Chapter 5D: Into the Fire

After Order 66, few Jedi dare to venture outside the shadows—rumors of the dark and terrible Darth Vader haunting even their waking moments. Yet, some Jedi find this life of fear unbearable. The Empire is always watching, and Vader himself is eager to confront any Jedi that might bring him closer to the whereabouts of his betrayer, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
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Chapter 5D: Into the Fire

Post by Shurijo » Tue Aug 17, 2021 12:33 am

After surrendering his weapons, Jedi Knight Granite is separated from the others and escorted to a holding room. The next few hours give the Jedi Knight time to recover and search the room for weaknesses that might aid in his escape. While he begins to recover some fatigue and use the room to mediate, he finds no weaknesses and no way to escape the room.

Suddenly, the door slides open and the Pau'an who introduced himself as the ‘Grand Inquisitor’ and accepted their surrender enters the room with a tray of food and a lightsaber hilt. When he takes a step into the room, the door slides shut as fast as it opened.

"Granite, welcome."

He sits the tray down near Granite. The dish contained a few servings of Endwa consisting of fried Corellian meat served with orange gravy, a bowl of chopped Corellian Stewfruit, and a Corellian Ryshcate pastry traditionally made with whisky and nuts. For the last six months, the Jedi Knight had survived on bland, leftover food rations from the Clone War and flavorless stew made by the mining crew. The smells and sights momentarily over take his senses.

"Granite. In all my years, I don’t believe I’ve ever met a Gank Jedi."

Taking the strangely shaped lightsaber hilt from the tray, he continues "Like Rikros Batu, I was once a Jedi Temple Guard. A guard was an ancient, honorable, and sacred duty -- only corrupted by the Jedi. They sought war. They sought dishonor. You can continue that lifelong commitment as a sentinel with the Inquisitorius. You’ll have a pack of elite troopers and given the power to commandeer any required Imperial Military forces. Our job is to continue the legacy of the Force. To find Force-sensitive children and protect them from disrupting the galaxy which would result in others being harmed."

Standing up to leave, he takes a step back and says, "I hope you will consider my offer. There are others here who served as Temple Guards. Join my brothers and sisters and return to your sacred duty. When you are ready, we will welcome you into our sparring ring."
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This thread is for ManWithDoor
Also note your emotional strength (ambition), emotional weakness (greed), motivation (growth), and ambition (community).

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Chapter 5D: Into the Fire

Post by ManWithDoor » Sat Aug 21, 2021 2:45 pm

Granite picks up the Ryshcate pastry and gives it a sniff, then begins taking big bites out of it. He manages not to moan at the taste, but just barely. Even before living in rations after the rise of the Empire, there weren't exactly delicacies on the front lines. He can't clearly remember when last he had snacks this good. "There have been a few other Gank in the Order through recorded history, but as far as I know I'm the only one. Well, especially sure given the recent purge." He stares steadily at the Grand Inquisitor. Nothing dramatic, just a long look that says he is no ones fool.

"From a purely professional, strategic viewpoint, I have to admit a certain sick admiration of the Empire. I would never have imagined someone could have successfully overthrown the Republic, exterminated and discredited the Jedi, rebranded the Clone Army ..." he pauses, having trouble comprehending the enormity of it all, "and done it practically in one fell swoop. What the Separatists couldn't do in years, the Republic did to itself almost overnight. I am curious what future historians will say of this period in the future, what they will learn of us after all this pans out. If historians are allowed to exist, at least independent ones with access to honest records."
Rule Number 12: "A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."

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Chapter 5D: Into the Fire

Post by Shurijo » Sat Aug 21, 2021 8:40 pm

The Grand Inquisitor listens intently to Granite's words and pauses for a moment before responding. "The Jedi discredited themselves with their failed assassination of the Chancellor. When he told them how to end the war, the Jedi Council decided to murder him. The Clone Wars was started by a Jedi Master and both sides were lead by Jedi Masters until the end. The Clones were lead by Jedi. The Clones were designed, manufactured, and production was overseen by Jedi. When the orders came to detain all Jedi, they obeyed their orders. Everyone finally realized it was a Jedi war all along and it was in the Jedi interest to prolong the war. For those Jedi who fought back, the soldiers had to no choice but to return fire. If the Clones saw how traitorous the Jedi had become, why can't you see the same? Is it pride that prevents you from seeing the truth?"

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Chapter 5D: Into the Fire

Post by ManWithDoor » Wed Aug 25, 2021 12:07 am

"I find the official story highly unlikely, and the simplification of the Clone Wars history to be bordering on intentionally deceptive." He pauses for a second. "And yes, I know that this line of reasoning is a quick path to tin-foil hat Conspiracy Theory Land, and having traveled around the galaxy I've encountered plenty of them." He begins listing them, counting off on his fingers. "The Force is fake, it's just sleight-of-hand and repulsor fields. The Force is real, and is powered by unholy and profane rituals. The Force is so powerful that we don't have free will, the Force predetermines all our actions. The Jedi are a myth. The Jedi are communal insect creatures faking being people. The Grand Chancellor stays alive and healthy by eating babies and bathing in the blood of virgins." He stops. "Well, Emperor now I suppose. But even with all that has happened I doubt he eats babies. I wouldn't defend the Empire's actions, but I would argue strongly against that sort of rumor."

"I find it much more likely that the Emperor had no interest in the Jedi being around, for whatever reason, militarily or politically. An extermination order doesn't sound particularly difficult given the obedience conditioning the Clones have. It sounds a lot more likely than the Jedi all were 'self-defensed to death'. Yet even for all that, I am not so obstinate to say that my pride and self-identity do not factor into what I accept and believe. I am not, nor have I ever been, infallible." He smiles lightly. "At least I've ended up right more often than not."
Rule Number 12: "A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."

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Chapter 5D: Into the Fire

Post by Shurijo » Thu Aug 26, 2021 12:01 am

The Grand Inquisitor appears bored at listening to Granite's rebuttal.

"Watch for yourself," he states as he sits a hologram projector on the table and then turns to depart the room. Looking back, he says, "I am trying to help you. If you stay on your current course, you will die." The maglock door then closes behind him, sealing the room shut.

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Chapter 5D: Into the Fire

Post by ManWithDoor » Fri Aug 27, 2021 3:11 am

Curiosity gets the better of him, and Granite moves over to the table and inspects the hologram projector. He assumes he just needs to turn it on and it'll display something, or perhaps begin a recorded video or audio file.
Rule Number 12: "A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."

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Chapter 5D: Into the Fire

Post by Shurijo » Fri Aug 27, 2021 4:01 pm

Placing a small projection device on the table, the Granite presses a button to activate it. The projection illuminates the room showing the Chancellor's office with Chancellor Palpatine and a young male Jedi talking. Granite recognizes the Jedi as Anakin Skywalker, one of the most well-known and successful Jedi Generals of the Clone Wars.

Then the Jedi Council Masters Mace Windu, Kit Fisto, Agen Kolar and another Jedi he doesn't recognize, but assumes is another Jedi Master, enters the Chancellor 's room. Their lightsabers ignite and then move fast to attack the Chancellor. But their attacks are cut short when, Jedi Knight Skywalker stops the Jedi Masters saying, "The Chancellor must stand trial." Then Jedi Master Windu replies, "He possesses far too much influence to be left alive." When Windu strikes at the Chancellor, the Skywalker defends the Chancellor.

Granite knows that it is against the Jedi code to assassinate. The Jedi code was suppose to be followed by all within the Jedi Order and especially by the Jedi Council. He didn't know if the Jedi Council had ever killed someone without a trial, which would allow the opposition to present their evidence and side of the story and even if someone was found guilty, the Jedi wouldn't kill someone in cold blood -- that goes against the Jedi code.

The projection changes to show Jedi Master and Council member Obi-Wan Kenobi exit a starship on a hellscape planet, which could be Mustafar or one of many others. The projection goes to show Kenobi fighting against Skywalker, who Granite remembers was Obi-Wan's padawan. He watches as Kenobi cuts off Skywalker's arms and legs and leaves him to burn in the lava flow.

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Chapter 5D: Into the Fire

Post by ManWithDoor » Fri Sep 03, 2021 8:28 pm

Granite isn't a computer wizard. He knows his way around them well enough for common usage, but he doesn't have confidence he could spot a fake video on sight. He studies the images, playing it back a couple times to look for obvious artifacts of deception. Eventually he gives up on that, and moves on to considering the content itself.

Assuming this is accurate, he finds it interesting that the Jedi Council Masters and Skywalker all agree that the Chancellor has committed some sort of high crime worthy of arrest and execution. Skywalker didn't respond that the charges weren't capital offenses, just that a Trial must occur. Troubling. Perhaps they caught the Chancellor's machinations in progress, trying to prevent Palpatine from rising as the Emperor of a new Empire. But he can't read minds even if he were present, and this is a dead recording.

He supposes he should have suspected some sort of internal conflict, perhaps Civil War, had occurred in secret within the Jedi Order. If the Order had been united in taking down the Chancellor, who could stand against them? Divisions must have led to a muddled response, and if the projection of Kenobi and Skywalker battling was accurate, it led to lethal blows between former comrades-in-arms. That must have given Palpatine the room he needed to act. And the consequences are all around him, literally. He wouldn't be in this cell if the Republic still stood.
Rule Number 12: "A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."

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Chapter 5D: Into the Fire

Post by Shurijo » Thu Sep 09, 2021 10:01 pm

Hours after Granite had reviewed the new information made available by the Grand Inquisitor, the doors to his cell slide open. The Grand Inquisitor enters the room and the doors slide shut behind him.

He takes a long and silent look at Granite before speaking. "I fear you still hold hope in the Jedi. The Jedi Order has been corrupted for many years. It was their arrogance and power overreach which eventually gave way to their treasonous attempt to murder the Chancellor and the only Jedi who sought a fair resolution to the matter with evidence presented."

"If you recall, the last time the Jedi Council held a trial, they banished a young --and innocent-- padawan from the Order. If it wasn't for a lone Jedi's unauthorized investigation, the Council would have never found the correct Temple bomber. They were so quick to lay blame that they arrested, imprisoned, and banished one of their own. When it was revealed they made a mistake, they vowed to execute the accused before anyone could show them they were wrong."

"If they were so quick to judge their own innocent padawan, how do you believe a non-Jedi would fair in their courts? They had become so politically motivated by power, that they became judges, jury, and executioners. Are assassinations, murder, and power the way of the Jedi?"

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Chapter 5D: Into the Fire

Post by ManWithDoor » Tue Sep 14, 2021 5:02 am

Granite ponders for a moment. "I am not intimately familiar with the banishment of the padawan blamed for the Temple bombing. While originally by training a Temple Guard, the recent years have taken me far from Coruscant to the front lines. I was briefed on the bombing from a technical, security-oriented perspective. Failure analysis, revised threat assessments, altered defenses, that sort of thing."

"But as much as I would like to say you are wrong on every point ... I try not to make a habit of lying just to be contrary." He tries to keep his face impassive, but there is dissatisfaction still present. "The Order was not what it once was, even just in my lifetime. Philosophers, record-keepers of ancient history and lore, defenders of the defenseless. To be a shining beacon across the Ages. Not ... this." He looks down at his hands. Calluses along his fingers and palms from years of wielding axes and blades. Burn scars, battle wounds, the visible history of war written clearly for anyone to see. "I hoped that when the Separatists were defeated, then we could go back to what we once were. Not Generals waging war, not assault troops used to break unbreakable defenses." For a minute he is silent, still staring at his hands. "I'm a fine fighter. I'm good at it. But these hands were made for building, not just for destruction. I wanted to help rebuild after the war, strengthen communities, repair what was lost and replace it with something even better. The same with the Jedi." He shakes his head and wipes his hands together, returning his gaze to the Inquisitor.
Leaning into his Ambition (Community), as he does recognize a number of the failings of the Republic and the Jedi Order. However, he wanted to build up and improve the community he belonged. Not tear it down as the Empire has.

Thinking about it, he's kinda the Star Wars equivalent of a Warhammer 40K Space Marine. So also leaning into war weariness, as he isn't just a regular trooper holding the line, but was a shock trooper sent to the worst fighting for the long years of the war.
Rule Number 12: "A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."

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