best as we can."
Nodding, Taran admitted, "I am curious as to why Jomar Chul was on Tatooine."
All members of the council knew what Taran spoke of. Jomar Chul was another Jedi Knight whose ship had been attacked by Sith assassins and he crashed on Tatooine. Taran arrived in time to save Jomar, and it was that moment that Taran became involved in this endeavor.
"As you are aware, the Jedi and the Republic has been fighting against the Sith Empire on the border worlds," Kaedan began. "The Treaty of Coruscant has not helped to stop it."
Kiwiiks continued from there. "Master Tol Braga has found a way to stop this endless bloodshed." After she said her piece, Kiwiiks turned her head to the Kel Dor master. "Master Braga?"
Tol Braga gave a slight nod before he turned his attention to Taran. "I'm organizing top secret a strike team of the best Jedi," he explained. "This strike team is meant to infiltrate the Sith and capture the emperor."
Hearing those words shocked Taran to the core. The Sith Empire had been ruled by their emperor, a mysterious political figure who never showed himself to the galaxy. Any word of the emperor had only been rumors, besides the facts option sputtered by Sith soldiers claiming their fanatical loyalty to him. The emperor was obviously a powerful Sith, but none knew his true power, save for a few.
Kira, being among those few, took the news harder than Taran did. "Are you insane?!" she exclaimed, her voice nearly at a shouting level. "Fighting Sith Lords is one thing, but the emperor?!"
Kiwiiks' head whirled towards her old student and barked, "Kira!"
Taran's brash companion stared at Kiwiiks and she found her sharp-witted mouth snapping shut. Yet, her words had reached Taran as he stared at the council, trying his best to shake off the shock. "I have to agree with Kira on this," Taran admitted. "The Sith claim the emperor to be powerful. We don't know how powerful he is."
"True, but no one is invincible," Satele spoke. "We've learned the emperor usually leaves the Imperial capital of Dromund Kaas and remains in seclusion for several days. Not even the Dark Council knows where this is. We've been locating that for some time."
At this point, Kaedan stepped in. "Jomar Chul was scouting Sith space, charting areas for the assault. The hyperspace route will allow us to pass the Imperial fleet and find the emperor."
"Members of my strike team include Master Warren Sedoru and Knight Leeha Narez," Braga offered. "I would like you and your friends to join my team."
Taran's eyes widen at that request. "Me?" he asked.
Kira, also surprised at this, joined in. "Us?" which was followed by T7's high-pitched whirl.
Tol Braga nodded. "You have the skills necessary for this mission. Your victory over Darth Angral has proven that much."
The name of "Darth Angral" was burnt within Taran's mind. A Sith Lord, Angral had his son, Tarnis, infiltrate the Republic for plans called the Planet Prison until Taran caught wind of the plan and killed Tarnis. Seeking vengeance for his son, Angral took the plans for the Planet Prison and other weapons. Angral eventually struck down Taran's Jedi Master, Orgus Din, but it was not enough as he led on Tython with a new weapon called the Desolator.
A culmination of the Planet Prison and other Republic weapons, the Desolator allowed Angral to turn a planet into a husk. That had already been proven with the agricultural world is Uphrades. Fortunately, Taran and Kira put a stop to Angral before allowing the Republic ships to destroy the Desolator.
Taran knew that Angral was just a powerful Sith Lord, but his power had its limits and could not match his emperor. Yet, the possibility of capturing the Sith emperor would show the galaxy that the Sith are not invincible. It could end the conflict once and for all. The great risk that came with this mission was seemingly worth it, if it meant ending the stalemate.
"I'm honored Master Braga," Taran accepted. "What's our next destination?"
Kira stared at Taran with surprise at his choice, but she never had the chance to voice her opinion when Braga gave his orders. "Right now, I need you to head for Quesh. Master Sedoru will be there to meet with you. After that, I want you to meet with Knight Narez on Hoth."
Satisfied with the answer, the grandmaster of the Jedi Order decided to conclude the meeting. "Good luck," Satele spoke. "And may the Force be with you."
Taran gave a small bow to the Jedi Council before he proceeded to leave the High Council chamber with T7 and Kira following behind. While T7 remained uncertain of the young Jedi's decision, Kira had been fuming about it. Either way, Taran decided to save it for later and continue to head for his ship.
AN: So, what do you think of it? Is this preview a good idea, or does it need work? Please leave your thoughts in the reviews and if you have any criticism, please let it be constructive. Also, this idea is NOT up for adoption.
Raika out!