119 Chapter 116: First Jedaii Conclave
[Auril Sector, Adega System, Ossus]
(Van: POV)
Seated on a couch in one of the reconstructed waiting rooms of the Great Jedi Library I worked to center myself.
Allowing the Force, both the light and dark side, to flow through me I inhaled and exhaled several times.
Then when I felt I was centered enough I opened my eyes and reduced my connections to both sides of the Force.
After doing so I stood up and grabbed my armies helmet off the table in front of me.
I then left the waiting room and headed for a large conference room.
Where everyone who initially joined the Jedaii Order was waiting.
Along with Ood Bnar and Nova.
The latter who just recently joined the Jedaii Order when she and Marcellus arrived on Ossus a few days ago.
Which no one objected too.
Because if they did I'm pretty sure Marcellus would've torn their heads off.
For he truly loves that girl.
Good for him.
Noticing Dooku walking towards me I turned in his direction.
Him reaching him a few seconds after.
"Master." I said. "So, are you ready for this?"
"I should be asking you that Van. This was your idea for the most part." Dooku spoke.
"Thank you master, and yes I am ready. Well as ready as I can be." I honestly replied.
"Well I do not think anyone is every truly ready for things like this." Dooku said. "So, just do your best." He told me.
Dooku then gave me a reassuring pat on my left shoulder.
"Once more, thank you Dooku." I said.
My first time using Dooku's name with any sort of honorific like master or count.
To be honest it feels strange addressing him like that.
But in a good way.
Removing his hand from my shoulder he simply gave me a curt nod in response.
Once he did I heard Sifo-Dyas speak up.
"It is time to begin." He spoke.
The moment he did do I inhaled and exhaled one last time.
I then along with everyone else moved to begin the very first conclave of the Jedaii Order.
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(3rd Person: POV)
Outside of the Great Jedi Library, numerous people stood waiting.
Nearly all of them members of the Jedi Order who had left it and traveled to Ossus to become members of the Jedaii Order.
The reason they are currently standing around is because they are all waiting for the very first Jedaii Order conclave to begin.
A few more minutes passed, before two 12 meter (39ft.4in.) tall holograms appeared in front of the Library.
The holograms being of Dooku and Van.
For it was decided beforehand these two would take the lead in directing the conclave.
As soon as Dooku and Van's holograms appeared everyone quieted down.
"Thank you." Van said. "Also, I want to say this to all of you here and now. Welcome to Ossus. Once an important enclave to the Jedi Order it is that no lomger. Now, it is the first enclave of the Jedaii Order." He spoke. "For those of you who don't know us I am Van Sunrider. And this man standing next to me is my former master and a man I greatly respect and admire, Dooku Serenno." Van explained.
"Well met all of you." Dooku spoke. "And as my former apprentice just said we welcome you all to Ossus, the first enclave of the Jedaii Order. For some of you to come here I know was not an easy task. You abandoned teachings you had followed since you were young, went against the Jedi Order, and layed everything on the line. All for the unknown and unproven Jedaii Order. In that regard you have my thanks. But more than that you have my word your actions in making the journey here will not be in vain. Because while young the Jedaii Order will be here to stay, and we will stand by those who stand by us." The aged Jedaii master spoke passionately.
"We know all of you have many questions and concerns, and so I will address some of them now." Van said. "First and foremost, does the Jedaii Order practice the dark side of the Force? The answer is yes." He said.
Which sent numerous murmurs and whispers through the crowd.
Van waited for them to quiet down before speaking again.
"I know many of you were concerned by my admission just now. And I don't blame you. For the dark side is dangerous. If not careful it can turn one into a shell of their former self who will do nothing but covet power, and become someone who will think nothing of murdering their family, friend, lover, or even an entire planet. But just like the light side the dark side of the Force can be controlled with training and discipline. Because in the long run both light and dark are simply part of the Force. And one of the Jedaii Order main goals will be for its members to learn to use the Force in all its aspects. Because it is what I believe is the first step towards reunification between those who practice solely the light side and those who practice solely the dark side. Also more commonly known as Jedi and Sith. Who have been at war, vying for domination against one another for ages. Ever since the First Great Schism took place on the now lost world of Tython. And just what has this age old feud gotten the Jedi and Sith overall? Absolutely nothing I tell you. For its always the same, over and over again the Jedi and Sith fight, neither ever truly finding victory against the other. Well we of the Jedaii Order are tired of going in that never-ending circle. Thus we are seeking the balance. A task we know will not be easy. A task we know we will not achieve in our lifetimes. But it is a start. A start which will we hope one day in the future result in the complete re-joining of the light and the dark side Force users." Van passionately spoke.
Earning a few cheers from the assembled crowd but not many.
"I've heard in addition to teaching us about the dark side of the Force you also intend to allow the formation of emotional attachments." A female Jedi master shouted.
"Yes, that is true." Van replied to her.
"But such attachments are what have led many down the path of the dark side." A male Jedi master spoke up.
"That is only because they were not taught to process and deal with such emotions." Dooku replied. "For if one is, then emotions can be a strength and not a weakness."
"Master Dooku speaks the truth." Van said. "Emotions do make us vulnerable, but they also make us stronger. Hate, jealousy, and envy are all simply the opposite of love, admiration, and self-sacrifice. Just like wirh Jedi and Sith emotions are two sides of the same coin. Besides, some of the greatest Force users in history have had attachments and it has worked on their favor. Ulic Qel-Droma returned to the right path because of the remorse and guilt he felt in slaying his own brother, Cay. This in turn led to the downfall of one of the most dangerous Dark Lords in galactic history, Exar Kun. Revan and Bastila Shan's attachment to each other played a big part in helping bring the Jedi Civil War to an end, and spawing a line of some of the most powerful Force-sensitive's in history. Whose actions saved lives time and time again. My own ancestor Nomi Sunrider was an adult and married before she began her Jedi training. Yet she became one of the most powerful and well-respected Grand Masters the Jedi Order has ever seen. Master Dooku has a sister which he loves very much. While I have two lovers, a mother, and a grandmother I care about. Yet despite this you don't see me nor master Dooku going insane. These examples prove that attachments are not dangerous. What is dangerous is not letting go of attachments when the time comes. Like if someone you care for oases away. It would be unfair, but hanging onto them to tightly would only cause you pain. So you must learn to let go. Or else you might end up down a dark path. That is why the Jedaii Order will acknowledge and accept those with attachments into our ranks. Whether it's those with lovers, friends, or even their own family. Oh and speaking of family, unless the situation is dire we of the Jedaii Order will not separate parents from children and force them to live as members of the order their entire lives." He spoke.
"Quite right." Dooku added.
A lot of people murmuring at Van and Dooku's words just now.
But no one aggressively objected or disagreed outright.
A few minutes passed before everyone was quiet again.
Thus letting Van and Dooku know they could continue.
"My friends, another way our Jedaii Order will differ from the Jedi Order is that will we once again bring back battle armor and allow out orders members to hold military positions and command armies and soldiers." Dooku explained.
"But doesn't that go against the Ruusan Reformation's?" A male Jedi knight asked.
"It does. But we of the Jedaii Order will not be following those rules." Dooku replied. "Examing history I will admit if I were alive at that time I might've conceded the Reformation's be necessary. But only temporarily, and not at the expense of deliberately weakening the Jedi overall. For that's what those Reformation's did. They weakened the Jedi, and now they are not even a shadow of their former selves. The same for the Republic. You all have seen in yourselves in the past few years. From the Naboo Crisis, to the Republic trying to protect corrupt officials like Ryloths' former Senator Orn Free Taa. It is despicable and frankly disgusting. We trusted the Republic and the Jedi Order to do right by us and its people, yet it did not and thus it has led us all here." He spoke.
Dooku's words gaining a number of cheers from the assembled crowd.
Seeing this Van knew it was time to bring out their secret weapon.
"I agree with the basis of master Dooku's words. The galaxy has become stagnant and due to this the Republic and Jedi fell lower and lower. A sad truth. But one nontheless. And here is a person who can attest to that better than anyone. Members of this conclave allow me to introduce you to Jedaii master Ood Bnar." Van spoke.
A second after he did so a 12 meter tall hologram of master Ood Bnar appeared, shocking nearly all those assembled.
Since they couldn't believe their eyes.
A Jedi, now Jedaii, from millennia past was alive right in front of them.
"Greetings." Master Bnar began. "I know this comes as a shock to a great many of you. But I can assure you I am master Ood Bnar. As for how I am here before you today, it is quite the interesting story." He said.
Then Ood Bnar explained how he was alive and well.
As well as how the Jedaii Order rescued him, and how after hearing about the Galactic Republic and Jedi of the current era he decided to join the Jedaii Order.
"It truly saddened me upon learning just how the Republic I admired and the Jedi Order I served became so weak and stagnant. It was not like this back in the time of the Old Sith Wars. Back then both the Jedi and the Republic would've never dreamed of getting rid of their military. That I think is the height of foolishness of this era. For no matter what there will always be war, and you must be prepared for it. Yet in this era I fear, no I know if a threat such as Exar Kun and his Brotherhood were to appear none would be capable of standing against them. Yet the Jedaii Order means to work to stand against such threats. Which is why I have chosen to join them." Odd Bnar explained.
"And we thank master Odd Bnar for that." Van spoke. "For what he said about us preparing to counter threats such as another Brotherhood is true. Because they might well appear in the future. That is an possibility the Republic and Jedi Order refuse to acknowledge. But not us of the Jedaii Order. We chose to look towards new paths, new opportunities, and new possibilities. So I ask those of you here today to join us in those endeavours. Let us make the Jedaii Order into a shining beacon that may one day be a light of hope in a galaxy shrouded in darkness!" He explained.
Van raising his free arm into the air, his other holding his helmet, his fist raised high.
Soon his action was mirrored by many in the crowd in front of him.
Cheers and shouts of acknowledgement following soon after.
Van smiling at this.
For it meant the first ever Conclave of the Jedaii Order was a resounding success.
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A/N: Thus the Jedaii Order grows in strength even more.
Stay tuned for the next chapter.
