Chapter Twelve: The Judgment of the Council
Disclaimer: See Chapter One
Hey everyone, welcome back, hope you are enjoying what is going on and I am glad to see some of you enjoyed Kina Ha and Taun We last chapter.
This time, the big moment, I have been teasing for the past few chapters: The Trial of Anakin Skywalker.
Coruscant
All across the Galaxy, Jedi Council Members were being swapped out by other Jedi Masters or seceding command of their forces to other Jedi Generals or Non Clone Officers, and returning to Coruscant. It was rare these days of war to have the full council in person, but it was a necessary measure. Thankfully, the ceasefire still held true for now.
It was about 1030 hours when Skywalker was summoned to the High Council chamber. He knew he could not avoid it any longer, he had to face the music.
As he walked into the High Council Chamber, the somber look on each of the twelve masters' faces told him that they already knew why they were called here to do this in person.
"Anakin Skywalker, you stand before this council, accused of giving into the Dark Side on multiple occasions and massacring a Tribe of Tusken Raiders. How do you plead?" Master Windu's voice was ice cold and authoritative.
"Guilty," Anakin said, he knew he had to own up to what he had done.
"Good enough, kick him out," Rancisis was quick to judge.
"Patience, Master Rancisis," Yoda advised
"Not yet, considering the weight of this decision," Windu said. "Anakin, we have decided to hear you out on these matters, to understand why you did these things and to decide whether or not you will remain a Jedi. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Masters," Anakin said. Obi-Wan was both disappointed in his former padawan but was glad that he was owning up to what he did.
"Tell us what happened," Windu told him.
"Before the war began, Master Kenobi will back me up on this, I was having terrible dreams of my mother dying. I think they were Force Visions, actually. When on Naboo, as Senator Amidala's protector, I had a particularly bad one, as if it was happening at that moment. The next morning I made up my mind that I had to go visit her to see if it was present or future warning. Turns out it was a vision of the present. Padme and I went to Tatooine to look for her. Padme wanted to come along both so we could saw that I was keeping up my mandate to protect her and because she wanted to make sure my mother was okay as well, as she remembered her from when she, Master Qui-Gon, and the now Representative Binks were stayed with us before the Battle of Naboo. Obi-Wan remembered now, he had stayed on the ship while Master Qui-Gon and the then Queen Amidala stayed with Anakin and Shmi due to a sandstorm.
"We landed in Mos Espa and found my old slave master, Watto, to get information." Anakin's lip twitched as he thought about his days as a slave. Several Masters, among them Shaak Ti and Plo Koon gave him sympathetic looks. "We followed the information to a moisture farm on the outskirts of Mos Eisley, where my Step-brother lives. Found out that she got grabbed by a tribe of Tusken Raiders, and I went in search of the tribe. After nightfall, I found the camp and found my mother, badly tortured and beaten. She died in my arms. I was distraught, blinded by my anger, and I killed everyone in that camp, men, women, children, everyone." Many of the masters grew reserved or seemed like their minds were made up already. The looks that he saw on Obi-Wan's, Shaak Ti, Stassis Allie, and even Kit Fisto and Depa Billaba, gave him some solace.
"So, that is what I felt. Could feel your pain all the way here, I did," Yoda said.
"Now the real question is: Do you regret what you've done?" Master Windu's voice was hard, as it should be at this moment.
"I do, Master Windu, it is not the Jedi way, and I should have been better than I was, but I couldn't…." Anakin trailed off, his guilt for what he did stopping him. Master Rancisis took this as confirmation as to why they should not accept older students, because of things like this.
Windu leaned forward, hands together, trying his best to hide his own feelings on the matter. "Anakin, we have asked another Jedi Master that you are acquainted with to provide perspective on the matter."
"Who?" Anakin asked, his mind started to race, there were not many he could think of that would be helpful here. Then, it hit him, the only Jedi that he told about what happened. "Master Hett?" Windu nodded, and the door opened behind Anakin, who turned to see the other Jedi. Anakin knew he should have expected it, but it took him a bit by surprise when Master A'Sharad Hett, in full Tusken Mask, walked into the Council chamber, and stood next to Anakin, arms folded. "Knight Skywalker," Hett greeted.
"I thought you discarded the mask, Master Hett," Anakin commented, remembering their conversation on New Holstice.
"It is still part of my identity, Knight Skywalker," Master Hett said. "Plus, I was asked if I would wear it here." Anakin now saw what the Council was up to.
"Master Hett, as the only other Jedi that knew about this terrible event that Anakin did, what is your perspective on it, given your heritage as a native of Tatooine and Tusken Raider," Windu said, giving the floor to the Tusken.
"As long as I have known Anakin, he has long been compassionate. Yes, he has his moments of anger, all Jedi struggle with it, even me. In Anakin's case, his anger comes from the fact that he cares a lot for and loves those around him. In many ways, this love, compassion, is central to Jedi teachings. I remember in the wake of the battle of Jabiim, on New Holstice, a young padawan that tried to help save the dying Master Mobari. One who seemed to struggle with understanding that death was a natural part of life, and thereby of the Force." Anakin winced at A'Sharad bringing up that memory. "I consoled the boy, providing the friendship that he needed. This love of life, and desire to help, especially in the wake of the killing fields of Jabiim is what a Jedi should be. However, I will say, he needs to learn to let the will of the Force be done and not try to mess with life and death." As he said that last part, his gaze shifted over to Anakin, despite not moving his head much. Both Obi-Wan and Ki-Adi-Mundi's lips twitched a bit in remembrance, Obi-Wan was thought lost at the battle, and Anakin spent some time under Ki-Adi-Mundi, very early days of the war, before he was knighted, before he met Ahsoka, before all of that. That was an interesting time to say the least for all involved.
Continuing his testimony on Anakin's behalf, "Something I never told the Council was that during the Battle of Aargonar, when Skywalker and I were alone after my padawan died of his injuries, I complimented Anakin by saying that he would have made a good Tusken, not knowing of what had transpired just before the war. In a moment of rage, Anakin brutally killed several enemy soldiers. In his rage, when I tried to confront him about his actions, he tried to attack me. After disarming him and he calmed down, he told me of what happened on Tatooine. Jedi struggling with their anger is common among all our ranks." Several masters' faces shifted a bit. Anakin was starting to wonder if Master Hett was going to dig him further into a hole than he already was in.
"Master Hett, you were called in for perspective on what happened on Tatooine," Oppo Rancisis reminded the Tusken Jedi Master. Oppo wanted to move this along to the vote section as his mind was already made up on the matter.
"I am getting there," Hett told the serpentine Jedi. "Back to my point of Jedi struggling with their anger, may I remind the council that I myself gave into my anger, even drawing on the Dark Side of the Force to defeat former Jedi Padawan turned bounty hunter, Aurra Sing? The one who murdered my father on the orders of Gardulla the Hutt?" Several of the council took it as fresh news that they had not heard about that. Hett's eyes were mostly on Ki-Adi-Mundi, Windu, and Yoda, as they knew about it. It's why he trained under the Dark Woman.
At the mention of his first owner, Anakin's lips involuntarily twitched and it did not go unnoticed by the Council. "Anakin?" Shaak Ti asked, concerned.
"While most of you know that I was born into slavery, what you don't know is that Gardulla the Hutt was my first slave master, and she was cruel for the sake of cruelty. Not a night went by that I did not wake up in terror that she was going to feed me to her Krayt Dragon or activate my tracking chip for the sake of it. She would torture slaves for fun," Anakin told them of his painful memories. Several Masters looked at him in sympathy.
"Now, unto what Anakin did, Master Rancisis," Hett had not been pleased to be interrupted earlier. "To the people of Tatooine, Anakin would be considered a hero. The Tusken Raiders have long been considered hated by the settlers of the planet, this is not a justification of what he did. Just putting it in perspective. A perspective that I will admit is earned, considering their history of violence against settlements and their habit of when they attack, they tend to kill every adult and teenager in a settlement, but induct younger children into their ranks. As well as the horrendous torture they inflict on victims of kidnappings." Several Masters were disturbed by what they heard the Tusken Jedi say about his own people. Tatooine was a harsh world for everyone. "I remember my father, before Master Mundi showed up, on a raid on a settlement that was a front for the Hutts' illicit dealings, cutting off the arm of one of his men to return a child to its parent." Hett slightly laughed in memory, how his father adapted the Jedi teachings into life as a Tusken Warlord.
Finally, Hett said what he had wanted to say for a while, as he had come to terms with things as well in the time since Anakin had confessed to him about the massacre. "I just want to say that I forgive you, Anakin. Both on behalf of my people and as a friend and fellow Jedi."
Anakin broke down, "I'm sorry, Master Hett. I'm sorry." A'Sharad took his friend into an embrace.
"I forgive you, Anakin. Now, you need to forgive yourself." The Master's words were wise to the guilt ridden Jedi.
"There is my perspective on it, my Masters, whether or not it was good enough to sway you one way or another is a different matter" Hett addressed the Council.
Obi-Wan felt that he had to say something to help his friend and former padawan, if he intended to keep Anakin as a Jedi. "I did not want to mention this, but on the topic of Jedi struggling with the Dark Side, there is the fact of Master Vos' time spent in the service of Count Dooku, partially undercover, and partially not. Master Secura was able to start the process of returning him to our side, and then I brought him home," Obi-Wan stated. Most of the council rolled their eyes, Master Vos had indeed committed several high profile murders and assassinations in the service of Dooku, as well as served as a Dark Acolyte to the Count. "Also, lest we forget Master Secura's time on the dark side while suffering from amnesia, at the hands of Volfe Karko." Obi-Wan had laid down the gauntlet before the High Council, Anakin could see a few of them bite their lips in contemplation. The struggle with the Dark Side was more common than he thought. "As well, Master Windu, you have told me before that you struggle constantly with it, and not to mention, the conversation we had before I left for Kamino about your saber form." Windu grit his teeth, Kenobi had him on that one.
Obi-Wan turned his attention back to Anakin, there was something he wanted to get to the bottom of. "Any other times you gave into the Dark Side, Anakin?" Obi-Wan had a suspicion but he wanted it to be confirmed.
"Does Mortis count?" Anakin asked.
"No, the Son had you in his power, same with Ahsoka." Neither of them knew that Anakin had willingly given in to the Son, as the Father had erased his memories of it.
"One other time, more of a minor occurrence. In the aftermath of the second battle of Geonosis," Anakin began to say. Obi-Wan's suspicions were confirmed. "If the Council will recall, there was the issue of the Geonosisan brain worm being loose aboard that medical transport that was en route to meet up with Master Fisto at the medical station above Ord Cestus to provide aid to Master Windu at Dantooine. I made an uncooperative Poggle talk…"
"How?" Windu did not like where this was going.
"With Force Choke," Anakin looked down at the floor. He couldn't look at the High Council members looking at him in judgment. "I saved the lives of two Padawans, most of the clones aboard the supply frigate and prevented it from spreading to the medical station by obtaining the information."
Master Plo Koon's voice broke the still air, "I may not have room to talk about the use of powers that are normally considered Dark Side abilities, but I have to ask: what was going through your head when you did this?" What Plo was referring to was his little Electric Judgement ability, or a Light Side version of Force Lightning.
"To save lives, as a Jedi should. I don't know if it was in anger, maybe some, as Poggle was not being cooperative, and my padawan and a friend of mine were in danger," Anakin answered. Most of the Council sat back in thought.
As the Council sat quiet for a moment in thought, A'Sharad decided that he may have dug Anakin more of a hole earlier, so he shifted it back toward the Council to make them consider forgiving Anakin. "I will say that some of our members, in pursuit of living strictly to the code, have forgotten that compassion is central to our teachings," Hett said. Despite the mask looking one way, Ki-Adi-Mundi could feel his former student staring at him. "Anakin has a lot of compassion for those around him and others, so long as they are not opposing the Republic." It was a backhanded compliment, but Anakin knew he deserved it. "As any of his men under his command, you will see how much he cares for the men under him. Isn't that right, Master Kenobi?"
"It is, whenever a mission incurs heavy losses for his men, Anakin is usually down with Captain Rex in honoring the fallen." Kenobi told them. That did strike a cord with Master Plo Koon who also was the same way with his men after a bad mission. Picking up on what Master Hett was saying, "This war has made many of us forget what we are, considering we recently debated sending someone to assassinate Dooku," Kenobi said, still not happy to have had to sit in on that debate.
After not speaking for a while, Yoda spoke, "Agree, I do. War has made us forget what we are. Recently, Knight Offee came to speak with me, about her feelings about the place of the Order in the galaxy. Though she admits that Sidious must have gotten into her head, blames Master Unduli a bit, she does. See her reasoning, I do. Avoided serious problems by talking to her. Nearly lost her to the Dark Side, we did." Several Masters took this into serious thought, Knight Offee was considered an ideal Knight, so to hear this was concerning for them. Anakin's ears perked up at Yoda talking about a friend of his, he was hoping that Yoda would mention what happened, but Yoda did not. He would have to find out from Barriss herself. He had been meaning to talk with her anyway. Stassis Allie was also concerned as she had taught Offee to be a healer.
"Are we ready to issue judgment?" Shaak Ti asked the group, everyone agreed and Anakin braced himself for what was about to occur.
"While normally this falls to the Council of Reconciliation to judge, considering the nature of what is laid before us, and the Jedi in question, it is open to the rest of the High Council to input on this matter," Windu said.
Obi-Wan, of course, immediately voted to forgive Anakin.
Shaak Ti, having once helped convince the Council to forgive Master Vos, voted to forgive Skywalker.
As one of the permanent members of the Council of Reconciliation, as well as the one that found Padawan Ahsoka Tano and brought her to the temple, Plo Koon had long held an interest in seeing Anakin succeed. Despite the fact that his species tended to see things in black and white and their sense of justice is said to be a bit extreme according to other species, and that he held a great appreciation of every life-form, he could see the remorse in Anakin for what he did. What also influenced Plo Koon was the fact that both he and Skywalker held great respect for the clones under their command. While Anakin had reckless plans, he did not risk his men's lives needlessly. When Koon found out from Obi-Wan what happened on Umbara, he was furious. Also the fact that he was one of the two permanent members of the Council of Reconciliation that forgave Vos. "Forgive."
Partially to Master Windu's surprise, Agen Kolar voted to forgive Anakin. Only Partially as he knew what the other Jedi felt about his fellow Jedi.
Saesee Tiin voted to expel Anakin, no surprise there to the rest of the Council that really knew him.
Stassis Allie voted to forgive, she considered Skywalker a friend and wanted the best for him.
Oppo Rancisis voted to expel him, he had been ready since the start of this thing to voice it.
Ki-Adi-Mundi voted to expel. Of course you would, my old master. A'Sharad slightly shook his head.
Master Windu bounced back and forth between options. In the end, to the shock of some of the Council, he voted to forgive. He forgave Quinlan Vos once, and he knew Kenobi would not let him live it down if he did not do the same for Skywalker, plus even if he didn't believe Anakin was the Chosen One, he knew it was better to have Skywalker as an ally than an enemy in this war, and could not risk Anakin turning to the Dark Side.
When Master Yoda spoke, the decision was finalized, "Forgive, I do."
"The judgment of this council is set. Anakin Skywalker, you will remain a Jedi Knight," Windu's voice carried a tone of command.
Yoda passed his sentence. "For now, relieved of command of the 501st, you are. Under Master Kenobi, they will be. As for Padawan Tano…" Yoda paused in thought. He was not sure if he should also place her under Obi-Wan's teachings or someone else for the time being. "Master Kenobi and Master Plo Koon will both instruct her, until either she passes the trials, or you are deemed fit to have a Padawan again," he decided.
"Remain in the Temple, you will." Anakin opened his mouth to ask a question. "See your wife, you will be allowed to," Then, Yoda continued his sentencing. "Meditate on your actions you will, day in and out. Counseling you will undergo."
"If I may, my Masters, I think Skywalker should spend some time with Master Kuro when she is next at the temple. She helped straighten me out, so I think she would be good for him as well," Master Hett advocated.
"Very well, do that too. When fit again, as deemed by the council, return to the front you will, with more supervision than before, until deemed to have learned to restrain yourself." Yoda tapped his Gimer stick to symbolize the sentence being passed.
"Thank you, my Masters," Anakin bowed before them.
"While you are here, been thinking, I have, and proven to me during this trial, and preceding weeks that we must revise the Code." Many members of the Council looked at Yoda in confusion as to where he was going with this.
"Need to relearn compassion and love, most of the order does. As such, to allow Jedi to have relationships and families, we should." To say that most of the Council was shocked was an understatement to say the least, as this seemed in stark contrast to what was proven to them about Anakin and his attachments.
"Been in contact with Master Altis and our Corellian branch, I have. Examples are of Jedi that have lovers and remain good Jedi. Also, do not think me blind to what is going on in the Order, I know of other Jedi that have such connections and still remain in the order or plan to leave soon. Noticed Knight Kento Marek and Knight Mallie having feelings for each other I have, lose them I do not want to. As well as Knight Tur-Murken, suspicions I have." He has a feeling that she had a child with someone, about a year ago, before she was Knighted. He had seen her robes shift wrongly when he had seen her around the temple between missions and thought he saw a baby bump. He didn't say anything then, as he had more pressing issues to deal with at the time. "Lose more Jedi due to such rules, we must not." Many Jedi looked between each other. Shaak Ti, Kit Fisto, Obi-Wan, and Plo Koon all shared looks of surprise and gratitude. "Also, been on my mind it has, about Jedi having other family members in this Order as Jedi," Yoda looked looked to his right looking at Plo Koon and Stassis Allie, both who shifted a bit under the Grand Master's gaze, especially Stassis Allie, who had replaced her cousin Adi Gallia on the Council after Savage Opress killed her on Florrum. Plo Koon had a niece in the Order, Knight Sha Koon. "Tiplee and Tiplar, etc etc, go on I could about this matter."
Yoda's point made, silenced most of the dissent among the members. Ki-Adi knew he couldn't voice any counterargument, considering the fact he had been given special permission to have not just one family, but multiple wives and children due to his species' odd birth rates, and had been allowed to spend time with them occasionally, before the war had come to Cerea, before he had lost all of them. "Anyone else want to come clean?" He asked, several Jedi in his sights, his gaze briefly lingered on Kit Fisto before moving on.
"I will admit, I have been secretly dating Master Secura for the past little while. Master Vos was the only one that knew about it, considering how many times Vos has gotten drunk and called Aayla to come get him when both are on planet, several times when we were out together," Kit admitted. Several Masters snickered softly, at the image of Master getting into a drunken bar fight and calling his former padawan to come pick him up. It was not the first time they have heard of such a thing happening.
Yoda's suspicions were confirmed and his point made to the members of the council. The elder Jedi smirked a bit in mirth. "Not forcing anyone, I am, to have a relationship. Just revising things, I am, trying to keep many prominent members of our Order here."
Oppo Rancisis felt like he was the only one that was loyal to the Code in the room, but knew he was out voted on the matter. With it clear that it was the way the Council was leaning, he had to go with it. With a majority of the Council in agreement, Yoda made it official. Continuing on, "Conditions I have: the needs of the Order must come first, before the needs of your relationship or family," his statement was meant for Anakin specifically. The look Yoda gave Anakin told him that he will ingrain this into Skywalker. "As well as any children born to a Jedi parent, must be trained by a Jedi that is not either one of or both of their parents." Anakin's eyes lit up in joy, he had to tell Padme as soon as he was allowed to leave the Temple after this was over. "However, for now, keep this among ourselves for now. Although an internal affair this is, need to speak with Chancellor Organa, I do. Concern among the Senate, there will be for us to start allowing families, without consulting him." If the Order was not officially part of the Judiciary, Yoda could make the decision without talking with Organa, but things were the way they were.
"As well as expand our recruiting pool we should. Allow older students we should," once again the Council was rocked a little bit. In one session, Yoda seemed intent to overturn several foundational traditions of the Order.
"Master Yoda, you know as well I do that allowing older students, like Skywalker, can cause issues, especially if they have been scarred by life," Master Windu reminded the elder Master.
"Oh, and Master Kota was much too old, and scarred by war and yet he was accepted, thanks to you, Master Windu. Trained him myself, I did." Yoda shot back. Mace bit his lip, Yoda had him on that one.
"How old was he?" Anakin asked, considering the Council had considered he was too old at nine.
"Eighteen," Mace sheepishly admitted. Anakin's jaw dropped in shock, as well as several others, who did not already know. Master Rancisis had a look of I disapproved then for both of them, and I disapprove now.
"Fall into the hands of the Dark Side, we cannot allow them," Yoda was concerned about what Dooku was going to do, now that he was the sole Sith Lord, but there were other groups out there that he was concerned about.
"Along with this, we are to allow these older students or curious Jedi to visit their families if they want to?" Shaak Ti asked, personally, for the idea.
"Yes," the Grand Master responded, looking at the floor and moving his cane a bit. He was thinking about what could have been if Anakin had been allowed to visit his mother if Master Qui-Gon had managed to free her, they probably could have avoided several problems, especially if Jinn was still alive. Master Jinn had confided in the elder master about wanting to do so when they were on the Coruscant before Jinn's death on Naboo. Knowing what his former Padawan was thinking, "Even you, Master Rancisis, must agree, need more recruits, we do," Yoda said. Oppo did admit to himself that they did have a numbers problem.
Obi-Wan was a voice of reason to sell some of the other masters on Yoda's idea, "With public support turning against the Order, either thanks to Sidious and Dooku or anti-war activists, not to mention, our sour reputation as "child kidnappers," in the wake of the Baby Ludi case," he began. Many of the Masters rolled their eyes, not wanting to be reminded of that debacle before the war began, especially Plo Koon and Ki-Adi-Mundi as they remembered the students that broke into the temple that they had to mind trick to settle down. "We do need to think about how we are going to win the public back over. To prove my point, did anyone else notice that we got people protesting on the steps right now?" Several Masters looked over their shoulders out the window of the spire in concern.
"Thank You, Master Kenobi, for the warning." Mace sighed, "very well Master Yoda, as you decree. Meeting adjourned, may the Force be with us all." Yoda tapped his gimer stick to signify the end of the meeting. Anakin and A'Sharad Hett bowed to the council and left first.
As Anakin and A'Sharad left the Council Chamber, "I am glad that you took responsibility for what you did."
"I feel so guilty about it, also not like I had a choice after Sidious revealed it to Master Yoda and Master Windu," Anakin shook his head.
"Well, this is the first step in the right direction, Skywalker," Hett said, as he placed a hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Thank you, by the way, for defending me in there," Anakin told him. Now that he looked at the Jedi Master with his mask on, he felt almost no more anger upon looking at the visage of a Tusken Raider.
"There is something else, Anakin," Hett began to say. Anakin had a feeling Master Hett had his own reasons for helping him that day.
"Yes, Master Hett?" Anakin asked.
"After the war is over, I wish both of us to return to Tatooine and take a ride through the Dune Sea," A'Sharad told him. Anakin did not know what the other Jedi had in mind, but was willing to go along with it, as he felt like he owed his continued time as a Jedi to A'Sharad Hett.
"As you wish, Master," Anakin bowed his head to the Tusken Master. A'Sharad nodded at the Knight and walked away, his work done.
Obi-Wan came out of the room next, and quietly signaled Anakin to follow him. Anakin knew that Obi-Wan had some words for him. It wasn't so much for what Anakin had done that he was upset about, it was more that he had more work to do knowing that Anakin was out of the war for a time. At least he was glad that Anakin would be getting the help he needed. Anakin owed him a drink for this, and he intended to get one soon.
By the Force, that was sort of difficult to write. Okay, where to start with that. A'Sharad Hett was Anakin's defender, yeah that happened. Also, I had to address the fact about Quinlan Vos, no way that was not flying by.
Also, Yoda made some big decisions today, for the better I say. Yoda is not blind, he sees what is going on and the way things are turning. Also, if anyone picked up some of the Jedi names he throws out there, like Galen Marek's parents or Etain Tur-Murkan, we'll see them later, and I promise at least Etain gets her happy ending with Darman and Venku.
So, next time, Mandalore, Satine needs to take up her title, and some other things. Stay tuned.
The Emperor is out. Peace.