( Office of Senator Mon Mothma )
It wasn't the Jedi who was coming back, but his pilot apparently. It confirmed the suspicion that she held that the Jedi was just the messenger. Six dataslates were securely locked in her personal safe. Not even her guards or assistants knew how to get into it. They were that frightening in content and organization.
So she needed answers. And that Jedi was her only clue, though when she contacted the Temple to ask to see him, she was told that he was 'on a mission', and wouldn't be back for a couple weeks. Then earlier today, she was told that they had arrived back early, and that one Jan Ors would be talking to her in the place of Kyle Katarn.
At the appointed time, the door to her office opened, and a well-worn human woman walked in. Dark hair, and a flight jacket, she looked every inch like a simple pilot.
That set Mon Mothma's concerns into high gear. It was too casual. She may only be a senator, but she had enough experience to know a spy when she saw one in the flesh. "Greetings. I am Senator Mon Mothma."
For a moment, the spy, Ors, looked shocked, but then she mastered herself. "Jan Ors," she replied. "You wanted to deal with me?"
Mon Mothma nodded, and activated the privacy screens to close the windows behind her, as well as the jammer and white-noise generator inside her desk. "Yes, a moment please."
Jan pulled out a jammer of her own, and set it down on the table between the two women, letting her own protections augment those of the Senator. She had played this game with the older and wiser Mon Mothma, so she didn't feel bad giving her former boss a hand up.
Once the two were satisfied they were engaged in private conversation, Jan spoke up. "So, you probably got into that package."
"Yes," Mothma said. "Very disturbing."
"Great," Jan muttered. "Let me guess. NRI?"
"I would dearly like to know what is going on here. The information therein is patently wrong, but..."
"But they're time stamped, and it needed your biometrics to enter." Jan concluded.
"Yes."
"Do you really want to know? You can just destroy those slates, and we can go our separate ways. No one the wiser." Jan offered the Senator a way out, even if it was never going to be taken.
"No. I cannot simply forget."
Jan sighed. "Where did you want me to begin?"
"The Maw Installation, I think. Master Skywalker seemed most concerned about that."
...
( High Council Chambers )
Kyle stood in the middle of the Chambers, though this time a few of the attendees were telepresent via hologram. "Masters," he said, bowing slightly. At least this time, he wasn't dressed in the formal robes – they were still on the Claw.
"Kyle Katarn," Mace Windu spoke formally. "You are here today to petition to aid the Jedi order with your skills in this war."
"Pretty much." Kyle shrugged. "Unless you don't want me?" He ignored the reactions from those around him. The important people were right in front of him.
"In other days, we would not," Mace said, expressing his displeasure. "But these are not ordinary days. With this war, we cannot turn aside help when freely offered." He looked around at the other Masters. "With this in mind, we, the High Council have reviewed your situation and the situation of others. We have concluded that while we are willing to take your help, we cannot simply welcome you with open arms, without first proving your skills and worth."
Kyle slumped. "Great. More tests." He still had 'fun' memories of his tests back on Yavin when he reclaimed his Lightsaber from Luke. And the conversation afterwards. He straightened up. "Fine by me. Where do we start?"
"Trials, five there are." Yoda spoke. "Old protocols in the Archives. From before the Reformations, they were written."
"It was a time of great strife for the Jedi Order. Many splinter factions existed, and there needed to be some way to assure those in the Order that those who returned to the fold were not in need of further training." Ki-Adi-Mundi said, keeping the history lesson going.
"Skill. Insight. Courage. Flesh. Spirit." Shaak Ti's hologram spoke. "The Trials of Knighthood are known to all, and these trials shall be applied to you. Though as you are obviously more skilled, the tests will be greater."
Kyle suppressed a wince. "When do we begin?"
"Patience," Yoda commanded. "Performed by anyone present, they have not. Require guidance and thought, they do. In the future, others may take."
"You're expecting other Jedi to start popping out of the woodwork?" Kyle was surprised, he certainly didn't expect that to happen! All his impressions about the old Order said it was pretty monolithic. Even Luke thought so!
"Not as such," Kit Fisto said. "However, we must accept the reality that smaller sects that have chosen to hide from us for their own reasons may now come forth to aid the Republic in their own ways. The Republic, in its ignorance, would mistake them for real Jedi, and send them to us, and we must be prepared to welcome them."
Kyle could see that point of view. And other ones which weren't so benevolent. "And I'm the first test subject then?"
"Correct," Mace said. "We still need time to review the protocols and prepare the Tests. If there is anything you wish to say now?"
"Not really," Kyle said. "I'd like to get started. The sooner, the better."
"Very well." Mace indicated the exit. "Go. Prepare yourself for the tests. We will summon you when they are ready."
Kyle bowed again, and turned around to head for the exit.
...
( Jedi Archives )
Kyle had no idea what to expect from the Tests. Going to the Archives, he sat himself down at one of the terminals, and began to read up on them. Information was easy to find, but there was just so much. Groaning, he leaned back in his chair, wondering just how badly off he had jumped in to things again.
"A problem?" The nice old woman who introduced herself as Master Nu said as she approached.
"Oh, just the usual. How about you? Anything I can help with?"
Jocasta smiled warmly. "No, I think not. Much has been said about you, Katarn. How you brazenly walked into the Temple. Borrowed a Master's clothes, and did a great many other things."
"Please, call me Kyle." He stood up and offered his chair to the older woman. "Thanks for setting Jan up last time. She found what she was looking for."
"That is very good to hear," Master Nu said. "We have been scouring our archives for further damage caused by Dooku after he left." She took the seat.
"So, I guess this means that you've also heard about what the Council is having me do?"
"Of course! The rumours are flying every which way!" Jocasta gestured with one hand, then the other to show off the randomness of it all. "And here you are, in my Library, trying to prepare for something no one has seen in 25 generations, or more!"
"Is that a vote of confidence I hear?" Kyle said as he looked around, noting that some of the locals were looking at him, only to avert their gaze when caught in the act.
"Confidence in the Force will be key, not any words I could say!" the Librarian objected.
Kyle understood what was being said there. "Can you help?"
"I thought you'd never ask! What did you need help with?"
"Well, the Test of Skill, based on what I'm seeing, is something I can handle without any difficulties." Kyle was absolutely certain of that. Lightsaber combat was something he could handle.
"And the others?"
"Just need to research." He said, indicating the workstation he was at.
"Well, how about I test you?"
Kyle raised his eyebrows. "Really? I don't want to take you from your duties."
"No, a good quiz helps keep my mind sharp as well." Jocasta Nu said. "I do this with many of those who come here, looking for knowledge."
He could see that, so Kyle nodded. "Alright. Where did you want to begin?"
"Let us start with something simple, perhaps?" Nu put one finger to her lip in concentration. "What is the Jedi Code?"
"That is simple." Kyle said. "Emotion, yet Peace. Ignorance, yet Knowledge. Passion, yet Serenity. Chaos, yet Harmony. Death, yet the Force."
...
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