Jedi Insurgency 260

Steam rose from the mountain bathhouse in pale, twisting veils, drifting upward into the cold evening air until it joined the low clouds that clung to the slopes above the Jedi Temple. The bathhouse had been carved into a stone outcrop, open to the sky on three sides, with red cedar beams holding up a slanted roof over the area. 

The water was warm, but not too hot. Sporting his mask, and a small swimsuit, Corvus lowered himself down to his shoulders, and softly exhaled. A great burden had been placed upon his shoulders this day, and his body was still sore after the duel with Vader. Although he had learnt the [Shadow Wrath State], it still pulled upon his molecules, and pushing it as far as he had, left him feeling somewhat weak and listless. The Force was strong on Tython, and whichever ancient Jedi had designed this large bathhouse had used the knowledge of an Artisan, because he could feel healing & soothing principles interacting with his spirit at a deep level. 

Corvus rested with his back against a smooth black stone, his eyes were half-lidded in contentment. Mace Windu sat across from him with both arms stretched along the edge of the pool, his restored hand pinched water between his fingers, as if he were enjoying the simple sensation. Obi-Wan Kenobi sat somewhat apart from the others, not distant enough to be rude, but far enough that the steam seemed to gather between him and everyone else like a veil. 

Jaro Tapal-the large purple Lasat with elvin ears, and Gorilla styled feet-let out a slow breath. Leaning back, a cloth covered his eyes, and he had lowered his guard. “I had forgotten what a moment of peace had felt like. The jungles of Kashyyyk were no place for the inattentive." 

Windu gave a low hum of agreement. “The war taught us to always remain vigilant.” 

“And the Empire reminded us about the bitter pill of betrayal.” Obi-Wan said, his voice mild, though his eyes remained fixed upon the mountains.

“This war is but the tip of the iceberg. I have sensed the rise of other Sith, of an extragalactic threat that could consume us all. Rest well today, for the future awaits no man.” Corvus said in a solemn tone. 

No one said anything verbally, but a small pulse in the Force was his answer. Windu, Kenobi, Tapal. They would be ready. Waiting. However, for now, at this moment, they were only Jedi resting in warm water beneath a darkening sky. Not Councilors debating the fate of the galaxy. 

A long silence spread throughout the warm waters as each man enjoyed the atmosphere. Various birds, insects, and other creatures could be heard in the distance whilst water constantly trickled by. Corvus sipped on some blue milk through a straw, and closed his eyes. 

“Echuu Shen-Jon would have appreciated this place.” Windu smiled. “Knowing him, he's probably already setting up an arena for Vaapad practice.” 

“If I am not mistaken, Master Shen was your Padawan some years ago?” Tapal asked, his eyes still covered. 

“One of them. He was a powerful duelist, a capable warrior, and excellent General. If not for being accused of favoritism, I would have recommended him for a seat on the Council. His passion, however, requires further refinement, perhaps you could help in that regard, Revan?” Windu asked. 

Corvus scrunched his brow. He didn't recall this Master Shen? But that didn't stop him from being polite. “Of course, Mace.” 

Obi-Wan glanced toward him, and stroked his beard. “Will that be okay? Master Shen's Padawan had been slain by our ally, Sev'rance Tann some years ago. It was his rampage violating the Yavin Code that saw the Chiss locked up, and the admittedly accidental deaths of countless civilians.” 

Corvus felt the corner of his lip twitch. He never would have imagined that Windu's student was the main character in a videogame! Anyone who had that honor couldn't be weak. 

“Echuu had fire, in his spirit. Not the reckless sort that burns everything it touches, but the kind that refuses to die even in the fiercest gale. He cared deeply, loved deeply. And when loss found him, as it found so many of us, that love turned into something dangerous…” Windu said trailingly. 

“You blame yourself.” Jaro Tapal steadily stated without blame or accusation. 

“Echuu was damaged by the loss of his student. Whatever I say to him will be like the unwanted lecturing of a father. Despite his accomplishments, he is still young and headstrong.” Windu nodded, then shook his head. 

Corvus slowly stroked his chin, thinking about how to rope this talent in, whilst also avoiding conflict with his Evil Blueberry. It also amused him that 100% of his new recruits seemed to be guys, and now two of them were former apprentices of important Masters. 

“Hmm, very well then. I shall find some time to instruct him.” Corvus gave a thumbs up. 

The remark drew a quiet snort of amusement from Tapal, and Obi-Wan shook his head. 

“I hope you enjoy being the Order Master, Revan. I'm not one to complain about work, but you won't sleep for weeks at this rate.” Obi-Wan scoffed. 

“No rest for the wicked.” Corvus chuckled, then turned to the big Lasat. “How about you, Master Tapal? Your student seemed well adjusted despite his young age.” 

“Cal has a good heart. Obedient, willful, he will make a fine Jedi Knight.” Tapal said in a pride-filled tone. 

“Your Padawan has survived much. I read the battle reports from Kashyyyk. I must say, I'm impressed with your contingencies, Master Tapal.” Corvus said, inclining his head. 

“The boy will go far. I've seen much potential in him.” Windu remarked, tracing an invisible line in the water. 

“Cal is not the strongest in the room, nor the fastest or most skilled. He is not the loudest, nor the quickest to prove himself. But he has a knack for endurance, for never giving up. That is what I want for the Jedi. Endurance, perseverance, and strength that does not wither in despair. Order 66 has broken the will of many Jedi. We must raise a generation that can overcome this malaise.” Tapal's deep voice cut through the steam as the broad shouldered man wiped the cloth covering his eyes. 

Obi-Wan’s gaze dipped, as though the words had brushed against some private wound.

Tapal continued, unaware or perhaps simply unwilling to turn away from the truth. “We trained children to face darkness, but too often we forgot to teach them what to do after they survived it. Cal deserves a future where survival was not the whole lesson. The next generation deserves that too.”

Corvus was silent for a time, then he inclined his head. “Well said.”

The larger Jedi accepted the compliment with a small nod, though his expression remained solemn. “And your students?”

At that, Windu’s mouth shifted almost imperceptibly. “Yes, Revan. Tell us about the children that are depicted as demons by the Imperial propagandists.” 

“Why, Mace, I thought we were friends!” Corvus said in obviously faux anger. “Demons, hah, that's a gross misrepresentation of the truth…Most of the galaxy fears them very sensibly.”

Obi-Wan gave a small, dry laugh. “I have met Yon. The people on the Holonet may have a point.”

“That boy has the posture of a sheathed knife, ready to be drawn.” Windu said, shaking his head. 

“He would consider that a compliment.” Corvus chuckled. “Yon is quick to fight, and ruthless to his enemies. Perhaps not the best representation of an ideal Jedi, but during times of war, I wouldn't have anyone else by my side.” Corvus said, his voice full of pride. 

“He would be useful in the jungle with instincts like that.” Tapal grunted. 

“And Jax?” Obi-Wan asked in a curious tone. “I was impressed with what I saw when I Knighted him.” 

“Jax is cold on the surface, sometimes methodical, and observant like a machine. But deep down, he is a protector who feels deeply for the weak, innocent, and just. Some mistake his smooth face for emptiness, but deep down, I think he-like many Jedi-fears the pain of losing those close to him.” Corvus explained. 

“That kind of self-control can become troublesome when taken to the extreme.” Windu cautioned, sharing his own wisdom. 

“Which is why I do not praise him blindly, and frequently encourage him to interact with his friends. Jax has great power, but power is not what concerns me most. He feels deeply, perhaps more deeply than Yon, but where Yon turns feeling into violence Jax turns that emotion into largescale destruction.” Corvus said, thinking back to the appearance of that cloned Zillo Beast. 

“And what do you hope for him?” Tapal questioned. 

“That he learns warmth without fearing it will weaken him. That he discovers he does not have to become a weapon simply because he is good at killing. Jax could become a great defender of the Order, perhaps one of its finest. But I do not want greatness to devour the boy beneath it. He deserves to enjoy a life of innocence, just like every other child.”

The words lingered heavily in the air. Windu and Obi-Wan’s exchanged a glance, whilst Tapal nodded in agreement. 

“And you, Master Kenobi? Although what has happened to you is painful, I too was once betrayed by my student. A new chapter is about to take place on Tython, and I believe your wisdom deserves to be passed down.” Corvus earnestly said. 

“I had rather hoped the steam would hide me from this part of the discussion.” Obi-Wan said in a dry tone. “...Anakin was my student. My brother, in many ways, and my greatest failure. I am unworthy of teaching another.” 

“Skywalker was his own man.” Windu said, trying to reduce Obi-Wan’s guilt. 

“I trained him as best I knew how. I loved him. I truly did. But in the end, I became an enabler. I would certainly lead any prospective student astray.” Obi-Wan shook his head with finality.

Corvus leaned forward slightly, his forearms resting on the stone rim of the pool. “You believe taking another student would dishonor his memory, that they would fall just like him?” 

“Perhaps. Or perhaps I fear I would try to correct the past, only to be overly strict.” Obi-Wan sighed. 

“The Order today is not the same Order of 15 years ago. And the next student would not be Anakin.”

Obi-Wan’s face remained composed, but grief flashed across his brows. 

“A student does not need a perfect master. Your failures have taught you what not to do.” Tapal added on. 

“I had learnt much from my first student. When I taught my second Padawan, it was much smoother. Ahsoka was almost assigned to you, and she was practically half yours. You have the talent for it. The Order needs you.” Windu implored. 

Obi-Wan looked at each of them in turn, and for once he seemed unable to hide fully behind courtesy or wit. “You all make it sound very simple.”

“As Mace said, we need you, Obi-Wan.” Corvus nodded along. 

The mountain wind swept through the open side of the bathhouse, cool against their damp faces. Obi-Wan inhaled, then released the breath slowly. Far below them, the laughter of the teenagers running through passed by like a Spring breeze. 

Obi-Wan looked back into the water. The steam shifted around him, and for a moment he seemed older than his years. Yet there was still kindness in him. There was still patience. There was still that stubborn, luminous decency that had endured when nearly everything else had been torn away.

“Perhaps I shall teach again.” Obi-Wan eventually bit out.

“Hmph.” Corvus snorted, then held out a hand, and with a flick of the wrist, shot a small burst of water at the moping Jedi Master. 

Tapal raised an eyebrow, and Windu leaned back taking a sip out of some juice. 

“Are you just going to sit there, and take that, Obi?” A ghostly voice only Kenobi could hear whispered. 

“Oh, you've done it now.” The wet faced Obi-Wan said in a thick Core-accent, and began to toss some water back. 

Corvus laughed as he lunged to the side, dodging Obi-Wan’s counterattack. Acting like a serious Order Master was tiring, and he had an image to maintain in front of the masses. But here, surrounded by his peers, he was free to act as childish as could be. Listening to Obi-Wan mope about Anakin again, Corvus had to get his revenge. 

Whilst they enjoyed their time in the bathhouse, the stars brightened over Tython. Below them, the temple rested in the mountain’s shadow, alive with laughter. Warm water lapped gently against stone, and four Jedi Masters sat together in the steam, telling one another jokes, wise anecdotes, and enjoying cool beverages.