Chapter 19: Another One

(Van: POV)

Entering my room I went straight for my bed and lied down on it.

Since the meeting I just finished with Dooku and Sifo-Dyas has me worn out.

But it was well worth it.

Not only did we decided to work together to prevent the coming darkness, which is Sidious and his Empire, but we also agreed to keep the hidden information stored on Nomi's holocron well a secret.

That truly lifted a weight off my shoulders.

Since I had been worrying what Dooku was going to do about that.

I wasn't sure if he would have informed the council or not. Because if he had things would've become even more complicated.

Good thing he didn't.

Now I can rest slightly easier tonight.

Though not entirely since tomorrow Dooku, Sifo-Dyas, and I are going to inform Marcellus of our plans. Which was actually master Sifo-Dyas's idea.

He didn't want to keep his Padawan in the dark, and he assured us Marcellus was trustworthy enough to handle the information. An assessment I totally agreed with.

Which is why I planned telling Marcellus about everything myself one day, but just like with several other things I didn't think the day would come so soon.

Still, I'm not disappointed.

Because it means we'll have him on our side.

And he's just the first.

For Dooku and Sifo-Dyas decided during our meeting earlier we would seek out and draw other Jedi within the order into our little group.

Which again is a plan I took no issues with.

Because I'm certain those Dooku and Sifo-Dyas draw into our plans will be more than happy to join my own Jedi order which I will create in a few years.

At least I hope they will.

But enough worrying about that, time for some sleep.

Getting comfortable I relaxed in my bed.

Wondering how Marcellus would take the news tomorrow.

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Falling to my knees I held up stomach and looked up at the visage of an angry Marcellus.

His lest fist having just been in my gut, resulting in my current situation.

The two of us are standing in the same training room Dooku, Sifo-Dyas, and I used for our own meeting yesterday. The two Jedi masters stood off to the side watching us. Sifo-Dyas having just finished explaining what we are attempting to do and the reasons behind it to Marcellus.

As you can guess by his actions he's having a litte trouble processing.

"Van, how could you not tell me sooner? You always say we're friends, and yet for an entire year you've been carrying this alone." Marcellus shouted me.

"I know." I said. Standing to my feet and looking Marcellus in the eyes. "And I'm sorry for keeping this from you. But it had to be done. As you now know this is information not to be shared lightly. Besides, even if I did share it from what your master has told me the order at large will do nothing. I mean he sits on the high council and yet his recounting of his own visions hasn't gotten anyone to budge. Finally, Nomi warned me the coming darkness could come from anywhere, even within the Jedi Order itself. So once more I am sorry, but it was for your own good."

"I know that." Marcellus replied. "Still, you could've come clean sooner."

"Probably." I mused.

Marcellus and I then shared a quick laugh before having a manly handshake.

Me happy that now my best friend is in on this with me.

"Van, what you mean the threat could even come within the order itself?' Dooku asked me.

I turned to face hin when he did. "Exactly as it sounds master. We have no idea what this coming darkness will be. Only that it is coming." I said.

Lying through my teeth.

Since the truth is way too dangerous to speak right now.

"Dooku my friend, your apprentice is correct. Even in my own visions of the darkness that encroaches upon the galaxy I have never seen or felt clearly what it is or may be. It could very well be a member of the order." Sifo-Dyas explained.

I nodded my head in agreement. "Yes master. We just have to look at history to know that such things are possible." I spoke.

For some of the greatest threats to the Republic, the Jedi Order, and the galaxy at large have come from the Jedi themselves.

Exar Kun and Ulic Qel-Droma.

Revan and Malek.

Most recently Skeere Khan and the Brotherhood of Darkness.

All of them started out as members of the Jedi order, and all of them brought untold destruction upon the galaxy.

"You both make a very good point." Dooku admitted. "But if that is the case, then we will have to be very careful about who we trust."

"Yes." I agreed. "And keep this information too ourselves as much as possible. Including your friend Palpatine I'm afraid masters. For if you told him it could put him in grave danger."

Well actually it would do the opposite and possibly put us in grave danger, but once again revealing such a truth now is not possible. So I'm using this method.

"I understand." Dooku said.

"Me as well." Sifo-Dyas added.

Making me breathe a short sigh of relief.

Now I just need to make sure Palpatine is kept in the dark before it is too late for him to do anything to stop us.

Which will likely be when he becomes Chancellor of the Republic.

For that position will be a double-edged sword for him.

Sure he'll control the Republic, but as the Chancellor he won't be able to disappear for long periods of time.

Thus keeping him on semi-lockdown and giving us some breathing room.

"Okay. So now that that's done, who else are we going to recruit into this group?" Marcellus asked.

So we began discussing just that.

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A month passed after Dooku, Sifo-Dyas, Marcellus, and I formed our group.

No new members have been added yet, but Sifo-Dyas and Dooku have told Marcellus and I they have put feelers out.

The two of us are doing the same with those of our own generation.

Completing a lightsaber training session I headed back to my room and got cleaned up.

Then just as I was about to relax I heard a knock upon my door.

Heading over to it I opened it and found Dooku standing on the other side.

"Yes master?" I asked him.

"We have been assigned a mission my apprentice." Dooku spoke.

Which filled me with joy.

I mean there is only so much training a gut can do before he wants to put his skills to the test.

Now I will finally have that chance.

Upon hearing Dooku's words I invited him into my room so we could discuss the details of the mission.