A Master Returns [Attn: Jedi High Council]

((OOC: Apologies for the late reply.))

Eris had left the council for only a minute before she felt the force urging her to return, an unfamiliar master’s presence in the halls not escaping her notice. And while tempted to ignore it this once, she grudgingly did an about turn and retraced her steps, sighing as she dug around her pockets for her pills.

“Just when I thought I’d get some rest you have to go all ‘Oooo a powerful omen’ on me,” she muttered irritably at the force as if it were a sentient entity.

Upon stepping into the waiting chamber Eris finally found her pills, pausing momentarily to loosen the cap as she looked curiously on the back of the master ahead of her. She had to admit, he was unfamiliar to her, but possibly matched Vreem in terms of presence… no mean feat.

“Hello there,” she calmly uttered as she stepped up next to the man, popping a pill into her mouth with a grimace before shoving the casing back into her pocket, “I take it you’re here to see the council?” She glanced at him through her enshrouding hood as she asked, but awaited no answer, “Then please, follow me, I can tell you’re about to breathe a bit of life back into the chambers.”

Whether for good or ill, was another question entirely.

Having said her piece, the grand mistress made her way toward the chamber’s door, pausing only briefly to spare a glance over her shoulder, “By the way, I’m mistress Eris.” She then entered the room, hopefully with present company following soon after.

Admittedly, despite her interest, she couldn’t help but sigh as she found herself reclining into the council seat once again…

Gaius, one of the highest ranked lightsaber artists of the order next to the battlemaster, his species gave him added strenght, speed and agility. He knew very well of fellow weapon masters, especially master Soka. He, like other council members too were shocked when he denounced himself and left the order, taking his lightsabers with him which which in itself represented a bold move. The lightsaber is a tool of the jedi, if they impose self exile or forced to leave, they must give up their lightsabers as it would no longer belong to them.

Gaius heard the rumours and scoffed at them, rumours are made by children in the play ground, nothing more..nothing less. So it was no real surprise to Gaius when Soka walked into the council chambers some what wanting to "re-join".

Gaius opened his eyes slowly and set his gaze upon then exile, he sighed "Exile Soka... you carry a lightsaber..that is not yours.. you wear the attire of a jedi master..which you are not..have you come to return them? or is there something else you wish to discuss?"

"Excuse me." Came a soft voice, almost a whisper, from behind Soka. Almost instantly after, the lithe form of the Onderonian High Council Member slipped semi-gracefully past him, a slight limp still readily noticeable in her stride, an air of uncertainty following her closely. The recent weeks had been...unsettling for her, to say the least. No cloak flowed behind her, no robes adorned her shoulders; as always, the surviving Vakkor twin wore attire one might expect from a woodsman or pathfinder, not a Jedi Master. Passing silently across the room in time to hear Fal'kirk's words, she remained silent, stopping only once she had reached her seat. Turning on her good heel, she bowed slightly in respect to the other occupants of the High Council Chamber, and gently lowered herself into the seat, letting her leg straighten out onto the floor. Ah, much better...I feel like a cripple... She had long ago learned the value of patience, though this was, in all truth, the first time in more than eight months that she had set foot inside the Council Chamber or spoken with the other Council Members, there was other business at hand, and she could wait awhile longer.

Leaning back in her seat and brushed a few strands of loose hair from her face, pushing them behind an ear, before folding her hands neatly in her lap and fixing her gaze on the Weaponmaster. Or would it be former Weaponmaster? Either way, it would appear he has returned. For what purpose, we shall soon see. Yes, Kellick knew of Atu Soka, though he had left the Order before she had joined the High Council, and she did not recall much interaction between them. But her brother had respected him and his skill, and Kellick knew a great many things about the history of the Order; such was a benefit of having spent so much time studying the countless aspects and application of the Force. She knew of Soka's exile, and was a little surprised to see him in the Council Chamber, but she contained her curiosity, choosing to listen instead of questioning.

The Onderonian Jedi knew he would explain himself in due time and preferred to let him come forward of his own accord. The question had already been posed; further pushing, in her mind, would not prove a great benefit to anyone just yet. Indeed, she had felt her presence was needed in the Council Chamber long before it actually was, but she had not sensed an imminent need for her voice. The time had not yet come, but it would.

Listen to you, Kellick...you're starting to sound like a poster-child for the Council already...

Jace sat in the chamber, his eyes closed, he was going through his usual routine of sorting out daily events in the peace of his mind. He sensed a presence enter the council chamber, which was not one of the council members. He opened his eyes slowly and looked up to see a Jedi which he had not expected to see.

Things could get quite interesting from here on Jace thought to himself

Jace looked around the room and noticed all the council members seemed to be thinking the same thing. Master Gaius was the first to begin the series of questions which may or may not provide answers. Jace felt that he had nothing to say at this time, Master Soka had left just before he joined the Council. He had heard many impressive things and was slightly disappointed when he heard about his 'self exile'. Jace clasped his hands together in front of him and watched on quietly.

Soka watched as some of the members filed into the council chambers. He recognized few by face, but had kept up with some of the order news, and new of the newer council members. From his memory he began to identify each one based on a description, or based on the fact that he had known them before. He no longer felt shame for his actions, nor shame for the actions of his padawan. He had defeated those feelings long ago. His time of meditation had done him good, and now his patience would be tested it seemed. He looked around the room, all eyes were on him and so, following the customs of his people, he bowed low at the waist and stayed there for a few seconds then rose back up. He would address the first line of questions.

"Noble council. You have my gratitude for giving me this audience. I feared that I would not be seen upon arrival." He said to open, while he collected his thoughts.

"You all know that after my failure with my former padawan, I left the council and left for my home planet. Yes, I was running away. The shame of my former padawan was too great, and I questioned my ability to distinguish character and make sound judgments, abilities I felt I needed most to effectively serve on this council. However in all the years I have been gone I have never renounced the Jedi nor left the order. The code has been my guide throughout my time alone. I left to go into meditation and reflection. The force has revealed much to me and made things clear after these years of meditation and I learned to defeat the pride that blinded me and the arrogance that crippled me."

The respect that he held for the council and the honesty of his words were evident in his voice and demeanor. He was sincere, and his intentions pure.

"As I meditated and trained myself, the galaxy has once again come to the brink of peril. We all feel it I am sure. I felt selfish in my actions, sitting idly by. For what this order has done for me and the oaths I took, I knew that I must return. In my humble opinion, I feel as though this council may be the best place for me to serve the galaxy once again."

He felt he needed to explain himself thoroughly, against his usual manner of brevity. The only regret he had was not doing so earlier. He was confused when he left the council though and just felt the need to get away and rethink his role and reflect on his teachings. Now he was confident in himself again, and knew where he belonged.

(Hmmm, trying to find a color for my speech...)

As Gaius posed his questions, Eris reached for a small electronic notepad, taking a second to glance over what she could of Atu Soka. Her gaze only lifting at the entrance of the dark-haired beauty that was the Onderonian Master, upon which she noted with a brief flicker of concern the limp. She was tempted to inquire if the young master was okay but was forced to return her attention to the floor as the focus of the council began to speak.

She listened with a grave expression on her face as she considered how to respond, her fingers tapping rhythmically, yet silently, against her arm rest. Honestly, this was the part of the job she hated most… Resting back into her seat, she stopped her silent tap as she let her thoughts be known; her tone calm throughout. True, she could simply give her nod and have everything run like melted butter but she was a Jedi Council Member, it was in her nature to be difficult.

“Master Soka, while I’m sure it pleases many of us, including myself, to hear that you’ve not only found peace but are interested in returning to your duties, I feel the matter of your rejoining the council requires a bit more consideration. After all, as I’m sure you know, the position of council member is not one to be taken lightly and carries with it an enormous responsibility to those we serve -- with our members often being placed in positions where they could find countless lives in their care. To emphasize this point, we’ve even been known to take on the roles of advisors or generals when required.”

Pausing momentarily, Eris chose her next few words carefully, not wanting to insult a master of the order.

“What I’m trying to say is that there’s a degree of trust placed on us as council members, especially in times of crisis. Trust built over years of service and dedication. It’s because of this that I feel we cannot rush this decision… Please take no offence Master Soka but as you said yourself, you’ve been out of contact with us for years and I feel we cannot simply acknowledge the status of council member to someone we’ve met just now. Especially to someone who not only hadn’t finished their term as a temporary council member but also apparently left with nary a word…” To highlight her final point, Eris gestured with a gentle sweep of her arm to Soka’s full Jedi attire and weapon; items which would have been returned upon even a self-imposed exile.

Of course, Eris was not finished but she wasn’t about to be caught rambling too much until the rest of the council had their say. To signify the opening of the floor she simply leaned back in her seat, her expression once again growing thoughtful as she awaited the responses of her fellow council members. Again, she was quite interested in what their newest addition, Jace Beleren, had to say on the matter.

Jace had listened quietly to what both Master Soka and Grand Mistress Eris had said. Many thoughts rolled through his mind, he calmed himself,allowing the force to organize his thoughts into coherence. He knew he needed to be careful with his words, after all this was a person who was still younger than Jace was and was offered a temporary seat on the council a significant time before Jace. Jace respected this, he knew that one could not be a Jedi Weaponmaster out of sheer skill, it took hard work and dedication to the cause. Yet Jace had learned from the Grand Mistress herself, that he should not hesitate in voicing his opinion, and so he didn't. Jace leaned forward from his seat, signaling to the rest of the council that he was about to speak.

"Master Soka, in my eyes the problem lies in something which Mistress Eris had partly mentioned. I believe, in her words, is where the root of my problem with you returning to the council. I hold great respect for you as a Master of the Jedi Order, and it is for that reason that I am quite disappointed. "

Jace knew this may had sounded harsh and possibly even arrogant but he truly did believe what he was saying.

"You were a Weaponmaster of the Jedi Order, granted a temporary and most likely a permanent place on the Jedi High Council at quite a young age. You are an example, as are many council members, of what the younger generation of Jedi strives to be. As previously stated, being a Master let alone a Council Member is an enormous responsibility. You know all these facts quite well, yet you left your position out of mere shame. How can we trust someone who would leave such an important position out of shame? If you would leave the position out of shame, what else would you leave it for? There is not a single doubt in any members mind here; There are going to be very tough times ahead. You left the Council and for all purposes the Jedi Order for something as trivial as shame. With these tough times ahead, how can we trust you to stick with your duties? I do not doubt your skill or even your necessity in the coming days, but I cannot agree to your acceptance back into the council unless I hear or see something substantial"

Jace quietly pushed himself farther back into his seat, letting the others know that he had said his part. What he said was not comforting or reassuring, but he knew it needed to be said. Darker days were coming, and the Jedi, and the Council will need to be at their best for that time. Jace was not about to let someone who had walked out on the council so easily, return just as easily.

Gaius nodded slightly asthe rest of the council spoke, it was known that Master Fal'kirk had been leniant in the past due to being level headed. he was wise but also sympathetic. But such matters as this especially to such an experienced jedi unnerved him slightly, he shuffled in his seat for a moment before replying.

"Being a Jedi involves making such choices. You'll have to face terrible ordeals. It is very easy to become trapped into a corner with nowhere to go..." he paused for a moment "Attachment is forbiddon, the attachment to your padawan was a grave mistake for which you have learnt... compassion, a form of unconditional love for civilisation is urged... many people believe we fight for peace... that is just a slogan..jedi fight for civilization, because only civilization creates peace. We fight for justice, for justice is the corner stone of civilisation... you can love, but only love that is of knowing the enlightment of the force and the galaxy.. for we are jedi, we live a life of sacrifice... the sacrifices we make are to defend the very foundation of the galaxy we live in today.. we are warriors of the light, peace keepers of democracy.."

Gaius paused again for a few moments to gather his thoughts. "We implore you to form a plutonic relationship with your padawans, nothing more... for anything more will eventually lead you down a path we will not follow to which we would have to stop you... but it is good you did not walk down that path it seems..hmmmm." gaius rubed his chin slightly

The Onderonian Master sat in silence, scarcely moving as she listened to Soka and the other Council Members, her gaze, as well as the majority of her focus, never leaving the Weaponmaster, her mind processing and churning over all of the words spoken in the room. Still, she remained silent, even after Gaius had spoken for the second time, her face and mind both passive. Slowly, she leaned forward in her seat and inhaled deeply, partially raising her hand, signifying her readiness to speak. Slowly, she let the air built up in her lungs escape through her lips. She would not be his friend, nor his enemy, and neither would she be lenient, nor harsh; she would speak her mind, as she always did, regardless of how her words would be taken.

”Jedi Weaponmaster Atu Soka. I sense that you genuinely believe what you say of yourself, though whether or not it is truth can only be shown by time and trial. I am not inclined to disbelieve you, personally, but I have learned only to place my full trust in what has been proven.” Keeping her tone neutral and soft, yet firm, Kellick shifted her eyes slightly, catching Soka’s eyes and staring, not so much into them, but through them, into the mind that lay behind. In terms of experience, the man before them was certainly a candidate for being granted the role of a Member of the Council, but it was not his knowledge of combat and of the Force she had concerns about; it was the Weaponmaster’s understanding of himself. ”However, I have also learned that, when dealing with the Force, one must rely heavily on faith, for it is impossible to know everything about it or the way it works. I believe when you say that you have never forsaken the Code of our Order, but that does not mean that you are still fit to serve on the Council; though your belief in the Code has not changed, you have. I feel that it has been for the better, but what you ask of us is indeed no small thing, and any decision I make would only be after considerable thought on the matter.”

”Truly, the Order does have use of you in these dire times; a war is coming. I have seen a new darkness rising in the shadows, and these people that call themselves sith are of much concern. A man of your skill and experience in combat would be of great value were it to come to war. But to once again be taken into the Council…though you have not abandoned the Code, but, as the Grand Mistress and Master Beleren have said, you did abandon the Council once already. Truth be told, I do acknowledge that you had your reasons for your departure, and that they were valid; I have seen good friends leave the Order behind, some permanently, and I do not begrudge their choices to go, nor yours. Sometimes, one must distance themselves in order to strengthen their will, to find their way, and I believe you have done so. But to leave so abruptly, without allowing the Council proper time to manage your departure…in my mind, that was your folly, and it is something I must take into careful consideration while determining an answer. It is not something I can simply ignore.”

Slowly, she let her head fall forward until she was staring evenly at a small spot on the floor near her boot. Slowly, her eyelids sealed shut as she took another deep breath. Time had changed the man before the High Council. He was different than the day he had left, but, then again, had she remained the same in the time that had passed? Much had occurred in her own life, and she could not honestly say she was the same as she had been even a year ago. She would never again make some of the decisions she had once been willing to make, but…she was not Atu Soka. Still, she did know enough of him to make an estimation of his character. Hopefully, she was not wrong. Raising her head again, she returned her focus to the Weaponmaster. ”I cannot make a decision in the matter without additional discussion, and will remain neutral until further notice. If you are to convince me to cast my vote in your favor, then you must persuade me you will not make the same mistake again, Master Soka. In such times as these, I do not believe the Council would fare well with such a loss, and times are rapidly approaching when we cannot afford to falter in the slightest.” With that, she leaned back into her seat again, wincing slightly at the twinge of pain that lanced up her leg at with the slight movement. She had spoken her thoughts, and now stepped back, figuratively, from the floor, to let another speak.

Soka expected this kind of response and he was very happy that the council was still discerning and not shaken by the fear of war to make hasty decisions. He respected their skepticism, for that was the best way examine the situation clearly to come to the best conclusion. He was however disappointed that they focused on his shame. That was not the only reason he left. He left the council and not the order for he felt he was not fit at the time to sit on it, and needed time to reflect to find himself again. He had to make them see this way, but he also had his defense planned. As a strategic thinker, he always thought ahead.

“The council shows its wisdom in not simply accepting me back without inquiry as to my departure and ability to serve on this council. The pending war has not made you look at me solely for my abilities with a lightsaber and accept me on those grounds. Should this war come to pass during our lifetimes, this council will handle it with the same judgment pass here. Do not take this as flattery, for I have my reasons for saying this.” he looked around the room to see the faces of the council. He did not wish anyone to believe he was trying to butter the council into accepting him.

“I make no excuse for my abrupt departure, it was my mistake. However my motives have not been properly explained, and I believe that is also my mistake. When my padawan betrayed the order it was not out of attachment to him that I left, in fact my relationship with my padawan was worse than it should have been. I saw the flaws in him that later motivated him to leave the order but I did not correct them properly during his training. I thought him suitable to become a knight and put him through the trials. When he left, I saw the error in my judgment and the shame came because I saw them in him and did not correct them. More than the shame though, was when I considered that I had seen these and not corrected them as his master. This was one impressionable padawan. As a member of this council, I had to be discerning over the entire order and I did not feel capable to the task. I feared how my lack of judgment might have affected the orders, the things I might have missed as a council member and I could not take it. I needed to reflect upon myself and the teachings of the Jedi. I had to examine everything about myself and how I have affected this order. And now I ask, what qualities must a member of this council have?” He posed this question, not to be answered but to be considered by the council members. After a short pause, he continued.

“A council member is a member of this order who has experienced much and has the ability to take their own history to not only teach others from their mistakes, but to learn from their own history to make better decisions in the future. I have learned much more these past few years through my ordeal and with this new wisdom I may impart it on another, while it may be a humble gain they may still learn something yet. From this experience I have seen the consequences of pride, arrogance, and impulsive behavior. I have learned to be much more reflective and to always seek the true answer, even if it may not be the most obvious of choices. I bring the experience of my personal journey with me and the knowledge I have gained through extensive study. I understand that my personal trial is not of great significance and I am not anywhere near the understanding of the force that I thought I was held; but I understand that. And understanding yourself and your limitations and constantly pursuing knowledge in the force and qualities of a council member. It is my duty to serve this Republic and uphold the code in the best way I can, and it is up to the council to decide where that may be. Perhaps my journey and battle skill do not qualify me to sit on this council, then if not, I seek the wisdom of this council to determine where best I might serve. If I may contribute to this council in a meaningful way, then perhaps my duty might be to serve on it once again. As a master, I have duties entrusted to me by this order, and I will not fail them, not again.” He spoke as honestly and as frankly as he could. There was no pride in what he said about himself, it was simply a reflection on this situation, one that he made objectively and would have said much of the same of another in a similar circumstance. He had meditated upon his potential return for over a year, letting the force guide him to the best choice, he felt. The force had led him hear, back to the council to seek their wisdom on the situation. He had put it all on the table, and now it was likely he would be simply uphold his position.

Jace listened quietly once again, first to Master Kellick then Master Gaius and finally to Master Soka. Jace's life has a Jedi had put him from one hard decision to the next, and even though he had been through so many, they never got easier. Jace cleared his mind once again, organizing his mind into coherence. The Shadow in Jace told him that he shouldn't trust a person who abandoned his duty, no matter what the reason. Jace pushed that side of him away, he was not a shadow anymore, he couldn't afford to be narrow in his thoughts. Jace exhaled slowly, he believed he had found the best solution, at least the best he could come up with.

"Master Soka, you seem sincere in the regret of your mistakes, and that is always a good thing. I can still not fully trust you, no matter what reason you have given. There is no doubt though, that your reinstatement to the council could possibly be of great value. There are not many Jedi who have your talent or your experience. I still do not believe you are ready to become a complete member of the Jedi High Council but I believe you should start off where you left. I reccomend that Master Soka become a temporary member of the High Council. This way, he can serve the council and also be closer to us and we can assess him. This way, if his intentions are true and pure, he can be granted a permanent spot on the Council."

Jace knew that no matter how much more he heard from other Council Members or from Master Soka, he wouldn't have come to another decision. He felt that this was the middle ground, a way which was most fair and logical. He still had his doubts, but risk was a part of life, and the force seemed to approve of his choice.

((OOC: Apologies if there are any inconsistencies. I attempted to edit it to accommodate Jace’s post but have frequently been interrupted by RL and didn’t want to keep you all waiting any longer.))

“Alright, that’ll do Weapon master Soka, I believe we’ve heard enough to decide on what steps to take next,” Eris attempted to politely infer, sighing as she prepared to open the floor for proposals -- once she’d given her own opinion of course.

“The unfortunate fact of the matter is that you claim a lot Master Atu Soka and yet we cannot confirm anything except for the detail that you went to war, which is not helping your position right now… And despite your supposed epiphany and newfound wisdom you continued to remain out of contact with us; returning not only once it suited you but, to top it off, claim a council seat before even greetings were finished.”

As she spoke, the grand mistress couldn’t help but shake her head in disappointment, wondering what she was to do even as she uttered the words, “Therefore, this is my proposal…”

Eris gave a slight pause as she considered what few options lay before her, taking into account even that of dismissal; one of the easier paths at the moment. After all, on the one hand, she felt Atu Soka could add a lot thanks to his rather unique experiences and skills yet, on the other, she wasn’t sure she wished risking another upset during such precarious times. The order simply couldn’t afford it. Feeling she couldn’t allow her fellow members, or Soka, to wait any longer however, she began…

“The council will accept you but only in the capacity of an advisor. What this means is that despite your newly acquired position of council member, unless a second council member or master is present, you will have no control or say in Jedi related matters. On the other hand, in light of your previous services to the order, we will bestow upon you the mantle of Weaponmaster and you will be known as such throughout, without the knowledge of your limits within the order. You will also be honoured with the appointment of a padawan where you will hopefully begin reconsolidating your position within the order.”

Having said her piece, Eris once again leaned back in her seat, waiting to see what new proposals or suggested changes to her own might come about.

Closing her eyes, the Onderonian listened, once again taking in the words of those around her. Slowly, she let her concentration fall off of the Weaponmaster and fill the entire room, taking in the presences and feelings of everyone in the room, allowing herself to 'see' them, not through her physical eyes, but through the Force, quickly picking up a sense of where the Council's mood lay.

Reluctance ran rampant throughout the room. Soka's words rang true in his own eyes, and Kellick did not lightly doubt his judgment. The fact that he had once served on the High Council was proof that his beliefs were not to be simply ignored. Yes, he had made his mistakes, but who had not? She certainly had, as she was sure the other Council members had at some point in their lives, and even if there were a perfect being that had never done wrong, even they had the capacity to do so. To believe otherwise was folly. But also was it foolish to believe one who made a mistake was guaranteed again fall as they had before. So, too, was it to think they would be incapable of doing so. It was a rare occurrence that one could truly be sure of something such as the future actions of a living, breathing being, especially one so tied to the Force as Atu Soka.

To calm her mind and focus her thoughts, she extended her feelings beyond the Council chamber. Deeper, farther, until she could feel every life within the Temple, moving about their daily businesses, unified by the Force running through their bodies. From a certain point of view, however, it would seem as though she extended a little too far, as a vivid image flashed through her mind. In the instant it took her to open her eyes again with a sharp intake of breath, the scene laid before her had vanished as it had come, and though she showed no physical signs of worry, her mind was undoubtedly troubled. Taking in another deep breath, she settled her thoughts, forcing her mind back to the matter at hand.

Flinching as she shifted her weight in order to alleviate the stiffness forming along her partially-healed leg, she again turned her attention to Soka. "I find myself in concurrence with Grand Mistress Eris. The High Council once found you worthy of serving as one of its members, but you have since changed, as the Council also has. I cannot acknowledge anyone a full place on this Council without personally knowing of their worthiness, and you, Master Soka, I do not personally know. But, in the role of an advisor, we will be allowed to closely witness who you have become. Only through knowing who you are today can I allow you to fully join the Council, and this arrangement will allow us to...get to know you, so to speak, much faster than normal."

Gaiusremained silent, his legs folded and his chin resting on his hands, if he had eyerborws, he would of surely raised one by now. He closed his eyes as the other council members spoke. His skin, naturally a dark green would often turn a deep red to signify his mastery and enlightment when he would meditate, this wold also occur when in combat.

Yes, Soka had been a previous high council member, but the arrogance of marching in from self exhile and claiming to be worthy did not sit well with the council, especially Gaius. But it didn't overly bother him as he has witnessed many humans squabble over things, he also knew he would far out live the current council members as the average Falleen lives for 250 human standard years, he knew that he would probably witness such things every so often so he made no big deal of the matter otherwise it would just be a waste of time.

"I concur.. an advisory role....until the council members all agree that you should have a legitimate position on the council or not..." Gaius closed his eyes once again as he went back to meditating on the recent occurances.