EPISODE X
What Was Broken Can Be Remade
This was the moment that Princess Leia had spent three months training for. To finally meet other Jedi, to gain knowledge and understanding from them. Leia knew she had to keep working hard if she wanted to become a properly trained Jedi, but it would be good to meet other Jedi and see exactly how she ranked against them. She tried to keep from vibrating with excitement as their cruiser traveled through hyperspace, but it was difficult. Obviously they couldn't use the Tantive IV, it was too recognizable as a vessel of the Alderaanian Royal family. They'd needed to use a smaller, more inconspicuous cruiser, but that was traded off for a lack of space. So given herself, Master Obi-Wan, her father, and the two droids, space to meditate was a precious commodity.
"Be mindful of your feelings," Obi-Wan reminded her from where they both sat cross-legged in a small side space toward the back of the ship. "Temper your expectations. It is unlikely that we are going to meet an army of Jedi. This will not be the beginning of an all-out assault on the Imperial Palace. This is merely the foundation of a new Order, where something stronger will be built. These things take time."
Obi-Wan had to admit that he had… apprehensions about how exactly they would build a new Jedi Order. There were certainly lessons to have been learned from the Empire's failures. Lessons that he knew better than anyone. But would the other Jedi have taken the same lessons from their own experience surviving after the fall? Would they all be able to agree and follow the will of the Force? Or would it simply be a recreation of what had already failed, chasing the security of a memory for an idealized past? He tried to push those concerns from his thoughts, to be mindful of his own feelings.
"I understand, Master," Leia assured him. The last month or so had been a bit more manageable, thankfully. After discovering her secret, Winter actually offered to start dying her hair and going to Junior Senate sessions in Leia's place. Not all of them, of course, but sometimes. With her holographic and audiographic memory, she could recall even the smallest details and report them to Leia so that she could attend sessions without having missed a trick. Since no one in the legislature even knew about Winter, no one had any idea. Not only that, but the temporary dye Winter used washed out easily without damaging her natural white locks, so practically no one else on Alderaan knew she was doing it in the first place. This eased Leia's workload slightly and opened her schedule to allow the Princess a rare bit of breathing room now and then. And while Amilyn didn't have any fantastical abilities or an appearance that nearly mirrored Leia's, letting her in on the truth had been very helpful to Leia in giving her someone to talk to about her training; she was a confidant and, if nothing else, she was always able to make Leia laugh and put her at ease. Both of her friends were a source of immense comfort that she could rely upon in the trials to come. She was dearly missing their presence now.
"We'll be coming out of hyperspace shortly," Bail alerted them from the pilot's chair in the cockpit. "I suggest everyone take their seats." Leia and Obi-Wan quickly got up and moved to the cockpit to do so, strapping themselves in while C-3PO and R2-D2 magnetized themselves to the floor.
From out in space, Tython didn't look terribly different from Alderaan. A pearl of blue and green, though Leia could make out some strange and distinctive swirls in the landscape. But the true difference was not in what Leia saw, but what she felt. Even from out in space, she felt the call, the pull. The whole planet seemed to sing with the Force.
Obi-Wan could sense it as well. Tython was a world heralded in the Jedi archives for its powerful connection to the Force. It might, one day, make a splendid seat upon which to build a new Jedi Temple. A promise of the future. There would be no way to return to the former temple on Coruscant. Even if the Empire were defeated and the Sith destroyed, the temple was too entrenched in the Dark Side now. Too deeply soaked with tragedy and pain. A regrettable fact, but a fact nonetheless. Jedi had made their home on worlds before Coruscant and they would have a home after Coruscant.
'But first,' Obi-Wan reminded himself as they came down through the planet's atmosphere, 'There will have to be a Jedi Order to create such a Temple.' The ship rocked slightly as the landing gear made contact with solid ground and then, once the landing platform descended, Leia practically sprinted out of her seat, with the droids close behind, followed by Bail, with Obi-Wan bringing up the rear. The ship had landed in a large clearing with trees on one side of them and a mountain overlooking them from the other.
Despite herself, Leia couldn't help but stretch out her arms and pirouette in a little circle, breathing in the clean air of a world that seemed to have never been touched by the hand of mechanized civilization. Then she remembered herself and, more importantly, remembered that her father and master were also there. She brought her hands quickly to her side with an embarrassed smile as Bail chuckled and Obi-Wan just shook his head fondly.
"The transport ship containing the other Jedi should arrive shortly," Bail informed them. "It was merely a matter of making sure we arrived first." Thankfully, they did not need to wait long before the other ship, a heavily-modified Corellian light freighter, emerged out of hyperspace and began its descent toward them.
Honestly, Leia was concerned as to whether or not it was going to fall apart before it landed. It certainly was an impressive heap of junk.
R2-D2 shimmied excitedly from side to side on his wheels.
"Really, Artoo," C3-PO lectured him wearily, "You are representing the Alderaanian Royal family! Try and act with a little decorum!"
Despite the haggard appearance of the freighter, it touched down smoothly. The ramp extended and Leia couldn't suppress a grin as a figure started to walk down the ramp. Then she saw him.
That was not a Jedi.
That was a scruffy nerf herder being followed by a walking carpet.
Even as Leia's expression soured, Bail smiled as he approached Han and reached out to shake his hand. "Mister Solo," he greeted him. "Your work in aiding the Alliance has been exemplary. I hope with how you've been compensated thus far, we might be able to continue working together in the future."
Han met Bail's handshake while his other hand pointed a finger in Bail's face. "If I'm gonna keep working with your outfit, we are going to have to do some serious renegotiating."
Despite the finger in his face, Bail's smile did not waver as he nodded. "I'm certain that can be arranged, Solo. The Alliance would be more than willing to accommodate a pilot of your caliber. Within reason, of course."
Han didn't know what to do in the face of sincere appreciation and pleasantness, so he lowered his pointing hand while he kept shaking Bail's hand for a few more seconds.
Chewbacca remarked with a bark and Bail let go of Han's hand to shake one of his paws.
"And of course you also have my thanks, Chewbacca," Bail assured him. "The Alliance is glad to have a veteran of the Clone Wars on our side." Leia did a double-take and looked at Chewbacca, who chuffed proudly.
Han turned his attention to Leia and put on his best roguish smile. "And you must be Princess Leia," he said, taking her hand in his and turning on the charm. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, I'm sure." He moved to kiss her hand and Leia looked over his shoulder before sprinting past him, slipping out of his grip and leaving Han more than a little confused. That didn't normally happen.
The sight that had caused Leia to pull away from the smuggler– he wasn't her type, anyway– was the procession of the rest of the passengers that had been stowed away on the Millennium Falcon. These, Leia could tell, were Jedi. Not only from their appearance (although the woman dressed in cream and wine colored robes did throw her off a bit), but she could feel it in the Force. Each of them seemed to have the same reaction to being on Tython that she had, as if their spirits were buoyed by the planet's connection to the Force.
What was more than a little bit of a surprise to Leia was that they all seemed to know who Obi-Wan was as he walked up beside her.
"Hello, my friends," he greeted them all warmly. "It is good to see you all again."
Quinlan Vos grinned and gripped one of Obi-Wan's hands fiercely, pulling him into a hug. "C'mere, you old spacehound!" he said enthusiastically with a laugh. "Always knew no clone would have ever been able to take you down." He pulled away and gave Obi-Wan a once-over, laughing again. "It's nice to see at least one of us held onto the color in his hair," he teased with a playful punch to the arm.
Obi-Wan just smiled despite the teasing. "And I am glad to see that the years have not dampened your spirits, my friend. The galaxy owes you a great debt for all those you helped along The Path." Quinlan nodded and let Obi-Wan shake hands with the rest, addressing Qu Rahn, K'Kruhk, and Gungie by name. The Wookiee seemed particularly delighted that the Master recognized him from when he was a youngling.
Quinlan caught Leia's look of astonishment and smiled at her. "What," he asked playfully, "You didn't know your master was one of the greatest Jedi to ever live?"
"N-no," Leia admitted, her eyes widening at that explicit confirmation. "I guess I didn't." It certainly explained why she'd been able to progress so quickly in such a short amount of time. Not to mention why she'd had such difficulty trying to defeat him in lightsaber combat.
"Master Vos exaggerates," Obi-Wan insisted as he finished shaking Cilia's hand. "I do not consider myself greater than any other Jedi. I am simply one of many Jedi lucky enough to have survived." It was hard to believe him when Cilia looked at her hand with an expression that made it seem like she would never wash that hand again.
"Oh, of course, forgive us," Qu Rahn said in a rare moment of levity. "None of us have ever been on the High Council, so we assumed it must have been difficult. I was not aware that all one had to do was give Master Yoda your Jogan Fruit parfait in the Temple commissary." This drew a laugh from the assembled Jedi and Obi-Wan actually blushed with embarrassment!
While this was going on, R2-D2 let out an excited noise that could really only be described as a "Weeee-hooooo!" before zipping past every sentient assembled and up the ramp into the Millennium Falcon.
"Hey!" Han called in protest as he chased after the little blue Astromech. "Who said you could get on my ship?! Get outta here! Scram!" Han disappeared into the ship and returned a few moments later, his face pallid and with an expression as horrified as it was confused. He opened his mouth. He closed his mouth. He raised one hand with a finger for emphasis. Opened his mouth again. "...I'll just. Ah. Ya know what? Forget it," he finally decided, rubbing his hand over his face.
The Jedi turned their attention to Leia, who was obviously more than a little out of place among them. "So, who might you be, dear?" Cilia asked on her behalf. "You're too young to have even been a Youngling when the Order fell. Where did Master Kenobi find you?"
Before Leia– or Obi-Wan– could answer, there was a loud "Whump!" as another ship dropped out of hyperspace and began to come down toward the clearing. It was a modified VCX-100 Light Freighter, though Bail and Leia knew it well enough to recognize the ship by name: Ghost.
Once the ship landed, its own landing party marched out. A green-skinned Twi'lek woman, a Mandalorian woman with black hair tinted purple, a rather chunky-looking C1-Series Astromech Droid, and two human men. One looked to be about Han Solo's age, but it was hard to know any more than that when half of his face was obscured by a dark green, eyeless mask accented with silver swirls. He had long brown hair pulled back in a ponytail and a trimmed beard that framed his jaw and connected to a mustache. The other, roughly Leia's age, was more clearly a Lothalite, with his bronze skin and dark blue hair that was cut short, nearly to his scalp.
"You're not all Jedi, I assume," Rune asked.
"Nah, just these two," the Twi'lek pointed at the two humans with a thumb. "My ship, though. I'm Hera Syndulla. This is Kanan Jarrus and Ezra Bridger. That's Sabine," she pointed to the Mandalorian, "And this is Chopper." She patted the Astromech's head affectionately, who beeped and whistled and clanked his claw-hands appreciatively.
"It's good to see you both again," Leia said, shaking Ezra and Kanan's hands.
"Same to you, Princess," Ezra said with a bit of a grin. "Sorry we couldn't bring the whole gang, but a lot of them are involved in their own operations at the moment."
"It's a shame," Kanan admitted. "Rex was really looking forward to meeting Obi-Wan."
"Commander Rex still lives?" Obi-Wan asked in surprise. He had seen scant few clone troopers in the intervening years, most reduced to begging to stay alive. He was certain that the accelerated aging process might have caught up to most of them by now, as many of them that were still alive, at least.
"He does," Kanan confirmed with a smile as he turned toward Obi-Wan. "He's been a tremendous asset to the Rebellion." He held out a hand toward Obi-Wan, who shook it. "It's an honor to finally meet you, Master Kenobi. I was disappointed that our paths did not cross on Tatooine."
Obi-Wan nodded and looked at Ezra. "It's good to see you as well, Ezra," he said with a bit of a smile. "It seems I've been forced to join the fray after all."
Ezra just grinned. "No time like the present, Master Kenobi."
"Is this everyone?" Bail asked.
"Everyone I was able to find," Han said with a shrug. "If you've got any more Jedi up your sleeve, please, go right ahead." Bail chuckled at that but shook his head.
"Alright then, I suppose we shall begin." But before Bail or anyone else could say another word, there was one final craft that dropped out of hyperspace and made its descent toward the planet. It was heavily modified, no doubt to mask its identity, but to those who knew what to look for, there was no mistaking it. The dark-green-and-gray craft floating down toward them was a Jedi Starfighter from the Clone Wars.
Quinlan, Qu Rahn, and K'Kruhk smiled knowingly as the craft touched down and the cockpit popped open. With no small measure of annoyance, Jedi Master Rahm Kota exited the craft, cracking his neck and stretching his back until something popped.
"For the record, that counts as one of mine," Han told Bail out of the corner of his mouth.
Leia looked at the older man suspiciously. Was this really a Jedi? Rahm Kota walked directly toward Obi-Wan and looked him once over before offering him a hand.
"Good to see a member of the Council lives," he said. "Though I have to wonder how you look older than me." Obi-Wan rolled his eyes even as he shook his hand. Honestly, he did not look that old!
"It is good to see you as well, Master Kota," Obi-Wan replied dryly.
"What changed your mind?" K'Kruhk wondered. Rahm actually had the grace to look embarrassed as he put a hand to the back of his neck.
"One of my students, about an hour after you left," Rahm admitted. "Called me a stubborn old drukhead, and worse. How the worst way we can oppose the Empire would be to leave the rest of the Galaxy out to dry, that hoarding our knowledge and resources would only make the fighting that much harder. That… that I had forgotten what it meant to be a Jedi. That selfishly clinging onto my pride was something a Sith would do. And he called me a damned arrogant fool for placing the idea of my own personal station ahead of the lives of countless billions. Hadn't taken a scolding like that since I was a Padawan," he admitted with a laugh.
"Isn't that the same thing we said?" Rune asked. Gungie barked his agreement.
"Well, sure," Rahm said, "But it felt worse coming from one of my own." He shrugged before looking at Bail and offering his hand. "You have the support of my militia," he promised. "You and this new Jedi Order or… whatever it is we're doing here."
Bail took his hand gladly and nodded. "Your help is very much appreciated, General Kota," he assured him, "And our military leaders will be happy to heed any advice you or your forces are willing to offer." He pulled his hand away from Rahm and clasped both hands together. "I do believe that's everyone, then. Esteemed Jedi," he greeted them all, "On behalf of the Galactic Alliance to Restore the Republic, we are honored by your presence and thankful to you for answering our call. Some of you have already been in the fight," he gestured to Ezra, Kanan, and Rahm, "Or helping the innocent however you can. While others of you have sacrificed safety and security in the lives you have been able to find for yourselves to join our cause. Your sacrifice is not lost on us and, when the fight is won and democracy is restored, you will be rewarded however we can manage. But first, the fight must be won." He then bowed his head in acknowledgment of Obi-Wan, ceding the discussion to him.
"We must not stay here too long," Obi-Wan reminded them. "Though the planet's natural connection to the Force does shield our presence to a degree, this many Jedi gathered in one place will certainly draw the eye of the Dark Side. In the future, we must be certain not to congregate in large groups such as these unless we are preparing for an attack. I would suggest we stay here no longer than an hour at most. Now, with that in mind, this is the current plan. All of you–" he paused to look at Gungie– "Nearly all of you have direct combat experience from the Clone Wars. Ship-to-ship conflict, sieges, battle in the open field, things that we learned by experience and knowledge that we gained from fighting alongside our clones. We have experience that the Rebellion badly needs if they are to face the Empire in direct warfare. Ships will be arriving shortly to bring you to missions where your skills can be put to the best use. Are there any questions at the moment?"
"I still have one," Cilia spoke up, looking at Leia once again. "Who are you?" she asked, more out of genuine curiosity than suspicion.
Leia swallowed and stepped forward. "I am Princess Leia Organa. I am a student of Obi-Wan's–" she paused and glanced at Obi-Wan, who gave her a reassuring nod. "And I am the daughter of Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala."
There was a stunned silence at this revelation, but Obi-Wan spared a glance toward Quinlan Vos and knew that it was only his Jedi training that stopped him from doing something absurd like pumping a fist and shouting "I KNEW IT!"
"The Chosen One's daughter, huh?" Rahm Kota mused as he placed a hand to his chin and cocked an eyebrow. That made Leia's cheeks flush red. She had no idea Anakin had apparently been some kind of Jedi "Chosen One!"
"She has tremendous potential," Obi-Wan told them, "And great power in the Force already. I can sense it in her, I believe that she will be key to winning this war against the Empire." Leia was surprised to hear Obi-Wan being so explicit about that and clearly so was her father.
"I am not so sure," Qu Rahn said. "Anakin Skywalker was the Chosen One himself. This did not protect him from Order 66 more than any other Jedi or prevent the fall of the Order."
"There were many faults that caused the fall of the Order and Republic," Obi-Wan answered sternly. "Anakin… was not one of them. I have faith in Leia as I had in her father."
While all this was going on, R2-D2 strolled leisurely out of the Millennium Falcon and over to C3-PO. Chopper wheeled his way over to the pair and the droids conversed and made small talk while the organics continued their conversation. C3-PO did not appreciate Chopper's foul language.
"I know you've always been an excellent judge of character," Rahm Kota remarked sarcastically, speaking to Obi-Wan while shooting Quinlan Vos a look, "But I have my reservations, Master Kenobi. I would like to test your newest Padawan's capabilities." One of his hands ghosted over his lightsaber and Leia tensed. She'd never fought a Jedi other than Obi-Wan before.
"I'm sure that's not–" Obi-Wan began to say before he was interrupted.
"I agree with Master Kota," Rune said while unclipping his lightsaber. "In fact, perhaps we might all test ourselves." He looked at the other Jedi. "If that would be acceptable to this Council." His tone was only semi-playful. "You did say we had the time, Master Kenobi."
"Sure, what the heck," Quinlan said before Obi-Wan could speak. He stretched his arms wide, rolling his shoulders, and his lightsaber flew into one of his outstretched hands. "I could use a little exercise after being crammed in that ship for almost three months."
"Look, I don't know about–" Kanan tried to object.
"Sounds like fun!" Ezra agreed, spinning his lightsaber in his palm like a blaster. Though his eyes were not visible, the expression that Kanan made to his apprentice was clear from the way he cocked his head and the stern line of his mouth. "What? It'd be good to fight someone with a lightsaber who isn't you and who isn't trying to kill me!" The other Jedi were already reaching for their lightsabers and Leia looked at Obi-Wan again, who sighed and gave a shrug of surrender. One which, funnily enough, Kanan mirrored as he took out his own lightsaber.
"Nope," Han objected suddenly. "No thank you. Not happening. Not right here." He pointed to the Falcon. "You're all gonna be waving your laser swords way too close to my ship for my liking. Take it somewhere else." The Jedi turned their gaze to the mountain and Leia grimaced.
"We have to walk all the way up there?" she asked. Cilia looked at her and gave her a grin.
"Walk?" she teased. "Oh, dear, you clearly still have a lot to learn." Cilia crouched down low and, with the exception of Obi-Wan, the other Jedi followed suit. Leia watched in open-mouthed amazement as the more seasoned Jedi all made tremendous leaps, sailing high into the air and reaching halfway up the mountain before disappearing over the mountain's precipice on the second jump.
"When were you going to tell me I could do stuff like that?!" she demanded from her master, hands on her hips. Obi-Wan sighed and massaged his temples.
"The Force is a pathway to many abilities," Obi-Wan said carefully. "I have not had time to explain all that you might be capable of."
"I'm sure we could have fit this in somewhere between constantly telling me about the energy that binds the universe," Leia shot back in annoyance. The other Jedi were all probably looking down at her and laughing!
"Calm yourself, Leia," Obi-Wan half-instructed, half-pleaded. "If you truly understood the lessons I have been trying to pass onto you, then you would already be able to understand. The Force is all things. It is in you, it is in me. It is in the ground upon which we stand and in the air that surrounds us. We are more than physical, more than muscle, blood, and bone. More than our limitations. If you can truly see and understand that, then you will be capable of anything. Through the Force, the Wookiee Gungie is no stronger than you. His physical power does not give him greater strength in the Force. If you believe that a limit does not exist and if you trust in the Force, then that limit does not exist."
Leia nodded, listening intently to Obi-Wan, trying to calm and compose herself. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she crouched low. She tried not to think of weight, or distance, or the scale of the mountain compared to her own body. She pushed out everything that she had learned about the physical world that taught her what she was trying to do was impossible. She had to accept that through the Force, all things were possible. If she believed it, if she willed it, it could be done. She called upon the Force, drew it into herself, and leaped.
She felt… weightless. She was sailing through the air and could feel her white cape fluttering behind her. But not directionless like a balloon or an errant leaf at the mercy of the wind. Leia could feel her body moving through the air in a natural arc, guided on a path even though there was no ground beneath her feet. She still did not trust herself to open her eyes and look down but realized that she did not truly need to. It was as if her body simply knew where she was meant to go. She felt the pull of the Force and moved along its path as naturally as gravity. No, more natural than gravity, better than gravity. This was like gravity that she could control.
Obi-Wan watched Leia's leap with a slight shake of his head. It was impressively done, especially for her first attempt at using the Force in such a tactile way. That was not what troubled him. No, he could simply… feel that something was wrong. He had felt Leia impose her will on the Force to make the leap possible. It was not drastic enough to require immediate condemnation and he did not sense the Dark Side in her actions, but it was clear that she still had much to learn. But they were running short on the luxury of time.
Leia's feet touched down on solid ground and she finally opened her eyes again to see that she was standing among the other Jedi, who were looking at her appraisingly.
"Not bad for a first jump, kid," Quinlan Vos told her. He was leaning against one of the large stone slabs that circled the area at the top of the mountaintop where they all had landed. These slabs jutted out of the ground at angles to prop up other, even larger stone slabs that absolutely dwarfed the Jedi in size. The ruins surrounding them were all that remained of a once-great temple. Though, despite the great connection to the Force all around them, not a temple of the Jedi. In the center of the circle of monoliths was a dome-shape stone covered in ancient runes. Older than Aurebesh, they might even have been the language of the Je'daii Order who had lived here millennia ago, though time had worn away many of the characters and shrouded them with dirt.
"You've come a long way if Obi-Wan's only been training you for a few months, Leia," Ezra said, clearly impressed. Leia's cheeks pinked and she tugged at one of her sleeves.
Rahm Kota gave an unimpressed "Hmm."
A few moments later, Obi-Wan arrived next to Leia, floating gently down to land by her side. "Are you all still committed to this ridiculous exercise?" Obi-Wan asked. Everyone held up their lightsabers and Leia quickly removed her own as Obi-Wan sighed wearily, folding his hands into the sleeves of his robe. "Very well, then." Green and blue blades blossomed to life, though Leia was a little startled by Cilia's pink lightsaber blade. "Lowest settings," Obi-Wan reminded everyone. "No need to be taking off one another's limbs."
"Yes, Master Drallig," Qu Rahn said wryly. Another joke that was lost on both Leia and on Ezra. Even Rahm smiled. Well, one corner of his mouth moved. But the laughter went as soon as it had come, every Jedi tensing as they moved into their opening stances. Cilia gave a proper duelist's salute with her saber, holding it parallel in front of her face with a flourish before moving into her stance. The dirt crunched softly as weight shifted subtly from foot to foot, eyes flitted this way and that to select an opening target.
"Begin!" Obi-Wan declared, and the air filled with a whirling clash of light and sound as the battle began.
Cilia made an opening lunge toward Rune, who deftly blocked her attack and countered with a slash of his own, which was parried and answered with a riposte. Qu Rahn crossed blades with Kanan, and though the Master might have had the edge of greater formal training at the Temple, Kanan's duels with the Inquisitors helped him match his elder blow-for-blow, even without his sight. Gungie charged directly at K'Kruhk, perhaps counting on his youth and strength to win him an advantage. But K'Kruhk was bigger still, and stronger, with far more experience. The Wookiee was quickly put on the back foot and made to fight defensively as he gave ground to the Whiphid. Leia tried to suppress a startled cry as Rahm Kota came directly at her with a vicious swinging strike from beneath that she barely managed to block in time. This earned her a derisive sneer from the Jedi Master and he quickly adjusted his grip to attack again, this time swinging from Leia's left. Leia again managed to block, calling on the Force to push his blade away before making an attack of her own, which he blocked so brusquely that it was almost an attack of its own, trying to knock the blade out of her hands. But after months of Obi-Wan's disarmings, Leia's grip on her saber was far more secure. This left Quinlan and Ezra to face one another, the old Master making swift probing attacks, pressing the young Jedi, curious to test the abilities of one of the first of this new generation, raised completely outside the structure of the Order. Ezra met him eagerly, determined to showcase himself against the older master and show the efforts of his training.
Obi-Wan Kenobi was content to sit upon the seeing stone in the center of the ruins and watch the chaos unfold all around him. He had nothing to prove to anyone.
Yet for as chaotic as the battle might appear to an outside observer, there was reason in all of it. Even a certain musicality to the whirring and clashing. These were not fights to the death. These were Jedi… in conversation. Quinlan Vos was curious, inquisitive, and Ezra answered each question with energy and pride. Rune and Cilia were old friends catching up, each clash of their blades bringing back memories of times spent sparring together in the Jedi Temple. Simpler, happier times. K'Kruhk was giving young Gungie a rather forceful lecture on presumptions of pride and underestimating one's enemy. Qu Rahn and Kanan's exchange was almost businesslike. Taking one another's measure, testing their abilities, letting the other make their argument before responding in kind.
Princess Leia and General Kota were not having any of these sorts of conversations. Rahm's attacks were an accusation as he doggedly pursued Leia across the battlefield. Leia dove and deflected, parried and countered, using her agility to move around the environment, pushing off the stone monoliths and sailing through the air to create more space. Rahm was relentless in his attack, pressuring Leia, demanding more from her, needing to see just what it was that Obi-Wan saw in her. Though she had made remarkable progress, Leia was still learning, while Rahm was a Jedi Master and a veteran of the Clone Wars. Moreover, her mind had not been opened enough to the Force to sense the Master's motives, his intent, and his intensity had thus caught her off guard. Despite her best efforts, she was being overwhelmed.
Rahm leaped into the air to bring down a thunderous strike on Leia's head when his bright green blade was suddenly clashing with that of Quinlan Vos, who had moved himself in the path of the attack. "What are you doing?" he demanded.
"Figured you'd like a new dance partner," Quinlan remarked with a shrug. "Ezra, go catch up with your friend," he said in a teasing tone as he pushed Rahm back, making the other man dig his feet into the ground.
Ezra looked at Leia and shrugged as he moved toward her. He waited for Leia to catch her breath and let her make the first move, trying to put her at ease after Rahm had put her through her paces. This new conversation was almost, but not quite, flirting. Something Kanan could feel ever-so-subtly through the Force and would most certainly be teasing his Padawan for later.
The other Jedi seemed to follow suit at this invitation, as Gungie dove under one of K'Kruhk's swings to run to the relative safety of sparring with his master. Cilia wheeled off to cross blades with Kanan, leaving Qu Rahn to be the one facing down the Whiphid Master.
"That was not your place to interfere," Rahm Kota snarled between clenched teeth as the other Jedi traded partners again and again. He and Quinlan exchanged slashes and swings, countering and parrying in a whirling dervish of emerald hues.
"Sure it was," Quinlan shot back tensely, "A Jedi's place is always to fight against bullies."
"Is that what you thought I was doing? Bullying the girl?"
"Well you certainly weren't trying to make friends!"
"The Sith are not going to be nearly as lenient as I was!"
"Oh, I didn't know we were planning on her facing down a Dark Lord all by herself!"
"She may very well be forced to do just that! We need to make sure she is ready! This is not the Temple and she is not a Youngling!" The masters broke their blade clash and swung to meet once more.
Before their blades could make contact, a beam of sky-blue light came between them. In one swift motion, both lightsabers were sent sailing into the air before they landed, deactivated and crossed, in Obi-Wan's outstretched hand.
"Leia is my student, thank you very much, Master Kota," he told him with curt civility. "I appreciate your counsel but you will not seek to train her in my stead. And Quinlan," he added, "Your concern is understandable, but I am more than capable of knowing my own student's capabilities and knowing when to intervene if she is in genuine danger." The other Jedi had come to an abrupt stop when Obi-Wan made his move, stunned immobile by the Master's speed and skill. It was clear to see why Obi-Wan Kenobi had been seen by many as the perfect Jed during the time of the Order. "I believe that we are done, then?" he asked them all. There was a general murmur of agreement as the other Jedi deactivated their lightsabers and Obi-Wan offered the two lightsabers back to their previous owners. Quinlan took his saber out of Obi-Wan's hand while Rahm called his back with the Force. "There is one more thing that we must do before we need to depart," Obi-Wan said. "Other Jedi must learn that they no longer need to feel fear. That they can come to us and work with us and the Rebellion to free the galaxy. We will not be restarting the Order," he told them firmly. "Not yet. Not until we understand what we want that new Order to be. That will take time. Meditation. Contemplation. That is time we cannot afford to spend right now. That being said…" he paused and looked around at the other Jedi. "Under my authority, I name all Jedi assembled here as Masters of the new Jedi High Council."
Quinlan grinned, Qu Rahn and K'Kruhk nodded sagely, and Rahm gave another one of those almost-smiles. Ezra beamed and Kanan gave a serious, measured nod before he, too, smiled despite himself. Gungie let out an excited roar while Rune and Cilia high-fived. Leia just smiled because, well, that certainly sounded important.
"Make no mistake," Obi-Wan told them quickly, "This does not mean that your training is finished or that the youngest among you may disregard advice or instruction from your elders. In fact, many believe a Jedi's training only truly begins when they become a Master. For the time being, until a proper order is founded, the rank of Master is more… an honorific for the members of this body which exists to discuss and collaborate upon the future of the Jedi. Now, as I said, those in the galaxy sensitive to the Force must learn where they may come to find safety and guidance. Place your hands upon the seeing stone," he instructed them as he put his hand on the stone dome in the center of the circle, "And center your minds. In concert, we will become a beacon of the Force."
Ezra hesitated. "Wait a second. Won't everyone be able to feel a beacon? Including people we don't want to know about this place?"
Obi-Wan nodded. "It is a necessary risk," he admitted. "Which means that one of us must be willing to stay on Tython both to coordinate our efforts with the Rebellion and to act as a safeguard. To guide any Force-sensitive beings that might come here for guidance and to shield them from agents of the Empire." There was a tense silence before K'Kruhk raised one huge paw.
"I will stay," he volunteered. "I was never one for piloting starships. I always felt more comfortable in the Temple, watching over the Younglings. Perhaps if I had been there…" his thoughts drifted and he shook his head. "Let that be my role now. I will protect our new Order from all that Emperor Palpatine, this 'Darth Sidious', might send our way."
Obi-Wan nodded. "Thank you, Master K'Kruhk. If we are all agreed?" he asked. The other Jedi nodded and moved forward to place their hands upon the seeing stone. "Call out through the Force. Let it flow through you. Let it carry your voice like an echo." The Jedi all closed their eyes and let the Force guide them. The runes across the stone's surface glowed a bright blue, shining clearly, and a pillar of blue light shone off of the Jedi and shot high into the sky.
Han turned his head to look up at the beam and let out a low whistle. Okay, he had to admit. That was pretty damn impressive. Hera and Sabine nodded in agreement.
"My word," C-3PO remarked. R2-D2 and Chopper took pictures with their internal cameras.
The Jedi called out through the Force with messages of brotherhood, of unity, of welcoming. Promising safety, promising instruction and guidance. They spoke a call to action into the Force. The time was now, their message said, for others to heed their call and rise. When the Jedi pulled their hands away from the seeing stone, the runes were still glowing and the beam was still rising into the sky. They all looked at one another with a degree of understanding that they had not had when they arrived, as the Force had passed through all of them and united their minds for that brief period. Rahm Kota's expression had softened, ever so slightly.
"I guess that's all we can do," Quinlan said while looking up at the beacon as the rest of them were. Even Kanan's face was turned up toward the sky. He could not see the beam, obviously, but he didn't need to. Though he had lost his eyes, he could still sense through the Force, using it to paint an abstract picture of the world. He could "see" the beacon as a solid pillar stretching up into the sky, rather than the ethereal, translucent blue picture the others could see. "So, where are these ships of ours?" Quinlan asked.
A few moments later, there were several "Whump!" sounds as multiple starfighters dropped out of hyperspace in the upper atmosphere and began to drift down toward the ground. Obi-Wan gave Quinlan a sly smirk and the other Master rolled his eyes before the Jedi leaped down off the mountain to float toward the ground. Once again, Leia needed to close her eyes before she jumped.
The starfighter's cockpits opened up to reveal that they did not have any actual human pilots and had only been guided by the Astromech Droids socketed into them.
R2-D2 let out a series of proud beeps and boops, causing C-3PO to turn and pivot his waist to look down at him before looking back at the organics. "Artoo would like to inform you all that you have nothing to fear in your travels, as he has…" C-3PO paused to look at R2-D2 once again. If a Protocol Droid, which could make no facial expressions, could look skeptical, C-3PO would certainly be looking skeptical now. "Trained all of your Astromech Droids himself," he finished, though his tone seemed less a declarative statement and more a question. The newly-arrived Jedi, with the exception of Ezra and Kanan, looked at the Protocol Droid, then at R2-D2, then at Bail and Obi-Wan, looking increasingly incredulous with each turn.
Obi-Wan couldn't help but chuckle. "For whatever amount it is worth, I will vouch for Artoo," Obi-Wan told them. "He's as sentient and clever as any organic I ever knew. If he says he has trained these droids, I believe him." The other Jedi shrugged and had no option but to take Obi-Wan at his word.
"Each of these ships has a programmed destination in their nav computers to take you to systems aligned with the Alliance," Bail explained, "Where, as we discussed before, your skills and abilities will be of best use to help against the Empire. I leave it to each of you to decide amongst yourselves which vessel to take, though I acknowledge that some of you may have missions of your own already." He gestured to Kanan and Ezra and then to Rahm Kota. Ezra and Kanan nodded and Rahm Kota made a noncommittal grunt. "May the Force be with you all," Bail said before he, Leia, and Obi-Wan turned to leave. Kanan and Ezra said their goodbyes before heading back into Ghost and taking off and Rahm Kota got back into his ship as well.
Han settled back into his pilot's chair in the Millennium Falcon and sighed, stretching his arms and rolling his neck. "You coulda told me it was that kind of contact," he muttered after pushing a button on his console.
"I don't believe I have to tell you everything about my personal life," L3-37 protested haughtily.
"Well, as long as he didn't give you a virus or anything…" Han said as he started the Falcon's ignition sequence and warmed up the ship's engines.
"Han Solo, you take that back! I am an intelligent autonomous individual and I am certainly capable of taking care of myself!"
"Alright, alright! Don't fry your circuits, jeez." Han let out a sigh and leaned forward in his chair slightly. "Sure is quiet now…"
Chewbacca made a teasing bray as he took his seat and Han bristled.
"No, I am not going to miss them!" he insisted. "Just making an observation, that was all. It's a lot better having a little extra legroom in here now, believe me."
"You are certainly right about that, Captain," a playful voice teased as a pair of arms looped over the back of Han's chair and around his front. Han turned his head around and then leaped up out of his chair.
"Cilia?!" he asked in shock, his eyes going wide as he moved around the chair, her arms still around the back of his neck. "What are you doin' here? What about the starfighters?"
Cilia grinned and gave a shrug. "Ah, I haven't flown a fighter by myself in years. I talked to Senator Organa and he agreed with my suggestion that it would be better for all parties involved if I was flying with you lot instead."
Han didn't know whether he wanted to thank the Alderaanian or strangle him. "I am not a ferry service!" Han insisted, trying to sound irritated even as a smile was forcing its way onto his face.
"Don't worry, you won't just be a ferry service," Cilia assured him. "You'll probably get shot at, too!" she added with a cheeky grin. Han couldn't stop himself from smiling back as he slid back down into his seat.
"Alright," he conceded with a grin. "Where are we headed?"
K'Kruhk watched the various ships take off into the sky as he returned to his post at the seeing stone. Part of him felt slightly conflicted about the Jedi returning to war once again but he knew that it was necessary. That this was a path that must be taken, a fight that must be fought. Every Jedi would do their part and he would do his. He sat down atop the stone and closed his eyes in pensive meditation. If a Jedi came seeking aid, guidance, or friendship; K'Kruhk would ensure that they found it. And if they were looking for trouble? Well, K'Kruhk could only feel a great swell of pity for them.