Chapter 22

On Coruscant as Moka and crew are returning to Kahlua, the Jedi Council come together for an important meeting following the war that happened on Kazarak. All of the Jedi Council were present for this meeting, most in person while some through projector. Also present at this meeting was Qui-Gon Jinn, Anakin, and the newly knighted Obi-Wan Kenobi.

This meeting was unlike any other, as there is a thick tension in the air that has been present ever since the celebrations on Naboo, where the Jedi Order nearly started a war with House Kahl. At the head of the room, sat Grandmaster Yoda and next to him as always is the Master of the Jedi Order, Mace Windu. Despite them sitting next to one another, there seemed to be a particularly thick wall of tension between the two leaders of the Jedi Order.

"Since we're all here, I'll begin this important meeting. For too long, we have ignored the threat that is House Kahl and particularly, Prince Moka Kahl. He has shown complete disregard for our Order, he has fallen deep into the dark side, and now, he has started an underworld war that if gone unchecked, will set the entire galaxy aflame. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if Prince Moka was a Sith Lord himself, and should be treated as such!" Mace said as his voice reverberated across the whole room.

Murmers broke out across the room as the council members discussed things amongst themselves, some in agreement with Mace. The murmers went on until a tapping of a cane bright everyone's attention to Yoda.

"Nothing wrong, young Moka has done. Many good deeds in fact, he has done, hrmm." Yoda said to the council.

"This is true," spoke Plo Koon, voice augmented through his rebreather. "Even as a child, he's saved countless orphans and has given them homes, the best education for free, and even well paying jobs when they graduate. Him and his crew has defeated many pirates and raiders and freed their victims. He saved the Naboo using his own assets and no help from us or the Republic. And lastly, he just took out a branch of a dangerous slaver group and has literally freed a planets worth of slaves." Plo Koon stated.

"I agree with Grandmaster and Master Plo, if this young man were still in our Order with even half of these achievements, I have no doubt that he'd have been knighted if not already a well-regarded Master of our Order. The real question is, why are you so adamant to condemn this young man, hmm?" Ki-Adi asked as he looked pointedly at Mace.

Mace grimaced when he heard some of his fellow council members agrees with Yoda. "Enough! our Order is being discredited and undermined in a time when we are needed most. The Sith have returned! And you choose to ignore a young man full of so much hate and power that he practically radiates with dark side corruption. It was clear he has done all of those deeds for his own profit! Taking in orphans and slaves to boost his numbers. Killing pirates and raiders to intimidate his enemies and make a name for himself. And it's clear he helped orchestrate the very invasion on Naboo!"

"He allowed the Sith to escape after he "killed" them. He was conveniently on the planet and had a full base built by the time of the attack. He even had dealings with the Hutts and made his whore slave into some sort of Ambassador of Tatooine! Why are you all choosing to be so blind to this?" Mace said as he smacked his armrest.

Hearing Mace insult his mother, Anakin grew upset. "Hey! That's my mom you're talking about you bald jerk!" Anakin yelled as he shook his tiny fist at Mace in rage.

Hearing this, Mace turn his glare to Qui-Gon and Anakin. "Qui-Gon, we invited you here since you had a chance to get close to Prince Moka and may have valuable information on him, but we will not tolerate another outburst from this boy!" Mace said through gritted teeth.

Qui-Gon stood in front of Anakin as he rested a hand on his shoulder to calm him. "I have come here today out of the respect for the Council and Grandmaster Yoda, but I am no longer apart of this Order, and will not stand here and allow you to insult this young boys mother!" Qui-Gon declared, realizing more and more why he wanted to leave this Order.

Obi-Wan stood there conflicted on who's side he should take, but Mace Windu's attitude caused him to wonder whether he should leave the order as well and be with Satine Kryze like he longed for.

As Mace and Qui-Gon stared daggers at each, a tapping once again gathered everyone's attention. "Enough! Fighting with each other, the Order does not need. And make an enemy out of Prince Moka and House Kahl, we will not!" Yoda said, glaring at his former Padawan Mace Windu.

When Mace Windu heard this, he had already reached his limit. "No, this has gone one long enough! As the Master of the Jedi Order, I invoke my right to reinstate the Army Of Light! I will be the Commander of the forces while Kit Fisto will be named as General from this point on. The time when the Jedi Order do nothing but jump at the beck and call of the corrupt Republic and do nothing are over!" Mace Windu said as he stood up, staring straight at Yoda.

Yoda felt himself becoming enraged at Mace as he knew this will have wide reaching consequences. "No, allow this, I will not! Apart of the Jedi Order, the Army Of Light has never been, and never will be! Cease your actions now and reflect you will!" Yoda said as he turned his seat to face Mace, his body tense, ready for any actions. Mace was being far more aggressive than usual, and something different feel right.

Quickly, the whole Council seemed to split, some standing by Yoda, will the others by Mace. The tension was now at it's highest, as each Jedi master stood ready for conflict at any second. Seeing the situation quickly turning sour, Qui-Gon eased Anakin and Obi-Wan towards the elevator and quickly pressed the button. When the elevator got to the top and dinged, that seemed to be the signal to start the battle, as Mace Windu ignited his saber and quickly locked blades with Yoda, the rest of the Jedi masters following soon after.

"Quickly, get into the elevator and get to the ships! We need to get to Kahlua, now" Qui-Gon said as the three quickly got into lift as it shut behind them. Now safely in the lift, all three were rightly startled by the events.

"W-what was that?! Why are they fighting each other?" Asked Anakin, who was so shaken he was on the verge of tears.

"It's the fall of the Jedi Order as we know it I fear." Obi-Wan said solemnly. Though he was just as shaken as Anakin, he was able to keep a better hold of his emotions thanks to him being older.

Anakin wanted to speak up and deny that could ever happen, but a soft hand on his shoulder and a regretful look on Qui-Gon's face told him otherwise. "I fear that Obi-Wan is right. What Mace has done has effectively split the Jedi Order at it's very foundation, the Council. Something that not even a Sith Lord has ever done before, at least not in a very long time. At the best, there will be a Jedi Civil war, at worse..." Qui-Gon said and didn't even dare to finish his sentence. Something like this has never happened before in the entire history of the Jedi Order, so there was no guidelines for this situation.

Reaching the Hangar bay, it was clear that the chaos had broken out to the whole temple as all around, different Jedi battled each other. At the side of the hangar, Qui-Gon saw Jocasta Nu and a few other Jedi defending a whole host of younglings from two different Light Jedi from Mace's faction. Not wanting to see such young life potentially ended so soon or corrupted by Mace, Qui-Gon made rushed over followed closely by Obi-Wan and Anakin.

"The Army Of Light has no place for indecisive incompetence!" one of the Sentinels yelled as the two Light Jedi slashed at Jocasta with their sabers, only for one to be blocked by Qui-Gon and the Other by Obi-Wan.

"Stay your hand! Are we not all followers of the light? What reason would you have to attack members of the same Order?" Qui-Gon asked as he scowled at the Jedi. Though he left the Order before all of the chaos ensued, he still considered himself a follower of the light.

"The complacent Jedi Order of old is over! Yoda's incompetence allowed the once dead Sith to rise once again, and now we also have a Mandolorian issue as well! The time for change and reform has come! For the Army Of Light!" the Light Jedi said as he attempted to slash at Qui-Gon, only to be quickly cut down. The same result happened with Obi-Wan and his opponent, as he disengaged his lightsaber. Never in his darkest dreams did he think he'd ever slay a fellow Jedi.

Acutely aware of the danger still around them, Qui-Gon turned to Jocasta Nu. "You need to get these younglings somewhere safe! Do you already have a destination in mind or a ship prepared?" Qui-Gon asked in a hurry.

Sensing the urgency in his voice, Jocasta shook her head. "We have a medium freighter set up for emergencies like this to transport the Younglings to safety, but when the enemy is your own Order, where can we possibly go?!" Jocasta asked, slightly panicked. At this point, she has already left the life of battle behind and has become the head librarian of the temple. Even know along with the Younglings, she has brought many texts of history and even Holocrons.

Qui-Gon felt the force speak to him, and knew what he needed to do. "The Jedi Order is no longer safe. Join us to Kahlua, Prince Moka will make sure we are well taken care of. Set course for Kahlua and we'll follow you as defense. Quickly now!" Qui-Gon yelled when he saw Jocasta frozen in her thoughts.

Helping her herd the Younglings and other Jedi onto the freighter, when the ship took off, the three quickly boarded their own ship and had R2-D2 fly them after the freighter. As they safely entered Hyperspace, the news was already all over the galaxy. The Jedi Order, the protectors of the galaxy, were now a fractured shell of itself. Fear grew in the hearts of the people as they wondered who would protect them now when the Sith had just made their reappearance? Parents worried over the safety of their children, and criminals rejoiced at the fortunate news.

The galaxy was now quickly turning into a lawless land as the decaying Republic struggled to keep order during these trying times. What do the Army Of Light plan to do? What will be the fate of Yoda and the remnants of the Jedi Order? Most importantly, what are Sidious and the Sith plotting?