The rising sun over Coruscant reflected in crimson glints upon the windows of the ancient Jedi Temple sanctuary.
In the opinion of Revan, who had just arrived at the structure, the Temple complex's southern landing pad was the best place on the entire planet-city to greet the dawn. The man admired how the sunlight gradually washed over the eastern side of the Temple, lending even more beauty and majesty to the Order's very heart.
Even without the dawn, the complex, a gigantic truncated pyramid with towers, every stone saturated with the Force, overwhelmed and captured the attention of anyone who merely flew past. What then, could be said of a Force-sensitive whose destiny was inextricably linked to the Jedi Order?
With a heavy sigh, Revan tore his gaze from the Council Tower, which he had been contemplating with a thoughtful expression for several minutes, and pulled the deep hood of his robes over his head. The cloak differed from the one he preferred to wear in his past, and even in his current life, and was fashioned in the traditional colors of the Order.
The former Sith decided not to irritate the Council, with whom he was scheduled to meet. Or rather, not to irritate them even more, as the conversation ahead would not be pleasant. Because of this, the Mandalorian armor concealed beneath his light-brown cloak seemed a perfectly appropriate accessory. As did the lightsaber clipped to his belt, whose unusually long hilt reached almost to his owner's knee.
Adjusting his belt, Revan moved toward the entrance of the Temple complex.
They were certainly waiting for him. And they were waiting "with impatience."
How else could one describe the fact that he was greeted by two Jedi Masters at once, accompanied by a dozen Temple Guards?
"A Guard of Honor, no doubt," Revan thought with an inner smirk, his eyes gliding over the figures in pale robes and full-face masks, gripping lightsaber pikes.
This was how renegades and exiles were once received. Only instead of faceless escorts, these were Jedi Guards, expertly trained to counter the Dark Side. Meetra once told him that she, the only one who returned to the Order after the Mandalorian Wars, was met by a squad of Guards to escort her to trial. Revan himself had not returned then. He came back to the Republic later, as a conqueror, and was thus spared the dubious pleasure of hearing the Council's accusations. Though they still got their revenge on him. They wiped his memory and turned him into an obedient puppet! And even after he realized who he truly was, fulfilled the Council's will, and saved the Republic from Malak, he was met with a farce, which someone later called the trial of the Redeemer Knight. Someone? Atris, of course.
Feeling a surge of anger within him, Revan quickly purged his thoughts and calmed himself. To give in to emotion and feed his inner Darkness, which he needed to conceal for now, was not the wisest course of action.
Adopting a welcoming expression, the former Jedi approached the Masters waiting for him. He knew the Mirialan personally, but the tall, gray-haired man he saw for the first time. He was dressed unusually for a Jedi. A finely cut tunic of Anduillian fiber, which was quite difficult to acquire on Coruscant, narrow trousers tucked into high, knee-length boots, and shoulders covered by a cloak with a deep hood. All garments were of strict, dark hues. The straight back and proud bearing, with a slightly raised chin, revealed him to be an aristocrat. Were it not for the curved hilt of the lightsaber on his belt, Revan would have taken the man for an envoy of some monarch sent by the Senate.
"Right," the former Jedi realized. "This must be Dooku, the Count of Serenno, who never accepted the title due to his training in the Order."
The gray-haired man's stern gaze ran assessingly over Revan, noting the armor beneath his clothing. His eyebrows twitched upward for a moment, clearly indicating the observation.
"Master Luminara, I am glad to see you," the former Sith greeted the Jedi first. "And you, Master Dooku."
If the fact that Revan knew the Count of Serenno's name disturbed the aristocrat, he did not show it.
"Avner Van," Unduli responded with a slightly sad smile. "I, too, am glad for our meeting. Even if under such circumstances."
Dooku nodded politely.
Meanwhile, the Guards formed a circle around the guest. Not too tight, but sufficient to instantly suppress any attempt at an attack.
"Hand over your weapon," one of the escorts with a lightsaber pike commanded in a tone of order.
This was going too far. A Jedi parted with his weapon only if he was Exiled or convicted by the Order's court. Neither had happened to Revan.
"No," he answered calmly.
"What?" the Guard was astonished, clearly unaccustomed to such a calm, yet defiant response.
"I will not surrender my lightsaber until the Council issues a corresponding ruling. This is my right."
Dooku smiled faintly, clearly approving of the "guest's" action. The same could not be said for the escort. A feeling of danger radiated from the unknown Knight. The Force warned them not to engage him. At the same time, the Darkness within this man was not felt so explicitly as to call him Fallen or, especially, a Sith.
The Count was intrigued by what the Council wanted from this stranger. And how he had managed to captivate Qui-Gon enough for him to ask his former Master for a favor. A request Jinn had not made since the affair with Xanatos.
"Those are the Council's orders," the head of the Guard squad insisted.
"This is not up for discussion," Revan cut him off.
He understood that he was provoking a conflict, but he wanted to clarify the situation immediately. The reaction of these Jedi would show what they expected from him. Were they treating him like an enemy? Was the Council planning to set a trap and take him into custody? If so, it would be much easier to leave from the area in front of the Temple than to fight his way out of the labyrinth of corridors.
A tense silence fell.
One of the guards could not stand it and ignited his weapon. To Revan's surprise, it was not a pike, but a double-bladed lightsaber. A golden blade sliced through the air with a characteristic hum, and its owner adopted a combat stance. However, the former Jedi did not react to the Guard's actions. Only his hand froze on the hilt of his weapon, ready to snatch the lightsaber from his belt at any moment.
Revan stood and stared at the flickering blade without saying a word. A flicker of sadness crossed his eyes for a moment. The lightsaber reminded him of a lost loved one. But the former Jedi quickly dismissed the distracting thoughts.
"Guard, calm yourself," Dooku said in a cold tone. "This Knight is within his rights."
"That is correct," the Mirialan supported him, tucking the hilt of her lightsaber, reflexively drawn from her belt, into the folds of her robes. "There is no need to provoke conflict when there is no cause for it."
The head of the Guards turned his mask-hidden face toward his subordinate, signaling him to put away his weapon. The yellow blade vanished, and the escort's circle slightly widened as the guards stepped back a little.
"Follow us, Knight Van," Luminara Unduli said, restoring a smile to her face.
Revan adjusted his cloak and quickly followed Dooku and the Mirialan. No one noticed the tiny comlink bead in his left ear, hidden by the hair that had grown quite long over the past month.
Hearing three quiet clicks in his headset, the former Jedi smiled faintly. The signal meant, "I'm inside."
Moving through the Temple corridors, the quite colorful group, consisting of two Jedi Masters, a young Knight in strange armor, and a squad of Guards, caused the Order members they met along the way to turn around and stare after them. It was not every day one saw such a procession.
Many asked themselves, "What is happening?" However, no one dared to stop the convoy and ask for the reasons. More experienced members of the Order reacted much more calmly, satisfied with a brief glance at the Masters leading the procession and a silent dialogue with them consisting of gestures and nods. But the younger generation quickly succumbed to their own curiosity and rushed to their peers to discuss the strange phenomenon and find out if anyone had heard what was going on.
"Look, Mac!" one Padawan nudged his friend.
The dark-haired boy, who had received a noticeable jab in the shoulder, was distracted from reading an interesting article about the activation of foreign policy by the InterGalactic Banking Clan, as well as the strange actions of Damask Holdings, which had caused its shares to fall on the galactic financial exchange.
"What happened, Theo?" the Padawan, forced to turn away from the news channel, asked his friend who had nudged him.
His friend silently pointed to those walking past.
"Whoa!" the economic and financial news enthusiast admired the sight. "This is the first time I've seen so many Guards in one place."
"You better look at that Knight!" His friend pointed to the armored figure. "He looks like he stepped out of an archival holovid about the Order's formation!"
"The armor is somewhat reminiscent of the Neo-Crusaders' Mandalorian armor," Mac mused thoughtfully.
"Oh, cut it out, bookworm!" Theo dismissed him, continuing to look admiringly after the procession. "Those are genuine Jedi Knight armor! They don't wear things like that anymore!"
"That's for sure," Mac agreed. "I wonder where he's from and why the Guards are with him?"
"I don't know," the fan of the Old Republic era mused. "Maybe it's somehow connected to the new guy?"
"You mean the Youngling Master Jinn and Obi-Wan brought in?"
"Yep. What was his name? Skooworker?"
"Skywalker," Mac corrected his friend. "But why do you think so?"
"Well, he said something about already having a Master and that he promised to come for him."
"You think that's him?"
"Why not? I was expecting something like this!" Theo did not let up. "Remember how the rookie described his Master?"
"I barely talked to him. You're the one suffering from an insatiable thirst for conversation," Mac chuckled. "Besides, access to the guest wing has been temporarily restricted."
"A skilled warrior, the hero of Naboo, and so on," the not-at-all-embarrassed Theo recalled.
His interlocutor merely shrugged, indicating that this conversation had passed him by, and returned to reading the news about the price increase for plasma due to the unexpected failure of supplies from Naboo.
"The Royal House of Naboo has not yet provided comment," Mac mumbled to himself. "And not a word about the blockade. But Obi-Wan mentioned it a couple of days ago, didn't he?"
But Theo, it seemed, was not listening at all.
"We need to find the Masters! They'll definitely know!" the restless boy pulled his friend along, not at all interested in Mac's opinion.
The two Padawans, who were still Younglings a week ago, rose from the bench where they were resting after training and hurried off in search of their instructors.
No one paid attention to the shadow that darted across the ceiling above.
Revan walked with a calm, confident stride, his shoulders proudly squared, almost mirroring Dooku's movements. The hereditary nobleman approved of this. Few members of the Order could demonstrate such a thing. Of course, all Jedi were taught diplomacy and the basics of etiquette of various peoples. But, unfortunately, only a few Masters could move with such dignity.
The unknown Knight Van was generating more and more interest.
The object of Dooku's observation was himself perfectly aware of the attention directed at him. This was expected. Back on Naboo, Qui-Gon had managed to provide a brief rundown on his former Master, the other Masters willing to help with the legalization of the talented Force-sensitive Avner Van, and most members of the Council. At this stage, their support meant a great deal. There was a chance to take Anakin without using force.
Suddenly, Revan perceived another bright flash of attention directed at him. Unconcealed joy of meeting, quickly replaced by embarrassment.
The source was quickly found. Hiding behind the nearest column was a young Zabrak girl named Rina, whom the former Jedi knew.
Revan smiled at the girl and gave a slight nod in greeting. The Zabrak's face lit up in a answering smile, and she wanted to wave, but she caught Dooku's stern gaze and hurried to disappear into the nearest corridor.
The former Jedi tracked the receding signature in the Force, regretting that he had come today for a very specific Padawan, but he would have been quite willing to take this Youngling as well.
To Revan's surprise, he felt two more signatures in the Force that were clearly drawn to him. And while one was understandable—it was Anakin—where did the other one come from? And not just a signature—a call!
Barely missing a step, the ancient Jedi focused on his sensations and tried to trace the source. The call came from the direction of the Temple Archives and felt quite strange. As if it were not a living mind, or conversely, so alive and powerful that it could confuse even such a trained Force-sensitive.
This matter would have to be investigated. But first—the meeting with the Council. At the next junction, Revan slowed down and looked into the corridor that led to Anakin's signal. A slight nod, and the ancient Jedi under escort turned in the opposite direction, heading towards the Council Tower.
A short click sounded in the headset… "received."
Revan's behavior did not go unnoticed.
"You are very sensitive to young Skywalker," Luminara Unduli, who had preferred to remain silent and not speak to the potential renegade until this moment, noted with surprise.
"One could say the Force itself brought us together," Revan shrugged.
"You share a bond?" the Mirialan realized.
"Still weak, but yes, we do."
"Unbelievable! It is rare for a bond to form so quickly, especially with someone who has not undergone initial training," the woman quickly said.
"And yet, the Council prefers to ignore this fact, focusing instead on the person of Knight Van," Dooku interjected unexpectedly, shaking his head.
According to Jinn, his former Master had long held doubts about many issues in the Order's policy, and disagreed with the Council's actions in most cases. It seemed that Revan was not the only one who had noticed that the Order had lost its former glory. By limiting their numbers, refusing to raise an army, and allowing the Senate to push them around, the Jedi had ceased to resemble the Knights of Light described in the Chronicles of the Republic's Founding. The Order was not taken seriously. Politicians often considered it their toy, not hesitating to weave intrigues around the Temple and its inhabitants.
Dooku had felt this when he, along with a group of young Jedi, was tricked into slaughtering Mandalorian warriors on Galidraan. Only the combined persuasion of Qui-Gon and Grand Master Yoda himself kept the Count of Serenno from leaving the Order then. But his faith in the Council and the course they were leading all Jedi on had been shaken. Such convictions resonated with the ancient Knight. In the past, disillusioned Jedi made loyal comrades. It was no wonder that besides Meetra, no one had returned to the Order after the Mandalorian Wars ended.
Meanwhile, the convoy reached the doors of the Council chamber. Jinn, leaning on his Padawan's shoulder, was waiting for them near the entrance.
"Qui-Gon! It's too soon for you to be up! And how did Master Che let you go?" Dooku exclaimed indignantly upon seeing his former apprentice.
"Thank you for your concern, Master," the wounded Jedi chuckled, emphasizing the last word, "but I cannot miss this assembly. After all, I was the one who brought Avner to the Order."
Kenobi looked at his Master with disapproval. Apparently, he had been partially informed of the plan and was not enthusiastic about it. However, he did not intend to contradict his Master, which was good.
"I presume the Council gave permission for your participation in the assembly?" Dooku clarified.
"Of course," Qui-Gon nodded.
"Well, in that case, I will leave you here. Unlike my former apprentice, I was not invited to the hearing," the Count of Serenno courteously nodded, addressing the escorted man. "Until we meet again, 'Knight' Van. Master Unduli."
"Until we meet again, Master Dooku," the Mirialan bid farewell.
"Until we meet again, Master Dooku," the ancient Knight acknowledged with a bow.
The nobleman walked away at a measured pace. To Revan's surprise, Luminara remained with them.
"I must introduce you to the Council," the Mirialan explained, noticing the confusion on the faces of both Avner Van and Qui-Gon.
'So, Dooku was sent as backup and combat reinforcement in case I decided to act up,' the ancient Knight concluded mentally.
"We shouldn't keep them waiting," Jinn suggested.
"Of course," the woman agreed.
At that moment, the tall doors, carved with the Order's symbol, swung open, admitting the entire group inside.
The chamber looked the same as it had thousands of years ago. A simple circular room, wide windows, twelve chairs facing the center. Everything was simple and tasteful, in the best traditions of the Order.
The Guards dispersed around the perimeter of the room, standing near the columns behind the backs of the Council members. The latter, by the way, were significantly fewer than twelve.
Only six seats were occupied. According to the data Revan had managed to read in the Archives, the Masters who decided to handle his issue were: Plo Koon, a Kel Dor male; Mace Windu, a Korun; Ki-Adi Mundi, a native of Cerea; Even Piell, a one-eyed Lannik; Oppo Rancisis, an unpleasant-looking Thisspiasian; and the only woman present, Adi Gallia, with a rather atypical appearance for a Tholothian.
Well, issues related to accepting or expelling a member of the Order were sometimes handled by a smaller Council. Especially since three lifetime members were present here. However, the absence of the Grand Master led to certain thoughts. Yoda would not miss an assembly deciding the fate of Avner Van. Or was their conversation a mere formality? No, Revan was sure that the head of the Council could feel the true dual nature of the ancient Knight. But then why wasn't he here?
"Esteemed Council," Luminara began as they reached the center of the chamber. "By your command, the Force-sensitive named Avner Van has presented himself."
"I can speak for myself," Revan interrupted her, finding the scene too reminiscent of Meetra's trial.
Most Council members looked upon the intervention with disapproval. Only Adi Gallia raised her eyebrows in surprise. The Kel Dor's face was difficult to read beneath the breathing mask and goggles characteristic of his species.
"Such are our traditions," Ki-Adi Mundi drawled, folding his fingers in a steeple before him.
"But you wouldn't know that. For you are an outsider, self-proclaimed as a Jedi Knight of the Order!" Rancisis almost hissed.
"Or rather, not in the present, and certainly not for several thousand years," Ki-Adi Mundi corrected the emotional Thisspiasian. "However, I have encountered that name in the archival records."
"I recall it too," Adi Gallia supported him. "He was a Council member at the enclave on Dantooine."
"And how did a dead man train you?" Windu asked, with a slight disbelief breaking through his mask of impartiality. "Or perhaps…"
"I found a holocron," Revan stunned everyone.
Judging by the reaction, Qui-Gon had not informed the Council beforehand about Avner Van's training.
"What?!" the collective gasp seemed to escape everyone present.
"I found Master Zhar's holocron," the ancient Knight repeated.
The Masters murmured indignantly, and Windu had to raise his voice again.
"One cannot learn swordsmanship from a book!" Ki-Adi Mundi noted.
"Well, a holocron isn't quite a book," Revan smirked. "Master Zhar himself taught me. He also showed me the basics of several styles and told me how to build my own lightsaber."
"You mean the holocron contained not only information but a Keeper?" Plo Koon inquired.
Revan nodded.
"Where is this holocron now?" Windu asked after restoring order.
"Unfortunately, I lost it after crashing on Tatooine," Revan answered with sadness in his voice.
A wave of disappointment emanated from the Masters. An undamaged Jedi holocron, especially one with a Keeper, was a rarity.
"Well, those who participated in the liberation of Naboo from the Trade Federation blockade highly praise your lightsaber skills… as well as your Force abilities," the Korun continued.
"But not all of them," the Cerean interjected.
"True," Windu agreed. "According to eyewitnesses, you repeatedly used Force Lightning and demonstrated excessive brutality in combat."
"Lightning is a Dark Side technique," Plo Koon took up the point. "And it is used only by Dark Side adherents, Fallen Jedi, or Sith."
Revan feigned shock on his face.
"How?! But Master Zhar was a Jedi!" he exclaimed.
"Or one who only pretended to be one," Windu countered. "We cannot say anything with certainty now. The holocron is lost, and with it the proof."
"But I am a Jedi!" Revan hotly objected.
"That remains for us to decide," Ki-Adi Mundi answered instead of the Korun.
"I do not sense the Darkness in him… at all," Adi Gallia offered. "How could he use lightning? It is impossible without the Dark Side."
"There are lighter equivalents," Windu waved a hand dismissively. "Only emotions are important. I studied some similar techniques when I created Vaapad."
"Esteemed Council!" Qui-Gon interrupted the discussion. "With all due respect, but Avner has been vouched for by Masters of the Order; he was trained by a Jedi, albeit one long passed into the Force. There is no Darkness in him, and he fights only to protect those in need. What further proof is required that he is a true Jedi?"
"He did not receive the Council's approval," the Korun retorted.
"But he was supported by the Grand Master himself!" Jinn finished.
This was news to some of those present. Windu, however, did not look surprised.
"We were unable to confirm this information. Communication with the Grand Master has been cut off. He is currently in a region where maintaining communications is quite difficult."
'So that's it,' Revan mentally noted.
It followed that this entire farce was orchestrated by the Masters present, without Yoda's approval. Had they decided to play at hunting a Sith? To expose an enemy who had infiltrated the ranks of the "keepers of peace"?
At that moment, two quiet clicks sounded in the hidden headset—"Target acquired." And a few moments later, a wave of joy and anticipation flared from Anakin.
Revan smirked. It was time to end this diversion.
"Esteemed Council. There is one more matter I planned to approach you about," he said.
"And what would that matter be?" Gallia asked with interest.
"I would like to take Anakin Skywalker as my Padawan," Revan stunned everyone.
"Absolutely not!" Windu exclaimed indignantly.
The other Masters supported him.
"You are not in a position to take students! First, you yourself must undergo full training in the Order, and then the trials to become a Knight," the Cerean countered.
"But there are Force Bonds between us," the ancient Knight tried to press.
"Nonsense!" Oppo Rancisis scoffed. "It takes years to form such bonds. You met less than a month ago."
Further discussion was cut short by Windu, who declared that the Council had decided to admit Avner Van into the Order at the rank of Padawan and would shortly determine who his Master would be. There could be no question of him taking the "Chosen One" as an apprentice.
"Especially since he already has that horned Sith instead of an apprentice," Obi-Wan muttered, unfortunately not quietly enough.
"What did you just say, Padawan?" Rancisis seized upon the very specific word. "Sith?"
The Guards around the perimeter noticeably tensed.
The sound of Revan's palm slapping his own face in his mind should have shattered even the armored glass of the tower. A second ago, he would have nodded wisely and left the Council chamber, avoiding an unnecessary conflict. The matter of taking Maul as an apprentice had not been mentioned in the mission reports. Jinn had even managed to convince Kenobi to keep quiet about it. Apparently, not for long.
Now, Revan literally felt the only way out closing. The door leading from the chamber was locked, as the Guards had ensured. The Masters gathered their focus; tension was mounting in the Force.
The ancient Jedi mentally cursed. If he had to fight his way out, he would be in a difficult position. He did not plan to kill or permanently injure anyone, and that significantly complicated the matter. He could bet that he could handle any of the present Masters one-on-one. But all of them at once? If he allowed himself to kill them… but there was no sense in that. And senseless brutality and bloody slaughter were the domain of beasts, madmen, and the Fallen, who had become slaves to their desires and the Dark Side. Revan was not like that. He commanded the Darkness, not the other way around!
"Repeat what you said, Padawan?" Windu demanded in the meantime.
Qui-Gon, who was leaning on his apprentice's shoulder, nearly crushed his arm, clearly overdoing it in his attempts to signal Obi-Wan to keep quiet. However, Kenobi did not take the hint, or perhaps chose not to.
"It is not in the mission reports from Naboo," the Padawan began. "After Master Jinn was wounded in a fight with an unknown Zabrak, Avner Van came to our aid. He easily dealt with the opponent… Too easily, even."
"So far, that only speaks to young Van's skill," Plo Koon noted.
Ki-Adi Mundi nodded in agreement. Even a wave of interest, mixed with respect, came from Rancisis.
"That's not all," Kenobi continued. "He didn't finish off the Sith, but offered him… uh… he offered him cooperation."
"A deal with a Sith?!" Windu exclaimed indignantly.
"He let him go?!" Oppo Rancisis supported his colleague.
"But Qui-Gon's report states the Sith escaped!" Adi Gallia reminded them.
Apparently realizing that he had just implicated not only Avner but also his Master, Kenobi attempted to justify Jinn.
"Master was severely wounded and delirious. He might have missed that moment."
'Oh, Qui-Gon, you've raised a righteous one to be your downfall,' Revan lamented mentally, preparing himself for the situation to escalate soon.
The former Jedi called upon the Force, strengthening his body and erecting barriers, ready to intercept or weaken any incoming attack. This could not have gone unnoticed in any other situation, but here and now, the Force was already swirling wildly in the chamber, masking any manipulation.
The Masters were arguing fiercely, debating what Kenobi had said. They discussed whether to believe the words of a Padawan who might have been mistaken while in a state of shock after battling a dangerous opponent. Whether the attacker could have been a Sith at all, or just another imitator who had found a dark holocron. Opinions were divided. Some insisted on detaining both Avner Van and Qui-Gon. Others focused only on the young Force-sensitive. But they all agreed on one thing.
"Avner Van," Windu proclaimed thunderously. "The Council suspects you of collaborating with the Sith. From this moment, you are required to surrender all weapons in your possession and proceed to the allocated quarters within the Temple, where you will await trial."
Silence descended. After a few heavy seconds, the Guards activated their blades. Luminara Unduli, whose presence the Masters seemed to have forgotten, retreated to the door, unwilling to intervene.
Revan looked at Jinn. The latter was looking at the ancient Knight with an imploring gaze, as if pleading, "Don't do it."
In response, the former Jedi slowly shook his head from side to side and raised his eyes to the Council members.
"No," the short answer boomed, like a shot from a Star Destroyer's main cannon.
In the next instant, a Force push passed from Revan in a wide wave toward the Masters, tearing their seats, as well as the Guards behind them, from their moorings and sending them flying toward the nearest wall or window.
The one-eyed Lannik was pinned down by his own chair, unable to react to the sudden assault. The other Masters were luckier and were already rising to their feet.
The ancient Knight was already engaged with the Guards who had rushed into the fray. His lightsaber instantly flew from his belt and, splitting in the air into two blades—a silver and a black—slid into his hands. The silver and black blades clashed with the yellow, filling the hall with a deafening screech. Parrying one of the lightsaber pikes, Revan twisted and cut the second one off at the fighter's wrist, then delivered a powerful kick to the latter's abdomen.
An attempt by one of the pikemen to attack using the Force was unsuccessful. The wave that should have knocked Revan off his feet merely dissolved into the barrier he had erected, surrendering part of its energy for a counter-strike.
A Guard who tried to attack from behind ran into the former Jedi's half-open palm, which held the black blade. A Force push sent the poor soul flying backward, slamming him against the wall with a crash.
The last pair of Temple Guards, consisting of their commander and the same Guard with the lightsaber pike, decided to attack together. The execution was decent. One came from above; the other lowered their blade, aiming for the legs. It would have worked, had Revan not been armed with two blades.
Using the attackers' momentum, the ancient Knight deflected the pike, and the lightsaber pike crashing down from above was met with a sliding block. Slicing through a pirouette between the pair of Guards, Revan barely touched their ribs with the blades of his sabers, and at the same moment, channeled a bolt of Force Lightning through them.
In less than five seconds, the escort, summoned to contain the defendant, regardless of his skills, was defeated.
Jinn had spent this time holding back Obi-Wan, who had suddenly imagined he could help the Temple's defenders. Luminara stood in the doorway with her blade activated, unsure of what to do. Nothing like this had ever happened in the Council chamber.
A blast of compressed air, which forced Revan to retreat a couple of steps to maintain balance, reminded him that the Masters still posed a threat. Catching a glimpse of a projectile flying toward him, the former Jedi leaped, bisecting the massive chair launched at him by Plo Koon.
In the next moment, the Korun closed in on Revan with a lightning-fast rush. The purple blade screeched against the silver and immediately met the black. Then the Master's blade cut through the air like a purple flash, coming in at an impossible angle beneath the ancient Knight's right arm. However, the attack missed, and a silver flash was already flying toward the Korun, in whose shadow its black counterpart slid like a dangerous serpent.
Vaapad clashed with Juyo. The style created based on the Form 7 was pitted against its prototype. The Masters observing the hurricane of strikes did not dare intervene, as it would be easy to accidentally hit an ally. The combatants moved with incredible speed, never breaking contact for a moment. Flashes and screeches filled the hall, creating a beautiful yet terrifying symphony of combat.
The Force was raging. Both opponents fed themselves, utilizing emotions and pushing to the very edge between the Dark and the Light. Both demonstrated mastery beyond comprehension. But the ancient Knight also had decades of combat experience on his side. A Master of an Order that had not been involved in conflicts for over a thousand years could not boast the same.
A battle-hardened, scar-covered Centurion versus a civilian yacht. The outcome of the duel was predetermined.
Windu was afraid of losing control and constantly held himself back. For him, the Dark Side was something horrific, dangerous, and unknown. For Revan, on the contrary, it was an old acquaintance.
The former Jedi felt perfectly how the Korun crossed the line, but in the next instant shut down his emotions, and his speed instantly dropped.
"A boat in a storm," the ancient Knight thought.
Smirking at his thoughts, Revan dramatically increased his pace. His blades practically vanished from sight, turning into smeared streaks marking the trajectories of the deadly edges. And in just a moment, Windu dropped his saber, having received four precise thrusts to his wrists and shoulders.
Stunned by his friend's defeat, Plo Koon missed the moment when the Korun's body hurtled toward him with the speed of a racing speeder. The Masters collided and slumped against the far wall.
Adi Gallia, Oppo Rancisis, and Ki-Adi Mundi attempted to simultaneously attack Revan, trying to hold him in stasis. But, as an experienced fighter, the ancient Jedi did not give them the chance. Acting preemptively, he arced one of his sabers, forcing the Masters to distract themselves from the threat. He then lifted the chair behind the Cerean into the air and knocked him off his feet.
Rancisis, who tried to shield his ally, was left exposed to a powerful Force push. And Adi Gallia, after deflecting the black blade flying at her, missed the strike from the silver blade held by Revan, who had instantly rushed toward her. A burn from the plasma loop on the back of her hand and a shallow wound on her back temporarily incapacitated the last active Master.
Revan summoned the second blade back to his hand and moved toward the exit.
"Coming?" he threw at Qui-Gon, who had been forced to stun his apprentice so he wouldn't do anything foolish.
"My place is in the Order," Jinn shook his head.
"But not this one," the ancient Knight countered. "You will find no answers here, nor will you learn anything new. They will only chain you and throw you into the dungeons of the archives. And after today, they will take what is dearest to you and cast you out entirely. Believe me, I've seen this, and not just once. Eras change, but this kind of rot continues to destroy the Order. Not just this one. This fate has befallen them all. The Je'daii fractured, the Sith destroyed themselves, and the Jedi are following the same path."
Revan did not know why he was speaking these exact words. They felt right and appropriate for this moment. He felt again like the young Knight who had stood before a group of Jedi and convinced them of the Council's erroneous judgment and the necessity of entering the war with the Mandalorians.
"But where should I go? I have spent my whole life in the Order. This is my home. And my Padawan is here," Qui-Gon indicated Kenobi.
"Follow me," Revan said firmly.
"Where?"
"Into the future."
"But…" Jinn glanced at his Padawan again.
"Each must make their own choice."
The old Jedi hesitated. He wanted to go with the one he had read so much about in the archives. The one he sincerely admired. Outside the Temple's walls, he might find answers to his questions. To know the Force as no one before him! But his responsibility to his apprentice held him firmly in place.
"The Order won't release me," he grasped at a straw, realizing that a moment more, and he would abandon his principles.
"But neither will it stop you," Revan countered, seeing the internal struggle within Jinn.
A rustle and a groan could be heard from the far end of the chamber. One of the Masters was regaining consciousness.
"Decide," Revan threw out, knowing there was no more time.
"I can't," Qui-Gon shook his head brokenly.
"Then, until we meet again." The ancient Knight turned toward the exit and added without looking back, "May the Force be with you."
The exit was blocked by the Mirialan, who was shocked by the swift defeat of the strongest Jedi. Meeting Revan's gaze, she chose to lower her blade and go assist the wounded. She could not win a fight against this monster in human form.
Rushing out of the chamber, the ancient Knight ran face-to-face into two more Guards, who had apparently hurried to the Council's aid. This meant the alert had already been raised in the Temple. Reaching the exit would be difficult.
In the next moment, both guards fell face down, like reeds cut by the wind. And behind them, two figures appeared—a woman and a child.
"I was just about to come pull you out," the woman in shining Mandalorian armor said cheerfully, juggling a pair of blasters, and, catching Revan's eye, added, "Everyone's alive and well. Just stunners, as agreed."
"Vaner!" Anakin sprang out from behind Tira and rushed to his first mentor.
"Hey, buddy," the ancient Knight ruffled the boy's hair.
"Time to go!" Nomad reminded him, changing the batteries in the blasters set to stun.
Revan nodded, and the three of them rushed into the Temple's labyrinth of corridors. The former Jedi directed the way, ignoring the objections of the Mandalorian, who was using her armor's navigation system.
"We're not going that way!" she yelled.
"I know better," he replied.
The Force was a much more reliable guide than electronics.
A turn, another turn, a brief skirmish with the Temple security. Running again. And finally… a dead end?
"So, now what?" Tira asked sarcastically, patting the blind wall that ended the corridor.
"Wait," Revan said quietly, as the Force told him something was about to happen.
"We have guests!" Nomad alerted them all, pressing against the wall and aiming her blasters at the corner at the end of the corridor they had just run down.
In the next moment, one of the wall panels slid aside, revealing a passage. A gray-haired figure in a black cloak emerged from it.
"This way," the unexpected benefactor, who turned out to be Master Dooku, said briefly.
"He's with us?" Tira asked incredulously.
"Yes," Revan nodded, having read something in the Count's gaze.
The passage led to the Temple's technical areas, through which one could reach any part of the complex, bypassing the main corridors.
Accompanied by Dooku, the former Jedi, the Mandalorian, and the promising young Force-sensitive rushed toward the reserve landing platform on the west side of the Temple.
"Did Jinn send you?" Revan asked on the run.
"No, but I overheard your conversation," the Count replied after a few moments.
"Surveillance system?" the former Jedi guessed.
Dooku nodded.
"And what do you think?"
"Your convictions are close to mine, and I would gladly go with you."
"But?"
"But I cannot abandon my apprentice," the Count of Serenno chuckled, realizing he had just repeated the words of his former Padawan.
"Master and apprentice," Revan shook his head. "Both learn from each other until they become one in spirit."
"That is truly so," Dooku agreed.
"Keep an eye on him," the ancient Knight requested. "He is a good man."
"I certainly will."
Fortunately, the Guards did not expect the fugitives to be so well-informed about the building's architecture. They managed to avoid surprises along the way.
However, they were already being waited for on the platform itself. A dozen Guards led by Battlemaster Cin Drallig and five Knights.
"We've sailed into a second Galidraan," Tira muttered barely audibly, marking targets through her helmet's visor.
"I cannot help you here," the Count of Serenno informed them. "I will not kill my brethren."
"And you won't have to," Revan replied.
The roar of engines echoed from the sky, followed by a crimson freighter, bristling with a pair of rapid-fire laser cannons, that dove onto the platform like a scarlet comet.
"Attention, bags of meat!" a voice boomed menacingly from the external speakers of the hovering ship. "Use the remains of your meager organic brains and step aside. Or we can proceed to a more enriched program, consisting of chaos and bloodshed!"
Several Guards flinched, deactivating their blades. Drallig stood his ground, as did the Knights and pikemen closest to him.
Revan tightened his grip on his weapons, preparing for battle, when suddenly…
"Let them pass!" the familiar voice of the Grand Master squeaked unexpectedly loudly.
A small platform, upon which the green-skinned dwarf who was the head of the Jedi Order was seated, flew out of the doors behind the fugitives.
"A misunderstanding occurred here. Hasty were the decisions of Council members, some," Yoda announced, addressing Revan. "Overlooked this I did, and arrived late to prevent it. A reward should have awaited you, young Knight. Instead, threats and exile you received."
The ancient Knight ostentatiously clipped his sabers to his belt and adjusted his cloak.
"It's not the first time for me," he smirked. "My opinions and the Council's often diverge."
"Cannot be said more accurately, hmm?" the Grand Master supported the jest.
"Grand Master?" Cin Drallig spoke up. "Is everything alright?"
"Yes," the green-skinned one turned to the weapons Master. "A misunderstanding arose, but all is resolved now."
The Guards were satisfied with the answer and relaxed slightly. However, they did not rush to leave the platform.
"Meet again we must, when all calm down somewhat. Many grievances arose today on both sides," Yoda addressed Revan again.
"Anakin will fly with me now," the ancient Knight stated firmly.
The green-skinned elder made a mournful expression but nodded.
"See, a Force bond has tied you. Going against it a mistake for the Council would be."
"Thank you, Grand Master."
"But a conversation we must still have."
Revan nodded to this.
"Indeed. Many unresolved questions remain. I would prefer that there be no animosity between us."
"As would I," the Grand Master agreed.
"In that case, I will arrive here in a month. Then we can discuss everything, and the Order will have calmed down a little after… today."
Yoda nodded, agreeing with the proposal.
"May the Force be with you," the Grand Master proclaimed the standard Jedi wish and finished much more quietly: "redeemed Knight."
————
Read ahead of schedule here → pat-reon(.)c-om/Bluuuxx [remove the parentheses and hyphen]