Discussion by the Fountains

Grandmaster Yoda and I sit on a bench in the Room of a Thousand Fountains. Wow, that's a mouthful. I never understood why they didn't just refer to this place as the waterfall room.

Given the large amount of waterfalls when compared to the amount of fountains, I feel like it would be much more fitting. Though given that I'm no longer a part of the Order, I suppose the overly long names they have for their rooms no longer concerns me.

"So what did you wish to discuss, Grandmaster?" I speak to the small being with respect. Despite any differences I've had with the Order, the position of Grandmaster is one that is earned through no small amount of effort.

"Hmm. Many companions, you travel with. Touched by the Force, they all are."

Ok. I guess that he's going to be talking like that the whole time. I know that Master Vandar didn't talk like that back in my time, so I'm certain that it isn't due to his race. Maybe it has to do with the culture he was raised in?

Waving it off, I give him a nod. "Indeed. The Force guided each of them to help me in my travels. We've accomplished great things together. Though after our latest adventure, I believe that most of them were hoping to settle down." I chuckle lightly. "Suffice to say that the Force had other plans."

He nods in understanding, though I'm sure he doesn't know anything about our adventures. Despite the massive library here, Jedi are ironically not very good at keeping up with their history. "Mysterious, the will of the Force is. Always strives for balance, it does. Destruction of the Star Forge, perhaps it was only the beginning."

My eye twitches, and by the nearly unnoticeable turn of his lips, I can tell that he noticed. So. 'He knows more than I thought he would. But clearly not enough if he thinks that destroying the Star Forge was the beginning.'

"An interesting view," I muse. "Though as you say, the Force always strives for balance. Which is why I find the current circumstances concerning."

He frowns. "Oh?"

"Well, in the time I've been… out of touch, you could say, with the galaxy, it seems that the Jedi have become the sole source of Force Adepts."

"Indeed. Fail to see the concern in that, I do." He taps his lightsaber disguised as a walking stick on the ground.

"Well, if both sides of the Force aren't being utilized, it isn't really balanced, now is it?" I continue before he can speak. "Of course, I'm not saying that the Sith were right, or necessary. But without them, I can't help but notice how the imbalance has affected the galaxy."

"Become more peaceful, it has, without our ancient enemies." His frown deepens.

"Perhaps. But tell me, has the galaxy at large become more peaceful? Or only where Jedi have a presence?"

He says nothing, thinking of all the worlds embroiled in conflict that the Jedi cannot interfere in, given their policy.

I continue without waiting for an answer. "Even here, conflict runs rampant just below the surface. The lower levels are rife with crime, and the upper levels are filled with politicians who use those with less power as they please until they throw them away."

"Involve themselves in politics, the Jedi do not." He interjects. I nod.

"That would be well and good, but what exactly do the Jedi do? When I met the Jedi returning from Naboo, we talked. They informed me that the Jedi would not involve themselves in the conflict revolving around the planet, though they were guiding the Queen to safety."

"Helping where they could, they were. But tradition-" I interrupt him.

"Tradition is a shackle that holds people back from change. Sometimes that is good, other times it is bad. Keeping tradition here would have doomed a planet to slavery had I not interfered. But change from tradition since my time with the Order has caused the Jedi to weaken."

At his questioning look, I explain. "Though wearing the symbolic Jedi robes is tradition, it was also customary to ensure that you wore armor as well. One of the easiest ways to defeat a Force user is by a surprise attack, after all. And armor could mean the difference between a severe injury, and death."

The Grandmaster nods his head in acknowledgement. They have lost some promising Jedi when they were ambushed by criminals, outlaws, and other such people.

"But the most costly change from tradition? The clear abandonment of cleansing the Shrine of the Depths."

His brows furrow in confusion. "Shrine of the Depths? Unfamiliar with this, I am."

I sigh. "Which is the problem. Given the fact that it's a Sith Temple under the Jedi Temple here on Coruscant you, as the Grandmaster of the Order, should know of it at least. But instead, it languishes, the Dark Side permeating the planet to unheard of levels for any non-Sith world."

His eyes grow wide. "Impossible. Know of this, we would." He places a hand on his chin as he looks down. "But ring true in the Force, your words do. Lost knowledge, it is? But then how, know of it, do you?"

I shrug. "I am older than I appear, and it was well known while I was here. The Order actually made a good deal of progress in cleansing it, at the time." I sigh while looking in the direction it's located. "Though it seems that it's become worse than it ever has since my time."

His eyes narrow. "Old, I am. Older, you claim to be. No falsehood, I feel, but also impossible. Explain, will you?"

I chuckle, rising from my seat. "No, I don't think I will." I hold up a hand to forestall any objection. "But I suppose I'll give you a chance. I wish to fight one of your most skilled combatants. Should they win, I will give you some useful information."

He hums in thought. "Should you win?"

I smirk. "If I win, then once I establish my own Academy to train Force Sensitives, you will allow younglings and Padawans to learn there. We can work out details at that time."

"Hmm." He considers the proposition for a few minutes while I wait patiently. Though it's really not even a question. I've ensured that he knows I have more than enough information to pique his interest. He won't be able to pass up the chance to learn more of what I know.

There's only one answer he can give me, and he knows it. "Very well. A duel, you wish for? Have one, you shall. Wish to have it, when?"

I turn around and start walking, lazily waving behind me as I do. "I'll be waiting in the sparring room. Send whoever you wish, I'll be waiting."