The Jedi Council
As the hologram of Chancellor Valorum flickered in the throne room, Padmé furrowed her brow, sensing the weight behind his words. "It's been a while, Chancellor," she said, her tone warm but formal.
"Two years by my count, Your Highness," Valorum replied, his voice slightly distorted by the distance. "Though I'm afraid this isn't a social call."
Padmé's expression shifted to concern. "What's wrong?"
Valorum paused, his gaze flickering to Braylen standing nearby, his arms crossed in a stance of readiness. "I've found something that needs your attention—something I'd prefer to discuss in person."
"Oh?" Padmé tilted her head slightly, trying to gauge the urgency. "Should I be worried?"
Valorum's eyes lingered on Braylen, the hologram's faint glow reflecting the tension in the room. "Let's just say, given your bodyguard's unique past, he may be able to explain some of it."
Padmé's gaze moved to Braylen, who remained calm but alert, always ready for anything. "I see. In that case, we'll depart immediately," Padmé said with resolve, standing taller.
"I'll prep the Ebon Hawk," Braylen said. "Anakin, go with Padmé and get ready."
Anakin nodded, though his excitement at the thought of another adventure was barely hidden. "Right!" He turned to follow Padmé, who was already moving with purpose, her regal composure never faltering.
As Braylen turned to head toward the hangar, preparing for whatever awaited them on Coruscant, he couldn't help but wonder what Valorum had uncovered—and why his past, one he had tried to keep in the shadows, would be at the center of it.
Master Yoda sat in deep meditation within the Jedi Temple, his eyes half-closed, sensing the ripples in the Force. It had been two years since the invasion of Naboo, a pivotal moment that had revealed the dark truth: the Sith had returned. Despite Darth Vetris' cooperation, the Jedi Council had been left with more questions than answers. The Sith Lord had been a mystery, neither fully an ally nor an enemy. He had helped, but their search for the one truly pulling the strings remained fruitless.
Yoda frowned, the weight of the Council's division pressing down on him. Some Jedi believed that they should bring Vetris back for further questioning, hoping to extract more about the Sith's plans. Others speculated about a possible war brewing between Sith factions, concerned that their inaction might lead to larger conflicts. Yoda, however, had remained cautious, warning them that both options could provoke Naboo or Vetris himself, leading to unforeseen consequences.
Fortunately, Qui-Gon Jinn—now a newly appointed member of the Council in recognition of his role in saving Naboo—spoke highly of Vetris. His testimony had swayed many in the Council, helping to temper the more aggressive voices. Qui-Gon saw something in Vetris that most of the Jedi could not, a balance between the light and dark that confounded their expectations. Still, Yoda knew the time for answers was nearing.
The death of Chancellor Valorum had shocked the Senate. Found under suspicious circumstances, the mystery surrounding his passing had only deepened with the discovery of a single piece of evidence: a recording of Valorum making a final call to Naboo. The Jedi had investigated but found no clear trail—until now.
Suddenly, Yoda's eyes snapped open, his gimer stick tapping softly against the floor. He felt a presence—a dark, familiar aura on Coruscant. It was Vetris.
"Vetris, on Coruscant he is," Yoda murmured to himself. "Answers, we may get."
He rose slowly, leaning on his cane as he turned toward the council chamber. The other Jedi needed to know that their mysterious Sith ally had returned. This might be their last chance to uncover the truth behind the Sith's resurgence before the galaxy plunged into further chaos.
As Braylen opened his eyes, his face was lined with tension. He had been deep in meditation, but something had disrupted his focus. Padmé, noticing his sudden shift, turned to him with concern. "Braylen, is something wrong?" she asked, her voice soft yet probing.
Braylen remained silent for a moment, his brow furrowed. They had just exited hyperdrive, the familiar hum of the ship transitioning to sub-light speeds. Anakin was in the cockpit, guiding the Ebon Hawk toward Coruscant.
"I sense a disturbance in the Force," Braylen finally said, his voice low and serious. "Something has happened. I suspect we'll be met by Jedi when we land."
Padmé's concern deepened, but before she could respond, the landing pad came into view. As the ship settled down on the platform, Braylen's prediction proved true. Standing there, waiting for them, were Master Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
"Master Qui-Gon," Braylen greeted him, stepping down from the ship. "I wasn't expecting to see you here."
"I wish it were under better circumstances," Qui-Gon replied, his voice grave.
Anakin, who had joined them on the ramp, tilted his head in curiosity. "What circumstances?"
"The Chancellor," Obi-Wan said, his tone as grim as his master's. "He's been murdered, and the Jedi have been asked to investigate."
Padmé's eyes widened in shock. "Murdered?" she echoed, the weight of the news settling over her.
"The only piece of evidence we have is the Chancellor's last communication," Obi-Wan added. "A call to Naboo."
Braylen's face hardened. He had sensed this wasn't a normal visit, but the situation was more dire than he had anticipated. Padmé, regaining her composure, squared her shoulders and spoke in a voice Braylen had come to recognize—the voice of Queen Amidala.
"Then we should go see the Council immediately," Padmé declared, her tone firm and authoritative.
Obi-Wan raised a hand, as if to slow the pace. "That won't be necessary, Your Highness. Only Braylen needs to join us."
Padmé's eyes narrowed. "I see no reason why I shouldn't be present. He is my bodyguard, after all."
Braylen could feel the tension rising. Padmé wasn't just speaking as the Queen—she was signaling her growing frustration. Anakin, sensing it too, stepped forward. "Then at least take me with you," he offered, his eagerness to protect her evident.
Braylen placed a hand on Anakin's shoulder. "No, Anakin. This isn't Naboo. You need to stay here and protect the Queen."
The boy frowned, clearly displeased, but Braylen's words left no room for argument. Sensing the growing tension, Qui-Gon tried to smooth the situation. "Braylen is right. This is a delicate matter."
Braylen then turned to Padmé, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. "It's alright. I'm sure they just need me to clear some things up."
Padmé hesitated, her gaze hardening as she addressed the Jedi once more. "Very well, but know this, Master Jedi: if I find out that my bodyguard is being treated as anything less than a guest, you will be hearing from the Senate."
The icy formality in her words was impossible to miss, and even Qui-Gon could see the storm brewing. She hadn't referred to anyone by name, and that alone was telling.
"Of course, Your Highness," Qui-Gon responded, bowing respectfully. He exchanged a glance with Obi-Wan, who remained silent but clearly understood the Queen's message.
As they led Braylen toward the Jedi Temple, the sense of unease lingered. This wasn't just an investigation anymore—it was a test of trust, and the stakes had never felt higher.
As Braylen waited outside the Council chambers, Qui-Gon stepped into the room where the rest of the Jedi Masters sat, already deep in discussion.
"So, how did it go?" asked Mace Windu, his voice steady but edged with curiosity.
Qui-Gon sighed. "As well as can be expected. The Queen was not happy that her favorite bodyguard was being brought in for questioning. If I hadn't gone personally, it might not have ended so well."
Plo Koon, seated across from him, nodded. "He's not being brought in for questioning, though. We only want his insight."
"I'm afraid that's not the way she sees it," Qui-Gon said, shaking his head.
Yoda tapped his cane softly, his wise eyes narrowing as he spoke. "Delicate the situation is. Tread carefully, we must."
Mace glanced around the room before making the decision. "Send him in."
Braylen entered, his posture relaxed but his eyes alert. He sensed the weight of the room, the combined authority of the Jedi Council.
"Master Jedi," Braylen greeted them. "I was told you had questions for me."
Vetris stood in the center of the Jedi Council chamber, his arms folded as he surveyed the circle of Jedi Masters around him. His presence, though calm, held a subtle tension.
"Vetris, your perspective of the dark side, always wondered I have," Master Yoda spoke, his tone thoughtful, yet with an edge of curiosity that drew everyone's attention.
Vetris looked at Yoda, pausing for a moment. "Well, I could give you a history lesson, but I won't. Instead, I'll give you the short version."
The Council remained silent, their interest piqued.
"Imagine the dark side as a flame," Vetris began, pacing slightly as he spoke. "Now, a flame has many uses. It can guide your steps in the dark or keep you warm at night. But it can also be used as a weapon, like a flamethrower. However, in the hands of a novice, it becomes more like an uncontrollable inferno—one that can't distinguish friend from foe because it consumes everything it touches."
The room was quiet, the Jedi absorbing his words.
"When the novice keeps using it, despite being burned, the burns will eventually become so severe that they won't recognize themselves anymore. That's the danger of the dark side."
Mace Windu, seated with a steady gaze, nodded slowly. "That's a very interesting perspective. One I hadn't considered."
"But," Windu added, steering the conversation back on course, "we must address the matter at hand."
Eeth Koth spoke next. "Before today, there had been no sign of the Sith, assuming that this was a Sith attack. No trace of them. Two years, and nothing."
"We've had no luck in finding any leads," Kit Fisto agreed. "It's as if they vanished."
Vetris exhaled slowly. "Yes, why now? Why like this?"
He paused, looking at each Jedi in turn. "With the knowledge that a Sith was backing the Trade Federation, he knew your guard would be up. Why not send you a message you'd consider but the Senate wouldn't think twice about?"
"Maybe the purpose is to cause dissent between us," Ki-Adi-Mundi suggested. "Our alliance isn't exactly strong."
Vetris tilted his head, considering that. "Then why not wait until I was on Coruscant?" His voice held a quiet challenge. "Whether he knew about the vid call or not, it would've been better to wait."
"Let's go back to what we know," Vetris continued, his tone sharpening. "We know a Sith was sent to kill Queen Amidala, which confirmed to us that a Sith was behind the Trade Federation. We know that Darth Maul was an apprentice, not a master. Now, we've been operating under the assumption that Darth Plagueis was his master, but that was just an assumption."
Vetris let his words hang in the air before delivering the next thought. "But what if Maul's master wasn't Plagueis? What if Maul's master was Plagueis's apprentice? One who killed him, fulfilling the Rule of Two?"
The council murmured among themselves, the weight of Vetris's words casting a shadow over their hopes of clarity.
Adi Gallia spoke up. "So, we're even more in the dark than before."
"Not exactly," Qui-Gon interjected, his voice measured. "At least we're not chasing a dead man."
Mace Windu stood. "I don't think we're going to learn much more from this session. Let's adjourn for now."
The council members stood from their seats, though the unease was palpable. As Vetris turned to leave, Yoda's voice echoed softly through the chamber.
"Clouded, the future remains. But answers, still out there, they are."