The sun rising over Coruscant reflected in crimson glints in the windows of the ancient Jedi abode.
In Revan's opinion, who had just arrived at this building, the southern landing platform of the temple complex was the best place on the entire planet-city to watch the sunrise. The man admired how the sunlight gradually flooded the eastern side of the Temple, giving the "heart" of the Order even more beauty and majesty.
However, even without it, the complex of a giant truncated pyramid and towers, each stone of which was imbued with the Force, overwhelmed and captivated the attention of anyone who merely flew past. Let alone a Force-sensitive whose destiny was tightly bound to the Jedi Order.
Sighing heavily, Revan tore his gaze from the Council tower, which he had been observing with a thoughtful expression for several minutes, and pulled the deep hood of his robe over his head. The cloak differed from the one he preferred to wear in his past, and in this, life, and was made in the traditional colors of the Order. The former Sith decided not to annoy the Council, with whom he was about to meet. Or rather, not to annoy them even more, as the conversation was not going to be pleasant. Therefore, the Mandalorian armor, hidden under a light brown cloak, seemed like a suitable accessory to him. As was the lightsaber attached to his belt, whose unusually long hilt reached almost to his owner's knee.
Adjusting his belt, Revan moved towards the entrance of the temple complex.
He was definitely expected. And expected "with impatience."
Otherwise, how else could one explain that two Jedi Masters, accompanied by a dozen Temple Guards, came out to meet him?
"An honor guard, no less," Revan thought with a mental grin, his gaze sweeping over the figures in light robes and full-face masks, holding lightsabers.
This is how apostates and exiles were once met. Only instead of faceless escorts, they were Jedi guardians, perfectly prepared to confront the Dark Side. Mitra 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 be taken to trial. Revan himself did not return then. He came back to the Republic later, as a conqueror, and therefore was deprived of the dubious pleasure of listening to the Council's accusations. However, they got back at him anyway. They erased his memory and turned him into an obedient puppet! And even after he, realizing who he truly was, still fulfilled the Council's will and saved the Republic from Malak, he was met with a farce that someone later called the trial of the Redemption Knight. Someone? Bastila, of course.
Feeling anger surge within him, Revan hurried to clear his thoughts and calm down. Giving in to emotions and feeding his inner Darkness, which should be hidden for now, was not a wise move.
Putting on a friendly expression, the former Jedi approached the masters who were meeting him. He knew Mirialan personally, but this tall, gray-haired man was a stranger. He was dressed unusually for a Jedi. A finely tailored tunic made of Andullian fiber, which was quite difficult to obtain on Coruscant, narrow trousers tucked into high knee-high boots, and shoulders covered by a hooded cloak. All in strict dark tones. His straight back and proud posture with a slightly raised chin revealed him as an aristocrat. And if not for the curved lightsaber hilt on his belt, Revan would have taken the man for a representative of some monarch sent by the Senate.
"Correct," the former Jedi guessed. "It must be Dooku, the Count of Serenno, who never accepted his title due to his training in the Order."
The stern gaze of the gray-haired man assessed Revan, noting the armor under his clothes. His eyebrows twitched upwards for a moment, clearly indicating this.
"Master Luminara, I'm glad to see you," the former Sith greeted the Jedi first. "And you, Master Dooku."
If the fact that Revan knew the name of the Count of Serenno somehow unsettled the aristocrat, he didn't show it.
"Avanne Van," Unduli replied with a slightly sad smile. "I'm also glad to see you. Even under these circumstances."
Dooku nodded politely.
Meanwhile, the Guards surrounded the guest. Not too tightly, but enough to immediately suppress any attempt at an attack.
"Surrender your lightsaber," one of the guards with lightsabers commanded in a commanding tone.
But this was too much. A Jedi parts with his lightsaber only if he is an Exile or has been condemned by the Order's court. Neither had happened to Revan.
"No," he replied calmly.
"What?" the Guard was taken aback, clearly unaccustomed to such a calm, yet defiant, reaction.
"I will not give up my lightsaber until the Council passes a relevant decision. It is my right."
Dooku smiled almost imperceptibly, clearly approving of the "guest's" actions. Which couldn't be said for the escort. The unknown knight exuded a sense of danger. The Force warned that it was not worth messing with him. At the same time, the Darkness in this man was not so evident as to call him fallen or, even more so, a Sith. The Count was interested in what this stranger wanted from the Council. And how he managed to hook Qui-Gon, since he decided to ask his teacher for a favor. Something Jin had not done since that incident with Xanatos.
"These are the Council's orders," the head of the Guard detachment insisted in the meantime.
"This is not up for discussion," Revan cut him off.
He understood that he was provoking a conflict, but he wanted to set things straight immediately. The reaction of these Jedi would show what they expected from him. Were they treating him as an enemy? Did the Council plan to set a trap and take him into custody? If so, it would be much easier to leave the landing platform in front of the Temple than to fight his way out of the labyrinth of corridors.
A tense silence hung in the air.
One of the guards couldn't stand it and ignited his weapon. To Revan's surprise, it wasn't a pike, but a double-bladed lightsaber staff. The golden blade cut through the air with a characteristic hum, and its owner took a combat stance. However, the former Jedi did not react to the Guard's actions. Only his hand froze on the hilt of his lightsaber, ready to snatch the weapon from his belt at any moment.
Revan stood and looked at the shimmering blade without saying a word. For a moment, sadness flashed in his eyes. The lightsaber staff reminded him of his lost love. But the former Jedi quickly banished the unnecessary thoughts.
"Guard, calm down," Dooku said in a cold tone. "This knight is within his rights."
"That's right," the Mirialan supported him, hiding the hilt of the blade, which had been reflexively pulled from his belt, in the folds of his robe. "There's no need to provoke a conflict when there's no reason for it."
The Guard Captain turned his masked face to his subordinate, gesturing for him to put away his weapon.
The yellow blade disappeared, and the escort ring widened slightly as the guards stepped back a little.
"Follow us, Knight Van," Luminara Unduli said, returning a smile to her face.
Revan adjusted his cloak and walked quickly behind Dooku and the Mirialan. No one noticed the miniature comlink bead in his left ear, hidden by hair that had grown quite a bit in the last month.
Hearing three quiet clicks in his headset, the former Jedi smiled slightly. The signal meant – "I'm inside."
As they moved through the Temple corridors, the rather colorful group, consisting of two Jedi Masters, a young knight in strange armor, and a squad of Guards, made the Order members they encountered turn around and look after them for a long time. It wasn't every day you could see such a procession.
Many wondered, "What's happening?" However, no one dared to stop the convoy and ask for reasons. More experienced members of the Order reacted much more calmly, content 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 curiosity and hurried to their peers to discuss the strange phenomenon and find out if anyone had heard anything.
"Look, Mac!" one Padawan nudged his friend.
The dark-haired boy, who had received a sensitive nudge in the shoulder, was distracted from reading an interesting article about the activation of the InterGalactic Banking Clan's foreign policy, as well as the strange actions of the "Damask Holdings" company, which led to a drop in its shares on the galactic financial exchange.
"What happened, Theo?" the Padawan, forced to tear himself away from the news channel, asked his friend who had nudged him.
His friend silently pointed to the passing figures.
"Wow!" admired the lover of economics and finance news. "I've never seen so many Guards in one place before."
"You'd better look at that knight!" his friend pointed to the armored figure. "He looks like he stepped out of a holovid from the archives about the Order's formation!"
"The armor somewhat resembles the Mandalorian armor of the Neo-Crusaders," Mac mused thoughtfully.
"Oh, come on, bookworm!" Theo waved him away, continuing to admire the procession. "These are real Jedi Knight armors! They don't wear them anymore!"
"That's for sure," Mac agreed. "I wonder where he's from and why he has Guards with him?"
"I don't know," the fan of the Old Republic era mused. "Maybe it's related to that newcomer?"
"You mean the youngling that Master Jin and Obi-Wan brought?"
"Yeah. What's his name again? Scuwoker?"
"Skywalker," Mac corrected his friend. "But why do you think so?"
"Well, he said something about already having a mentor and that he promised to come for him."
"You think it's him?"
"Why not? I was expecting something like this! Remember how the newcomer described his teacher?" Theo continued, unceasingly.
"I barely talked to him. It's you who suffers from an insatiable thirst for communication," Mac grinned. "Besides, access to the guest wing has been temporarily restricted."
"A skilled warrior, hero of Naboo, and so on," Theo recalled, not at all embarrassed.
His companion merely shrugged, indicating that this conversation had passed him by, and returned to reading news about the price increase of plasma due to the sudden disruption of supplies from Naboo.
"The Royal House of Naboo has not yet commented," Mac mumbled to himself. "And not a word about the blockade. But Obi-Wan mentioned it a couple of days ago?"
But Theo didn't seem to be listening at all.
"We need to find the teachers! They'll surely know!" the restless boy pulled his friend along, not at all interested in Mac's opinion.
The two Padawans, who had been younglings just a week ago, got up from the bench where they had been resting after training and hurried to find their mentors.
No one paid attention to the shadow that slipped across the ceiling.
Revan walked with a calm, confident gait, his shoulders proudly squared, almost mimicking Dooku's movements. The hereditary nobleman was pleased with this. Among the members of the Order, few could demonstrate such dignity.
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 aroused increasing interest.
The object of Dooku's observation, Revan himself, felt the attention directed at him perfectly. It was expected. Back on Naboo, Qui-Gon had managed to provide brief information about his former mentor, other Masters willing to help with the legalization of the talented gifted Avanne Van, as well as most of the Council members. At this stage, their support was significant. There was a chance to take Anakin without force.
Suddenly, Revan caught 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, familiar to the former Jedi.
Revan smiled at the girl and nodded slightly in greeting. The Zabrak beamed back with a smile and wanted to wave, but met Dooku's stern gaze and quickly disappeared down the nearest corridor.
The former Jedi followed the receding Force echo, lamenting that he had come today for a very specific Padawan, but would not mind taking this youngling.
To Revan's surprise, he felt two more Force echoes that were clearly reaching out to him. And if one was clear – it was Anakin. But where did the other one come from? And not just an echo – a call! Almost stumbling, the former Jedi focused on his sensations and tried to trace the source. The call came from 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 question needed to be addressed. But first – the meeting with the Council. At another junction, Revan slowed down and looked down the corridor that led to Anakin's signal. A slight nod, and the ancient Jedi, under escort, turned in another direction, heading towards the Council tower.
A short click sounded in the headset... "received."
Revan's behavior did not go unnoticed.
"You sense young Skywalker very well," Luminara Unduli remarked with surprise, preferring to remain silent as much as possible until then and not talk to a potential apostate.
"You could say the Force itself brought us together," Revan shrugged.
"Are there bonds between you?" the Mirialan realized.
"Still weak, but yes, there are."
"Incredible! It's rare for bonds to form so quickly, and with someone who hasn't undergone initial training," the woman spoke rapidly.
"And yet, the Council prefers to ignore this fact, focusing on the identity of Knight Van," Dooku interjected, shaking his head.
According to Jin, his mentor had long harbored doubts on many issues of the Order's policy, and disagreed with the Council's actions in most cases. It seemed that not only Revan had noticed that the Order had lost its former glory. By limiting its numbers, abandoning its army, and allowing the Senate to manipulate it, the Jedi had ceased to resemble the Knights of Light described in the Chronicles of the Republic's formation. The Order was not taken seriously. Politicians often considered it their toy, not hesitating to weave intrigues around the Temple and its inhabitants. Dooku felt this himself when he, along with a group of young Jedi, was tricked into slaughtering Mandalorian warriors on Galidraan. Only the joint 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 was shaken. Such convictions appealed to the ancient. In the past, disillusioned Jedi became loyal comrades. It was no coincidence that, apart from Mitra, no one returned to the Order after the Mandalorian Wars.
Meanwhile, the convoy reached the doors of the Council chamber.
Near the entrance, Jin was waiting for them, leaning on his Padawan's shoulder.
"Qui-Gon! You shouldn't be up yet! And how did Master Che let you go?" Dooku exclaimed, seeing his former student.
"Thank you for your concern, teacher," the wounded Jedi grinned, emphasizing the last word. "But I cannot miss this meeting. After all, it was I who brought Avanne into the Order."
Kenobi looked at his mentor with disapproval. Apparently, he had been partially informed of the plan, and he was not enthusiastic about it. However, he wasn't going to argue with his teacher, which was good.
"I assume the Council has given permission for your participation in the meeting?" Dooku clarified.
"Of course," Qui-Gon nodded.
"Well, in that case, I'll leave you here. Unlike my former student, I was not invited to the hearing," the Count of Serenno politely nodded to the escorted man. "See you later, 'Knight' Van. Master Unduli."
"See you, Master Dooku," the Mirialan said goodbye.
"See you, Master Dooku," the ancient acknowledged with a bow.
The nobleman walked away at a measured pace. To Revan's surprise, Luminara remained with them.
"I must present you to the Council," the Mirialan explained, noticing the bewilderment on the faces of both Avanne Van and Qui-Gon.
"So Dooku was sent as support and combat reinforcement, in case I decided to act up," the ancient concluded mentally.
"Let's not keep them waiting," Jin suggested.
"Of course," the woman agreed.
At that moment, the tall doors with the Order's symbol carved on them swung open, admitting the entire group inside.
The hall looked the same as it had thousands of years ago. A simple round 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 hall, standing by the columns behind the Council members. The latter, incidentally, were significantly fewer than twelve.
Only six seats were occupied. According to the data Revan had managed to read in the Archives, it turned out that the Masters were dealing with his issue: Plo Koon - a male of the Kel Dor species; Korunnai - Mace Windu; a native of Cerea - Ki-Adi-Mundi; a one-eyed Lannik - Even Piell; an unpleasant-looking Tissian - Oppo Rancisis; and the only woman present, Adi Gallia, with a rather atypical appearance for a Tolothian.
Well, matters concerning the acceptance or expulsion of a member of the Order were sometimes handled by a small part of the Council. Especially since three of its lifetime members were present. However, the absence of the Grand Master led to certain thoughts. Yoda would not have missed a meeting where the fate of Avner Van was being decided. Or was their conversation just a 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 soon as they stepped into the center of the hall, "at your disposal, the gifted named Avner Van has appeared."
"I can speak for myself," Revan interrupted her, as the unfolding events too closely resembled Mitra's trial.
Most of the Council members looked at this intervention with disapproval. Only Adi Gallia raised her eyebrows in surprise. It was difficult to read the Kel Dor's face under the breathing mask and goggles characteristic of their race.
"Such are our traditions," Ki-Adi-Mundi said, folding his fingers into a steeple in front of him.
"But you don't know that! After all, you are a stranger who has arbitrarily called himself a Jedi Order knight!" Rancisis almost hissed.
"Let's not jump to conclusions, Masters," Windu urged everyone to silence, apparently enjoying a certain authority among the Council members. "Avner Van, you were summoned here to clarify several points regarding your abilities and level of training, which seem quite unusual to us for someone who has not undergone training in the Order."
Noticing that Qui-Gon wanted to interject, the Korunnai continued.
"The Council also found it strange that you were accepted into the Order without our approval," he shifted his gaze to Jinn. "Even though your candidacy was supported by several masters, including a former Council member."
Silence fell, which, after a few seconds, was broken by the Cerean.
"Will you not tell us who you are and where you are from?"
Revan took a step forward, placing himself in the very center of the hall, while the others moved closer to the exit.
"My name is Avner Van, and I am from Deralia. However, I spent a long time on Dantooine," the ancient began his story.
The Council's emotions were difficult to gauge, as all the Masters had chosen to put up defenses around themselves. After all, they were about to meet an unknown gifted individual. Revan approved of this step. But the execution itself annoyed him. The defenses were full of holes and did not allow the Jedi to be completely hidden from outside attention. Focusing, Revan could feel the distrust and irritation he was causing among the Masters.
Smiling mentally, the ancient decided to demonstrate what it meant to hide one's thoughts and emotions.
With an inspired expression and completely honest eyes, he began to tell a pre-fabricated story of Avner Van, who had lost his parents early and set off on a journey across the galaxy, led by a strange feeling he couldn't explain. A certain "Call" led him to Dantooine, where he spent several years. No one sensed even a hint of a lie.
"Where did you learn to handle a lightsaber and Force skills?" Windu interrupted the story.
"I was trained by Jedi Master Jar Lestin," Revan replied calmly.
"Nonsense!" Rancisis exclaimed. "There is no Master with that name!"
"Or rather, there isn't one currently, and hasn't been for several thousand years, precisely," Ki-Adi-Mundi corrected the emotional Tissian. "However, I have encountered this name in archival records."
"I also recall," Adi Gallia added, "He was a member of the Council in the enclave on Dantooine."
"And how did a dead man train you?" Windu asked with a slight disbelief that broke through his mask of impartiality. "Or perhaps..."
"I found a holocron," Revan stunned them all.
Judging by their reaction, Qui-Gon had not informed the Council about Avner Van's training in advance.
"What?!" it seemed to burst from everyone present.
"I found Master Jar's holocron," the ancient repeated.
The Masters grumbled indignantly, and Windu had to raise his voice again.
"You can't learn fencing from a book!" Ki-Adi-Mundi remarked.
"Well, a holocron is not a book at all," Revan chuckled. "Master Jar himself taught me. He also showed me the basics of several styles and told me how to build my own lightsaber."
"Do you mean that the holocron contained not only information but also a keeper?" Plo Koon asked again.
Revan nodded.
"Where is this holocron now?" Windu asked, after restoring order.
"Unfortunately, I lost it after the crash on Tatooine," Revan replied with sadness in his voice.
Disappointment emanated from the Masters. An intact Jedi holocron, and one with a Keeper, was a rarity.
"Well, those who participated in the liberation of Naboo from the Trade Federation blockade highly value your lightsaber skills... as well as your Force abilities," the Korunnai continued.
"But not all," the Cerean interjected.
"True," Windu agreed. "According to eyewitnesses, you repeatedly used Force lightning and demonstrated excessive cruelty in combat."
"Lightning is a Dark Side technique," Plo Koon added. "And only Dark Side adepts, fallen Jedi, or Sith use it."
Revan feigned shock.
"How?! But Master Jar was a Jedi!" he exclaimed.
"Or someone who merely pretended to be one," Windu countered. "Nothing can be said with certainty now. The holocron is lost, and with it, the proof."
"But I am a Jedi!" Revan argued heatedly.
"That remains for us to decide," Ki-Adi-Mundi replied instead of the Korunnai.
"I don't feel any Darkness in him... not at all," Adi Gallia said. "How could he use lightning? It's impossible without the Dark Side."
"There are brighter analogues," Windu dismissed. "Only emotions matter. I studied some similar techniques when I created Vaapad."
"Esteemed Council!" Qui-Gon interrupted the discussion. "With all due respect to you, Master Jedi, but Avner has been vouched for by Masters of the Order, he trained with a Jedi, albeit one who joined the Force long ago. There is no Darkness in him, and he fights only to protect those who need it. What further proof is needed that he is a true Jedi?"
"He did not receive the Council's approval," the Korunnai objected.
"But the Grand Master himself supported him!" Jinn delivered the final blow.
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 lost. He is currently in a region where it is quite difficult to maintain communication."
"So that's how it is," Revan thought to himself.
So, all this farce was orchestrated by the Masters present here, without Yoda's approval. Did they decide to play Sith hunter? To expose an enemy who had infiltrated the ranks of the "guardians of peace"?
At that moment, two quiet clicks sounded in his hidden earpiece – "Target acquired." And a few moments later, Anakin's joy and anticipation flared.
Revan smirked. It was time to end this diversion.
"Esteemed Council! There is one more matter I intended to bring before you," he said.
"And what is this matter?" Gallia asked with interest.
"I would like to take Anakin Skywalker as my Padawan," Revan stunned everyone.
"Impossible!" 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 trials to become a Knight," the Cerean added.
"But there is a Force Bond between us," the ancient tried to press.
"Nonsense!" Oppo Rancisis waved it off. "Forming such bonds takes years. You met less than a month ago."
Windu cut off further discussion, proclaiming that the Council had decided to accept Avner Van into the Order as a Padawan and would soon determine his mentor. The idea of him taking the "chosen one" as a student was out of the question.
"Besides, he already has that horned Sith as a student," Obi-Wan grumbled, unfortunately, not quietly enough.
"What did you just say, Padawan?" Rancisis seized on the very specific word. "Sith?"
The guards along the perimeter tensed noticeably.
The sound of Revan's palm slapping his own face in his mind must have shattered even the armored glass of the tower. A second ago, he would have nodded wisely and left the council chamber, avoiding unnecessary conflict. The incident with Maul's acceptance as a student was not mentioned in the mission reports. Jinn had even managed to convince Kenobi to remain silent about it. Apparently, not for long.
Now, Revan literally felt the only exit closing. The door leading out of the hall was locked, thanks to the Guards. The Masters gathered, and the Force in the room grew tense.
The ancient Jedi cursed mentally. If he had to fight his way out, it wouldn't be easy. He had no intention of killing or maiming anyone, which significantly complicated matters. He could bet 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 that made no sense. And senseless cruelty and bloody slaughter were the lot of beasts, madmen, and the fallen who had become slaves to their desires and the Dark Side. Revan was not like that. He controlled the Darkness, not the other way around!
"Repeat what you said, Padawan?" Windu demanded in the meantime.
Qui-Gon, leaning on his student's shoulder, almost crushed his hand, clearly overdoing it in an attempt to signal Obi-Wan to keep quiet.
However, Kenobi either didn't understand the hint or chose not to.
"This is not in the mission reports from Naboo," the Padawan began. "After Master Jinn was wounded in combat with an unknown Zabrak, Avner Van came to our aid. He easily dealt with the opponent... Almost too easily."
"So far, this only speaks to young Van's mastery," Plo Koon remarked.
Ki-Adi-Mundi nodded in agreement. Even Rancisis sent a wave of interest mixed with respect.
"That's not all," Kenobi continued. "He didn't finish off the Sith, but offered him to become... um... he offered cooperation."
"A deal with a Sith?!" Windu exclaimed.
"Did you let him go?!" Oppo Rancisis supported his colleague.
"But Qui-Gon's report states that the Sith escaped!" Adi Gallia reminded them.
Apparently realizing that he had just implicated not only Avner but also his teacher, Kenobi tried to defend Jinn.
"The Master was seriously wounded and delirious. He might have missed that moment."
"Oh, Qui-Gon, you've raised a righteous man to your own detriment," Revan thought to himself, preparing for the situation to escalate.
The former Jedi invoked the Force, strengthening his body and erecting barriers ready to intercept or weaken any blow directed at him. This could not go unnoticed in any other situation, but here and now, the Force was already churning in the room, masking any manipulations.
The Masters argued heatedly, discussing Kenobi's words. They debated whether to believe the Padawan's words, who might have been mistaken, being in shock after a fight with a dangerous opponent. Could it even have been a Sith, or just another imitator who had found a dark holocron? Opinions were divided. Some insisted on detaining both Avner Van and Qui-Gon. Some focused only on the young gifted individual. But they all agreed on one thing.
"Avner Van," Windu proclaimed loudly, "the Council suspects you of cooperating with Sith. From this moment on, you are to surrender all your weapons and proceed to the designated apartments within the Temple, where you will await judgment."
Silence fell. The guards, after a few heavy seconds, activated their blades. Luminara Unduli, whose presence the Masters had apparently forgotten, moved to the very door, not wishing to get involved.
Revan glanced at Jinn. He looked at the ancient with a pleading gaze, as if urging, "Don't do it."
In response, the former Jedi slowly shook his head from side to side and raised his gaze to the Council members.
"No," the short answer thundered like the main caliber shot of a Star Destroyer.
The next moment, a Force push spread out from Revan in a wide wave towards the Masters, tearing their chairs, as well as the Guards behind them, from their places and sending them flying towards the nearest wall or window.
The one-eyed Lannik was pinned by his own chair, not having had time to react to the sudden attack. The other Masters were luckier and were already getting to their feet.
And the ancient was already fighting the Guards who rushed into battle. His lightsaber flew from his belt in an instant, splitting in the air into two blades, and slid into the owner's hands. The silver and black blades clashed with the yellow ones, filling the hall with a deafening screech. Deflecting one of the light staffs aside, Revan twisted and cut the second at the fighter's wrist, then delivered a powerful kick to the abdomen.
The attack of one of the spear-wielding guards with the Force was unsuccessful. The wave that was supposed to knock Revan off his feet merely dissolved in the barrier he had erected, giving some energy for a counter-attack.
A guard who tried to attack from behind ran into the former Jedi's half-open palm with a black blade clenched in it. A Force push sent the poor fellow flying backward, crashing him into the wall.
The last pair of Temple guards, consisting of their commander and the same spear-wielding Guard, decided to attack together. The execution was not bad. One came from above, the other lowered his blade down, aiming for the legs. It would have all worked out if Revan hadn't been armed with two blades. Using the attackers' inertia, the ancient deflected the staff aside, and caught the lightsaber pike descending upon him with a glancing block. Slipping between the pair of Guards in a pirouette, Revan barely touched their ribs with the blades of his swords, and at the same moment, sent Force lightning through them.
In less than five seconds, the convoy, summoned to restrain the accused, regardless of his skills, was defeated.
Jinn had been holding Obi-Wan in place the entire time, who had suddenly decided he could help the Temple defenders. Luminara stood at the door with her activated blade, not knowing what to do. Such a thing had never happened in the Council chamber before.
A blast of compressed air, forcing Revan to step back a couple of paces to maintain balance, reminded him that the Masters still posed a threat. Noticing an object flying at him out of the corner of his eye, the former Jedi, in a jump, cut through the massive chair thrown at him by Plo Koon.
The next moment, the Korunnai closed in on Revan with lightning speed. The purple blade screeched across the silver one and immediately ran into the black one. Then the Master's blade traced a purple lightning bolt through the air, coming in at an impossible angle under the ancient's right arm. However, the attack missed, and a silver flash flew towards the Korunnai, in the shadow of which its black counterpart slithered like a dangerous snake.
Vaapad clashed with Juyo. A style based on the seventh form was pitted against its prototype. The Masters watching the hurricane of blows did not dare to intervene, as they could easily hit an ally. After all, the fighters moved with incredible speed, never ceasing contact. Flashes and screeches filled the hall, creating a beautiful but terrifying symphony of combat.
The Force raged. Both opponents fed themselves, using emotions and reaching the very edge between Darkness and Light. Both demonstrated mastery beyond comprehension. But the ancient had the advantage of many years of combat experience. The Order Master, who had not participated in conflicts for over a thousand years, could not boast of this.
A "Centurion" tempered in battle, covered in combat scars, and a civilian yacht. The outcome of the duel was predetermined.
Windu feared losing control and constantly restrained himself. For him, the Dark Side was something terrifying, dangerous, and unknown. For Revan, on the contrary, it was an old acquaintance.
The former Jedi felt perfectly how the Korunnai walked the edge, but the next moment closed his emotions, and his speed instantly dropped.
"A boat in a storm," the ancient thought.
Grinning at his thoughts, Revan ramped up the tempo. His blades practically disappeared from view, turning into blurred ribbons marking the trajectory of the deadly blades. And, after just a moment, Windu dropped his sword, receiving four precise thrusts to his wrists and shoulders.
Stunned by his friend's defeat, Plo Koon missed the moment when the Korunnai's body rushed towards 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 attack Revan simultaneously, trapping him in stasis. But, being an experienced fighter, the ancient Jedi did not give them such an opportunity. Acting preemptively, he threw one of his swords in an arc, forcing the Masters to focus on the threat. Then he lifted the chair behind the Cerean into the air and knocked him off his feet.
Rancisis, attempting to defend his ally, was left open for a powerful Force push. And Adi Gallia, deflecting the black blade flying at her, missed the blow of the silver blade, held in the hand of Revan, who had lightning-fastly jumped to her. A burn from the plasma loop on the back of her hand and a shallow wound on her back temporarily incapacitated the last Master.
Revan summoned the second blade into his hand and moved towards the exit.
"Are you coming?" he threw at Qui-Gon, who was forced to stun his student so he wouldn't do anything foolish.
"My place is in the Order," Jinn shook his head.
"But not in this one!" the ancient objected. "They won't give you answers here, they won't teach you anything new. They will only chain you up and throw you into the archives. And after today, they will take away what is most precious and throw it away. Believe me, I've seen this before, and more than once. Eras change, but such rot continues to destroy the Order. Not just this one. All have met this fate. the Je'daii split, the Sith destroyed themselves, the Jedi are going the same way."
Revan didn't know why he was saying these words. They seemed right and fitting for this moment. He felt like the young knight again, standing before a group of Jedi, convincing them of the Council's mistaken judgments and the necessity of going to war with the Mandalorians.
"But where should I go? I've spent my whole life in the Order. This is my home. And this is my Padawan," Qui-Gon pointed at Kenobi.
"Follow me!" Revan said firmly.
"Where?"
"Into the future!"
"But..." Jinn glanced at his Padawan again.
"Everyone must make their own decision."
The old Jedi hesitated. He wanted to go with the one he had read so much about in the archives. Whom he sincerely admired. There, outside the Temple walls, he could find answers to his questions. To know the Force like no one before him! But the responsibility for his student held him firmly.
"The Order won't let you go," he clung to a straw, realizing that in a little while he would spit on his principles.
"But they won't stop you either," Revan countered, seeing the struggle within Jinn.
A rustle and a groan came from the far end of the hall. One of the Masters was regaining consciousness.
"Decide," Revan threw, realizing there was no more time.
"I can't," Qui-Gon shook his head in dismay.
"Then, see you later," the ancient turned to the exit and added without looking back, "May the Force be with you!"
The exit was blocked by a Myrialan, shocked by the swift dispatch of the strongest Jedi. Meeting Revan's gaze, she chose to lower her blade and go to the aid of the wounded. She couldn't win a fight against this monster in human form.
Bursting out of the hall, the ancient collided head-on with two more Guards, apparently rushing to the Council's aid. So, the alarm had already been raised in the Temple. Reaching the exit would be difficult.
The next moment, both guards fell face down, like reeds bent by the wind. And behind them appeared two figures - a woman and a child.
"I was just about to pull you out," the girl in the shiny Mandalorian armor said cheerfully, playing with a pair of blasters, and, catching Revan's eye, added, "Everyone's alive and well. Just stunners, as agreed."
"Vainer!" Anakin jumped out from behind Tira and ran up to his first mentor.
"Hello, buddy," the ancient ruffled the guy's hair.
"Time!" Nomad reminded him, changing the batteries in the stun blasters.
Revan nodded, and the three of them rushed into the labyrinth of Temple corridors. The former Jedi indicated the way, ignoring the Mandalorian's objections, who was using her armor's navigation system.
"We're not going that way!" she shouted.
"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 guards. Running again.
And finally... a dead end?
"And now what?" Tira asked sarcastically, patting the solid wall that ended the corridor.
"Wait," Revan said quietly, as the Force told him something was about to happen.
"We have guests!" Nomad announced to everyone, pressing herself against the wall and aiming her blasters at the corner at the end of the corridor they had run down.
The next moment, one of the wall panels moved aside, revealing a passage. A white-haired figure in a black cloak appeared from there.
"This way," the unexpected benefactor, who turned out to be none other than Master Dooku, said briefly.
"Is he with us?" Tira asked incredulously.
"Yes," Revan nodded, reading something in the Count's gaze.
The passage led into 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 gifted individual rushed towards the reserve landing platform on the west side of the Temple.
"Did Jinn send you?" Revan asked on the go.
"No, but I heard your conversation," the Count replied after a few moments.
"Surveillance system?" the former Jedi guessed.
Dooku nodded.
"And what do you think?"
"Your beliefs are close to mine, and I would gladly go with you."
"But?"
"But I can't abandon my student," 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."
"Truly so," Dooku agreed.
"Watch over him," the ancient requested. "He is a good man."
"Certainly."
Fortunately, the Sentinels did not expect the fugitives to be so well-informed about the building's architecture. Surprises were avoided along the way.
But on the platform itself, they were already waiting.
A dozen Sentinels, led by the sword master Cin Drallig, and five knights.
"They've arrived on the second Galidraan," Tyra muttered almost inaudibly, marking targets through her helmet's visor.
"I can't help you here," Count Serenno stated. "I will not kill my brothers."
"And you won't have to," Revan replied.
A roar of engines sounded from the sky, followed by a crimson freighter plummeting onto the platform like an scarlet comet, bristling with a pair of rapid-fire laser cannons.
"Summoning: Attention, meatbags!" a voice boomed from the external speakers of the ship hovering above them. "Use the remnants of your meager organic brains and step aside. With a threat: Or we can proceed with a more intense program of chaos and bloodshed!"
Several Sentinels flinched, extinguishing their blades. Drallig stood his ground, as did the knights and lancers closest to him.
Revan gripped his weapon tighter, preparing for battle, when suddenly...
"Let them pass!" the familiar voice of the Grand Master suddenly boomed, creaking.
Behind the fugitives, a small platform shot out of the doors, carrying a green-skinned dwarf, the head of the Jedi Order.
"A misunderstanding has occurred here. The decisions of some Council members were hasty," Yoda announced, addressing Revan. "I overlooked this, and arrived too late to prevent it. A reward should have awaited you, young knight. Instead, you received threats and exile."
The ancient demonstratively hung his swords on his belt and adjusted his cloak.
"It's not my first time," he chuckled. "The Council and I often disagree."
"Can't say it more accurately, hmm?" the Grand Master supported the joke.
"Grand Master?" Cin Drallig's voice sounded. "Is everything alright?"
"Yes," the green-skinned one turned to the swordsman. "A misunderstanding arose, but it is now resolved."
The Sentinels were satisfied with the answer and relaxed a little. However, they did not hurry to leave the platform.
"We must meet again when things have calmed down a bit. Many grievances have arisen today on both sides," Yoda addressed Revan again.
"Anakin will fly with me now," the ancient stated firmly.
The green-skinned elder put on a sorrowful expression but nodded.
"I see the Force has bound you. It would be a mistake for the Council to go against it."
"Thank you, Grand Master."
"But we still need to talk."
Revan nodded to this.
"Indeed. Many unresolved questions remain. I would like there to be no enmity 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 calm down a bit after... today."
Yoda nodded, agreeing to the proposal.
"May the Force be with you," the Grand Master proclaimed the standard Jedi wish, and then, much more quietly, added, "redeemed knight."