Judgement From On High

Posted on Sun Mar 8th, 2020 @ 9:12pm by Sotah & Jundal Quellus & Rusasha Djehuti-Lahan & Thurius & Rynseh Lahan

6,648 words; about a 33 minute read

Chapter: Chapter VI: The Last Bastion
Location: High Council Chambers, Jedi Temple, Coruscant
Timeline: Roughly Week Three (Two weeks after "Senators and Sinners"; after Rusasha's mission to Caanus)

OLD

“Paralles himself, eh?” Bruta drew Vuul’s attention back, mentioning the name of the current supposed leader of the Third Republic who, even amongst his own supporters, would never be ranked among those whose likenesses were erected here, “It must be a matter of some importance, so I shall not keep you. I do hope your people are not seeing the same rise in outside interference we are seeing. If you ever want my assistance or want me to speak to Senator Cosh, then do contact my office.”

Bruta suddenly considered what messages might be mounting up for him during his absence and his assistant Llim deciding to remain back with the Elenca herd for the time being. Still, his time away from his work took precedent as it was not only about finding his son, but also about protecting his world from the aggressions of corporate interference.

"Hm? Oh, yes," Vuul replied, smiling again and turning to face the Ithorian once more. "It has been some time since Octavus and I shared a goblet or two, but His Excellency is most receptive when it comes to matters of principle. An inspiring man of integrity, and no doubt about it!" The senator's embellished and empty flatteries were declared loudly and without much integrity of their own, and it almost seemed as though the middle-aged Human had entirely ignored Bruta's other comments.

NEW

"Your report then goes on to address, at length, the troubling accounts provided to you by the supposed inmates of the intricate and heavily-populated dungeon you claim to sprawl beneath Senator Vuul's stately home," Grand Master Quellus said, his baritone voice reverberating throughout the circular chamber that served as the beating heart of the Reborn Jedi Order, although his words did not quite take on the critical edge his words already betrayed.

Rain pattered gently against the tall, broad windows of the High Council chambers, whilst glowing beams of sunlight fought hard to pierce the orange-and-grey clouds swirling through the Coruscant skies beyond. Despite the weather, the towering spires of the sprawling ecunemopolis were still clearly visible across the infinite cityscape that dominated the view from every angle.

Each member of the Council was present, sat silently and listening with considered interest to their order's leader, as the imposing Chagrian Jedi read from a datapad held within his manicured hands. Cared-for but long and pointed nails tapped the device's screen as Jundal Quellus scrolled through the information it contained, reading from it and summarising for the collected group of Jedi Masters.

They had already reviewed much of the information presented prior to this meeting, which the Grand Master had subsequently convened to address the author of the work more appropriately. On this occasion, two Humans, one female and one male, clad in navy-blue polished armour had joined the session, and were stood at either side of Master Quellus, their expressions stony and betraying nothing of the two Senate Guard representatives' views.

"Political prisoners, interrogations, Force experimentation on Humans, Non-Human captives... these Thaalda, and even the harvesting and manipulation of Artusian crystals in hidden laboratories, unearthed through newly-discovered Sith crypts within Caanus' mountains." Quellus let the hand holding the datapad dip down towards his knees, and he leaned forward, eyes narrowed and a mirthless smile on his angular blue visage. "Knight Djehuti-Lahan... quite the thrilling read."

Standing solemnly in the center of the chamber dressed in her old spare brown and beige Jedi robes, Rusasha felt tiny, fearful, and ashamed in spite of the truths she had unearthed from Vuul's house of morbid secrets on Caanus. With all eyes from the most powerful wielders of the Force in the galaxy locked heavily upon her and occasionally switching over to Quellus, Ru could remember the last time she stood in the circle of masters, only then it was the Grand Master reaching with his exquisite golden-bladed lightsaber to cleanly slash off her Padawan's braid. That had been a joyous day indeed for her, but in spite of it, she could see that Quellus' heart was not at all beaming with pride or satisfaction when he knighted her; it was, in fact, back then as it was now: brimming with skepticism.

"It's true, Master Quellus," Ru affirmed as gently as she could to the Grand Master; it was difficult to keep her emotions held in check, her calm stoicism a shaky mask of brittle discipline, especially with her father seated over to her left judging her every word. "All of it. I am more than willing to testify under oath before the Senate if need be."

She could feel Rynseh Lahan's steely gaze through the Force, his disappointment and frustration with her rising to heights far greater than she'd ever felt from him. Ru could also sense a weakness in Ryn's heart, a sadness...terrible grief, almost as if he was experiencing the loss of a loved one. There was no doubt in Ru's mind that if she could feel that from him, then it was likely the other masters could as well. They all knew the truth behind her heritage, and not a single one was comfortable with the level of nepotism involved, yet were barred from speaking openly about it to anyone outside of the Council chamber. This situation with Senator Vuul, however, had likely crossed the line of their tolerance. She turned slightly to her right to glance at Master Sotah, a deep apologetic frown on her face was all she could offer for the aged Selkath.

I have failed you, master, she thought with anguish knowing how deep in a bind she was in. I hope I will be able to earn your forgiveness someday.

A light, intentional cough drew the chamber's attention to the green-skinned, chief healer of the Jedi, Master Olus. There was a kindly smile on her face but an intensity in her eyes as she addressed the young Cathar, "Your openness is appreciated, my dear, but forgive me for clarifying: you have uncovered a wealth of concerning information regarding the ruling body on Caanus, but just why were you on there to begin with? Just what assignment led you so far into the Outer Rim?"

Ru had no intention of implicating the kindly Selkath that believed in her ability to unravel the mystery plaguing Caanus. She had learned enough from her basic Shadow training to know when to speak the truth, and when to omit the truth for the greater good. Olus had been a wonderful caregiver who skillfully patched up more than a few accidental scrapes, cuts, and bruised ribs for a younger and more reckless Ru over the years at the Temple, but that wasn't enough for her to willingly to destroy the reputation of one of the greatest Jedi Masters the Order had ever known. She began to part her lips to accept full responsibility, to protect Sotah, but the old Consular from Manaan instead chose to defend her honour.

"Masters, young Rusasha has done nothing more than a foolish old man asked of her; with my position on the High Council and the fact I am her master's master, there was little doubt that this good and honest Jedi would take up my cause." The Selkath's faintly-gargled words were delivered evenly and calmly, in a tone that was almost poetic in its serenity, as he rose from his chair and paced over to stand beside Ru. He placed a reassuring three-digited upon the young Cathar's shoulder, and continued to address his fellow Jedi with no sign of nervousness, but a clear measure of guilt towards Rusasha. "She is innocent of any ill-intent to your good and respectable selves. It is my hubris that has brought the ire of Senator Vuul upon our house, and I am willing to address this with the honourable gentlebeing myself, wholly culpable for this perceived slight. Clemency is due to poor Rusasha, whom I took advantage of, to my discredit."

Many of the other Council members had watched Sotah take the central point within the chamber with hooded expressions, whilst Masters Thackbal and Dunrar were visibly saddened, but it was the inevitable cawing rattle of Morla Dero that cut across before anyone else made any comment. "Corrupting youth appears to be a talent of yours, Sotah!" She said, an accusative finger shaking in the direction of the Selkath and Cathar, although it was unclear whether the woman's wobble came from age or frustration.

"Master Dero, please," Ven Kel Farr interjected with a raised palm of his own to his former Kaminoan master, being probably one of only two beings in the room that could risk challenging the ancient Jedi so directly. Her long neck jolted slightly at the rebuke, her misty-black bulbous eyes appearing briefly darker as they regarded the other masters briefly, but she ultimately offered a small incline of her head by way of bow to Master Quellus.

The scarred Farr, when none other yet made comment, leaned back in his chair, his massive muscled Human frame abundantly evident as he took stock of the two Jedi now standing before them all, and steepled his hands as he rested his elbows at either side. "Master Sotah, you confess that you took it upon yourself to assign this unsanctioned mission to Caanus to Knight Djehuti-Lahan?"

Sotah bowed respectfully to the order's grizzled chief archivist, and whilst he looked to the entirety of the council as he spoke, he seemed to purposely overlook the grim glower currently worn by the Grand Master, unmoved since his last words. "It was not my understanding that every assignment need full Council approval. I am a member of the High Council and I was aware of an unsolved mystery related to Dark Jedi and artefacts linked to Caanus. Rusasha, available and talented - and has been was the perfect candidate. With... recent events, I presumed-"

"You presumed, in your unending arrogance and moral grandstanding, Master Sotah, to have your deceased apprentice's padawan interfere with the world of your fallen apprentice." Jundal Quellus' voice, as ever, was commanding, and although the Chagrian's disdain was palpable, he did not yet boom nor shout. He remained seated, his position still unchanged. "Did you seek to find some kernel of knowledge that may absolve you of your guilt regarding the corruption of Thane; did you think there might some secret truth that would confirm he is as much a victim in his tale of corruption as Loren is?"

Sotah's mouth opened and closed a couple of times, appearing as though a response had been considered and then quickly dismissed. Regardless, Quellus raised a hand to prevent the Selkath from yet commenting. "Your loose interpretations of this Council's precepts to adhere to the calling of the Force has long been tolerated and forgiven courtesy of your standing and historical wisdom - but you are still beholden to them. We serve and exist at the pleasure of the Republic - not above or around it. You knew the repercussions of your actions when you directed Knight Djehuti-Lahan against Senator Vuul's world, but you acted anyway."

"My friend," Master Nillak began, the Quarren's fleshy head tendrils flicking with mild concern for the other Jedi Master, "this lapse in judgement... it appears personally-motivated." The caring elder Jedi Watchmen's eyes were tinged with obvious sadness as he addressed Sotah, who mirrored Nillak's expression, in turn. "Are you in league with Thane; do you seek to empower him through divulging these questionable revelations?"

"Now, hold on," came the firm, but slightly weathered voice of Sotah's long-time friend among the Jedi, Thurius, who stood up himself and paced forwards placing himself slightly between where Sotah and Rusasha stood and the Grand Master's chair, "My friends, we all have different roles and abilities that we bring to this council and sometimes that leads to differences of opinion but I know we all stand firmly against the return of the dark side. So please do not let Sotah's personal connection to Thane taint your view of his actions. Instead, consider the invaluable insight that he has brought and continues to bring to this council."

"Come now, Thurius," called out the Arkanian Gira Veldryl, the youngest of the council members, "I'd believe such a story if the council had actually been made aware of this information before Knight Djehuti-Lahan set off on this assignment. This speaks to a great distrust of the council's decisions and, at worst, a conspiracy to undermine the Grand Master's authority."

Rynseh gruffly cleared his throat with audible intent to disrupt the increasingly chaotic flow of dialogue.

"It's quite clear there is a diverse spectrum of feelings on this critical matter," Ryn said with his baritone general's voice after all eyes were upon him, "yet none of what we feel matters in the eyes of the law. While Master Sotah is culpable for pushing his unsanctioned quest upon Rusasha Djehuti..." Everyone in the room took instant notice of his omission of the Lahan portion of Ru's name, "...he is not the one in question here. Grand Master, may present new evidence for the Council's consideration?"

Quellus had allowed a scowl to linger on Thurius whilst the other Jedi had spoken. A few seconds after Rynseh's comments, he turned his gaze back to the matter at hand. He gestured and said, "Please, my friend."

Rynseh nodded and rose to his feet. He pressed a few hidden computer keys on his left wrist gauntlet which activated an overhead holoprojector which produced blue and white three-dimension surveillance footage depicting Rusasha sneaking about the Vuul estate. As Ru and Sotah stood back a bit to allow the others to see, the video revealed Ru's infiltration into Vuul's jail, her brief encounter with an inmate there, then her proceeding into a nearby laboratory, her subsequent slicing of a lab computer, and the non-violent confrontation between her and Senator Vuul and his guards. Vuul played the perfect victim, denying the presence of the Artusian crystals, and demanding that Ru leave his world permanently.

"Jedi Shadows are valuable specialists for intelligence gathering and confronting of elements aligned with the dark side of the Force," Rynseh reminded everyone in the room, though his eyes were squarely fixed on Ru. "What they are not for are illegal investigations of innocent civilians, especially senior government officials democratically elected by the citizens of the Republic. Even if there were these so-called Artusian crystals you claimed were in the Senator's possession, your violation of the directives which address unlawful search and seizure would render any damning evidence gathered as inadmissible in a criminal court. The surveillance footage has not been altered in any way whatsoever. There were no crystals, and there were no illegal experiments. Even now, Senator Vuul is cooperating with Republic investigators, and initial findings has not corroborated your claims. Quite the contrary, the lab you found is nothing more than an infirmary for the criminal miscreants held in the Senator's lawfully provisioned detention facility."

Ryn then switched off the projection and turned to the head of the Council, "Master Quellus, I have been informed by the Chancellor's office that the Senate is highly disturbed by the actions of this Knight. She has willfully dishonoured herself, has a history of mistakes and mishaps which has brought shame to us, and has disgraced our Temple in the eyes of the people's representatives. I submit to you and this Council that we must make amends for what has happened on Caanus. The best way forward is to make an example of any among us who would flagrantly violate the law without just cause. As you all know from what has recently transpired on Korriban, the dark side has returned stronger than it has ever been in a thousand years. It's clear that it may have begun affecting the judgment of both our young and experienced alike. We cannot allow the mistakes of the Old Republic Jedi to be repeated here. We must remind all Reborn Jedi that there is no tolerance for the obfuscating presence of the darkness in our affairs, or in the Republic. Vigilance, accountability, and our faith in the light must hold firm, or we are lost, and the dark will reign supreme once again."

Rusasha was near her breaking point as tears flowed from her eyes freely. She was aghast that her own father had so completely turned on her. She wanted to cry out in protest, say something in her defense, but she couldn't bring herself to shout or scream for fear of making things worse. Her legs trembled, and she felt small, weak, and more alone than she'd ever thought possible. Save for Sotah, and perhaps Thurius, the masters around Ru had nothing but scrutiny, suspicion, or antipathy towards her. These people were no longer those she could trust or look up to; they were her accusers, and a few of them wanted to be rid of her from their sight.

"Wise words well said, good Master Lahan," Quellus' own deep voice rose to meet Rynseh's, and above the dark tone, the Chagrian's small smile was almost audible. He rose from his seat to his full imposing height, offering each of the other standing Jedi dark expressions. The two Senate officials stepped back without comment to allow the venerable Jedi Master to step past. Almost mirroring the posture of Sotah and Rusasha, Quellus placed a comradely hand on Rynseh's shoulder. "It is the sacred duty and honour of all Jedi Knights to stand stalwart against the tide of darkness and the return of the Sith. Such evils so easily return from the smallest of seeds planted in the verdant gardens of troubled hearts and minds, as is so obviously the case with former Knights Thane and Thort, who were both once considered so heroic and just."

The Grand Master patted Rynseh's shoulder once before walking to stand before his chair again, although he did not yet reclaim it. All eyes were upon the Chagrian, and none that had previously voiced opinions now spoke out, either cowed or in agreement with the bold statements made by Quellus' firm Cathar right hand. "The Jedi of the Old Republic were felled by their inability to foresee the revenge of the Sith, who had adapted, becoming more cunning and nefarious than their forebears had ever attempted. Seeing that the Jedi were blind to challenge the institutions they had become wedded to, unwilling to root out the rot within the government they served, the Order of the Sith Lords became the First Republic. We also serve a Republic and a Chancellor, to whom we are fiercely loyal, but we shall not be so idle. Never shall we be afraid to face the dark side that threatens our democracy and our freedoms. We shall never allow Jedi, even with the best of intentions, to undermine that authority or that faith. We are one with the Supreme Chancellor and his Senate, and if we must face down our own to preserve the sanctity of that glorious institution, as we did with the rebels of the Outer Rim Alliance, then so be it."

Again, Sotah prepared to say something, as did Masters Nillak and Dunrar, but Quellus' voice rose louder and he raised an authoritative hand, tone booming, the power of the Force exuding from him as a fine white fury. "For as long as I am Master of this Order, never shall a Jedi, past or present, embarrass us in this fashion! Never shall a Jedi undermine the Republic for their own antiquated tenets of goodness! Never shall a Jedi again turn the Republic against its Holy Order, for damnation awaits a galaxy where the Jedi are no more."

"Master Quellus," Sotah finally began, concern darkening the Selkath's kindly aquatic eyes as he took a tentative step towards the Chagrian, a friendly hand outstretched to the other man. "Jundal, please-"

"Jedi Knight Rusasha Djehuti," Quellus carried on as though Sotah had not spoken, a large blue hand reaching from within his ornate and highly-decorated cloak to gesture at the younger Cathar in the chamber, "you have flouted the authority of this High Council and acted excessively, far beyond the purview of any upstanding Knight of the Reborn Order. Senator Vuul, Regent of Caanus, whilst stark in his assessment of your conduct is a modest man given to fair rulings, and has asked for leniency in our judgment of your sins. I am not so considered as the good senator. You have betrayed the Order. You have betrayed the Council. You have betrayed yourself. And you have betrayed me."

Quellus' outstretched hand then opened, the bejeweled digits flexed as the Grand Master called upon the Force. From the central mosaic of the elaborate floor of the High Council chamber suddenly rose a stone plinth, silent and smooth, with only a small circular orifice carved perfectly into its mysterious material. Sotah, Thurius and Rusasha had hardly needed to move to permit the stone to rise, with the former two needing no explanation for the object's introduction.

"For your transgressions, you are hereby stripped of the rank of Jedi Knight and the privileges therein associated - but we do not release you from this Order," the Grand Master continued, finally reclaiming his seat, his face once again hard as stone, his deep tone even and commanding. There were expressions of concern from some of the other gathered Jedi Masters, including Ven Kel Farr, whilst Morla Dero glowered with hostile dismay at the trio before them. "You are confined to the limitations of this temple until such time the external authorities have determined the appropriate course of action for you. You will serve at our pleasure within the Temple AgriCorps. And..." he now finally motioned to the plinth, "you will surrender your lightsaber. It is the weapon of a Jedi."

"She is a Jedi," Sotah then said with uncharacteristic defiance, stepping before Rusasha, between her and the plinth as he regarded Quellus, at first, and then the other gathered masters. "And no matter what creed or justice you claim governs your actions and edicts, that is not something you may ever take from her or any other; her identity, and what it means to be Jedi, is no tangible device that any council, at any point in the storied history of this galaxy, may ever redefine, bestow or seize. To be Jedi is to go beyond denominations and opinions, and that freedom of thought, expression of integrity and duty to the truth, moral, historical or personal, burns brightly within Little Ru." Unchallenged for the moment, he moved his gaze from one master to another. "My friends, she has much to teach us. We still have much to learn."

The Council was silent as the Selkath's words concluded, with a few glances exchanged between them, being a mixture of uncertainty, satisfaction and dismay. Finally, Quellus gave three, long and loud claps, but Morla Dero was the one that spoke. "He shows his true colours, at last!" She crooned, along with the obligatory shaky, pale arm with the accusative finger jabbing towards Master Sotah. "The apologist!" She continued, almost self-amused. "The wise master!"

"Indeed," Quellus said slowly, his tone now more sombre. "It is fitting - appropriate, perhaps - that you have said your piece, Master Sotah, although it pains me deeply to hear how misguided you have become in the throes of your grief. Wisdom and insight have been replaced by nepotism and desperation. The losses of your apprentices have turned your wits inwards and dulled your senses. You act with impunity against your fellows on the Council to seek meaning in your three-fold failings as a master. You would risk the sanctity of the Order's relationship with the grand Republic to serve your neuroses. Were it not for your decades of good service, charitable nature and your pure, albeit misguided, heart, I would be convinced that Sotah of Manaan had abandoned reason for madness many long months ago." The Chagrian settled back uncomfortably in his chair, hands steepled and face dour, devoid of aggression or any sense of satisfaction. "Nevertheless, you are no longer fit to sit upon the High Council of the Reborn Jedi Order. You are dismissed, sir."

There was a palpable flutter of surprise that shot around the room, with some shifting of gazes to one another as if to confirm the sentence. Master Dunrar shifted uneasily as if he were reluctantly preparing to speak when Thurius brought himself to the forefront once again, now directly addressing Quellus, "Dismissal from the council? These accusations against Sotah are... unfounded," Thurius' words stumbled out with trepidation, "I have seen no evidence of any plot to tarnish our relationship with the Republic authorities. I must protest this ruling, Grand Master. Surely others feel the same?"

Several council members had now settled into stony judgement, holding firm gazes down upon the three Jedi assembled in the centre of the chamber around the raised pillar. Gira Valdryl crossed her arms, her ice-white eyes showing nothing and Master Dero's similarly pupil-less but black eyes seemed to be carefully considering the situation.

But no support came.

The pillar jutted out at the heart of the chamber like a guillotine suspended in the air and the silence of the assembled provided the weight for it to come slicing down upon the condemned party. With no salvation presenting itself, Thurius turned to look at Sotah, who now held a comforting hand on Rusasha's shoulder, allowing his blue robe to flow down around her like water trickling down to the ground.

Moved deeply by Sotah's gesture of comfort, the wise and weathered aquatic paragon of the light felt more like a father to Rusasha than Rynseh ever did in all the years she had known him. She gratefully reached a hand up and placed it over Sotah's hand which rested on her shoulder, leaned her head to press her cheek on their hands as a daughter would show affection for her father, and said quietly to him in kind, "My deeds were never for them..." She gently guided his hand down as she turned to look upon him with tears from her eyes. She sobbed softly and swallowed down her sorrow in order to maintain whatever tiny sliver of dignity she had left. "I just wanted to be kind. That's all. Nothing more."

She turned from Sotah and faced the pillar as the silence hung massively as if it had the extreme mass and gravity of a black hole. She drew her lightsaber and unrolled her fingers from the hilt to let it rest in her open palm. She gazed down upon its polished surface, the unique intricate weave of bronzium, osmiridium, and other light metals she went to extra lengths to acquire and customise to replace the original plain duraplast and alloy metal she had started with when she first constructed it. For the sake of appearances and personal pride in her craftsmanship, she turned it from a simple weapon of a Jedi nervously put together by a child with just the will of her mind and the power of the Force to a carefully rebuilt work of art. Some had show deep admiration for what she had accomplished while others looked upon it derisively as a sign of arrogance and uncharacteristic opulence not fitting for a humble Knight of the Reborn Order. She curled her fingers around the grip again and turned to the seated Masters with wet bright green eyes that gradually shifted from a look of defeated sorrow to narrowed eyes of defiance.

"The truth..." she spoke up to everyone in the room. "...All my life I was told to seek the truth and trust in the Force. I recited our Code hundreds of times...thousands even. Believed in every word. I was never the most talented student, or the swiftest or strongest - didn't care. Never wanted to be the best. I just wanted to do right by the dying wish of a mother..." She turned to look upon Rynseh with a harsh rebuking glare, "...my mother. She whispered to my father on the night of her passing: 'Teach our daughter to be kind, to be honest and to be decent so that she may use her powers to do good and make others happy'. In that, my father, Jedi Master and survivor of war and fire, succeeded, but he changed." She moved her gaze around the room, not including Sotah or Thurius in her words, "And the lot of you changed with him. The absence of empathy, the malice in your words, and the loathing in your hearts frightens me. I found the truth in Senator Vuul's residence, and it was nothing short of evil. Believe what you want, but I know what I saw and I stand by my report. Condemn me if you must, but please, I beg of you, do not spread blame to Master Sotah. His intentions were entirely benign. It was I who made the choice to act as I did, and yes, I pushed beyond what is acceptable by law, but I followed my heart and discovered the truth. Yet nevertheless, politics has eliminated that truth in this once holy room. It dies on this floor today..."

Ru held the lightsaber in front of her vertically, gripped tightly in a guarded combat stance close to her chest, and ignited its brilliant green blade which shone and enhanced the colour of her eyes. The blade formed mere inches from touching her face whilst her heartbroken gaze remained transfixed on the stone pillar. She raised the blade high above her head, and to Rynseh's surprise, there was a faint rippling wave effect that arced up from the hilt to the end of the blade; he recognized it as an eldritch summoning of Force power known by the battlemasters and scholars of the Temple as the Keening - a rare sign of one's power in Battle Meditation, and in this case, a final exclamation point in the testimony of a broken and betrayed young soul. Ru turned the blade down at a 45-degree angle towards the pillar, and thrust ferociously into it with all her might, furiously imagining the point of impact as Rynseh's chest right where his heart would be. She drove the blade inwards as the rock gradually consumed its luminous power and let go as the hilt became stuck after the energy emitter shorted out. Ru stepped back and turned away from all that she had been, and silently left the room with her head hung low in total disgrace - a Knight no more.

"This is what has become of our Order!" Dero grumbled with more than a hint of venom, her dark, aged eyes having followed the sullen departure of Rusasha. "The youth challenge every bit of our wisdom; they undermine the very heart of the Force itself... That we should listen to the moral intoning of children that no nothing of the true hardships of Knighthood."

"Rusasha is not a bad nor corrupting character or influence, Master Dero," Thackbal then said, his soft voice considered and melancholy, the Mon Cal diplomat's sad, wide eyes examining the long-necked Kaminoan. "Today's judgement of her is harsh but wise," he offered a quick glance to Quellus, his own former master, to avoid causing any iota of offence to the testy Chagrian, "and I believe this will effect great transformation for the young woman."

"There is honour in the Corps," Nillak added, his peculiar Quarran attempt at Basic slightly garbled by the flexing tentacles around his narrow mouth, and his comment attracted an 'aye' from Ven Kel Farr, although he, too, wore a sombre expression - although it was not necessarily for the disgraced daughter of Rynseh Lahan. Finally, the gazes of the Jedi Masters fell once more onto Sotah, although Quellus' had never faltered, with the Selkath Consular having been stood in cold silence since Loren's padawan had left.

"After everything you've done for them..." Thurius said, his voice quiet and meant only for his friend.

"Indeed?" Quellus almost growled, a flash of ire flickering within his widening eyes at having heard the Cerean's comment. "There is much that the Jedi Master Sotah has done for the Reborn Jedi Order, both knowingly and unknowingly, it would seem. Without the brazen philosophies of your good friend, we would not be lesser three Jedi Knights. You should be mindful, Master Thurius, of your own unwise judgements in this moment, for the charges laid at the feet of your old friend do not seem so alien to your own troubled character, would you not agree?"

"One murdered apprentice," Master Dero added seamlessly without need of any further cue, "and another in league with darkness!"

"Bomoor Thort stands with Thane of Caanus," Master Farr said, his elaborate warrior's robes shifting as he leaned forward to examine his two fellow Jedi Masters with a considerate caution. "Not so long ago, he also thought himself fit to stand here in judgement of us."

The implication of Thurius' repeated failure as a Master was as harsh a sentence as a dismissal and threatened to re-open old wounds many council members thought had been laid to rest. The assembled paid close attention to the Cerean, looking for some break in his composure as his capacity to resist anger was tested.

"I have stood by the council through all its trials, even when the decisions we have made were not always easy to bear," Thurius found himself looking down at the elegant polished floor rather than up at the Masters upon their seats, "When I lost Mykles, many of the people in this room were encouraged when I showed an interest in young Bomoor. When the time came, you all agreed that Jedi Thort exhibited the right traits of a Knight of our order and welcomed him in. I can see how you see parallels between my former apprentice and Rusasha here, but I do not agree that shutting people out is the correct response."

Master Vemrus, who had been silently watching until this point, stirred in his seat and fixed Thurius with a gaze. He seemed more lucid than he usually was, his deep foresight being more of an affliction at times than a blessing. The Iktotchi seer spoke in a solemn tone, "These decisions have not been made out of fear, old friend. I have spent many days meditating on the visions I have received of late. I consulted with the prophesies to confirm and it is clear to me now that darkness has breached the walls of this temple. I referred the Grand Master to the collected prophesies of Tionne Solusar, wherein she writes: 'In the Age of Resurrection, Darkness thought long dead, spreads wearing the mask of light and silently builds its followers until the rotten tower collapses'."

The Ochre-skinned man sat back, rubbing one of his horns gently as though nursing a pain, "Prophesy is not to be taken lightly, but I have seen us all here in that rotting tower and we must not let it come to that. The Reborn Order stands against the return of the dark and must never fall and this is why I support the Grand Master in this difficult decision. Not for any one of us, but for the balance of the Force and for the Galaxy."

"Then you seek to remove the rot?" Thurius' voice was little more than a sigh by this point, "Then why not me as well, since you already connect me to these events?"

As if he had been waiting for the cue, Rynseh turned to Quellus who in turn gave him an almost imperceptible nod. The tall Cathar's hulking frame expanded slightly with a long and deep breath. It had been painful and extraordinarily embarrassing enough to cast Ru to an ignoble life in the Corps, but now he at least had an opportunity to do something he had been looking forward to for years. Ryn slowly drew himself two paces closer to Thurius, glaring down at the Cerean with a harsh, judging glare. "I've waited a long time to say this: Mykles was perhaps one of the most promising of any pridesmen among my species to ever walk the halls of this Temple. Your failure to prepare him to face the dangers beyond these walls was only the beginning of your fall."

Ryn turned to Sotah with no less a belligerent gaze, then turned his accusing eyes back on Thurius, "History has shown that in darkness, trouble always come in pairs. Well, since you believe so adamantly that you are part of it, we have already decided for you what must be done. You are to be relieved of the burden of your position on this Council effective immediately, and all the privileges and responsibilities that go with it. Go and meditate on your failures, and ponder your path to redemption through the Force."

Sotah's eyes closed slowly in dismay at Rynseh's words, spoken with the stalwart authority of his master. He had not moved when Ru had left, his expression and posture unchanged at this inevitable defeat. The sadness of the Selkath spread plainly from his aura within the Force, a sensation noted keenly by the more empathic of his former Council colleagues.

The first pain of betrayal had been felt most sharply when Thurius had responded after Vemrus' latest vague commentary. Quellus' Council, whatever of the numbers before them could actually be counted amongst them, had drawn their conclusions long before the Cerean had provided them with the verbal opportunity.

"This is outrageous!" Master Nillak declared abruptly, face-tendrils shaking and his beady eyes flaring. Upset had given way to a break in the Quarren's typically-docile demeanour, overtaken by concern for his two friends. "Are we not equals upon this Council; do we all not get to have a-"

It did not now occur to Sotah to challenge the misruling the Council had settled upon, for either himself or Thurius, but enough Jedi had been shackled to his failings and deceptions, made examples of for the dissenters and troubled - a further punishment for the supposed foes of the High Council. His raised hand silenced Master Nillak, who regarded him sombrely, composing himself almost immediately.

"A lesson I have taken from my time on this council is that fear, allied with power, is one of the most ferocious enemies of reason, and I thank you for having permitted me this honour. May the Force be with you," Sotah said to the others, bowing his head in acceptance of Quellus and Rysneh's decree. To Thurius, as he placed an arm around him to guide him towards the sole portal of the Council Chamber, he said, "Come, old friend. There is no waking those pretending to sleep."

Thurius allowed himself to be led, compelled by perhaps the only other being in the galaxy he wholly trusted, "I thought the darkest chapters were behind us, Sotah," he shook his head wearily as the turbolift doors parted for their descent, "Yet here we are again, circling the black hole..."

The door's closed and the glares from the council members ceased, "I can't believe Rynseh said that about Mykles. How dare he. If I were a weaker man, I would..." Thurius paused as the lift began moving with a dull whine and he turned to look into Sotah's dark, forgiving eyes before continuing "Well, thank goodness we are who we are, my friend. Force help those who still sit on those velvet seats."

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