The Weaving Force: Chapter 29 (Patreon)

Chapter 29:

“Certain you are?”

“I am.”

His voice reflected the surety of his statement. Plo Koon sat in the Jedi Council Chamber, one leg crossed over the other, fingers clasped together over his waist as he beheld the room full of his fellow Council members.

“Hmmm,” Grandmaster Yoda’s clawed fingers brushed over his chin. “Cooperated your fellow Masters have in their training,” he stated, before looking around the room. “If concerns or objections there are, share them now we must,” he opened the floor.

And it didn’t take much longer after that.

“It has only been a handful of years,” Master Koth put forward gently. “Many Padawans train for decades before they are deemed ready to undertake the trials.”

“Many Padawans are children,” Plo Koon pointed out. “They are trained, but it is maturity and general experience they lack, not necessarily knowledge, or power.”

“It is not only that,” Master Poof reminded, his head leaning forward on his long neck. “But also wisdom, patience.”

“Things the Trials are made to measure,” Depa Billaba cut in. “If they are ready, then they will pass. If they are not then they will not. Master Plo Koon is fully within his rights to nominate them if he believes that they are indeed ready. I see no reason to gainsay his assessment.”

“Padawan Hebert's emotional state is still unbefitting of a Jedi youngling, let alone a prospective Knight,” Saesee Tiin groused. His features, framed by the horns beside his head, looked stern and uncompromising. “Miss Dallon, too, frequently behaves far too much like a… civilian as well. When you put forward your proposal to help the two, the alternatives were simply worse, so I held my silence, but I cannot see how you can determine that they are ready when the primary danger, their risk of falling to the dark side seems to have gone nowhere. Many other Padawans believe Hebert is already a Sith in nature, if not in name.”

“Our opinions are not dictated by the impressions of Padawans,” Mace Windu rebuked softly. “We are the Masters. It is up to us to identify, objectively, all matters presented before us.”

“Then objectively-” Tiin rumbled, “Hebert is no a Jedi, in any sense of the word. And until she is; nominating her for the position of Knight in the hopes that such a thing will change with the promotion is foolish.”

“Need to change?” Master Yaddle answered. “If Dark she is not and good she tries to be, are not all Jedi as such?”

“Master Yaddle please- do not equivocate falsely.” Master Piell responded, the small alien glaring at the whole of the room. “Look. I don’t like the fact that either of them were trained. I don’t like the fact that we keep bending the rules for them but I’m at least consistent. I concur with Master Billaba. Master Plo can nominate his Padawans after a single bloody day for all the rules say- if he says they’re ready let them prove it in the trials. They’re there for a reason.” He humfed, leaning back in his seat.

Master Ki-Adi Mundi, Rancisis and Poof nodded

Plo-Koon allowed himself a small sigh of relief, shoulders sagging ever so slightly

“Five Trials, a Padawan must overcome, before worthy, he is judged to be.” Yoda reminded.

“The Trial of Skill.” Windu continued; settling into his seat, back straight. “We’ve all witnessed Padawan Hebert and Dallon’s skills with a Lightsaber and other forms of combat. Between their martial prowess with both the blade, the Force and their additional abilities granted to them by their agents They can already challenge many senior Knights.” He glanced around the room. “I do not believe there’s a reasonable objection to their being declared worthy of this trial. All in favor?”

Each of the Masters, even Tiin, Mundi and Piell raised their arms without protest.

“The Trial of Courage.” Windu continued.

“Know I do, that defended the wookies on Kashyyk from slavers, both Padawans did.” Yoda intoned.

“None of us however witnessed such.” Ki-Adi argued. “Nor were they even remotely force trained at the time. Same as all other prospective Knights we must give them the grounds with which to prove themselves. As Master Piell said, we’ve bent enough rules for them.” The Cerean Master contested. “I move that both of these Padawans must undertake this trial.

Poof, Koth, Piell, Billaba, Rancisis, Gallia, Tiin and Windu all raised their hands. A solid majority

Plo-Koon nodded. It had not been unexpected. And in truth, both his students would enjoy time outside the temple, though he doubted they would enjoy the time apart.

“The Trial of the Flesh.” Mace continued apace, lips pursing as a muscle in his jaw jumped before he spoke again. “I put forward that both Padawans have passed such a trial already.”

Plo-Koon nodded. “The loss of their world, friends, family.” His voice took on a somber inflection. “There is no trial we can place before them greater than that.”

“Dallon has still not given up the hope of finding her way home.” Piell needled.

“The Jedi are not the killers of hope.” Adi Gallia reminded. “Her hope is not to be condemned, nor is the loss she must feel during these last years be diminished simply because she still clings to it.”

Piell grumbled, but after a moment, nodded his assent.

No other objections were raised.

“The Trial of Insight.” Windu intoned.

For the first time since the meeting began, Master Rancisis moved, his serpentine lower body uncoiling and all eyes turned to him.

“I believe.” The wizened Master spoke. “That Miss Hebert has passed this trial, but Miss Dallon has not.”

“The Trial of Insight is meant to determine a Padawan’s ability to see the truth of people of all walks of life across the galaxy, to see through deception.” Deppa Billaba nodded. “Padawan Hebert is constantly on the look out for falsehoods from most that she interacts with. This council has even needed to… alter our approach in order to safeguard Council secrets from her.” The woman paused. “Yes. I concur.” She affirmed. “Padawan Hebert has passed this trial.”

“Victoria is no fool.” Plo-Koon felt the need to defend his second student. “She is insightful. She is sharp minded and knows that people can and do lie. But can also see the best in people; which is an ability Hebert does lack by comparison. I believe you’re underestimating Victoria’s own strengths standing as they are in the overwhelming shadow of Hebert’s ability.”

“Tossing one of your girl’s under the speeder train Plo?” Piell shut one eye, giving him a leery gaze. “That’s not like you.”

“I am merely saying that both of them have different strengths that are applied in different ways.”

“Then simple, this trial should be for her.” Yoda smiled just a bit. “Sometimes it is good for our students to prove their capabilities to themselves, just as much as us. Padawan Dallon, undertake this trial she will.” The green master nodded. “Concur with Masters Rancissis and Billaba I do.

“Then that simply leaves our consensus with the final trial.” Windu cut in after a moment of absent protest. “The Trial of Spirit.”

(X)(X)(X)

Taylor:

Vicky was nervous. I could tell.

I didn’t have to be a genius to tell, mind you. In truth, it was somewhat obvious.

Probably because after finally getting some true “leave” to do as we wished, Vicky decided to spend the day in our room in the temple.

If you know anything about Vicky you’ll know this is an odd choice.

Honestly one of the surprising things I found about Vicky was that she enjoyed reading and discovering new things as much if not more than I did. Happily following me to the library those first few weeks and spending hours reading in blissful silence about everything from the cultures to the force to the political history and everything else we could get our hands on.

So her sitting in our room, while the library and Ms. Nu were just a few floors down; or deciding to simply go out and see Coruscant for herself so she could “Take in the culture” (while dragging me along)  was already weird for her- so that was an obvious clue.

The second obvious clue was that she was still in her pajamas, very little makeup either.

And the third was the tub of her favorite ice cream half eaten in front of her.

Put all three together and you get a Vicky either trying to get over a depression past a breakup, which would be news to me (and probably everyone else in the temple considering how much these celibate monks gossiped like old people) or a Vicky that was anxiety eating because of nerves.

So, setting aside my own plans of going to join Ms. Nu at the library to get started on my backlog of reading about the Republic’s history on warfare and ship to ship tactics, I planted myself beside Vicky on the couch- obligingly she placed the ice cream tub in front of me and pulled a spoon over from the kitchen for me.

“Thanks.” I answered, as I took a spoonful for myself.

Strawberry and Chocolate. Or at least this Galaxy’s approximation of those flavors.

I really did have to start studying the proper names of the various flora and fauna. Just in case I was ever stuck on some alien planet and needed to identify foods I could eat…

Vicky nodded, not answering and we settled down to keep watching.

At least the program wasn’t an abysmal waste like some reality show or game show. As I said, Vicky enjoyed discovering new things as much as I did. The documentary subject was about crime and how the economy revolved around crime in many outer rim worlds under the control of the Hutts. Another subject I needed to look into.

Honestly, it was rather overwhelming…

There were so many different species. So much history that I doubted that we’d ever have time to fully catch up to everything if we spent our whole lifetimes trying.

It was easy to see how many… problems just slipped under everyone’s noses in this galaxy. It was so big, so many issues and problems that the limited human perspective made it impossible to view it all so it allowed so many things to just slip through the cracks…

It was… infuriating. Reminding me so much of the shit back home just on an impossibly large scale.

I shut my eyes, taking a breath, forcing myself to turn the thoughts aside before I drove myself mad.

“They can’t say no;” I began quietly.

“Hmmm?” Vicky turned her head, spoon hanging from her mouth.

“The Council” I clarified. “A master decides when his students are ready. The visit to the Council is basically just a courtesy call and letting them tell the Master what trial they think the Padawan still has to undertake.”

Vicky shrugged. “I mean… yeah I know that.”

“Then what’s bothering you?” I asked.

Vicky frowned, blue eyes staring at me as she raised a slender eyebrow. “Don’t you get it?”

I went to shake my head but apparently the question was rhetorical because she continued before I could.

She straightened up in her seat, staring ahead at the TV rather than at me.

“Plo-Koon went out on a limb for us Tay.” She began. “Like… we knew it before but with everything we’ve learned about the Jedi-” She looked at me. “You get how much he put his neck out there for us right?”

I did. The Jedi wouldn’t hurt him physically for our screw ups, the order weren’t monsters.

But a loss of reputation, ostracization, damaged prestige, standing, questioning his judgment. Plo-Koon had risked  a lot of soft power that marked a Jedi Master’s ‘career’ for us, when he took us on as students.

Victoria knew, even with her… limited perspective, but with my bugs I could hear all that they asked and said. How many times he needed to justify his choice to his peers, how many people thought we were already going to “fall” to their boogeyman of the dark side just by existing as we did. If I hadn’t become such an expert on ignoring stupid dumbasses in Winslow it may have bothered me.

But the Padawans never acted on it, the Knights never did anything, so in comparison to Winslow it was very easy to ignore with their hallway grumblings and coffee table debates about us.

“I’m not nervous about them saying no.” She clarified “I’m-”

“You’re nervous about letting everything those idiots said about him be right.” I concluded for her.

Her mouth stopped, lips closing before she nodded. “We owe it to him to knock this out of the park.” She said determinately “I hate losing. But that goes double for this. Ya know?”

“I don’t like losing either.” I mutter; mostly to myself rather than in response to anything specific.

I took a breath through my nose, letting it out slowly.

“I understand.” I said. “But until they tell us what our trial is there’s no use exploding your calorie intake.”

Vicky hugged the tub of ice cream close to herself, smirking. “Is this your way of trying to make me fork over the rest of my ice-cream?”

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t be stupid.” I replied. “If I wanted to do that all I have to do is make a few roaches crawl on the bin and you’ll give it right up.”

Vicky quite literally paled and now she really was clutching the thing to her chest. “Don’t even fucking joke about that! I swear if I find a bug leg anywhere near this ice-cream, I'll toss you in the next ship Anakin uses to practice getting his flier’s license.”

I felt my own smile nearly wither and die before I applied my legendary poker face.

Never again am I getting on a ship with that little lunatic.

‘I only crashed half the ship’ is not a fucking consolation!

(X)(X)(X)

When Master Plo-Koon finally called us later in the day, it took us a little while to get to him.

Mainly because Vicky had to make herself presentable.

But find him we did, and standing beside him were Masters Yoda, Yaddle, Windu and Galia.

I liked the four other Masters, Mostly; though of all of them I suppose I preferred Yaddle and surprisingly, Windu.

Yoda was a good person, I could admit that. But he liked his games. He liked testing people, almost toying with them. It was usually harmless, and often times even useful to get his point across in creative ways. And with Vicky the two could be downright funny. But… the manipulations reminded me too much of bad memories both true and false; for me to be comfortable.

Adi Galia was polite, but that’s as far as it went. She was unfailingly polite -always- as though afraid to say or do the wrong thing in front of other Masters, or towards us. It was hard to get a read on what she truly felt beyond the surface level caution and that in turn made me feel cautious.

Yaddle on the other hand was kind, patient with an implicit promise that she wouldn’t judge you.. Something I don’t remember having since mom died and perhaps something I needed when the weight of Memory had left me all but drowning.

And Windu was honest. No matter what. Windu did not ever lie as far as I could tell. If you did well he would tell you. If you disappointed him he’d tell you that. He didn’t mince words and he didn’t bullshit you with false politeness and I could appreciate the straightforwardness.

“My students.” Plo-Koon greeted, the warm eddies of his force presence suffused with muted joy and satisfaction.

Mace Windu’s arms crossed, folding into his billowing sleeves. “It is the decision of the Council that both of you shall undertake your Jedi trials.”

Vicky smiled, turning to  me with her toothy grin as if to say ‘I told you so’ which was utterly ridiculous given our earlier conversation.

“However-” Yoda cut in, stamping his stick on the floor to get Vicky’s attention again. “Exceptional your circumstances are. Adjusted your trial will be.”

“How so?” I asked. A little leery at the sudden change.

“Observe we will.” Yaddle added.

“Normally-” Mace took over the explanation. “A mission is given to the prospective Knight. It would be their first ‘solo’ assignment, or an assignment taken on with another Knight, if it proved too dangerous.”

“But that’s not happening with us.” I said.

“Correct.” Mace replied. “You are both strangers to this galaxy. It was deemed… ill advised, that you simply be thrust into a galactic sphere where your total knowledge is what you’ve managed to accrue over the length of a mere four years and expect you to simply handle things regardless of cultural differences, language barriers and other such potential problems.”

I narrowed my eyes. It made… sense.

“As such, accompanying you on your mission will be one Jedi Master to observe your mission under the Trial of Courage.” He gestured to himself and Master Galia.

“And others” Yoda smiled. “To aid you in your trials of Insight-” He nodded to Victoria, and then looked back to me. “And the trial of the Spirit.”

“We’re getting two different trials for the same job?” Vicky asked, looking towards Master Plo. “That’s-”

“Your strengths and weaknesses are different to each other-” Plo-Koon cut in. “The Council determined, that both of you will undergo the Trail of Courage where you will assist a Master in a potentially dangerous mission. But you Victoria-'' He turned his lens covered eyes towards the blonde beside me. “Must undertake the trial of Insight. It is a trial wherein a Padawan must prove that they have the ability to judge truth from lies. The capacity to see the world objectively; beyond any biases or pre-conceived notions?”

Vicky blinked. “Huh? That’s it? Really?”

*Whack*

“OW! HEY!” Vicky rubbed at her foot hopping away from the little green man and his stick.

“Hmpf.” Yoda’s eyes narrowed. “Preconceived of your victory are you? So sure this is easy are you? Failing already, perhaps you are.”

“No no!” Vicky floated back over. “I’ll be good. Promise!”

“Hmpf”

I turned my attention away from their usual antics; deciding to press on with the point.

“And the Trial of Spirit?” I asked.

Plo-Koon wasn’t the one who answered me.

Perhaps… he knew I wouldn’t like the answer.

“The trial of self.”

It was Yaddle who spoke.

I turned my eyes to the tiny green woman, who waddled closer to me to take one of my hands in hers, patting my knuckles gently with the claws of her other hand.

Somehow, before she said the words, I felt my body go cold.

“It is the Trial- where a Padawan, must confront what they fear of themselves.”

(X)(X)(X)

Dennis:

Dennis wasn’t much of a ‘host’ truth be told. Years of training as a Ward and then later as a Liberated-slave-running-smuggler didn’t exactly teach one the ins and outs of etiquette.

Add to that the fact that his ship, a Ghtroc 720 wasn’t exactly a luxury yacht and he felt particularly “underdressed” as he escorted the Count to his quarters for their trip.

“Here ya go.” He said, banging twice on the door as he passed it. It was a small room truth be told, but then again, all passenger rooms were small.

A bed, a desk, some closet space and that’s it. People weren’t expected to stay on the ship for more than a few hours most of the time, let alone use the beds.

In fact beyond Himself, Rugess, Hannah and occasionally one of Satine’s guards who came with him when runs were getting a little too ‘dicey’ very few ever used these rooms.

The count opened the door via a flick of the access button, looking into what would be his room for the next few weeks. “It’ll do.” He responded, the servant droid that had come on the ship behind him moving around the count to settle his luggage into the space. “When do we depart?” The old man asked.

“Few more hours.” Dennis answered. “Basically once Rugess and Militia get here.

“Hmmm.” The count removed his shoulder cape, folding it over his bent arm. “Then I will arrange my effects.”

He moved to duck into the room, no doubt dismissing Dennis implicitly with the act but the young man that had once been Clockblocker decided to press, just a bit.

“You said we’re hunting a Sith lord.” He said, standing by the doorway to lean one shoulder against the frame. “Still not sure what that is; but more importantly, how do we find him? It’s a big Galaxy.”

Dooku’s suitcase was opened, the clothes floating outwards and beginning to arrange themselves in the dresser, datapads and actual books following thereafter with a few hand gestures to place themselves on the tiny desk. “I believe smugglers and… law enforcement have a common colloquialism for this situation. ‘Follow the credits’.”

“Meaning?” He asked, ignoring the magic show.

Dooku eyed him, seemingly taking his measure.

“I have reason to believe one of my fellow Jedi is either involved with, or being pursued by the Sith.” Dooku explained “He received an inordinately large sum of credits and his financier was assassinated shortly thereafter.”

“Then maybe your buddy killed his financier so he wouldn’t have to pay him back?” He suggested. “Simple explanations usually work best.”

Dooku frowned. “Sifo Dias did not care for something as base as credits.”

“And yet-” Clock contested. “He went and got ‘an inordinately large sum’” He finger quoted.

Dooku glared at him, but after a moment, conceded.“Perhaps.” He said slowly. “But if Sifo Dias did not kill Hego Damask, then it’s likely the Sith did and are pursuing him even now.”

“Why would he?” It was partly a genuine curiosity that drove the question. Motive was a good thing to have.

“Sith kill Jedi.” Dooku shrugged, finishing his ‘unpacking’ before turning his attention towards the datapad on the desk, beginning to scroll through it.

“Sifo Dias believed the Jedi needed to prepare for the Sith’s return, just as I did. If he left in pursuit of that goal, and the Sith discovered his preparations, whatever they might be, it would be in the Sith’s best interest to sabotage those efforts.”

Dennis understood but to him it was a bit of a stretch. Maybe his memories from back home and the slavers of this galaxy were coloring his perspective.

Simple answers were usually the right answers, so to him; these seemed like far to many ‘if’s’ and suppositions for his liking.

But the old man was convinced and it's not like Dennis had any other leads to offer.

“Right. So we’re following the money of some guy to your friend and hope your friend’s got the answers you’re looking for.”

Dooku pursed his lips. “A pithy summation, but not inaccurate.”

The young man shrugged. “Got it. Make yourself at home.” He moved to leave, then paused; “Ahh, By the way; heading?”

“Utapau.” Dooku answered. “Hego Damask’s holdings were there-”

He nodded. “Follow the money. Got it.” He walked away, shutting the door behind him.

(X)(X)(X)

Hello everyone :D

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