The Weaving Force: Chapter 81 (Patreon)

Chapter 81:

Yoda:

This was not a battle he could win in his typical way.

His lightsaber crackled and flashed, striking his opponent’s sparks bursting before his eyes as the Force told him where the next blow would come from; but the strength in his limbs was beginning to fail, buckling under the relentless pressure. 

He could not win by defense alone; or even by just the use of the Lightsaber, not anymore.

The realization… made him smile just a bit.

Victoria’s movements were an arial ballet, her blue sword flashing as it cut through the air, seeking him out.

Raw strength was one thing he could overcome, but Yoda rarely found himself lacking the arial or mobility advantage given his preferred, and perfected Ataru but Master Victoria was a unique opponent in which he found himself uniquely outclassed in all three physical categories.

But-

‘Much to learn, you still have.’

Where her blade moved about her like a living extension of her, Victoria’s power in the force was a tight ball, a shield around her, controlled and measured. She still lacked the acuity to channel her power through the force in tandem with her bladework. 

It was not her failing, she was far greater a combatant than many with three times her years and experience.

But still, it was a drawback of her unique path amongst the teachings of the Force.

There was another exchange, Yoda’s small blade shunting aside several powerful blows with the steady, sure form of the Soresu, dancing away from the other blows as he gathered his strength.

His blade lowered, Victoria rushed in, thinking it an error, or exhaustion.

He saw the flash in her eyes, the moment her own senses warned her of the danger as she suddenly pulled away, retreating physically.

But her shield was not bolstered.

Yoda’s ethereal hand reached out, grasping the powerful parahuman Master in a telekenetic hold- and grasped tight.

Victoria’s limbs were pressed into her side, her flight halted. She realized the danger and began to struggle, his hold wouldn’t last for very long but he didn’t need it to.

He leapt up after her, lightning fast and felt a flash of surprise as he saw her adapting quickly, redirecting her efforts in the force from breaking free; to instead shoving him back, to give herself more time.

Against most opponents, she may have succeeded. 

He, like her, was not ‘most’ opponents.

He shunted her Telekenetic push away, water breaking over rock before his blade whipped out twice in quick succession.

Then, he felt something else- the shield, that gossamer thing golden shroud in the force, uncoil itself from around her, moving to wrap around him, holding him still in a last ditch attempt at winning.

A surprise, to be sure-

Still not enough. 

He barely felt the alien sensation of the shield layering itself over the flesh of his face before a small rock, came sailing out from the edge of the garden with the strength of a bullet, smashing into the protective field and popping it like a soap bubble, leaving his movement utterly unobstructed as he finally struck the winning blow.

“Ouch!”

Master Victoria rubbed at her stung shoulder, glaring mullishly at the reddening spot on her skin. “Jeeze, did you have it on super-high stun setting or something!?

“Hmmm.” He smiled at her , pulling his glimmer stick back into his hands as he holstered his saber. “Need to be sure, breach your shield it would.”

“Uh-huh, and that trolly little smirk on your face has nothing to do with smug self satisfaction huh?”

“Not at all. Revered and respected master I am.”

“Yeah, sure.” She couldn’t quite prevent the tug pulling at the corner of her lips. 

He marched up to her side, and she- obligingly, leaned down to give him an easier time clambering up to her shoulder.

“Guess sparring’s over huh?”

“Hmm.” He nodded. “Calmer you are now.”

He heard her scoff. “Takes a Jedi Grandmaster to tell I’ve got a lot on my mind?”

“No. Easier to tell, a friend finds it.”

She smiled, surprised and touched by the words, though a sadness now clouded her eyes.

“I’m not even sure where to start Little Green.”

“Hmmm.” He nodded. “With your Padawan then.” He is your responsibility, he did not say. 

“Iskt is…” She hesitated, the words seemingly being searched for. “I feel like… somewhere I messed up.” Came the confession, followed by a sigh. “Maybe when I took him. He asked me if I knew what it was like to be the eldest? To feel like you have to protect your little brothers and sisters.”

“And believe you do, that their injuries, his failing, he thinks it is.”

“I don’t believe, I know.” She huffed. “He all but told me that himself.” 

They walked through the gardens, the greenery and the flowing water, casting a warmth and a calm amidst the steel of Corruscant he knew she did not feel, her heart was too troubled, her mind too turbulent. 

They walked in silence through this place, and he allowed her to- sensing her organizing her concerns, contextualizing them. 

“Did I mess up?” She asked. “Just by accepting that logic? Implying that it was ok? To feel responsible for what happens to your siblings? Cause god knows I’ve had enough sleepless nights with that baggage! I didn’t need to pass it on to him!”

Yoda shook his head. “A struggle, all the young must eventually face… as they grow- see they must, those younger, repeat their mistakes.” He nodded.

“Not always.” She argued.

Yoda smiled wanly his little claw reaching up to pat her on her head, enjoying the answering face she made. Just the faintest hint of real irritation at being treated like a child. 

“What occurred, a tragedy it was. Time to mourn, time to grieve and to heal, needed it is.” He said. “Expect, I do not- nor should you, that effect them it would not.She tossed him a side eyed look. “Is that your Yoda way of saying they need time to process? Ow”

A nice whack on her other shoulder reminded her not to get too cheeky. “Yes.” He harrumphed “Time, Padawan Iskt needs. They all need. As do you.”

Vicky sighed. “And does that extend to what happened to Tay too?”

Yoda finally, hesitated. His tiny form stiffening where he was perched on her shoulder before he sighed. 

“Lie, I will not.” He said. “Master Rancisis; a grave accusation has leveled upon Master Hebert. Examine it, the Council must.”

“Did his report say exactly what she walked into to make her so mad, or was that not included?” She bit out bitterly.

Again, Yoda whacked her, hard this time, he saw her wince. “Know you do, that honest Master Rancisis would be. Exaggerate he would not.”

She didn’t answer, stubbornly holding to her defiance in defense of Master Hebert.

Yoda shook his head. “Tell me… in truth. Now. That no concern for what happened to Master Hebert you hold in your heart.”

“I’m not concerned for the same reasons the Council is.” She deflected.

He wouldn’t let her dodge though. “But concerned you are! Sense something wrong you did. Frighten you it did.”

He leaned forward, just barely being able to look into her eyes as she stared down at the floor, not meeting his gaze. 

Again he reached, patting her head. “Pretend it did not happen, is something we as the Council, nor you… can do.”

He saw a muscle in her jaw tighten. “You know that she’s not… There are people on the Council that have been waiting for something like this. Just a moment that they can point to.”

She was not wrong. Yoda knew very well that Master Hebert and even Victoria herself had gathered many many enemies and naysayers in the more traditional and conservative members of the Jedi Council and the order as a whole.

But even so- “Believe, you do, that persuaded by such views, I would be? That objective; I cannot be?”

She opened her mouth, almost to answer before she let out that breath, sighing with a shake of her head. 

“I trust you. But you’re just one person on that Council, Little Green.” She answered. “You can be outvoted, overruled… and what happened-”

Her voice trailed off, and he could hear the uncertainty within. 

Again, his little claw reached up, patting her on the head. 

“Friends you have made. Allies you have made. Faith in the two of you they have. Faith in them too, you should have.”

Karla:

It was quiet in the Crecheroom.

It was usually quiet these days.

More Knights were taking Padawans. More Masters too. She heard Miss Taylor and Miss Siri discussing it.

Miss Taylor said it was because the masters were desperate. Because they knew that a-a a trick? Some kind of trick was ‘wearing them down’. Miss Siri had looked sad, and scared when she said it.

Karla tried not to think on it too much. 

She’d been happy for her friends when they’d been taken in by their own Masters.

Now she couldn’t help but think of the fact that they were out there… in the galaxy. Fighting on battles where people would be trying to hurt them… or kill them.

Would she see her friends again?

It was quiet… in the creche.

She tried not to think about it.

The door opened.

“Ma’am. Lil, Commander.”

She turned, looking, though she could almost recognize the differences in their voices alone. “Hi Guelzo.” She smiled. Angelica squeed from atop her head, the little Hugbug preparing itself to pounce for a surprise hug before she brought her hand up to keep it in place.

She caught Miss Taylor’s nod from the corner of her eye, barely hearing the answering hum as Guelzo marched across the room, the sound of his armored boots breaking the silence as he pulled free a datapad. 

“The reports you asked for ma’am”

She turned her attention back to her book, her eyes passing over the lines, barely registering what she was reading as Angelica wriggled atop her head, Karla’s Lekku twitched under his tickling legs.

“Thanks Guelzo.” Miss Taylor said. “General overview?”

“For Noble or anything specific.”

“General army strength. Morale, and such.”

“From what I can gather, still relatively high on all fronts. Illum counted as a victory. And catching so many ships, droids and enemy intel intact- word’s gotten around. A lot of the troops are pretty hopeful that it’ll mean the next major battle will finally hit one of their main manufacturing plants.”

Karla wrote as they spoke. Half her mind on the conversation, the other trying to mind the puzzle she was trying to solve on her own pad.

“And Noble?”

“Cid’s arm will be replaced within a week. Already got it scheduled. Other than that, squad’s ready to go on your order ma’am.”

“Glad to hear it… but things should be calm for a while. Tell everyone to relax.”

“Ma’am.” 

She heard rather than saw Guelzo salute, boots cracking together as was his way before he turned to leave. She felt his eyes on her as he left, and perhaps sensed the barest hint of hesitation before he continued on his way.

It was quiet in the room.

She hated the quiet 

“Are you mad at me?”

The question was almost whispered in the quiet of the creche hall. Miss Taylor stopped her work, going still for a moment before she turned towards Karla. 

The young twilek, looked down, fiddling with the sleeve of her robes. 

She heard Miss Taylor’s footsteps , the ‘clock’ of her shoes ringing loudly in the quiet of the room.

Her hand touched the top of Karla’s head-

“What on earth would make you think I’m mad at you?”

“Because of what I did.” Karla whispered. “I… I…”

She felt her throat shut tight the words literally strangled within them at the memory. The bark of the gun, the kick smashing into her shoulder, the sound of blood spatter, the look in his eyes- the satisfaction she felt knowing he couldn’t hurt her friends anymore.

She felt that feeling deep within her heart, trying to smother it in her chest. 

Its not what a Jedi should feel. 

She knew that much at least.

Miss Taylor let out a breath, and after a moment, Karla felt her teacher’s arms wrap around her, pulling her up.

In spite of herself, she latched onto the woman, clinging to her tightly. She felt Angelica shift on her head, moving so she could touch the both of them as Karla pressed her face into Miss Taylor’s shoulder, trying not to cry.

“No sweetie.” Miss Taylor whispered. “Nothing that happened- absolutely none of it -was your fault.”

Karla’s breathing hitched, and her voice warbled. “Then why are you going to see the Council about me?”

She felt miss Taylor’s breath tickle her Lekku, her shoulders sagging. 

…

“Vicky was right-” She heard her teacher mumble, so quietly she could just barely hear it. 

“Hmmm?” The young girl asked. 

Miss Taylor’s answer… didn’t really help. “I think I have the worst traits of my parents.” She said. 

Karla didn’t understand.

Miss Taylor pulled away, and Angelica was left hanging from the dark strands of hair. It looked a little silly, and made Karla smile, just a bit when she saw it. 

“I’m not mad at you.” Miss Taylor stared into Karla’s eyes. Enunciating every word. “No one is mad at you…”

“Then why-”

“I’m mad at myself.” She interrupted. “Because I wasn’t there. I’ve gotten so… used to it. To peace. I didn’t even take the barest precautions. I didn’t give any of you an escape plan. I didn’t leave guards with you, I didn’t even give you a communicator to call me.” The lines of her face grew deeper as her voice bit out the words. “If it hadn’t been for Tonith wanting to screw with my head I…”

She stopped, closing her eyes as she took a breath; then shook her head. 

“No one thinks you did anything wrong, sweetheart. You did… the best you could, and should never have been put in that position in the first place.”

“We had to help protect Master Rancisis.” She protested weakly… they’d been there for that… they’d helped do that.

“Rancisis is a grown ass man-”

“Thisspiasian” She corrected reflexively.It was important to know people’s proper species, Miss Taylor’s lessons had said that when they went over diplomacy.

Even so, it didn’t seem like Miss Taylor heard her. “-that can damn well protect himself and he'd agree with me if he were here right now!” She finished over Karla’s protest. 

The quiet came again and Miss Taylor shut her eyes, if Karla had to judge her expression… she’d call it sad.

“I’m sorry-” She sighed. “That I ever made you feel… as though you were at any fault for what happened Karla…”

She pulled the twilek close, squeezing in a hug that bordered on painful, but was that much more comforting because of it. “I will do better.”

Karla didn’t understand… she wasn’t sure if she ever might. But she accepted the hug, quieting the part of herself that told her she should tell Miss Taylor about how she felt when she killed the bad man, just to accept and live within this moment, for however long it lasted.

Plo-Koon

The sun rose over the temple as it always did and yet… not.

For so long the temple was a place of peace, learning, harmony… when the sun rose it felt as though it made the grounds gleam, the world shine. 

And yet… less now. 

The temple felt- isolated. Oppressive. Its gilded halls and gleaming spires an island amidst an ocean of concrete metal and grime. Out of place, out of time and out of touch. 

He could not identify exactly… why he felt this way. Why now.

He could guess perhaps, speculate. The war, and its lingering troubles returning in the minds and hearts of the Jedi trying and failing to find peace within these walls. Or perhaps the enclaves, newly built in places far and away from the hive that was Coruscant. This living breathing planet teeming with untold trillions of souls. 

Places like Kashyyk, Alderaan, Bogano… places that felt and were far more peaceful, far more in tune with the Force.

It was easy to not notice these things when there was, only one option in living memory. 

Now there were other options.

And the contrast was both startling… and deeply troubling. 

“Master Plo.”

He turned at the voice, finding Master Shaak Tii at the doorway of the Council chamber.

“Master Shaak.” He lowered his head in a minute bow. “I am pleased to see you well.”

The Torguta bowed back. “Likewise, Master Plo.” She took a moment to glance around. “Have the others not arrived yet?”

“No.” He answered, his voice trying to convey a smile. “We Kel-Dor rise with the sun, as they say. I imagine soon the other Masters will arrive however they can.”

Master Tii nodded. “I understand… if… if you’ll permit me. I’d like to offer my condolences. This meeting cannot be easy for you.”

He did not answer her for a moment, measuring his words carefully. “Nothing has been determined yet… Master Tii.”

Her eyes grew sad… almost pitying. 

He wondered how many of their peers shared her belief. 

She bowed and he couldn’t help but find pity even in that.

Her mind was made up it seems…

 “Of course, Master Plo.” 

The door opened again-

Master Yaddle was the first to arrive, gracing him with a kindly smile as she floated in on her hoverchair.

Beside her, Master Master Rancisis. The serpentine Master looking serious and grim in his bearing. 

“Master Yaddle, Master Rancississ.” He bowed respectfully. 

“Master Plo-” Yaddle nodded in greeting. “The others will arrive soon.” She assured. “Master Yoda was tending to the younglings.”

At times… it was difficult to tell whether Master Yaddle meant younglings or simply someone younger than their long lived species. She and Yoda both, had admitted that it was difficult at times, to see any of them as anything other than the children they’d seen grow from the cradle. 

Even so, he nodded. He trusted Master Yoda to handle whatever task he wished to see to before a Council meeting. Be it younglings, or ‘bigger’ younglings. 

He sensed the next arrival before they stepped through the door.

“Ahh.” He felt himself smile. “Our latest member has arrived.”

The doors opened, and Obi-Wan strode into the room, and it was like seeing the living ghost of decades come to life.

Dooku writ young stood there, dressed in dark burgundy finery, hair and beard immaculately trimmed.

Gone was the youth so many had prematurely claimed was the ‘Sith slayer’, in his place was a Jedi Master who seemed every inch worthy of his place amidst the Council. 

Yaddle could see it too, her emotions tinged with a forlorn melancholy and joy. 

She leaned forward in her seat, the lines of her face becoming deep with her joy. “You look like him… you know? Your Master.”

Obi-Wan still had the grace to blush as he cleared his throat. “Yes… well… he never would have heard of me appearing at a council meeting looking anything less than my best. It’s the clothes truthfully.”

“They fit you well.” She nodded.

The holo-plinths began to flicker on. The various Masters from across the Galaxy beginning to join them from the multitude of fronts and theaters. 

He could see, many were weary, tired from long battles and grueling days. Others were rested.

And some… some were… eager.

It was at this time, Master Yoda… and his students finally joined.

The Grand Master entered the room, and at his left and right respectively, Taylor and Victoria.

He did not know if it was a show of solidarity, or if it was any show at all.

He knew however, that it was no coincidence… There was no such thing according to Master Yoda himself.

As such… he found himself grateful. 

The old Grandmaster turned, offering a look over his shoulder to his two students Plo couldn’t quite see from his perspective, before he nodded and marched towards his place on the Council seats. 

Plo Koon offered his students a glance, knowing they could not read his expression easily, he sent as much reassurance as he could through the Force before turning and taking his seat. 

Master Windu, speaking through a holo, took a deep breath. “Good day, Masters.”

A series of mumbled replies and greetings were answered back.

Mace’s look was grim before he leaned back in his seat. “We’ve gathered today to discuss the events that transpired within the temple of Illum… the battle… the seizing of Confederacy assets and personnel… and-

“And Master Hebert’s… fall to the Darkside.” Ki Adi Mundi cut in, hands laced over his stomach. “Let us not pretend Master Windu… it is beneath this Council.”

“Alleged Fall.” Master Gallia pointed out.

“The testimony from Master Rancisis and the other witnesses was quite clear in what they sensed.” Master Tiin answered, a glare in his eyes. 

“Who’d you ask? Cause I sure as shit didn’t say that!” Victoria, ever loyal and honest Victoria answered him.

“Master Dallon; lets not pretend either that you can remain objective in this matter-” Master Bulq rebuked. 

Her face twisted into a rictus of a snarl. “Like hell I can’t!” 

There was a tremble, a warning in the force that was the equivalent to a shout. 

All eyes turned to Master Yoda; the Grandmaster’s gaze fixing them all in place.

“A council meeting, this is.” He stamped his cane “Expect better I do.!”

Properly chastised, the room fell into tense, uneasy silence until Master Billaba cleared her throat.

“I believe. As the accused party Miss Hebert has both the right, and it is our duty, to hear what she has to say. To decide, to have forms, any opinion before that at the very least- is an egregious breach of our duties and the trust placed in this council to act objectively and without partiality. Master Hebert, accusations have been leveled against you… would you like to respond?”

Plo watched his student, there was something there that was not there before, a shadow past her gaze. 

But that steel in her spine was still unbending, unbroken. Her eyes glimmered like drawn blades as she sat down in the offered chair, Victoria at her side. 

“Alright…” She breathed. “Let’s talk then.”

(X)(X)(X)

Ok, so I know I foreshadowed a meeting with Palpatine earlier, but this "trial" as I went over it in my mind, VERY quickly took shape into something that HAD to happen before everyone meeting Palpatine.

Its still scheduled, and it's GOING to happen, but you'll understand why this needs to happen first very soon when we see both this AND the eventual meeting with Palpatine;

Real talk I can't wait :D