Younglings

Desmond thought it was a miracle that the council left them alone for a couple more days. As it was he bore the brunt from their attention in the weeks after Heather decided to do the ritual.

It wasn't just questions he refused to answer, or Vos following him around writing his reports but other masters and knights were occasionally watching his classes from the above viewing balconies.

Hiding in plain sight was one thing but this was more like a spot light focused solely on him. He knew they were trying to pressure him without being outright about it. Heather was safe from most of it in her hospital bed.

Not that he would want to trade his spot light for a coma.

Master Drallig was already looking at him more often during classes putting him against older students, even a couple junior Padawans.

"... he just saw me as just one of the kid before but since this happened he's been actually focusing his attention on me. He definitely figured out that I know more then I'm showing in class.... that or it's the damn force that told him." he explains to Heather.

They were being escorted to the council's chambers by a temple guard. They were pointedly speaking English in front of him and not common.

Everyone's eyes were following them, especially Heather.

She was in the hoverchair with the puppy in a force induced sleep on her lap. Even regaining her strength quickly she still looked small and diminished somehow. His assessment of her was backed by the force, she was exhausted.

She oddly enough wasn't effected by the stares.

"~He's moving you out of Shii-cho yet?~" she asks curiously.

It was the first fighting style on light saber combat. All children were to learn it before all others. He didn't disagree but the old battle master was insistent that no one move past it but instead try to make it second nature before moving on.
Their age group was not quite at that point, which made him moving him beyond it suspect.

"~Yeah but I don't think it was for teaching me but more to assess how I would adjust to a new style of fighting with the bokken.~"

They finally reach the elevator doors to the tower housing the council chamber. The sentinel waves a hand at the doors opening them. Heather goes in first with her chair, the guard and him following.

They quickly reach the top of the tower. The waiting room outside had a couple benches against a wall across from the double doors. Another sentinel was stationed at the side of one of them. The other side wasn't occupied. To either side of the waiting room, they could just see balconies where the Coruscant upper level was visible in all it's glory.

The vibrant green from the endless plants did not reassure them.

"~... we're here.~" Heather states unnecessarily, her voice barely audible, a pensive look on her face. He could feel that she wanted to say something else but she was holding back.

The sentinel doesn't hesitate, he steps forward and opens one of the double doors as he waves them into the chamber. He closes it behind them and stays behind on the outside, presumably to retake his post.

The room was not unfamiliar.

When discussing the history of the temple, the masters that were in charge of the classes, would bring them around the temple and the council chamber was one of the places the tour came to. It was never occupied during those times.

The council seats were filled... either with a body of one of the Jedi or a hologram of one of them. Eight of the twelve masters were physically present.

After a moment he realized that one of the present council members wasn't actually a current member.

Jocasta Nu was in one of the masters chairs a datapad in hand, taking notes. It was out of place for her to be here as a member considering she retired from the council quite a few years back.

It was a detail that not many people payed attention to. He didn't have Shaun to do his research though so he pointedly kept up with little tidbits of information like that
.
One of the members must be occupied elsewhere.

"... the 279th is near Maridun. We should put out a call to see if they have enough spare supplies to assist in the disaster. If not a transport of the needed supplies needs to be arranged from another location." Master Oppo Rancisis was saying to the room at large.

Master Ki-Adi-Mundi was shaking his head as he holds up a datapad, "According to these records they have not had a resupply in some time. It's doubtful they have the extra resources for the operation."

"The 84th is also near that location." Master Kenobi says, "They don't have enough to resolve the situation but perhaps between the two groups they can gather enough supplies?"

Multiple Masters nod their heads.

Master Plo Koon holds up his own datapad, "I will send a request for information on their current supplies. If it is sufficient I will issue the order for them to assist."

The room quiets as various masters finish tasks on their datapads. Grand Master Windu however was watching them both.

Desmond could feel something negative coming from him. It was subtle but he was definitely not pleased about something.

They were just talking about the war and Heather was still ill so he wasn't going to assume he was annoyed with them in particular.

"The Initiates are here. Heard of them, we all have." Yoda cuts in breaking the silence, drawing all the master's attention to them.

Plo Koon who finished his task nods in their direction a wave of warmth in the force coming from him, "Welcome, young ones."

"Masters." they both bow their heads towards the assembled Jedi, the very picture of obedient children.

He was fairly certain they weren't fooling any of them.

A subtle wave of amusement rises up from one of the quieter Masters. Obviously they heard that thought.

Windu steeples his fingers and give them both a look, "I believe you both know why you're here. The council wishes to know why you ventured out of bounds and what happened when you did."

"Yes, in it's entirety if you don't mind." Kenobi adds. That one was leaning back almost lazily but was still giving them a sharp look.

He was definitely expecting something from them.

"I don't see what you want from us. We went exploring, we came across an area tainted by the darkside. There were no warning signs telling us to stay out." Heather states calmly and pointedly.

That was a point, if there was something that dangerous there, shouldn't there be warning signs?

"It was sealed for a reason, youngling." Master Mundi cuts in.

She shakes her head, "We thought it was sealed because it was just an unused area of the temple not that it was dangerous."

"Many secrets the temple has, assume you should not have." Yoda says.

Master Koon tilts his head to the side, "But they have a genuine point of contention. There was a well of darkside energy in the temple without our knowledge what else are these halls hiding? That area should have had warning signs and force seals to keep out everyone especially younglings."

"Are you suggesting we run an audit of all the rooms and passageways in the temple?" Master Shaak Ti asks quietly, a curious tilt to her head.

The Chief librarian cuts in shaking her head, "Suggested or not our researchers have their hands full with the war effort and cataloging the petroglyphs leading to that chamber. Nothing of that scale can be done anytime soon."

"Perhaps some knights on light medical leave? Force knows we have dozens of knights inching to get back in the field but are being held back by the healers." He couldn't remember the name of this master, he was new to the council. "Exploring the temple's many unused sections should be safe for the most part. I doubt there's another location as dangerous as this one was."

"That might work. I'll contact Healer Che." Madam Nu says.

Windu nods his head and turns towards them again, "That being said it still does not excuse your conduct, Initiates."

"No it doesn't." Heather agrees, "But our transgression isn't as severe as to warrant a council meeting. We believed we were breaking a rule that was the equivalent to skipping a class, not one equal to seriously risking another's life."

Kenobi arches a brow at the argument, "But you still stayed after you found the taint."

"Yes, and I clearly knew how to deal with the taint. By the time we felt it and realized our situation, it had already taken hold. We had to deal with it or suffer the repercussions later. It was the size of the force nexus that I wasn't aware of and it was what caused our hospitalization." Heather counters.

Kenobi leans forward a humorless smile on his face, "And how my dear did you know how to deal with that taint?"

And that was the crux of their situation. How do they explain her knowledge? The order was subservient to the Republic and Desmond and Heather disagreed about many things but not serving that institution was one they completely agreed on.

Heather clams up and Desmond couldn't blame her.

Master Windu tilts his head and gives them a hard look. "From our observations we can make some assumptions. I don't think you want us to go by them." he pauses his gaze half lidded and sharp.

"First both of you have a history of leaving the temple and being found in questionable areas of the underworld. Initiate Desmond, you have been hiding quite a bit in your light saber lessons. You're capable of maneuvers that usually require the use of the force... you are able to execute them like a seasoned master without using the force." he pauses again, "And your knowledge and abilities, Initiate Heather." he says. "There are Jedi that have studied how to cleanse the darkside for their entire lives, many of which are hundreds of years old, and they are not capable of doing even remotely what you did."

Desmond could hear his heart beat in the absolute silence.

"Assume we wish not, but only assume can we. No answers you have given." Yoda cuts in, "Learn from elsewhere you have, Nightsisters able to create life and cleanse the darkside, it's is they we suspect. Count Dooku's apprentice an enemy of the order she is. A Nightsister she also is. Use a youngling to access the temple she would do."

Heather was practically radiating horror at the assumption. He'd like to say he was surprised at their callousness but these assholes keep themselves from feeling anything beyond mild annoyance or contentment. Because of this they sometimes didn't realize how nasty their actions were.

Heather and him could handle the accusation but a real child would be in hysterics at the suggestion.

"~You know what they say about assumptions? They make an ass out of you and me.~" he says it in English to Heather.

The old saying brings Heather out of whatever mental downward spiral she was in, just long enough for her to give him a exasperated look.

"~This is how I see it. We can either tell the truth and be labeled liars; or we can give them the silent treatment and let them believe what they want.~"

"~And they'll contain us on suspicion of treason.~"

He couldn't help shrugging, "~I don't think they believe that bullshit. They don't have any proof and are just jumping to conclusions. You honestly think they'll hold a couple kids long without proof?~"

"~They believe it more then you think.~" they both swing around towards the speaker in shock. It was the librarian, Jocasta Nu. "~And you'll find they have the authority to hold you indefinitely if necessary.~"

She was frowning at them in concentration. Still slightly shocked, Desmond notices something in her ear.... it was a remote device that wasn't used often in this day and age. It was sort of like this time's version of an ear bud.

It only takes him a split second to realize what she was doing. Someone or something, like a droid must have translated what they said for her....

It made sense. Her accent was way off. A's sounded more like 'o's and the consonants weren't sharp as they should be, much like if the speaker learned the language while deaf. She had a pad in her hand where she obviously typed out what she wanted to say in English so the translator could feed what to say.

"~Authority yes, ability? I don't think so.~" Desmond knew how to crack force inhibitors and Heather could undo all but the worst of them. With her ability they could in fact escape and be off planet before they even realized they were missing. They made a point to learn about them. These assholes weren't going to control them, not like the assassins and templars did with him.

"Desmond!" He turns, Heather was glaring at him, pointedly.

Okay maybe he was going too far. Not about the whole controlling thing but the prisons... They had to have some pretty heavy duty prisons designed to confine even Jedi, especially with the emerging Sith around. He also probably shouldn't be antagonizing the group of peacekeeping warriors with swords made out of actual concentrated fire.

"-They are not bad people. They are trying to do the right thing even if they are misguided.-" Heather points out in Kanien'kéha, Conner's native language.

He taught it to her ages ago, not wanting it to go extinct. He was thankful for that now. They have both heard slight traces of English but traces of Kanien'kéha was nearly gone by their previous time.

"Rude, again you are being." Yoda states mildly and pointedly. "Old we are but lost our hearing, we have not."

"-It's your call. Not like I can teleport us out of here anyways.-" She tried to show him how once but she explained that he needed to practice other forms of force manipulation to get used to the flow of 'magic'.

Using the force made him feel like he was inviting it to use him back. He's been reluctant to practice...

"-You sure? There's no turning back. I can still teleport us out if you really want to leave.-" he knew she didn't want to live on the run, something about a year long camping trip. He couldn't do that to her. At least the temple was a font of information.

"-Tell them.-"

----------------------------------------

Heather could tell he was resigned even as he was mentally bracing himself for the fallout. She sends him the force equivalent of a hug as she turns back to the Jedi Masters.

"What do you know of the force?"

Master Mundi lifts a brow at her, "Much younglings, but this isn't a time for lessons."

"It is in all living things. It binds and connects us to all other things." Kenobi recites for her obviously humoring her, "It guides us and brings light into even the darkest times."

"I meant the cycle of the force, but that's not untrue." It wasn't the answer she was looking for. How much did they really know?

Yoda taps his cane on the edge of his chair taking her out of her musings. She closed her eyes without thinking apparently. Yoda was looking at her curiously, "Many cycles connected to the force. Tell us what cycle you will?"

"The life cycle." She takes a deep breath, it felt strange teaching them something that should have been a central part of what they learn and study. "We are born of the force, we live our lives and we become part of the force. Eventually when all our experiences become part of the force and the heart of us will be born again."

"Born again, I not heard of youngling." Yoda says with a frown.

"That's because it's probably not in your books. It's rare knowledge." She expected this but how to explain without sounding insane. "Who we are at our core is like a... spoon? We're constantly dipped into life for a brief time and our experiences are carried into the force and left there." Nevermind about not sounding insane... god a spoon? Really?!? Too late to change it though... Time for the crux of the problem. "Desmond and I are like... a spoon that didn't pick up enough and was dipped back in to get more before the last spoonful was emptied."

There was more then one Master radiating disbelief and a notable one that found the description humorous.

"Are you suggesting that you remember your last life?" Jocasta Nu asks with an arched brow.

"Yes." She nods to the woman, trying to convey the seriousness of her confession.

Master Koon rubs his chin, "I have never heard of such a phenomenon. Is it even possible?"

"She believes it." Windu contributes, a frown marring his features, "It doesn't rule out Sith manipulation however."

Through their bond, Heather felt Desmond's sudden urge to punch the man. He was keeping a hold on the feeling however, only radiating his normal indifference.

Something had to be done about those suspicions however. Master Windu wasn't the only one that felt them... and she could feel with the force those continued feeling would only harm everyone involved. It only takes her a moment to decide how to clear it up.

She shifts the puppy to the side of her chair, she braces her forearms on her armrests and slips her feet onto the floor. Desmond for a moment seemed to start to protest but must have heard her intentions over their bond and remains silent.

She stumbles over to Master Yoda's chair and sits on the floor before him.

"You can look and see the truth. You have my permission."

She could instantly feel when they realized what she was suggesting. It was something that even Masters and Padawans didn't do. To look deeply into someone's being. It was considered too invasive and if done unwillingly, considered a violation.

"Ask you to do this, we have not."

She shakes her head, "It's important that you don't feel any doubt. I can feel it." It had to be Yoda too for some reason even though she didn't say that.

The lines on his brow deepen as he frowns, his blue eyes darkening with confusion, "Think the force wishes this, you do?"

"Without a doubt."

---------------------------------------

Through their bond he could see what she was projecting to Yoda, and through to him the others.

It wasn't just a moment of her life, but instead it was years of servitude to her family, then it was finding out about magic, then the gradual meeting of friend after friend, learning magic, and dodged murder attempt after murder attempt... but over all the love she was willing to die for.. that saved her makeshift family.

Eventually she showed them her final unwanted walk.

Her final thoughts and her death.

Desmond could have left it alone, but... he could feel something shifting in the Jedi Masters, something that was for the better, a realization...

Swallowing down his reluctance, he sends her his memories. His memories of being kidnapped, knowing the information was being passed along to the Masters. He shows the horror of the animus and how it slowly ripped his mind apart piece by piece. He shows pieces of the lives of his ancestors... shows the choice he was given in the end... shows the bitterness of having everything manipulated by the Isu... and shows his final moment, the pain and horror he felt as he died. He shares what Juno projected to him as he passed, her evil intentions that he couldn't stop.

He didn't show all of it and miraculously he didn't reveal the brotherhood but it was enough.

Heather sends him a comforting warmth back over their bond, a hug in the force.

She finally shows them something that she reluctantly showed him years ago, something he forgot. She shows them how it was to be actually inside the force.

Those memories weren't clear but they were valuable in a way that couldn't be described. She only gave the Masters a small glimpse of what it was like.

The memories stop flowing. Silence fills the room. There was no doubt hanging in the air anymore. He could feel some of them releasing their feelings of horror, anger and grief into the force but they were all silent.

He takes advantage of the lull and goes to Heather, he sweeps her up and puts her back in her hoverchair. He could tell already that it took a lot out of her. She wasn't going to be standing again any time soon.

"Well it's clear they do not belong in the order." Ki-Adi-Mundi states evenly to the council.

Shaak Ti turns to him, "And why do you say that?"

The Cerean Master leans back in his chair and gives his fellow master a surprised look, "They have multiple attachments and to an unhealthy degree. It's only a matter of time until they fall."

Kenobi leans forward, "It was horribly painful but they did give those attachments up when they accepted their deaths. If they were going to fall wouldn't they have already done so? I think it's obvious they know how to cope with losing them and isn't that the main argument against having attachments?"

"But they still feel great pain from those attachments." Master Oppo Rancisis cuts in for the first time.

"That's a part of life, a part of losing someone. If you don't still feel pain from someone's passing, from the hole that's left when they are gone, did you truly care for them?" Desmond cuts in.

"We do still feel pain from losing our loved ones but that doesn't mean that pain is fresh. It's faded even if it's still there. And we have new attachments to comfort us." Heather adds.

Master Windu straightens up and meets the eyes of the others, "We can debate about attachments and their detrimental effects another time. Our actions now are not unclear, they must be trained. They can not fall into the hands of the Sith."

"Two of the same but never seen before these younglings are. Will of the force this is, no doubt there is." Yoda says quietly in the echoing chamber.