Kit Fisto sighed in frustration as he walked over to the circle. "But what could we do? Palpatine had been planning this for years, and we certainly cannot abandon the Republic either"
...
Everyone felt silent at the Naotolan Master's proclamation, trying to figure out a way for at least the Order to survive Sidious' clutches even if not completely. With Coruscant becoming the impending death trap for any Jedi, there is the planet Tython, where it could be a safe haven for the Order outside the clutches of the Republic, but that is not a guarantee of safety.
"But then...what about Skywalker?", Windu referred to the Jedi Knight sitting close to the Senator's unconscious form. "I sense great anger in him. And it is best we keep him away from the Sith until he could find his resolve. But then, if anything happened to him, Palpatine will use his political position to see him by any means"
"I sense great fear in him. But not just to everybody he cared about, but himself", Shaak Ti spoke out, feeling empathy for the Jedi Knight after witnessing the future he had grown to despise. "In addition to hatred, towards Sidious"
"And the Sith will use this hatred for him to become the very being he swore to destroy if Palpatine managed to get his hands on him", Mundi added. "I see why we cannot let Skywalker confront Palpatine right now"
Obi-Wan couldn't help but agree to the words of his fellow Council members. After feeling the sheer hatred from Anakin towards the Sith Lord when he witnessed himself being lied to by Palpatine, the latter could exploit this to his advantage that no one could predict for now. And one scenario in Obi-Wan's mind is that Palpatine convinced Anakin that what he witnessed was a set-up by the Jedi Order in order for them to have the justification to deal with him. But he even he wasn't so sure.
Whatever the cause may be, Obi-Wan knew that Anakin isn't ready to face him. Not yet, at least. "But isn't he the Chosen One? The one who would destroy the Sith and bring balance to the Force?", Saesee Tiin then spoke.
"The Prophecy, misread it could have been", Yoda stated, seeing that it may been misinterpreted. "Bring balance by a Jedi, it says not"
The Council's eyes widened in realization. "So by bringing balance...it meant evening the numbers of the Jedi to the Sith?", Mundi asked, bewildered by this proclamation.
Obi-Wan couldn't believe what he was hearing when he pieced those words together . "Master, are you saying that Anakin was destined to destroy the Jedi in order to bring Balance to the Force?"
Yoda felt silent. He did not want to jump into conclusions as to cause any doubts or even mistrust to Skywalker further. But he felt that will something more to it, and he knew the answer lies into these tapes. "In time, we will know. For now, persist we must"
The chamber then fell into uncertainty and silence. Unclear of the route they will take now that the plans of Sidious were brought to light. But to both their frustration and reluctance, Sidious had proven himself to be a superb strategist and master manipulator on how he managed to execute his plans into fruition. In addition to favorable circumstances surrounding him.
And that is where the two holograms sprung into view at the center of the Council chamber. Anakin looked up to see the two people he wanted answers from as well, and he immediately stood up as he walked closely to the holograms, waiting for any clue as to how it came to be.
"If you are hearing this message, then you have witnessed the full extent of the Jedi's fall and the Sith's rise to power", the female hologram proclaimed, to the reluctant agreement of everyone in the Chamber with the exception of a few. "A new age of both order and tyranny had been ushered through their work, while eliminating of whom they saw as the enemies of the Empire"
That being the Jedi...everyone thought. And the male hologram continued. "And for two decades, the Empire slowly replaced everything that had been associated with the Clone Wars. That being the Separatists, the Republic and the Jedi while ruling through fear"
"But what about the Jedi? Like Caleb, Tano and Kestis? What had happened to them?", Depa uttered on behalf of the Jedi. "There could have been survivors"
"As many questions are to be asked, what had happened to the Jedi?", the female hologram asked, to the eagerness of the Chamber to listen. "A number have survived the initial purge following Order 66"
A few Council members breathed out. "We could use some good news at least", Master Fisto uttered out in relief.
"But one by one, they are hunted down by the Empire", the male hologram continued, to the dismay of many. "By them"
A screen flashed before them, and they widened their eyes in both shock and disbelief to witness a group of black-clad men and women in different species marching behind Lord Vader as they moved forward towards an unidentified planet, all wielding red sabers that are associated with the Sith and the Imperial symbol was emblazoned in different parts of their armor.
"These are-?!"
"The Inquisitorium. The Empire's hunting dogs forged to find and eliminate Jedi" the female Hologram finished for them. But to some of the Council members present, many saw more than a few familiar faces among the group.
"Padawans Valen, Tide and Master Dibbs?", Windu recognized a few of them, though his fellow associates were horrified as to what had happened to them. "They have joined the Sith?"
Master Yoda too recognized the Pau'an Inquisitor in front of him, having been one of the few Jedi to personally know who they were behind those white masks. "Rol Voreb of the Temple Guard", he uttered. For several times, he had sensed the Temple Guard's own dissatisfaction and disillusionment of the order, and he had sought to help him if possible. But because of the affairs of the Clone Wars, he was unable to.
"Jedi who joined after being tortured into submission or out of willingness as a means to serve a higher purpose than that of the Jedi", the male hologram continued, and more than a few were appalled to learn the origins of this organization. "But mostly on the former"
"Just have they done to them?", Shaak Ti uttered, horrified upon seeing the visible scars and wounds they had went through, likely under the 'training' provided to them by Sidious and of Vader.
"And as to show, how they work, this is how they do it", the male hologram continued and the holotape began to play.
...
The scene shifted to a young man standing in a metal platform amidst the rain, looking up to the shadow above him. The man had ginger hair, wearing what appeared to be a smuggler's outfit. And he stood ready as the figured descended down in front of him.
"Going somewhere?", the woman queried, igniting her crimson saber, prompting the man to do the same.
The rest recognized the young man in front of them. "Padawan Kestis! So he has survived!" Kit Fisto spoke out in relief.
"Only to be caught in an unfortunate circumstance that is", Obi-Wan grimly mused.
"I recognize that stance", the Inquisitor said, slowly walking towards him as soon as he stood ready. "Perhaps you have training after all. Who was your master? Some I killed perhaps? What Jedi gave their life that you may live?"
Those words struck Caleb's mind, remembering the sacrifices of his Master and that of Kestis so that they may live on. But now, he wondered if he too had faced, or even fallen to his former brethren.
Without a second thought, she lunged towards the former Padawan.
...
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