A Flow'r, Once Fallen/Part 1

1,386 BBY

"Darth Alecto."

Tirien Kal-Di said nothing, though Narasi stirred at his side. They stood before the eleven members of the Jedi Council, who had yet to name a replacement for Nulu Thini, the new Supreme Chancellor. Mon Calamari Master Mar Towla, however, had been promoted to Master Thini's life seat on the Council. Though Tirien had no view on the matter, he was sure the Jedi Guardians, including Mali Darakhan, would not be pleased.

"We have intelligence that the Sith are no longer looking for her," Master Towla informed them.

"It's a good bet she's returned to their side," added the holo-projected image of Master Elata Cazars from the far-distant Valor.

Tirien drew a slow breath through his nose, keeping his mind calm and level. He knew how and why that would be, but he had made the decision to keep it from the Council. He had experienced moments of regret at the omission—he had not outright lied, but he was far from telling the whole truth—but he maintained his silence for the moment.

"Something must be done about her," growled Kussam Bnodd, the Gand Warrior Master. Like Master Cazars, he attended the Council from the field, but the way he leaned forward in his seat thousands of light years away clearly conveyed his desire for action.

Tem-Fol-Rytil, the Grand Master of the Jedi Order, looked at Tirien over his steepled fingers. "The Council is considering you both for this assignment."

Tirien caught a surge of savage pleasure from Narasi, and though she got herself under control after a moment, he gave her a cautioning look from the corner of his eye. Once she had cleared her mind, he faced the Grand Master again. "Respectfully, Masters, I think that would be a mistake."

Master Bnodd cocked his head. "You think you can't defeat Alecto?"

"That's not what I meant." Truthfully, Tirien wasn't sure; he and Alecto were evenly matched, and adding Narasi to the mix might help or hurt, despite her growing skills. "I think sending anyone after Alecto is a mistake."

There was silence in the chamber, in which the Jedi Masters glanced at one another and Narasi turned to look at Tirien as though he had lost his mind. Elata Cazars's holo frowned from Tem-Fol-Rytil's side. "Tirien, she assassinated the Chancellor and a dozen other major leaders of the Republic."

"I remember, Master, I was there." Tirien tried to keep the annoyance out of his tone, although the way some of the Council Masters shifted suggested to him that it hadn't been an unparalleled success. "But in the end Alecto's nothing more than a weapon. A deadly weapon, but a weapon regardless.  She didn't make the decision to kill Master Phnyong, that's far above her.  I'm certain the Council of Five at least blessed off on it, if they didn't order it themselves.  But Alecto's only one Sith Lord on Darth Saleej's council.  It seems to me that he is the real target here.  Most of the problems we're experiencing—the assassinations on Anaxes, the fall of the eastern systems, even Vandak's depredations—all of that comes back to Darth Saleej."

Tem-Fol-Rytil looked thoughtful, but Master Cazars said, "No one's denying that Saleej is a threat, or suggesting we shouldn't remove him if possible. But that doesn't mean his subordinate Sith Lords aren't threats as well."

"And if we come upon Alecto in the field and can't take her alive, then I'll kill her, or die trying."

"That's admirable," Master Towla said, his watery voice even more gravelly than usual, "but it leaves aside the other key point. Regardless who ordered the Chancellor's assassination, Darth Alecto carried it out.  She must be brought to justice for a crime so heinous."

"Faith in the Republic has been shaken by this debacle," Ithorian Master Loworr Dubb lamented in her glum, stereo voice.

Tirien looked over the assembled Jedi Masters. "Masters, are you suggesting Narasi and I deliberately target another sentient being for cold-blooded assassination to prove a point?"

Narasi's was no longer the only vexation he could sense. Tairni Tre'go said, "Capture or arrest her if you can, certainly."

"Better, maybe," Nawsa Arodion put in. It had surprised Tirien that she and Master Maktan, too, were present only by holo. "Bring her to us alive and she can stand trial for her crimes, and all the galaxy can see that the Republic's justice is not only inescapable, but fair."

"But either way," Tairni Tre'go concluded, "she has to either be brought in, or brought down. Every moment she lives is a moment we risk her killing someone else."

"And the Republic—and the Jedi—look more and more impotent in the face of her crimes," Master Maktan added.

Tirien tried a different tack. "And how does the Council propose we do this? If Intelligence is right and Alecto has found her way back to the Sith fold, she'll likely either be with Darth Saleej on the Unquenchable Fire or with her Anzati on Anzat.  And—"

"Another cause to target Darth Alecto," Master Towla growled. "As if any more were needed. Her control over the Anzati gives Darth Saleej a potent weapon."

"—and if either of those is true," Tirien pressed on, "we couldn't touch her if you gave us a hundred Jedi."

"We certainly do not have a hundred Jedi to spare," Master Tem-Fol-Rytil said quietly.

Several of the Council Masters looked at the Grand Master, who did not return their gazes, but continued to study the floor, deep in thought. Gotal Master Nishric Suftig, who had watched the entire conversation with a surly expression, barked, "You don't want the assignment then, Kal-Di?"

Tirien was not sure. He mourned Master Phnyong as much as any Jedi Knight, and desired those responsible for the Chancellor's murder to be brought to justice. Moreover, it had been Alecto who duped him with the fake cure that had stripped him of the Force; whether she had meant it for him or another, he didn't know, but she had willingly inflicted that horror on another being. Now, though, having experienced it for herself, Tirien was not certain Alecto would ever consciously do that to another, even an enemy; certainly he would not, and he had heard the tremble in Alecto's voice when she had cracked just enough to let her real emotions out. Alecto was a lodestone in propping up the Empire and all its abominations, but when they had seen the slaves in Kai Latra's castle…had he imagined a hint of hesitation and reluctance in her simply because he abhorred the idea of any being watching those atrocities without emotion, or had it been real? Had his intuition from Toprawa, years before, been right? Was there, even in Darth Alecto, a glimmer of something worth redeeming?

At the moment, however, it didn't matter if there was good in her or not.

"If a viable opportunity to capture Alecto presents itself, we'll take it," Tirien answered carefully. "Narasi and I have survived her twice, we're a logical choice for the mission. But right now I see no way such an assignment won't just be skulking around the edge of Saleej's territory, hoping Alecto or Saleej make a mistake they're too smart to make."

He paused for effect while he drew a breath, then added firmly, "And if we do find ourselves in battle with Alecto and we have no other choice, then I'll kill her. But I am not an assassin.  And I will not train my Padawan to be one either."

Tirien rather thought it was not the answer for which the Council had been hoping, but Fosdi Sorfuless came to his rescue. "Much as Alecto's apprehension is necessary for justice—for peace for our murdered brother—there is truth in what Tirien says as well," the Duros observed. "Should we focus too much on the wrongs Alecto has done to the galaxy and the satisfaction some systems might experience in her death, whether in a duel or by execution, we risk succumbing to the temptation of revenge. And that is not the Jedi way."

Mar Towla began, "It is not a betrayal of the Jedi way to seek at all costs—"

Tem-Fol-Rytil raised a hand without looking up, but Mar Towla either missed or ignored the signal and plowed on. "—the removal of a blight on the galaxy that has shaken a thousand systems' faith in the Republic, a coward who—"

"She's not a coward."

Master Towla stopped, and the entire Council joined Narasi in staring at Tirien. He felt a flutter of discomfort, but he had spoken, and now he was committed.

"She murdered Phnyong!" Master Towla had recovered his voice. "Poisoned him and too many other good beings."

"And snuck, unarmed, into one of the most secure buildings in the Republic, past a Republic Army regiment, two hundred Blue Guards, and half a dozen Jedi Knights to do it," Tirien countered. He remembered Alecto helping him fight off the flying Sithspawn at Kai Latra's castle, her return to the mutant acklay Cuddles's lair to brave the monster's wrath and deliver Tirien himself from death. It was not supporting evidence he could argue to the Council, but he said, "I'll be the first to acknowledge Alecto's evils and her flaws, but she's no coward."

"That doesn't—"

"Master Towla," Tem-Fol-Rytil said aloud. The Mon Calamari fell silent, and Tem-Fol-Rytil allowed a moment for calm energy to return to the Council chamber. "Whether we specifically target Darth Alecto or not is a worthy debate, but now is not the time for it. Regardless of our ultimate decision on the matter, I'm compelled to agree that Tirien and Narasi would be ill chosen for such an assignment."

"What would you have us do, Masters?"

"We could go out to the east front?" Narasi suggested; she had made it longer than Tirien had expected, but her restraint finally collapsed. "If we fight against Darth Saleej, maybe Darth Alecto'll come to us."

Tirien merely sighed, but Tem-Fol-Rytil shook his head. "Perhaps, and perhaps not. No, we had recently discussed another assignment for you."

Master Cazars crossed her arms as Nawsa Arodion took up the conversation. "Tirien, you're a skillful Jedi with broad experience. The Council is considering you for a post as an instructor here in the Temple."

Tirien's eyes widened, and he looked them all over. "Masters, I'm flattered—honored—but I'm only a Knight."

"There were days when we had enough Jedi Masters to staff the Temple's needs and respond to every need in the field." Whiphid Master Maktan shifted her great bulk, and her holo wobbled until she settled herself again. "Or so the Archives tell us. But those days are long gone."

"More Masters are needed in the field than we have as it is," Tairni Tre'go lamented.

"Masters, I'm only twenty-six," Tirien said, still stunned. "I've only been a Knight five years this year."

"You assisted during your time aboard the Crescentia, did you not?" Mar Towla asked.

"Assisted, yes, but—"

"And Master La'altac tells us you were a success in that assignment," said Master Dubb. "That your students learned much from you."

"Respectfully, Master, our assignment was the fight against Lakalt. Teaching was incidental, because every Jedi aboard a praxeum ship has to pull his weight."

"And with all the Jedi aboard," Master Sorfuless said dryly, "with all the many attendant duties—piloting and readiness, logistics, strategy, combat command, even further intensive study—the duty for which you were chosen was instruction. Master La'altac, and Master Kadych before him, clearly thought you 'pulled your weight' best by sharing your knowledge with your fellow Jedi."

Tirien looked at Master Cazars, surprised she had not weighed in, and saw she had not relaxed her stiff posture. He wondered whether she thought he was unequal to the task, or that he belonged elsewhere. "The entire Council thinks this is where I can serve best?"

"Every Master on this Council is confident that you will succeed," the Grand Master said. His words and tone were obviously meant to impart their faith, but Tirien understood at once what had not been said, and he tightened his jaw to keep himself from frowning.

"What about me?" Narasi asked.

"What do you mean, Narasi?" Master Tre'go asked.

"Well, what about my training? If Tirien's assigned here…"

"You'll continue your training here," Master Towla said. "You'll have the benefit of the Order's greatest teachers, as well as the incomparable resources of the Jedi Archives."

"But…we're at war!" Narasi said, half-bemused, half in protest. "We're supposed to be fighting. Shouldn't I be out there to learn?  How am I supposed to be ready to be a Knight if I'm just practicing here?"

"We're conscious of your need for further development, Padawan Rican," Master Maktan rumbled.

Master Towla added, "You must trust the Council's wisdom, Padawan."

Tirien laid a hand on his apprentice's shoulder to prevent her from arguing. He could not help noticing, though, that Master Cazars still looked skeptical, and when he caught her holographic eye, she shook her head.

"Take some time to consider, Tirien," Master Tem-Fol-Rytil advised. "Meditate to find the Force's will for you."

"The Jedi Seers have no guidance this time?" Tirien asked dryly. Tem-Fol-Rytil chuckled once, and though Master Cazars rolled her eyes, there was a hint of a smirk about her lips at last. Bowing, Tirien said, "I'll meditate on it, Masters."

He leaned back, tugging on Narasi's shoulder as if to go, but the Grand Master raised a hand. "One last thing, Tirien. One assignment we can give you at once: Supreme Chancellor Thini has asked us to send Jedi emissaries to some of our friends who have been…troubled in the wake of the events on Anaxes."

Tirien glanced at Master Arodion's holo again, suspecting he knew now where she had gone. Turning back to Tem-Fol-Rytil, he asked, "Kuat?"

"No. Your past heroics there have not been forgotten, but it's gotten out that you joined Kenza in ordering Khofin of Knylenn's arrest, and the Knylenn would likely be offended by your presence.  We don't want to risk an incident, let alone force you to defend yourselves against less scrupulous Kuati tactics."

It made sense, though Tirien wondered yet again whether it had been the wrong call. Despite the Judicials turning Khofin's life upside down, they had yet to uncover any evidence of his collaboration.

"No, we wish you to go to Alderaan," Tem-Fol-Rytil continued.

With one hand still on Narasi's shoulder, Tirien felt her tense. He asked, "Rather than simply speaking to Senator Antilles?"

"Chancellor Thini intends to speak with Senator Antilles personally," Master Dubb said. "But given the circumstances, he feels it appropriate that Jedi speak directly to King Organa."

"The circumstances," Narasi repeated, and Tirien felt a stab of sorrow in the Force. "You mean Prince Taylo?"

"Yes," Tem-Fol-Rytil said gravely. "In most cases the casualties of Anaxes were distinguished beings, but their connection to the leaders or rulers of their homeworlds was political and professional, perhaps personal friendship at the most. But that is not so for King Organa."

"The Alderaanians have long been friends of the Jedi," noted Master Arodion. "We hope that will gain you an audience with the king."

"Return as soon as it's feasible," Mar Towla added, "but spare no effort in ensuring that Alderaan rests secure in the Republic."

Tirien nodded. "We'll leave at once."

Tem-Fol-Rytil finally raised a hand in dismissal. "May the Force be with you."

Narasi held her silence until they reached the turbolift, but Tirien could feel her agitation, and when the doors closed he sighed. "Go ahead."

"Geez, Master, where am I supposed to start?" She grimaced. "Instructor? They want to keep us out of the field again?"

"I don't think all of them do," he replied. "Did you notice Master Cazars's reaction?"

She hadn't. "You think she wants us out there?"

"I'm sure she does. Master Bnodd too, I'd guess.  They're on the front lines, they appreciate the need for Jedi Knights there."

"So how does the rest of the Council miss it?"

"They may simply disagree on how to best use the resources they have left."

The turbolift dropped them many levels below, but Narasi kept up as they walked along, lowering her voice when they passed other Jedi. "Why would they want us here? I mean, I'm not saying you're not a good teacher—"

"Thanks…"

"—but we're Jedi! We're supposed to be fighting the war!"

"Fighting wars isn't what Jedi are supposed to be for," Tirien said. "The Sith forced this war upon us, and we have to respond, but the Jedi were never meant to be soldiers and generals."

"But still, that's what we are now," Narasi argued. "So if we have to do it, shouldn't we be doing it? 'When you commit, commit to doing, not merely trying', isn't that what they taught us?"

Tirien sighed and came to a stop, and Narasi stopped with him. Once an Ithorian Knight had passed them, Tirien asked, "Did you get the Intelligence briefing this morning?"

"No, I was gonna go down to the Padawan briefing after breakfast, but we got the call. And I can't check it on my own, because, y'know…Padawan."

Tirien raised an eyebrow. "Yes, Force forbid we allow Padawans less access to Intelligence databases. What's the worst they'll do, go off to Skorrupon?"

Narasi flushed, looking sheepish. Tirien sighed. "Darth Vandak showed up on Quellor. He killed two hundred and twelve people, including two Jedi."

She turned pale. "Anybody we know?"

"No one you know. Drom Drom Boulos was in my Initiate Clan, but I haven't seen him since Suwo chose me as his Padawan.  I didn't know the other Knight."

"Still…I'm sorry, Master."

"Thank you, so am I."

"Darth Vandak escaped?"

"He did. Apart from that, Darth Saleej's fleet has laid siege to Taanab."

"Again?!"

"Yes, and it's likely to fall," Tirien said flatly. "Our fleet there isn't what it was three years ago."

Narasi worried her lower lip with one fang. "Senator Iltek?"

"He's here on Coruscant. I checked," Tirien admitted. He had suspected Narasi would want to know, but he could admit to himself that he, too, was relieved the senator was not caught between Taanab's specious defenses and Darth Saleej's war machine.

"Should we…I dunno, send him a holocard or something? Let him know we're thinking about him?"

Tirien mustered a half-smile for his apprentice. "That's a very kind thought, but probably a bad idea. I'm as fond of Senator Iltek as you are, but we can't allow him to think he has an angle to nudge the Council or the Chancellor under the table, as it were.  We go where the Council needs us, not where our individual friends want us to go."

"Like Milagro?"

"I hadn't been thinking of that, but it's as good an example as any," Tirien retorted dryly. Gesturing back down the corridor, he said, "And again, the Council's guidance. Which brings us to Alderaan."

Narasi was quiet for an entire scramball-field-sized hallway. "Do you think King Organa knows we were there? On Alderaan, I mean?"

"I'm certain Senator Antilles has informed him."

She offered no further comment before they reached the dormitory section. "You have your go bag ready?"

That got a grin from her. "Every day since we got back from Vjun."

Tirien chuckled once. "I'll consider that enthusiasm to serve. Go grab your things, then get our clearances and get the Second Chance warmed up.  I'll pick up breakfast and meet you in the hangar."

She darted off. It took Tirien only a moment to collect his own things—like Narasi, most of his gear was ready to go at a moment's notice. He sent a breakfast order down by comlink, then detoured into the Archives. Master Robulg was just shepherding a Clan of Initiates out to the Jedi Knight who was to take them to their next lesson. Tirien waited for them to pass, then bowed. "Good morning, Master."

"And to you, Tirien." His eyes found the bag slung over Tirien's shoulder. "Returning to the field?"

"We are; Narasi's getting the ship ready as we speak. But we had discussed some data…"

"Ah yes. I had one of the Initiates copy it for you.  This way."

Tirien followed the older man toward the central desk hub of the Archives. "We had also discussed me borrowing a holocron."

Master Robulg frowned. "We had. I can't say I'm entirely comfortable with that, Tirien.  Data kept in the Archives isn't typically allowed out.  Copy to your heart's content, of course, but taking the original…"

"Under the circumstances of war, Master, a long time may pass between our visits to the Temple. I endeavor to learn from my experiences, but it seems foolish to re-learn through hard experience what our forebears have learned through theirs, and might share with me to enable me to serve better now."

He sighed as they reached the desk. "Tirien, you needn't exhort me on the difficulties of study and research confronting modern Jedi. I agree with you, it's a quandary with no easy answer.  But the loss of irreplaceable data only makes learning that much harder for the next generation of Jedi.  I must think not only of today, but tomorrow, and a hundred years from now."

"I promise the holocron will be safe with me, Master," Tirien said. "And we're going to Alderaan—of all places in the galaxy, I can't think of many less likely to see a theft from Jedi."

Master Robulg made a face as he handed over the copied data. "There's something in that, I suppose…"

"And it's not a Vault Holocron."

"No—I assure you this discussion would have ended long ago if it were." The Fondorian sighed again, running a hand over his bald head. "This is against my better judgment, but I understand your desire to continue to expand your knowledge, and I trust your responsibility."

He fixed Tirien with a stare, and his voice became distant. "You will be a Jedi Master someday, Tirien. It's incumbent on those of us who can assist you to do so.  But make sure you don't stray from the path the Force has ordained for you."

Struck by the unexpected gravity of his words, Tirien merely bowed his head. After a moment Master Robulg nodded, retrieved a holocron from behind the desk, and handed that to Tirien as well. "May the Force be with you."

By the time Tirien collected breakfast and reached the hangar bay, the Second Chance ' s engines were warmed and Narasi had seated herself in the cockpit.

"Go ahead!" Tirien called down the corridor without looking, and as he raised the ramp he felt the ship's repulsors engage. He settled breakfast in their small food prep area and dropped off his bag; the Second Chance was already in a holding pattern and Narasi happily bickering with Coruscant Control once he reached the cockpit. Tirien left her to it, keeping just enough of an eye on the sensors to ensure his apprentice didn't crash them into a cargo freighter, then sat back in the copilot's seat as they got through the atmosphere. He got the coordinates for Brentaal from the navicomputer, and they were away.

"So," Narasi said, swinging out of her chair and following him back for breakfast, "are you really going to consider this instructor thing?"

"I'm going to meditate about it." When she shook her head, Tirien asked, "Even without meditating or considering the Force's will, you're sure it's a wrong choice?"

"Well, look at all the stuff we've done! You're a great Jedi, and we're a great team.  We could be making a difference out there."

"How many Jedi trained you to be as good as you were as an Initiate, so you'd be ready to be a Padawan? I'd say they made a difference to you."

"But how many of them had Padawans?" she retorted.

Tirien didn't know the answer to that, and so he nodded. "A fair question, and one to which I don't know the answer. But the Council obviously thinks it would be a good place for us."

"The Council thinks we should be hunting Darth Alecto," Narasi reminded him grumpily as they unwrapped their breakfasts.

They sat in the hold to eat; despite Mali's consistent badgering, Tirien had not bothered to get a table or chairs yet. Mali, mercifully, was back off to the north front against Aresh, and Narasi didn't complain about the deckplates.

"And like I told them, even if we knew where Alecto was, we'd probably need an army to get to her."

Narasi frowned. "Master…"

Tirien sensed unwonted hesitation, and he lowered his fruit cup. "Well?"

"Why were you…defending Alecto? When Master Towla was talking about her," she added in response to Tirien's curious frown.

"That wasn't defending Alecto, Narasi, it was true. She has a lot of faults, and she's done a lot of evil things, but she's no coward."

"Well, fine, but it's Darth Alecto. Who cares?"

"Because attributing to your enemies faults they don't have is just another face of hating them." Tirien studied his apprentice; whatever conflict he had about Alecto, he knew Narasi had none at all, but that could be dangerous in its own way. "And because it'll cause you to make mistakes."

"Because you'll get angry?"

"That's a real risk, but I meant even tactically. Say you have an enemy you think you can beat in a duel.  Now say this enemy is prideful, even to the point of stupidity—an overinflated ego without the skills to back it up.  You're tasked to bring him in.  What do you do?"

Narasi thought about it. "I guess…just get to him. If he's that prideful, he'll probably fight me even if I'll win."

Tirien nodded. "Exactly—that's the logical strategy. Except now you learn, too late, that your enemy isn't all that prideful—certainly not enough to risk his neck.  He runs instead, and because you were so convinced he was stubborn and arrogant enough to fight you for the asking, you didn't concern yourself with cutting off his escape routes or analyzing ambush points.  And so he gets away, because you ascribed to him a fault he didn't have."

"I…hmm." Tirien sensed her wrestling with the logic of it as he took the first bite of his breakfast pastry; he had nearly finished by the time she sighed. "Okay, I guess that makes sense."

"Your concession thrills me," Tirien observed, and Narasi rolled her eyes. "Never allow yourself to hate your enemies, Narasi, regardless of their faults. There is no passion, and that's especially critical here—only when you look at them without emotion, calmly, can you see the truth of them and what's needed to stop their evil."

Even as he said it Tirien felt his own hypocrisy; emotionless, calm, he could see all of Alecto's evils, her numerous murders, her loyalty to an Empire built on the backs of slaves for the wanton greed of those privileged few at its pinnacle. And yet…even without emotion, he could see that Alecto had saved them all on Toprawa, and she had declined to pursue them in Kai Latra's castle. What, then, was the truth of her that he should see?

"Do you think we'll get another shot at her, Master?" Narasi cut into his introspection.

"Alecto? Someone will; even with the Anzati at her disposal, she's too skillful to waste in an advisory capacity.  But we need Jedi to be on guard against her.  I know her as well as any Jedi and she still slipped my grasp on Anaxes."

Tirien sensed Narasi was winding up for more, so he raised a hand. "Alecto will keep for another day; I doubt very much she's going to be on Alderaan. Focus on the task at hand."

Narasi sighed, ate a bite of breakfast, and said, "Yeah. Diplomacy."

Tirien laughed. "You know, I am still a Jedi Consular; this is what I'm supposed to be doing."

"Somehow, I don't think that's gonna be my path, Master."

"You're not a Knight yet. Wait and see what the Force reveals to you.  And speaking of which…"

Narasi feigned a groan, but they cleared away their breakfast things to settle into meditation as the Second Chance ferried them on.