30 Coruscant: Jedi Council. Interlude.

Shaak Ti had visited the round council chamber of the Jedi many times, its windows overlooking the heart of the great planet Coruscant. It was from here that the Jedi vowed to protect all they could see. Aside from the windows, the chamber also featured chairs of various shapes, specially crafted to suit the needs of each individual master. For example, Master Yoda sat in an egg-shaped chair. The other seats for council members had high backs for comfort.

Now, the Togruta stood in the center of the council, awaiting the many questions she was sure her comrades would have. They would have plenty, she was certain. About an hour ago, they had arrived from Tatooine, and she had been given some time to freshen up while they convened the council. Not all the masters could be present at the meeting, so holograms of some were seated in their places, projected directly from the front lines.

A significant precedent had been set, one that rivaled the beginning of the war and Count Dooku's betrayal in importance. A new figure had appeared on the military and political chessboard, one whose mere presence created a third side. The assembled Jedi, however, were unaware of this development, and it was Shaak Ti's task to bring this information to their attention.

"Before we begin the meeting," Mace Windu, a stern and dark-skinned man, spoke first, "I would like to inquire, Master Ti, about how you are feeling."

"I am well, Master Windu," she replied politely. "Thank you for asking."

"Very well," the stern man continued, "I believe it is best to start from the beginning, Master Ti."

"During the battle on Geonosis, I encountered him for the first time," she said thoughtfully. "Alongside the Jedi knights..." She looked meaningfully at Mace Windu, who shook his head sadly.

"They did not survive... But it's worth noting that they perished not at the hands of the Sith," Windu explained the fate of the Jedi knights.

"Then, a confrontation ensued between us," Ti continued, accepting the fate of her comrades. "He called my name." All present, including Yoda, were surprised by her words. "Perhaps, had we not been on the battlefield, we might have had a chance to engage in a conversation..."

"So, it seems you are acquainted?" Adi Gallia asked a quite logical question.

"I find it difficult to answer that question," Ti replied. She closed her eyes and tried to recall all the acquaintances she had ever had in her head. "Perhaps we crossed paths at some point, but due to his mask, I could not see his face. I was also curious about this matter, but I never received a clear answer."

Visions of the Force were fragments of the future that came to Force-sensitive individuals during meditation or extreme situations. They were a kind of benevolent revelation, showing what might happen. There were cases where the foreseen events did not come to pass, and the visions were nothing more than dreams of those attuned to the Force. Knowledge of the future was a double-edged sword, easily capable of hurting oneself.

Murder in the heart of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant seemed unimaginable. No mercenary, no Sith Lord in their right mind would attack the Jedi Order's stronghold, knowing that it would result in a bloodbath involving not only Force-sensitive adepts but also the local military. To make the Sith's predictions come true, he would need a whole army to capture the Republic's capital.

He then told her that he had seen her death. She wanted to share this with the Council, but at the very last moment, she remembered the powerful figure pulling the strings on both sides of the barricade. If there was even a slight chance that all of this was true, she needed to be particularly cautious in her recounting so as not to inadvertently give a clue to the invisible enemy.

"Shouldn't a Sith know about the Masters?" Ki-Adi-Mundi spoke. "There's nothing surprising in the fact that he learned of Master Ti." Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Darth Hassan fought masterfully against us single-handedly. Despite our numerical advantage, we couldn't land a single blow on him. I didn't recognize his fencing style, so I can assume it's a new or highly modified combat style," she said, vividly recalling her fierce clash with him. "At the same time, it's a technical and ferocious style, yet also 'patient' in a sense."

"Hmm... Knight Siri Tachi spoke of her battle with him," Yoda said in his unique manner. "But the girl lacked the strength to defeat him."

The Pursuer from Kamino. Shaak Ti didn't know how she had found them there, but it ultimately led to a brief confrontation with Hassan. Of course, it was Hassan who returned to the ship victorious, with a battle trophy in the form of a lightsaber. At the time, he spared the girl, so it's not surprising that the Council already knew some tidbits about him.

"Knight Tachi was pursuing Boba, but she encountered Hassan," Mace Windu leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "What links them?"

"Nothing links them," Ti replied honestly, earning a puzzled look from the man. "He said he was acquainted with his father and used the child to safely escape the planet. Well, he used him to ensure his own safe departure from Geonosis, to be precise."

"Hmm..." Windu mused. "Could Darth Hassan know about the clones?"

"I'm really not sure about that. I don't want to speculate prematurely... After all, we ourselves only learned about this recently," Shaak Ti responded.

"Yes..." the man sighed, massaging his forehead.

"What happened to Boba?" Plo Koon interjected.

"He dropped us off on Tatooine at Hassan's request, and then he went to carry out the instructions of his late father," Ti replied succinctly. "I want to ask, what happened to the pilots on Geonosis? Did you find the ship?"

"Yes, we managed to track the stolen transport and rescue the clones," Depa Billaba added. "Why didn't he kill them?"

Sith are known for their inclination toward violence. They don't hesitate to kill witnesses, ordinary people in their way, and especially enemy soldiers like the clones. Though it's worth noting that Sith may capture particularly important targets, like Shaak Ti, but they promptly dispose of unnecessary "garbage." For some reason, the pilots were spared.

"Masters, please listen to me carefully," Shaak Ti surveyed all the Jedi in the room with her gaze. "My words may sound strange, but I am completely convinced of them. Darth Hassan is indeed a follower of the Dark Side. I doubted this for almost the entire time I spent with him. He demonstrated Force Lightning to me, but I didn't sense any negative emotions in him."

"Perhaps he used my technique?" Plo Koon suggested.

"You are correct; your techniques are indeed similar. However, the lightning he released took the shape of an unknown monster's face, indicating his perfect control over Force Lightning. I am ready to swear that he did it effortlessly," Master Plo slightly tilted his head to the side, picturing the scene in his mind. "I spent a lot of time with him. I had many chances to escape, but I chose to stay with him and understand who he is, what drives him, and why he turned to the Dark Side. The longer I was with him, the fewer Dark emanations I sensed from him. He is still young. Too young for such immense power that he demonstrated to me. I'm sure Knight Tachi has already told you what he did to her ship," the gaze of some Jedi in the room became unfocused as they remembered Siri's story. Others had seen the pile of scrap metal with their own eyes. "But there were no emotions behind his actions, only pure control, as if he didn't need their sustenance. That's why I doubted that he was a follower of the Dark Side. But then he showed me Sith alchemy..."

If up until this point, the Masters were listening attentively, at the mention of Sith alchemy, they almost jumped out of their seats in shock. Sith alchemy! The most terrifying and ominous aspect of the Dark Side of the Force. Thanks to it, many Sith grew hideous monsters for their armies and desecrated the dead, bringing their bodies, if not their souls, back to life for eternal servitude even after death. It's no wonder that all the Jedi were shaken upon hearing those last words.

"He showed me only one potion that instantly healed severe wounds, but that's not the point now. That's when I became convinced that he had unlocked the secrets of the Dark Side. But does that make him a Sith?" It was a rhetorical question that didn't require an answer. "He didn't kill the clones; he didn't kill the boy; he didn't kill Knight Tachi or me. There is no overwhelming malice in him, but I felt his lostness. Sometimes it seemed to me that he was a child, cast into a vast world with immense power. Someone must have taught him, and I am sure he was unlucky enough not to find a holocron. I don't know where that holocron is, but I am certain that we alone are responsible for it," Shaak Ti's bold statement slightly rattled the Masters. "I understand that the galaxy is vast, but it is still our fault that a child touched the Dark Side, and it's only by some miracle that he did not become ensnared by it. He absorbed all the knowledge, made it his own, but does he have a purpose? Did the holocron give him a goal? To destroy all the Jedi? Then why didn't he kill me, the knight, or all of us together?" She looked at Master Yoda and Windu. "He had a good chance to eliminate three Masters at once, thereby significantly weakening the Order. And believe me," as Mace was about to speak, Shaak Ti silenced him with a stern gaze, not tolerating any interruption in her lengthy monologue, "he could have done it. I am sure that he didn't show us all of his power. We still know nothing about his equipment, let alone his skills. A ransom? It's just an excuse to release me and let us all know that he is not on our side but is open to cooperation. He didn't hand me over to Dooku when his apprentice arrived before you," she shocked them once again. "He abandoned the Knighthood and killed his apprentice, who attacked him first, and also saved me from inevitable death at her hands..."

Here, she bent the truth slightly. In reality, Hassan had saved her using Sith alchemy, but she couldn't let her invisible enemy know this. She trusted the Jedi Council completely. She would have entrusted them with covering her back without hesitation. However, during a war, walls have a bad habit of growing ears. In one way or another, perhaps not now but in the near future, this mysterious figure would find out that Dooku's blue-skinned apprentice was alive if she were to reveal it during the meeting. Now, she was not only a Jedi but also a military general, and cunning on the battlefield was not foreign to her.

"Stop, stop, stop," Mace Windu's head was swelling from the influx of information. "Alchemy? Dooku's apprentice? So, Dooku doesn't have a master if he took on an apprentice."

"It seems that way," Ti agreed with his conclusions. "Sith adhere to the Rule of Two."

"But why did Dooku let Hassan off the hook for killing his apprentice?" Adi Gallia asked.

"It's not in his interest to make an enemy out of him," Plo Koon replied. "They are not in an alliance since Darth Hassan killed his apprentice. But Dooku is not ready to go against him because of the war. It's not in his interest to fight on two fronts."

"If there is a second side," Kit Fisto replied, "We can't deny the fact that they are in conspiracy, and the killing of the apprentice is just a distraction."

"I understand your doubts," Ti spoke up, "But Hassan is not on Dooku's side. Dooku wants to destroy us, so if they were in collusion, he would have ordered Hassan to kill us."

"What do you propose, Master Ti?" Ki-Adi-Mundi stroked his beard.

"I am only trying to convey what I understood while I was in his captivity. As mentioned earlier, Dooku cannot afford to be distracted, just like us. If we disperse our forces, then the Confederacy of Independent Systems will start pressing us, and we will also suffer at the hands of Hassan. He is just one Sith with immense power. One Sith without followers and an army cannot do anything unless we come to him."

"Are you defending him?" Mace Windu, who always seemed grim, furrowed his brow even more. "Master Ti, did he influence you during the time you were alone with him?"

Shaak Ti stoically endured the master's suspicions. She didn't let offense cloud her judgment. Instead, she put herself in his shoes and looked at her story from a different perspective. Indeed, her monologue sounded very much like an appeal not to attack Hassan, who was a Sith. Sith and Jedi were mortal enemies, so it was not surprising that Windu suspected the Togruta of betrayal.

"Suspicion in words, I hear," intervened the one against whom no one in the room would go against. "In such times, we must believe our friends. There is no reason not to trust Master Ti. She acted wisely by spying on him, and she is right that the blame lies with us. Hassan didn't kill any of our own, even though he had many opportunities. We must judge by actions, or else we will not be able to bring peace to the galaxy."

"You are absolutely right, Master Yoda, but that doesn't negate the fact that he's a Sith," Mace continued to hold his ground.

"He is a Sith, and Master Ti does not deny that. But murky times have come to the galaxy. Darkness can cloud the mind. It is now harder to distinguish good from evil," the old Jedi looked at her. "What do you propose we do with Darth Hassan? He called himself the Lord of the Sith, so he should be held accountable for his words. Thus, he is our enemy, isn't he?"

"I don't..." She closed her eyes in helplessness. "I don't know."

Yoda posed a tricky question. He had already proclaimed himself the Lord of the Sith and even demonstrated Dark Side techniques. So why was she defending him? She was a Jedi, and he was a Sith. Perhaps not like the others, but still a Sith, making them enemies.

"We must not rush," Yoda continued. "Darth Hassan is open to dialogue. Let us not pursue him for now. We will wait. We will trust the Force to resolve this dispute. Sith he is," the wise one looked first at Windu and then at Ti, "or Gray Jedi."

***

Tired and emotionally drained, the Togruta walked through the corridors of the Jedi Temple. The Temple was a home for the Jedi, where they could feel safe. The Force in the temple was saturated with adepts of the Light Side, as well as younglings who had just passed by her in a large group.

The younglings were the future, and she would fight with all her might to protect that future. Among them could be Hassan, a truly gifted child who could potentially comprehend everything recorded in the holocron. He could have become a great Jedi—she was absolutely sure of it. However, everything had turned out very differently. They had not put in enough effort to shield the young generation from the influence of the Dark Side.

"Master Ti," a familiar voice called out. She stopped and turned to see none other than Obi-Wan Kenobi approaching her. "Could I have a moment of your time? I apologize for the interruption. You must be very tired."

"It's fine," she shook her head. "How can I assist you?"

"Siri Tachi. She still hasn't recovered from her defeat by Darth Hassan. Would you mind speaking with her, please?"

"Of course," what else could the Togruta say?

"Thank you," her interlocutor breathed a sigh of relief. "She's in the Meditation Hall right now."

"Alright."

Shaak Ti made her way in that direction. She understood why he had asked her to talk to Siri. There was obviously more at play here than just simple friendship—something deeper and forbidden. Long ago, there had been rumors in the temple about a secret relationship between Kenobi and Tachi, but it had never gone beyond rumors. However, it seemed that now he had indirectly confirmed their past.

Jedi were not supposed to have attachments. This applied to both material possessions and people. It was the primary rule of a Light Side adept. A Jedi was obligated to remain loyal only to the Force, the Order, and no one else. Unnecessary attachments only distracted from the call of the Force, which ultimately led the adept to disaster or a journey to the Dark Side.

The woman entered the nearly empty room, where several beautiful plants were growing. Nothing should interfere with an adept's connection to the Force, so these chambers couldn't boast of extravagant architecture or unnecessary objects. In the far corner, on a circular podium, meditated a beautiful light-haired woman. There was no visible trace of physical harm on her, but the wounds inflicted on her heart were easy to overlook and difficult to heal.

The Togruta approached her without haste. Sensing a presence, Siri opened her eyes and saw Hassan's captive. Her female eyes widened in surprise. Apparently, Siri had missed the joyful news of her liberation, being fully immersed in meditation.

"Master Ti," Tachi began to get up, but the Togruta gestured for her to stay put. Shaak Ti sat down next to her. "I'm sorry I couldn't free you back then," she said. "He was... He was too powerful. I'm so ashamed..."

"You're right, he's very powerful. Even I couldn't stand up to him with the support of my comrades," she encouraged Siri with a comforting touch on her shoulder. "Don't blame yourself for that."

"If only I were stronger... If only..." The blonde woman started to breathe heavily, overwhelmed by fear and wounded pride. "I couldn't even touch him... He was just toying with me..."

Siri simply closed her eyes for a moment, as if to blink, and before her eyes appeared a reflection of her own face, contorted with pain and despair. During the battle with him, she had been able to constantly watch herself through his cracked mirrored mask. There, she saw an insecure Jedi Knight who had always been extraordinarily talented since childhood, and now she was a battered and frightened girl.

When she lifted her eyelids, she saw Shaak Ti's calm and serene face, with a gentle, motherly smile. How? How could she smile like that after spending many days in the clutches of that monster? Could Siri have remained unbroken throughout all that time? Envy began to ooze from Siri's wounded heart. She wasn't as strong as Master Ti. Even a youngling could see that.

"It's not that you're weak, it's that he's too strong," the Togruta said calmly. "Don't compare yourself to him..." She looked attentively at the young girl. "And don't compare yourself to me," Siri lowered her gaze in embarrassment. "I'm much older than you. I've had many ups and downs that have forged me. Do you want me to share my secret with you?"

"Of course!" her interlocutor replied, slightly excited.

"Trust in the Force. In my darkest hours, I turned to the Force, and only the Force prevented me from breaking. The Force flows within you, now all you have to do is become one with it, here," she pointed to her forehead, "and here," then to her chest, right into that festering wound. With her touch, the Togruta cleansed the wound of impurities; now it only needed to be healed. "Never compare yourself to anyone. Before the Force, we are all the same. And now, return to your meditation and think about what I've told you."

"Yes..." Siri's lips quivered in a barely noticeable smile. "Thank you for your help, Master Ti. And I'm glad you're safe!"

"You can always turn to me for advice," the Togruta nodded.

She straightened up and headed towards the exit of the chamber. Her steps were, as always, unhurried and graceful. But gracefulness wasn't only about beauty and danger. It was the graceful stride of a hunter who had a multitude of victories and defeats behind her. Near the exit, Mace Windu was already waiting for her, and she didn't hold any grudges against him. She understood and accepted his position, which also held a part of the truth.

"Master Ti," he spoke first, shifting his gaze from Tachi to her, "I apologize for what happened at the council. I shouldn't have rushed to accuse you."

"It's alright, Master Windu. I bear no ill will towards you," they both walked towards the residential quarters.

"It's good to know that," he immediately perked up. "As Master Yoda mentioned, after your rest, you will be sent to Kamino for clone training in a week. Now I understand why the Master chose you for this task. However, if we happen to encounter Darth Hassan and unforeseen circumstances arise, I may have to turn to you for help."

"Of course, Master Windu," she couldn't help but agree. "Darth Hassan is a threat primarily to the Order, so we must support each other. I'm confident that my intervention can at least smooth things over a bit."

"I hope it doesn't come to that. Rest well, Master Ti," he retreated as they reached her room.

The Togruta casually entered her small room, which contained nothing superfluous, only her clothes and essential items. She walked over to the cabinet, took out a comlink, a holoprojector emitter, and a datapad, then sat on her bed. She pulled back the pillow, revealing another datapad and a beautiful necklace hidden underneath.

First, she transferred all the communication data with Darth Hassan to her old datapad. She couldn't allow even a hint that she might be able to contact him, as it would endanger both of them. She took this risky step only in the hope of preventing him from falling to the Dark Side. Now that the new datapad was no longer needed, Ti turned her attention to the necklace.

Was it a Sith artifact? Or an artifact of the Gray Jedi? She didn't sense any dark emotions emanating from this item. Even Grand Master Yoda hadn't sensed anything, which meant the object was safe. She put on the farewell gift and felt an immense surge of power, which she immediately removed, pushing away the easily acquired potency. She sighed heavily, holding in her hands such a powerful and dangerous item. Jedi weren't supposed to have possessions, let alone accept gifts. But if the Force itself guided her to take the amulet, she wouldn't resist the will of the Force.

Shaak Ti closed her eyes, diving into meditation. The necklace still rested in her hands. She slowly entered a trance, guided by the Force. Suddenly, the darkness before her eyes began to take on a humanoid form—a man. A man in a wooden mask and leather armor unsheathed steel swords from scabbards, facing a wild cry from a gigantic, nearly ten-meter monster that resembled a rancor, in a cave. Its roar was so powerful and deafening that she had to cover her ears with her hands and brace herself against her legs not to be thrown backward, while the familiar amulet around her neck trembled.

"Hmm..." she involuntarily flinched when the creature's cry snapped her out of the trance.

Simple images had taken several hours from her, judging by the wall clock opposite her bed. It seemed that Shaak Ti had just managed to glimpse Hassan's younger years, judging by his less imposing equipment. Who would have thought that at such a young age, he would have to face such a gigantic monster?.. But now she had a reason to search the archives for all the rancor habitats!

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