Attack of Zakuul Chapter 2
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Read first chapter 1 here
Inspired by this post on Tumblr by @bluezeriÂ
Onorshash was meditating in the pilot seat of the ship. She could feel her mysterious companion approach her. The trip has been primarily silent. He didn't trust her enough to tell her anything and she had soon run out of conversation topics. It hadn't helped that he never bothered to respond to her.
He himself was a mystery. He was strong in the Force that much was clear. Yet there was something different and familiar about him. The way that the Force whirled around him and responded to him was odd. It wasn't like the calm flow of a Jedi or a raging storm of a Sith. It was more like the waves of Manaan one moment calm and serine the next wild waves. There was something about his presence that was familiar to her. Yet she couldn't place it. Onorshash knew she never interacted with this human before. So why it was familiar was unclear. Perhaps she knows a relative.
"Aren't you supposed to be piloting the ship?" The man asked. Onorshash opened her eyes.
"One only truly needs the Force as it will guide us to where we are needed," Onorshash replied with the wisdom of the Jedi Council's words. Then the nav computer beeped alerting them to their imminent landing on Tython. "A little technology never hurts either." She entered her landing codes into the system.
"I take it we're here." The man said.
"Yes, don't worry everything will be fine," Onorshash said. She tried to reassure him but it didn't seem to have that effect. If anything it made him tenser.
"I'm not worried. You know nothing about me." The man said defensively.
"My apologies I didn't mean to imply," Onorshash said calmly. This seemed to upset him more.
"Let me know when I can leave." The man said. He stormed out of the cockpit and Onorshash sighed. She got out of the chair and moved through the ship. She exited the ship and was greeted by the Jedi Council members on Tython.
"Master Haly, it is good to see you. We had thought that we had lost you in the attack." Master Satele said
"It is good to see you as well and I see that the reconstruction efforts have been going well," Onorshash said
"Indeed and with your aid, it will only be repaired faster." Master Satele said. Onorshash frowned and stopped walking.
"I'm always happy to help, Master, but that is not why I'm here," Onorshash said
"Oh, what is your reason?" Master Satele asked
"It's about the invasion. I have one of their soldiers on my ship." Onorshash said. Members of the Council stared at her in shock.
"Not only did you survive, but you captured one." Nikil Nobil said. Onorshash bit her lip.
"Not exactly," Onorshash said
"What do you mean?" Master Bela Kiwiiks asked
"He is the reason that I escaped. He defected and helped me escape." Onorshash said
"Why?" Master Satele asked
"I will speak for him. You may ask him yourself." Onorshash said
"This is an interesting development, but does it truly change anything." Master Kiwiiks said
"No, it doesn't." Master Satele said. "He will speak before the Jedi Council and the Republic. Then the Republic will decide his fate." Onorshash frowned.
"Do you truly trust Saresh to make a fair judgment?" Onorshash asked in shock.
"Careful, Barsen'thor, you are her voice in the council. If the Republic hears you speak of her this way, you will destroy the Jedi reputation." Master Nobil said. Onorshash closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"My apologies Masters," Onorshash responded calmly.
"You are close to this, Master Haly, it may have clouded your judgment." Master Satele said.
"No, my mind is as clear as ever," Onorshash said
"Then we trust you to gather him." Master Kiwiiks said. With that, the other masters left her alone in the docking bay. Onorshash looked at her ship and sighed. A pit formed in her stomach. She had a bad feeling about this.
Onorshash walked towards the ship. She wouldn't allow her worry to show. She entered the ship and then the room that he was in. He was sitting ramrod straight not allowing himself to relax.
"The Jedi Council will meet you in the council chambers now," Onorshash said. He stood up.
"Let's get it over with then." The man said. Onorshash wanted to offer words of comfort but none could come to her. They would all be empty. She didn't know his fate. They walked out of the ship and through the Jedi Temple. It was silent and it felt more like Onorshash was leading him to his death. As they entered the room Master Satele stood up while the rest of the council remained seated. Onorshash took her seat.
"Hello, I am Grand Master Satele Shan. With us on Tython are Masters Bela Kiwiiks, Nikil Nobil, and of course, you are familiar with the Barsen'thor Onorshash Haly. Off-world are the Master Wens Aleusis, Master Giffis Fane, Battlemaster Ere Trotargu, and Master Gnost-Dural." Satele said
"I know who you are." The man said standing before the half-circle.
"And yet we know nothing about you." Master Aleusis said. The man remained silent. Onorshash bit her lip. This wasn't going to go well.
"Master Haly has told us that you defected from your military and saved her life." Master Satele said. The man frowned and Onorshash knew that he was going to close his fate.
"I am still loyal. Nothing you say or spin will change that." The man said. This caused a wave of tension to flow between the Council members.
"Then why aid the Barsen'thor in her escape?" Battlemaster Trotargu asked
"Because the commander leading the battle didn't listen to the higher up. We were not supposed to be harming civilians that is for the Republic and the Empire to do." The man said. Shock and anger flowed through the room.
"It is the Empire and your armies that put civilians in harm's way, not the Republic." Master Fane snapped. Onorshash knew this was going to get out of hand.
"Calm, we must not allow our emotions to cloud our judgments. We must listen to his statements with a clear mind." Onorshash said.
"I agree with Master Haly we must remain focused." Master Satele said
"My apologies, Masters." Master Fane said
"You are wasting your time. You will not get anything from me. I will not betray my people." The man said
"Your people." Master Kiwiiks commented. "Are you a high-ranking official in this mysterious army?"
"No, I am just a foot soldier." The man said. A little too fast for them to believe.
"You expect us to believe that a Force user is a common foot soldier." Battlemaster Trotargu said
"It is actually true. In the battle, I only fought against droids and Force wielders." Onorshash said.
"Indeed. We know nothing about this enemy we cannot jump to conclusions based solely on how the Republic and Empire fight. They have shown that they are more than formidable enough. After all, we have the only survivor." Master Gnost-Dural
"Well, is there anything that you can tell us?" Master Kiwiik asked
"No." The man said. The in-person masters all looked between themselves excluding Onorshash. She kept looking straight at him.
"Very well," Master Satele began "You will be given to the Republic's custody. They will decide your fate." Onorshash worked hard to keep her neutral mask in place. "Me and Master Haly will transport you to Coruscant."
