2009-02-04 - Jedi Drama

After Tuil leaves Lightsaber Lecture.
Something about this low-domed chamber gives the comforting impression of the pressence of old friends. In its utter silence the hint of whispered voices can almost be heard, and by some trick of the eyes the empty white stonework seems cloudy and translucent-- as though it were only an illusion waiting to be dispelled. The room is almost empty: small dim lamps do little to dispell a comforting darkness.
Around the perimeter of the room are several small pedistals, and upon each of these a soft white cushion. Resting on some of the cushions are lightsabers, each unique in its design and construction, each holding their own hidden secrets. On the pedistal to the very north, one lightsaber stands out. It surface is smooth and silvered to a mirrored shine. There are no grooves or ornaments of any kind, and only a single raised button. The meager light of the chamber seems to collect around it, reflecting it as though the saber itself were a source of light.
Sitting on one of the small elevated pedestals, upon a white cushion, the small Ortolan Shiraz Cavour wears his hood just below the level of his large floppy ears. His black eyes are closed peacefully and his trunk sways in meditation. Or perhaps he is asleep.
The footsteps of the one who approaches are very quiet as he makes his way into the room. Graham enters the chambers his white robes pulled tight around him. His gaze finds first the one master sitting but it's not the one he seeks looking about a bit more.
Tuil climbs one of the flights of stairs up into the chamber and takes a place near Cavour. He stands easily, his arms folded in his sleeves.
"Master Lindo and Cavour." the knight nods with a small bow of his body to each, his face isn't hardened but more troubled. Graham takes a few more steps in to be out of the way of the door. "I was told master Tan would be here I believe?"
Divak Tan walks into the meditation chamber not far after Master Lindo. He brings his hood down and nods in greeting to those present.
"Knight Lane." Cavour's eyes open, large, black, and reflective, evaluating the white-robed Knight slowly. "Yes; here he is, prepared to chair the Council. Master Tan," the Ortolan says.
Divak Tan looks at Knight Lane and nods in greeting as he passes the human. He sits in his customary spot, taking a meditative posture. He unwraps his cloak and sits it beside him, getting more comfortable. "You were searching for me?"
Graham sighs but turns back nodding. "Greetings master Tan. Yes I was." he says with the same movement. He is silent for a span of time before looking to the others. "It's good your all here though, i've come to partition to return padawan Rena to my teaching she has long been ready for her trials but chose not to take them, and there are other circumstances which I think must delay them." he doesn't say what those are just yet but looks to the three as he started at least.
Tan looks at the human long and hard. Seems to weigh the man with his eyes. His eyes are sad. "The Council's decision to forbid romantic relationships between Master and Padawan was not made in haste, Knight Lane, and it was done for the good of the Order ... Are there facts we were unaware of that could change things? I know that you likely care deeply for your former Padawan but be wary of these feelings. They can be made to betray you, as I am all too familiar."
"We believe that it would be impossible for you, or any other Jedi, to remain objective in matters concerning a beloved," Shiraz says, his large black eyes reflecting Graham's white-robed form. "I, for one, cannot see reconsidering the Council's decision unless you do not in fact have feelings for the Padawan."
"You know me well Master Tan as you taught me, I am in control of my feelings, even when it comes to Rena. I belive nobody would disagree that I have trained her properly by the jedi as such." the white robed figure looks around to each taking in a breath. "I come here to preserve life, yes I want Rena to become a knight also you must know, that hers and those she grows must be looked for. She is with child well children, twins." Graham finishes looking to each. "I could not claim to not have feelings for her, but I believe my actions in her training have shown I have been objective when it comes to master and padawan.
Divak Tan looks a little shocked. If a Togruta's expression changes, it could be that his mouth widens. His black eyes open further. "This is.. unexpected news," he says. He looks at Cavour and Lindo. Pauses a moment. "And it only proves our point, Knight Lane: how could you, in the most dire of circumstances, be objective about the one you love? Especially if she carries two of your children?" He shakes his head. "No. Your skill as a mentor or as a diplomat or as a Jedi in general are not on trial here. It is the /future/ we must worry about and it is better for the Order if Masters and Padawans do not become romantically involed. Master Leadwing will teach Rena well, I am sure of it. In the meantime, you are encouraged to love and support each other.. who knows? Maybe even one day as fellow Knights of the Republic."
"Twins," Shiraz muses. "It is good that we sent her to Leadwing, Master Tan. He will keep her out of the eye of the storm."
Divak Tan looks to Lane. "How long has she known of this?"
"I do not believe so master Tan, for we have known more than a month and yet has Rena not performed all the duties of the jedi she has been asked. I respect to master Leadwing, Rena is not one to sit idle trust me in this." Graham speaks there is still held no anger in his voice.
"And in this time," Tan says. "Padawan Rena has nearly been slain multiple times. No. Your argument holds no water to me," he continues, "Though I can't speak for the rest of the council. More and more it seems that there is no logic to it at all.. only a desire to be with the one you love. In and of itself that is admirable, but a Jedi Knight has other duties. He must have the deepest commitment to the order and the most serious mind. He must trust to the living Force to set the course of the galaxy. He must adapt and have a mind like water."
"I advise you support Rena, Knight Lane, but keep your feelings buried deep until a later time in deference to the Council."
"I wonder what remains for her to learn from you," Shiraz Cavour says delicately. "Sometimes it is difficult to admit that our apprentices have received all they can from us."
"Yes master Tan she is not one to sit idle and as you say I do have my other duties which I uphold." the young man shifts slightly where he stands looking from face to face. Graham sighs "Yes she has learned all she can from myself I have no trouble in admitting that, it was her wish not to go on her trials before and now pregnant merely waiting. Even at through the force does she feel it's effects she tires and feels sickness at times." the knight takes a breath. "I have for sometime been working on a trial which I believe she must face to be a good jedi to be able to let go of a turbulent past."
"The Force brings us our final trials," Shiraz Cavour says quietly, his ears rising, blue and somewhat stern. "Don't you think that she must learn to protect the children she bears? To keep them safe, with or without you? You cannot shield her from her destiny; let her go. Your feelings do you credit, but they could be used to destroy you as a Jedi."
Tan frowns. "Hrm," he says. Then he points a finger from beneath his robe. "But can /you/ let go of /your/ past and trust a loved one to the will of the Force? That is the question that needs to be asked and answered. It is /your/ trial as well as hers, since you are joined in love now as well as a commitment to the Jedi Order."
His eyes are intense.
"Before I answer I must ask why this is just coming into question? I have been romantically involved with Rena since before finishing my own trials." the knight speaks only a question perhaps to find out more to what's going on. Graham looks to each once more. "I have been tested master Cavour, and passed visions from our foes of Rena in torment." he turns back to his former master. "Rena continues to do her duties those of the jedi, I have not shut her away in safety though I could or do I misunderstand?"
"Your involvement with Rena was not brought before the Council until recently, Knight Lane," says the Togruta. "The Council manages hundreds of Padawans and dozens of Knights. We don't keep a tab of befellows unless it becomes a potential problem. We count this as a potential problem." He pauses. "Again, Knight Lane, your skill or control of the Force /or/ your emotions has never been an issue. Is it becoming one? I suggest you leave while level heads prevail."
"Master Lindo has other business to discuss with the Council. May the Force be with you, Knight Lane, and know that the Council wishes you and your loved ones the best in the coming days."
Shiraz's ears droop. He seems grimmer now. "The Jedi have been in a state of disorder for some time. Now there will be order in the Order. The Force will watch over her, Knight Lane, and over you as well."
Shiraz Cavour peers quietly at Graham Lane, his black eyes intent.
"I belive my words go un-heard, I have been tested many many times throughout my time with Rena, and yet still stand a jedi knight. Not fallen but focused with the force." Graham words are calm. "Master Tan you yourself were tried and attacked the than master Dawnrunner. I pass the tests and am removed of my padawan." he shrugs slightly. "May the force be with you." he begins to back slowly out of the room.
Divak Tan nods. "And you." He watches Graham go.
Divak Tan turns to Tuil. "Now," he asks. "Your order of business?"
Tuil nods and recollects. "Jana's ship, Hand of Light, was left on the Kuat moon. According to the high baron, two of our padawans attacked the ship's crew without alerting the Kuat authorities. When the crew refused to submit, they were allegedly attacked and killed." The master frowns at this last part.
Graham opens one of the doors and proceeds down the stairs.
"He is very honest and direct," Shiraz Cavour remarks to the Master of the Council. "And under the influence of his emotions, though perhaps not compleatly."
Divak Tan watches Lane go. "I agree," he says. "Perhaps with time his conflict will resolve itself. We should be ever vigilant about following him, though. Here is an opening to the Dark Side of the Force." He narrows his eyes.
Divak Tan considers Master Lindo's report. His eyes are tired. "What Padawans are these? I grow wary of watching them. They are like Togruta children running about in the forest with no awareness that their actions may have consequences bigger than themselves."
Divak Tan says, "It is little wonder why Lane acts as he does if this sort of thing represents the standard of the Jedi Order. I blame myself for being too inactive."
"He should never have been made a Knight." Shiraz seems coldly decisive on this point. "Such disrespect is not in keeping with Jedi values."
"Kamli Valen and our intrepid padawan Rena." Tuil nods as the pair go on about the last point on the agenda.
Divak Tan rubs his temples. "Again with Rena.. when did this happen?" he asks. "How recently? And I would have expectd more from Padawan Valen."
"What is this?" Shiraz Cavour questions. "To what do you refer, Master Lindo?"
Tuil looks neutral as he notes, "Yesterday. I received a message from the high baron earlier today regarding this effort of theirs to take Hand of Light."
"I see. You mean that incident." Shiraz looks thoughtful. "Clumsily done; it has been reported on major news outlets. Are there extenuating circumstances in this matter, Master Lindo?"
Divak Tan nods and awaits an answer. He adds, "Senator Yzzix was kind to bring this to our attention."
"Not that I know of, no." Tuil shakes his head. "On the face of it, the ship was still loyal to Master Dawnrunner and not Nightfall. The ship was still on the moon waiting for her per her orders as relayed to me by the high baron. Legally, this would be an open and shut case of piracy."
Divak Tan says, "The odd thing is.. Yzzix requested that Padawan Valen be his Ambassador."
"Perhaps Padawan Valen quickly squandered all his stocks of goodwill," Shiraz Cavour answers simply. "It seems like a common happening. What are we to do to Padawan Valen?"
"Strip him of his padawanship and turn him over to Kuat authorities for adjudication?" Tuil says this matter-of-factly. "Or do you wish to censor him?"
"Turn him over without stripping him," Shiraz says blandly. "It would be fitting to demonstrate that the Jedi will allow a 'Jedi' to be punished for his crimes. Instruct the Kuat authorities that they can exact whatever penalty their law demands; instruct Valen that his Padawan duty is to accept the sentence."
Shiraz Cavour says, "Thus, we afford him the chance of at least dying like a Jedi."
Tuil nods at that.
"I agree," says Tan. "It will show the Galaxy and the Republic that the Jedi's amnesty comes at a price: that the code we hold our own to is higher than any court of law is able to achieve."
<FONT color="#FBB917">COMSYS:</FONT> (all channels) A sweet, calm female voice says, "I apologize for interupting anything important, but if there is someone in the Retreat I might speak with, I would be greatful for the audience."
"Let's just hope no one notices that we're throwing the galaxy a padawan who could be charged and tried regardless of what we do." Tuil looks from one to the other.
"We are still placing the Jedi on the side of the law," Shiraz says implacably. "By commanding him by his padawanhood to respect the law, we are showing that to be a Jedi is to be on the side of the law."
"Could he?" Tan asks. "I suppose we could invoke Jedi amnesty. And we certainly would if all Valen did was take Dawnrunner's ship for investigation and was charged.. but this is different. He should have contacted Kuat authorities to deal with the ship's crew."
Divak Tan frowns as his comlink buzzes.
<FONT color="#FBB917">COMSYS:</FONT> (all channels) Divak Tan says, "This is Divak Tan. Please identify yourself and switch to frequency 513."
Tuil shakes his head. "Remember, the Senate passed a law revoking Jedi immunity when it comes to padawans. Keep that in mind."
"He would be charged regardless. We are ordering him to submit." Shiraz shrugs. "That sends a message."
Tuil nods. "Please see to that message without me. I must rest. May the Force be with you both."
<FONT color="#FBB917">COMSYS:</FONT> (all channels) A sweet, calm female voice says, "I apologize for not giving my name first, Master Tan; this is Nissa Sarcat. My comlink seems to be having trouble with different frequencies at the moment."
Category:February 2009 RP Logs