Jedi Insurgency 254

After being named Order Master, Corvus told everyone to go explore the Jedi Temple. 

Unsurprisingly, the layout wasn't too different from the one on Coruscant. Most likely, the Temple constructed at the galactic capital had been modeled after this one. In short, there were grand pillars, terminals jutting out of the walls, and towers representing the different subsects of Jediism. Perhaps most surprising, was how clean everything was. 

Having explored a Jedi ruin on Kamino, and dozens of ruins in videogames, these types of buildings often had collapsed corridors, cracked architecture, and vines growing everywhere. Yet somehow, this complex was devoid of these things, and looked incredibly pristine. The Force thrummed through this place, and he felt that he could walk up to any random terminal, and it would work. 

Within the great hall, a group of four Jedi were standing in wait. 

To the far left and right were the teenagers, Zork, and Linyin. The green scaled dragonkin-looking alien, Zork wore a measured grin. He bowed at Corvus & the approaching Jedi. 

“Master Revan, Jax, Yon!” The pink skinned Twi'lek girl was full of energy, and ran at them, pulling the pair of boys into a tight hug. 

“It's good to see you.” Jax calmly patted her on the back. 

“Hmph.” Yon looked to the side, yet he didn't fight the embrace, and a small smile was at the corner of his lips. 

“Wots all this then?” Omega stepped forward, a hint of jealousy in her voice. 

“And a new friend! I am Linyin, who are you?” The bubbly Twi'lek enthusiastically asked, pulling Omega into the group hug. 

“O-oi.” Omega blushed, ducking her head. 

Whilst the kids were reconvening, Corvus took note of the two Jedi Masters standing across from him. When he parted ways with them about 5 months ago, the green skinned baddy, Keira was a martial Jedi Knight who played by the book. Now, she exuded a much stronger, confident aura. As for Kazdan Paratus, the tiny alien was fully encased in power armor that was fueled by the Force. The blue-grey Master had lost that insane look in his eyes, and was at peace. Both of them radiated strength and serenity.

Although he had a [Force Bond] with Keira, they didn't speak often, and he wasn't 100% familiar with her situation at all times. Instead, he had acted like a long distance boyfriend, sending emotional support through their bond when needed, and sending some love or comforting feelings every now and again. Although neither of them had spoken yet, words weren't necessary. A deep level of respect, and shared appreciation for one another had been in effect for quite some time. 

“I'm glad these past few months on Tython haven't been wasted. You two are practically glowing in the Force.” Corvus complimented. 

“Master Revan.” Paratus bowed his head. “Thank you for believing in me.” 

“The Order has a need for talents such as yours will you, Master Paratus, Master Keira, join my new High Council?” Corvus offered. 

Paratus slowly inclined his head. “I would be honored, Order Master.” 

Keira uncrossed her arms, stepped within a foot of his face, and silently stopped in front of him. After staring at him for a minute, she snorted, and turned around. “Sparring in words, locking blades in combat, Tython has much to offer. I will join your council. Follow me to the Council Chambers.” 

The Mirialan girl spoke in a serious, somewhat choppy manner. Clearly her social skills were lacking, and she was still obsessed with fighting, but Corvus could excuse that…what could he say? The attractive short haired, fit tomboy alien girl was just his type. 

“Jax, Yon, have fun with your friends, I'll be busy.” Corvus instructed, and then followed after his previously long-distance lover. 

Entering a tall spire, Corvus had a scenic view of the valley down below, and smiled. Although he was full of positivity, the last 24hrs had been incredibly serious. With the death of Yoda, and passing of the torch, a heavy weight of responsibility fell upon his shoulders. Thankfully, he had others to share the burden with. He couldn't imagine how terrible rebirthing the Jedi Order would be by himself, or from just a handful of students. 

Taking a seat, he gestured towards those few he had invited: Kreia, Paratus, Windu, Kenobi, Malicos, Tapal, Kota, Ti, Vos, Hett, to take a seat. 

The Jedi gathered around him represented nearly every surviving philosophy of the Order: warriors, generals, mystics, healers and rebels. Each one of them had tasted the bitter loss of defeat, and tasted the joys of victory. Experienced in fighting, negotiating, and meditating, each one of his picks for the High Council carried with them plenty of baggage, but also many different insights. Due to their diverse backgrounds, and many connections, adding them to the Council helped solidify his rule, giving his title of Order Master an air of legitimacy. 

Corvus had seen that many of the rank and file Jedi were clearly suspicious of him. By showing he was willing to work with so many famous members of the Order, it made following his commands much more palatable. 

As everyone settled down, Corvus met their eyes one by one. 

Obi-Wan Kenobi sat with his hands folded neatly in his lap, he appeared calm, yet Corvus felt like Kenobi was most eager to speak. 

Shaak Ti appeared serene as ever. She flashed him a small smile. The red skinned Togruta looked at him with sparkles in her dark eyes. Corvus's act of healing & resurrection was a notch above anything she had witnessed before, and she practically couldn't take her eyes off him. 

‘Sorry Master Ti, but I'm already taken.’ Corvus internally laughed to himself. If he were some perverse collector-type individual, he'd probably try to exploit that admiration for a romance option. Thankfully, he didn't view every beautiful woman as an object of desire. Instead, however, he was eager to make new friends, and genuinely instruct Shaak Ti in the art of healing. Force knows if she could pass that knowledge onward to the lower ranks, the Order would only come out stronger. 

Rahm Kota lounged in his chair like a man attending a cantina debate rather than a High Council meeting. Letting loose with a long yawn, he lazily saluted Corvus, then pulled out a flask to drink some sort of alcoholic beverage. 

Jaro Tapal sat rigid with his back straight. Calm, focused, resolute, strong. This purple cat alien would make for an excellent Battlemaster. 

Quinlan Vos looked as though he had wandered into the chamber by accident. Although that carefree nonchalance seemed to mask a nervous excitement. Clearly this maverick of the Order never expected to have a seat in this august body. As someone who fell to the Darkside-and the loving touch of Ventress-the staunch ultra monastic Jedi wouldn't let Vos within 10ft of power. Yet it was due to his maverick identity that Corvus had chosen him in the first place. 

Mace Windu, meanwhile, was relaxed. Instead of a rigid posture like one might expect, he looked like an old uncle that had ‘been there, done that.’ Not to say he couldn't throw down, or start a firestorm, but the once perpetually serious man had dialed it down a bit, and perhaps was the least worried person attending this venue. 

A'Sharad Hett-a man whom Corvus had renamed as Krayt-remained silent. His eyes were closed, and a faint, ever so subtle thrum of the Darkside mixed with the Lightside around him, creating a balance-like flow. The son of Tatooine didn't meet his look, but gratitude & loyalty wafted out from him, making his stance clear to all. 

Taron Malicos appeared relaxed, though there was always something wolfish behind his eyes. He inclined his head towards Corvus, replying with a disarming smile. 

Whilst Corvus knew Malicos fell to the Darkside and became somewhat insane rather easily in the videogames, he was undoubtedly one of the most skilled Masters in the Order at the moment. Malicos also had an edge to him that many Jedi were missing. Whilst most other Jedi were warriors, guardians, sentinels, and counselors, this man-if sufficiently tempered-had the potential to become a Jedi Shadow. It was a fact that any great organization had to get their hands dirty from time to time to achieve stability. Malicos could be such a tool. 

Keira waited with her hands on her lap. Her short, raven-blue hair remained still, yet her eyes flashed with desire. With love…yes, she wanted to engage in that carnal pleasure known as combat! The battle maniac was poised like a statue, and to others, a perfectly composed Jedi. But Corvus knew better. The [Force Bond] between them made hiding such desires difficult to mask. 

Lastly, Kazdan Paratus was tinkering with some buttons on his power armor. When Corvus looked at him, the tiny man waved a giant power armored glove. 

For a moment nobody spoke.

"The Jedi Order failed." Corvus began the meeting with a sentence full of inauspicious words. 

No one objected to his statement, as by this point, it was clear as day that this was the truth. 

"We failed Anakin Skywalker, we failed countless Padawans & Knights before him, and we failed ourselves. For a thousand years we taught detachment. We taught our students to fear attachment. To fear love. To fear emotional bonds." Corvus slowly stated, making sure everyone heard him clearly. 

"I believe that doctrine was a mistake. Therefore, as Order Master, I propose that the prohibition against emotional attachment be abolished."

Several eyebrows rose at that, and Obi-Wan's expression didn't necessarily morph into a frown, but he certainly wasn't liking what was being said. 

Corvus pressed on, ignoring the various expressions of his peers, intent on getting his message across. 

"Love, hope, compassion, friendship, honor, loyalty, family…these are not pathways to the Dark Side. They are manifestations of the Light." Corvus said. Each time he said one of those words like ‘love, hope, etc’ he then pulsed such emotions outward in the Force, leaving a refreshing air within the chamber. 

Obi-Wan slowly-loudly-exhaled, and began to speak. 

"I understand your reasoning, but…” 

"But?" Corvus asked. 

"Anakin loved deeply. Perhaps more deeply than anyone I have ever known. And it was that love that destroyed him." Obi-Wan slowly, painfully, described. "When he feared losing his wife, Padmé, his love became fear. When fear took hold, it became desperation and when desperation failed him...it became hatred."

“Oh, Obi-Wan.” Shaak Ti reached across from her seat, and grabbed his forearm. 

"I agree that compassion is a virtue," Obi-Wan continued, flashing Shaak Ti an appreciative look. "But I worry that encouraging attachment without restraint risks creating more Vaders. History has shown that these last thousand years have created less Dark Jedi, less Sith than at any other point.” Obi-Wan argued. 

Corvus considered the point, and then waited to see what everyone else thought on the matter. This was afterall, a council, not the Yoda & Windu hour where everyone else sat back and listened. 

"It is a valid concern." Windu said from his reclined seat. 

"Love itself is not dangerous." Quinlan said in rebuttal. 

“You're right. Uncontrolled emotion is." Windu steadily replied, meeting Quinlan in the eyes. 

Several people nodded, whilst Obi-Wan idly scratched his beard, deep in thought. 

"Vaapad taught me something the Order never fully understood. You cannot defeat darkness by pretending it does not exist. You conquer it." Windu said in a tone, brooking no disagreement. 

“...I do not follow, Master Windu. I am in agreement with Master Revan, love, hope, compassion, friendship, these are things I yearn for. But what you are speaking of, is this no different from the philosophy of the Sith?” Shaak Ti said in concern. 

“I have often been an angry man.” Mace said, his admission stunning several people around him, yet Rahm Kota merely replied with a wild smile, and a swig of his drink. “Mastering Vaapad did not remove that anger, it taught me mastery over it."

Windu leaned slightly forward, and looked at everyone-especially Corvus & Keira-with a meaningful look. 

"Perhaps love follows the same principle. Suppressing emotion is not the same as mastering it. Ignorance is much more dangerous than truth when guided by a master. Anakin fell because we all told him to ignore reality.” Windu said in a heavy tone. 

"I agree." The Togruta's voice flowed gently through the chamber. "In my years as a healer, I discovered something curious. Whenever I attempted healing through discipline alone, the results were adequate, but when I focused upon compassion...the Force responded more readily."

Obi-Wan glanced toward her, and furrowed his brow. 

"You believe compassion enhances healing?"

"It does." Corvus jumped in. “My miracle on Eriadu, on Tatooine, each of those grand acts of healing are beyond me on an average day. It was only thanks to the warmth of the Lightside that I was able to accomplish such spectacular feats.” 

"I have witnessed it repeatedly under my own hands, and Master Revan speaks truth. The desire to ease another's suffering strengthens my connection to the Light."

Jaro Tapal spoke next, the massive Lasat's voice rumbled like distant thunder.

"I understand this feeling, this passion just as you do. When defending my Padawan, those I cared for, I was stronger. When defending civilians, comrades, and those entrusted to my protection…The Force answered." Tapal sternly said. An expression crossed his face, as if he were relieving those firefights this very moment. A strong, protective aura spread outward from the purple cat alien, and a brief shared vision of his many heroics passed through the minds of everyone present. “My strength came not because I was detached, but because I cared."

Several Councilors nodded, and even Obi-Wan seemed unable to argue with that.

Then Rahm Kota snorted.

"Oh, this is rich." Kota said, leaning back dramatically. "All these years we spent tellin' kids not ta love anybody." He muttered, sarcastically rolling his eyes. 

"Now we're discoverin' compassion makes ya stronger, and a better person to boot." His thick Outer Rim accent filled the chamber with mockery. "What a shock."

Several Councilors rolled their eyes, Shaak Ti covered her face in mild embarrassment, and Obi-Wan shook his head in disappointment. Krayt, meanwhile, was staring the middle aged Jedi down in disbelief, that someone could be so unserious in such a sacred setting sparked a glimmer of anger in his veins. 

Kota grinned, pleased with the reactions he had elicited. 

"Oh don't mind me. I only fought in about three hundred battles. Taught a handful of students, learned directly from Yoda, and was the only one who knew the clones were bad business. I'm just talking crazy is all…” 

A few polite chuckles spread around the room, and Corvus wondered what the kriff this crazy General was going to say next. 

Kota leaned forward with a grin, and took a sip from his flask. 

"But here's my problem. If we're tossin' out the old rules, where's the line?" 

Kota pointed toward Corvus. "Love's great."

Then toward Obi-Wan. "Until it ain't."

Then toward Windu. "Anger's useful."

Then toward Malicos. "Until somebody starts decorating caves with corpses."

Malicos smirked faintly, and Kota folded his arms, sloshing some of his drink onto his robes. "So what's the rule now? I'm not talkin crazy, am I?” 

The question hung heavily in the air, and no one answered immediately, as everyone was deep in thought. For Corvus, he knew Kota brought up some good points, so did Obi-Wan. Emotion was the gateway to falling to the Darkside. This was a fact. But living as monastic blocks of wood…how could that be called living? How could they connect with the average person in the galaxy, and understand their woes whilst living in an ivory tower? 

Unexpectedly, Taron Malicos spoke.

"The line as you put it, Master Kota, is a choice." The armored man spoke in a smooth Core accent. "The Darkside isn't created by emotion. It's created when emotion controls you."

Kota frowned, and was about to say something in rebuttal, but Malicos didn't give him a chance. 

"If fear dictates your actions, you've already surrendered. If grief dictates your actions, you've surrendered. If love dictates your actions...you get my point. Emotion is not inherently wrong, it is excess. What we need are councilors, people to talk to, mandatory training sessions, and missions. Being alone, terrifying things can pull at your mind.” Malicos said, ending his speech with a haunted ghost-like whisper. 

Corvus stared deeply at Malicos. Very clearly this man had his demons, however, being in a group setting like he was now-especially since they were on Tython-seemed to be doing wonders for his psyche. Someone like him who had dabbled in the Darkside would know better than most what one needed to prevent a fall. 

Corvus noticed A'Sharad Hett studying Malicos carefully. As if hearing echoes of his own mistakes. Then Krayt surprised everyone by agreeing with him. 

"He's right. Emotions, attachment they are inevitable. I grew up alongside Skywalker, and knew of his troubles. The Order didn't lift a hand to save his mother from rape or a brutal death. He came to us begging for help, but we turned our backs on him. This serves as a lesson to us all. The question is whether we possess the strength to endure loss when love is taken from us.” Krayt said, looking down at his toes. "We all lose people. If that loss destroys us, then we cannot handwave away emotion or love altogether. It is the individual who is to blame for that weakness. I agree with Masters Malicos Windu, and Revan, this must be taught. Self control is the path forward.” 

Finally Quinlan Vos scratched the back of his neck, and tossed in his two creds. 

"Well...I suppose I'm the obvious example of what ‘falling’ to the Darkside looks like.” He said in an embarrassed tone, earning a few smiles.

He sighed, then raised his head to meet everyone in the eye. 

"Look, I've loved. And honestly? I don't regret it. For all the pain, mistakes, and complications…I'd do it again." His admission filled the chamber with surprising warmth. "I think people are better when they have something worth caring about. Otherwise we're just monks with laser swords."

"Monks with laser swords! Ha, good one boy.” Kota laughed, slapping his thigh. 

Seeing that Keira and Paratus didn't wish to join in, Corvus rose from his chair, bringing attention back to himself. 

"We cannot build the future by fearing the past. Anakin Skywalker did not fall because he loved. He fell because he was taught to hide that love. We have nothing to fear, but fear itself. Our new Order has to take a stand, to boldly go where no Jedi has before. Therefore the old prohibition is abolished. Love is not forbidden. Family is not forbidden. Marriage is not forbidden." Corvus said, listing out his decrees one after another. 

"The Jedi shall not be creatures of detachment. We shall be guardians, healers, protectors, and we shall embrace the Light in all its forms."

The Force resonated with his words, and a warm current spread through the halls of the Temple. Today, a new era had dawned upon the Jedi Order.