[joker]

A long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....

It was believed that the Sith were gone from the universe. Jedi, though always wary, focused on other things, such as impending war on Naboo. And things were relatively peaceful--as peaceful as the universe ever was, that is. Aside from the kidnap and impending incarceration of Queen and Senator Amidala by the hands of the wicked Neimoidians as punishment for her refusal to legalize their shady occupation, nothing went very far amiss. The Force remained within Jedi power and they had little to no resistance. Things were calm such as they had never been before.

As two renowned Jedi raced to Naboo to save the unfortunate Senator from certain death, Coruscant and the entirety of space was left to the watchful eyes of the remainder of the Jedi Council. Yet off in the far, secluded system of Abron, hidden by a molecular cloud, sat Alpheridies. Over looking one of its many oceans, there also sat a architectural structure. Before that, however, on the beach, sat a young woman. Her legs folded under her, her hands fisted demurely in her lap, she appeared to be the goddess of Justice with a black clothe tied about her eyes. Long, blonde hair flowed down her back and fell to conceal half of her pale face. Her head was lowered as if in deep thought or prayer. Pale lips were held lax, no smile nor frown betraying the direction of those thoughts or concentrations. Her breathing was even and deep by the easy rise and fall of her chest, covered in what could be described as a black, leather sports' bra. Her legs were clothed in black, leather pants with rips like the claws of a giant cat's all over the thighs. Black boots made imprints behind her to the place she knelt. The only movement she made was to grip the lightsaber she held tighter in her black, fingerless hand gloved hands.

And so it begins...

She watched the two fires of Force move through the universe at break neck speed. They would hurry to Naboo. They may even make it out alive. But they would not survive long past that. She and Darth Maul would ensure that. The Zabrak was crude and blood-thirsty and, quite frankly, an embarrassment to her, but it went without saying that he would be her partner and mentor for the time being... Unless he met an unfortunate and untimely end... She guarded her thoughts then and hid the image of slicing his red and black face off. It would not do to have them catch on just yet. The Sith were unpredictable in her experience. One day, the thought might have seemed ambitious and encouraging. Today, it may be dangerous and a threat to their own positions. She supposed both were right. If she felt she could move to supreme Sith Lord, she would hack through every one in a heartbeat.

She rose quietly and without word. Just as quietly, she turned and headed back inside. Corja Lejen left the door open. No one would be absurd enough to intrude upon her home. Sauntering to her room, she prepared to sleep for the night. Tomorrow, she would depart to find them, dead or alive. And then, should they prove alive, they would die very shortly after.
{End of Sith intro. Now onto the guy who will become a Jedi rather unwillingly.}
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"WOOHOO!!!!"

Adrenaline, speed, rush, air, jubilation. Moving, moving fast. Wind, blurred colors. Can't focus on any. Don't want to. The colors keep blurring together. Beautiful. Everything's beautiful in this moment. His heart was racing like crazy. He loved it. The adrenaline was more than he could imagine. He swerved in and out of traffic on his board. He heard the screams of those in their vehicles. So many different languages, all angry and furious, yet each one just egged him on. He laughed at one such Ortolan who leaned out and blew his bulbous, blue nose at him in rage. Just dodging the debris, he let the end of his board scratch the vehicle. Roaring with uncontrollable laughter, he let himself and the board drop again to the next row of traffic. Oh God if Yoda or Windu could see him now! He almost shuddered at the thought.

Henda Decro had been in training to become a Jedi for as long as he could remember. He had been dropped off at the council in the dead of night. His mother vanished after she had begged them to take him in. Fortunately for him, he DID have a connection with the Force. Unfortunately for him, they weren't about to let him go now. He hated life at the Council. Everything was black and white, no shades of grey. There was no such thing as real fun. No emotions--ever. Basically, become an android. He didn't see how anyone could live like that. How can you just NOT feel and be totally okay with that? How can you NOT pursue excitement and fun? He couldn't imagine as the adrenaline spiked while he fell through the air to the next line of traffic. For a while, he had done all he could to get himself thrown out. He nearly severed off another kid's arm as a last resort, but missed when the Jedi Knight figured out what he was thinking. That had brought about repercussions he didn't want to remember... Still, he hadn't been thrown out. Lately, he had slipped out when he could to get his own releases this way. It left the council out done and worried Master Yoda, but he was certain that if he didn't have his own time for reckless fun, he'd go nuts.

His heart froze painfully as he saw flashing blue and red lights behind him.

Oh. Shit.

An hour later, they were in the antechamber of the Jedi Council, the officers holding him tight by each arm since he had attempted to punch both and run. His board was held tight in the other hand of the cop. He scowled at the ground. The other cop held his light saber, which he had also reached for before they had leapt on him and pinned him to the ground.

"We request an audience with a Jedi Knight. We have something that we think belongs to them," the officer on his left explained to one of the passing padowan children. Wide-eyed with shock and fear, he looked at Henda. He nodded once and then turned and ran down the hall to find someone.

I am SO screwed...

[Brazen Bells]

"Jedi Raile! Jedi Raile!" The small boy nearly fell as he turned the corner into the Relic Chamber.

"Just a moment, Kaleon," Raile held up on hand to panting youngling who immediately took a hard breath and stood up straighter. You were on Alderaan, Bellassa, and . . . Naboo? Motioning for Kaleon to relax, Raila stood, letting her fingers linger on the ray gun before her. As a Kiffar she could read the thoughts of inanimate objects, but it was not thoughts as much a traces from where an object had been, who had held the object, and what type of action the object had seen. This particular ray gun belonged to a suspected separatist- that is who they told her the man was, at least- who was found spying on a senator. The entire situation was shady, but Raile had other dilemmas to handle than vague requests made by Jedi Council members.

Turning from the ray gun she faced Kaleon, who was tracing a finger from his right temple, across his face, to just under his left ear. He smiled up at her. Raile traced a finger along a pale orange bar that ran from her right temple to just under her left ear, a cultural tattoo of her clan on Kiffex. There she had been Raile Foll, but here she was just. The boy had been inquisitive of Raile's culture, family, and home world, being the son of, um, "merchants", who just happened across some illegally traded artifacts Raila was sent to find, Kaleon had lived out of a cabin on a ship traveling from planet to planet as his parents conducted business. She had bonded with the boy after discovering his force sensitivity and convinced his parents to let him return to the Jedi Temple with her.

"And what is so urgent, Kaleon?"

"Two officers escorted Jedi Henda into the Temple. Padawan Juran K'kil told me to get you. They are waiting in the antechamber to speak with you."

"Thank you, Kaleon. Return to your Archives lesson and tell Juran K'kil that next time he needs to do his own errands without delegating them to younglings." Raile did not wait to return the youngling's bow. Instead, she stepped quickly past the boy and down the hallway towards the antechamber. Her leather boots made soft thud sounds that echoed off the stone and metal of hall. Normally she would dress in comfortable linens and go barefoot when around the Temple, but a mission she had been assigned to leave today for was canceled.

Rounding the corner into the antechamber Raile walked a bit straighter and with more purpose. She was of average height, with a lithe frame and slight curves; there was nothing intimidating about her appearance and she was more of a person who would discuss a matter than duel over it.

"Can I help you with something, officers?" Raile stood with her arms crossed and looked down at Henda.

[joker]

Henda cringed blatantly at the sight of Jedi Raile.

Ah, damn, he thought, I'm never gonna get out of here again now.

His scowl deepened, his dark brows furrowed over his deep, black eyes. Despite the growing dread in his chest at the very maternal look of disapproval she wore, he still stared her dead in the eyes, his own eyes hard and angry and--as always--closed off. He was always a mystery at any point in time that he was wary of those about him. Though he felt shame at being caught, he showed no outward sign of having been reprimanded, merely pure defiance. Henda was nowhere near sorry to begin with. If he was given the chance, he'd break free of these androids and take back his light saber and board and be out of those doors in no time flat, ready for another round. He knew that, given the chance and knowing what would happen because of it, he'd never change his decision because he did what he had wanted. He'd lived his own life and made his own destiny. For once.

"We are under the knowledge that this young male is one of the Jedi Council?" toned the first android who held his board almost a little too tightly.

"Henda Decro has performed an almost countless amount of traffic violations that would result in the life sentence of imprisonment were he to be held legally responsible for his actions," the second android went on to explain, not waiting for Raile's confirmation, "We are informed that this is not by far the first time he has done something of this caliber of crime--"

"Oh come on, what crime?? No one was hurt!" Henda broke in angrily. The android on his left with the board squeezed his arm painfully.

"As I was saying. This is not the first time he has done this. Any further disturbance and we will be forced to take severe action, either on the Council or on the boy," the android on his right finished.

The two let go of Henda and he jerked away, rounding on them with a glare. He held out his hands for his board and saber, but the androids simply moved past him to hand them to Raile.

"We feel it important to tell you that he was also charged with attacking law enforcers with this light saber upon capture," the one with the saber intoned, handing the weapon to her.

Henda closed his eyes and sighed deeply. He had hoped they wouldn't mention that. He was REALLY in for it now...

[Brazen Bells]

Raile took the board and light saber. She fought back the urge to delve into the items' histories, to find out more about Henda Decro. There were rumors that spread throughout the planet, and even some Jedi succumbed to the temptation of gossip. Henda's escapades did not help in the matter.

Throughout the android's speech, Raile had been frowning slightly. When the android said Henda used his light saber in retaliation against the officer androids color slightly drained from her face but her expression was unreadable. She had only been a Jedi Knight for a few years, but already she developed a reputation for herself as by-the-book Jedi. However, Raile spent most of her time traveling from planet to planet, mainly alone.

"The Jedi Council will take care of the matter, officers. There is no need to take action against the Council." She held out the board to Henda but kept his light saber by her side. "The Council is in an urgent session at the moment, I realize this situation may be top priority for you both, but as you know, the Jedi are currently dealing with important diplomatic issues. You can wait if you'd like, for the Council to open its doors, but I do promise that Jedi Henda will atone for his misdeeds."

Why am I the one dealing with this? Raile thought to herself. Is this punishment for lying to the Council? The thought irked her. All she wanted to do was travel to the Outer Rim to follow up on a lead. A lead that was part of a private mission she embarked on deriving from vague clues the Jedi Masters had dropped. Some of her research indicated missing archives.

[joker]

Henda jerked his arms from the grasp of the androids angrily. He cast them deadly looks and grabbed the board from Jedi Raile quickly. The last thing he wanted was for her to be snooping into his business. He was irritated that she kept his saber, but he hadn't been stupid enough to think that she would just hand it back to him. He turned sideways so his back was no longer to the robotic police units, but it wasn't to the Jedi Knight, either. He kept his mutinous eyes on them, staring them down relentlessly. He knew they were androids, but it made him feel somewhat better at this small bit of defiance.

"No, ma'am," the android replied.

"We trust you and the Council will handle Henda Decro," the other added.

The two turned and marched out in their quirky robotic walk. Henda watched them resentfully, but once the doors closed gained the look of nonchalance and boredom.

"Well, if that's all, I guess I'll just go and put this back in my room," he said in a light tone of indifference, turning and beginning to walk from the hall.

[Hashut's Blessing]

((OOC: Hope you don't mind me joining in. Let me know if so...))

Lotitichow gave his thanks to the Hutt stood before him and his personal translator explained in Huttese how much help the androgynous slug had been.

Lotitichow had served the council's wishes to the best of his ability, but he knew that occassionally his methods weren't to their liking. Such was the life and path of the Grey Jedi. Forever condemned by his fellow Jedi and despised by those of the Black Arts. Personally, he wanted nothing to do with the traitorous Sith, but he found the traditions and teachings of the Jedi too stifling for the truth of the Force. He had been enlightened amongst the roots of his forest homeworld, defending himself from vicious beasts, but having to take care to not unbalance the nature of the Force.

With his business on Nar Shadaa completed, he bowed deeply, turned and began to head to his ship. It was odd that he now travelled alone. Having become a master was not an easy feat for a Greyling and now that he was one, he regretted the loss of companionship. He mused to himself Not entirely alone. I always have Tee-Em-Dee.

His mind trawled back to when he first was given Tee-Em-Dee, his pocket-sized translator. He remembered how he'd always managed to communicate with those that did not understand his language and he'd never known how, but hadn't questioned it. It was difficult to do it though and sometimes left him feeling weak. He had been trained from a young age, by the standards of his race, in the Jedi arts and he focussed alot in his spare time on the mind communication. He was strong enough now to be able to link other peoples' minds to each other in clusters of symbiotic thoughts. He was still struggling to control the thoughts, memories and feelings that pass through when this happens. It can overwhelm a mind to receive a lifetime of information in a splitsecond and occassuionally sends the weaker minded into a short fit.

He reached his craft and slowly clambered in, beginning the plotting of his course back to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant.

[joker]

Corja sighed with impatience as her ship went through the long, slow process of landing. First, they had to locate Coruscant. Then, they had to locate the facility of the Jedi Council. THEN they had to request permission to land and wait for a reply. AND THEN they had to land and be searched thoroughly, both physically and mentally. She wore a blank expression throughout it all, the only thing emptier than her face being her mind. Beside her, her well-trained universal chauffeur of sorts did the same. Naturally, they were found innocent of anything blatantly harmful. Obviously there were misgivings, but that was to be expected.

She knew that if she were to have eyes, she would roll them about now at these two young "Jedi Knights." Jokes, really, given airport security duty while it will satisfy them. She knew that while they knew nothing of her history and would peacefully guide her to the Conference room, she would not be so lucky with the other guards or Jedi about who had had time to know and possibly face her. This would be no easy task. Fortunately, impossible missions were her specialty.

As she expected, the moment she departed the ship and entered the building, three passing, seasoned Jedi Knights drew their sabers and readied themselves for battle. She heard the loud, thick clacking noise of their boots on the smooth floor as they raced to restrain her. She almost lost her composure and sneered when they jerked her arms behind her and wrenched her saber from her hip.

[I]Obviously, I have come in peace as I allowed you to capture me, she sufficed the urge to snarl with her thoughts.

Behind her, she heard her pilot searched and held, too. She could feel his indignation, disgust, and rage at being treated thus. She was not worried. He knew his part in this and knew that should he mess up, he would be punished most severely...

She sighed heavily.

"Take me to your leader," she intoned sarcastically and dryly.

[Hashut's Blessing]

As Lotitichow gave certain co-ordinates and astral flight paths to the astromech droid attached to his ship, he thought about how strange it must be to be a droid. To have no sentience or feelings, but the ability to calculate vast sums in a matter of minutes or less. He then considered how, with enough memory and a lack of memory wipes, droids sometimes began to develop... quirks. Tee-em-dee had a fair few, but only revealed them to him. Beyond the translation programming, she was actually incredibly shy, but neither knew why.

The astro-droid finished the calaculations and the ship began it's ascent through the atmosphere. He could feel that something was misplaced, perhaps at the temple. He always felt like something wasn't quite right, but it worried him slightly that it was at the hub of the Jedi. He could do nothing but wait until his ship arrived at Coruscant, unfortunately, and so chose to meditate, opening his mind, body and being to the Force. He briefly flickered the notion that he may receive contact, but ignored it and continued his coma-like trance to transendence.

[joker]

Corja was dragged into the council room. Jedi Knights looked up as they entered. All of them were surprised, but some in different degrees. Some were purely outraged, some were suspicious, some were just confused. None were pleasantly surprised, of course. Cuffed and tied, she was escorted into the room by the guards, her pilot close behind.

"What is the meaning of this?" Master Jedi Windu demanded.

"She landed upon Coruscant just moments ago, Master," one replied.

"I was unarmed, obviously," she growled back at him, "If you weren't such an incompetent...."

"Enough! You may let her go," Windu ordered and they immediately released her. "Now go. Search her ship and check the history of all technological and communication devices thoroughly."

They nodded and left the room swiftly.

"I suppose it is up to us to check her mind," he said to the room.

"Hm..." Master Yoda said, nodding, his brow set in concentration and mistrust.

Narrowing her eyes, Corja sighed heavily. Closing them, she settled in on her knees for very long sifting of thoughts.

[Hashut's Blessing]

As the stars stretched and began to tunnel in bright blue around his ship, Lotitichow reached his enith and felt the Force ebb and flow, surrounding him, filling him, calling to him, being called by him. He felt the flickers of life as he passed planets, the screams of death across the galaxy, visions came and go, some dreams, some precognitions, some realisations. He had no epiphany and remained in this state for several hours.

Suddenly, he was jolted out of his reverie as claxons went off and the tunnel of lightspeed disappeared, jerking him forwards. A gravitic proximity warning had pulled him out of hyperspace early to save him from a crushing demise inside a black hole. His trajectory had been perfect, but sometimes gravitic anomalies sprung up during the course of travel. He made his droid recalculate and continued, attempting to drop back into his meditative and enlightened state.

It took longer than before, but proved to bear more fruit. There were less visions, in fact only one and it was neither blurred, nor distorted and was adamant. He felt the impression of it being a current event. He sensed it was Coruscant. He felt Yoda's beacon of Force presence and was blinded in a way by the power of Master Windu. He had no doubt that the scene before him was therefore at the Temple, were dozens more bright sparks in the Force webways struck out to him. There was one that disturbed him though: it was bright and yet a darkness surrounded and pervaded it. it was clearly Dark Jedi, but he had heard no tale of the Sith or any renegades since the 20 deserters. He was aware that this intruder had allowed itself to be captured, but the Dark side of the Force was surrounding, tendrils of foul energies and misdeeds snaking out, trying to ensnare the hearts and minds of those around it.

He came to and was nearing Coruscant.

[joker]

It had taken every bit as long as she had imagined and longer. Scenes from childhood she hid as well as she could, giving vague and stereotypical replacements, switching real names for harmless, generic ones. She made scenes in her mind to give them reasons for her sudden change of color. It was grueling and tiring work. She had to think quickly to place images where they needed to be before they searched in that particular area. She strove not only to be quick, but practically omniscient. Finally, it ended.

Windu sat back with a heavy sigh.

"Well," he said, "If what you say is true, you seem to have good cause to change your sides." He looked at her with furrowed brows. "They treated you horribly."

She let her face turn downward.

"It is how we are all treated," she said simply, but she let her voice sound troubled.

"It doesn't make it any more right," he replied.

She nodded gravely for affect. Yoda still continued to stare at her with knit brows and a gaze that did not trust.

"Under probation, you shall be," he said in his strange voice, "Something amiss in you, there is."

Corja gave a sad smile as if to say "I'm so sorry you don't believe me, but it's okay, I forgive you."

"I understand," she said kindly. It surprised her that she could act so sweet.

[Hashut's Blessing]

Lotitichow felt the deep mistrust eminating from Yoda, even from this distance. Each Jedi seemed to specialise in a certain area of the Force and Lotitichow's was to easily communicate with the mind. Yoda's strength in the Force made it especially easy to feel as he did. As he entered the atmosphere, he sent a mind comunicée to Yoda, detailing his vision from his hyperstate. It would normally drain him to do it from such a distance, but the wisened master could pick it up easily and so it reuired less effort. With his revelation sent, he began the landing sequnce and called in to the Temple's port officials to give him his landing pad number. He landed, left his ship and the droid and headed straight to the debriefing rooms so that he could report the success of his mission before heading to the council's chamber.

[joker]

Yoda's brow furrowed as he felt an interruption in his mind. Opening them, he looked to Windu.

"Returned, Master Lotitichow has," he said.

Disapproval went through each of the members. Though Corja could not see it on their faces due to her lack of eyes, she could feel it just as well. It would seem there were very reluctant alliances here... She wondered just how she could play such a thing to her advantage....

"Should we wait, then?" Windu asked in a tone that plainly said he'd rather not.

Yoda nodded solemnly.

[Hashut's Blessing]

Lotitichow could feel the impatience of the Jedi council. He wasn't sure why they held disdain for him, but he deicded it best not to keep them waiting and hurried. He approached the council foyer and asked mentally if he should enter.

((OOC: If so, say so and then say I enter and carry on from there ))

[joker]

(Sir yes sir. ^.^)

Yes. Enter you should immediately. Very important this is and your input I desire, Yoda replied to Lotitichow.

When he entered, Corja turned her sightless face to him. Using the Force, she took in a vague image. She turned away. He was no Jedi Knight she knew, but he was something of importance. He must have been one of those "grey" Jedi. Not good, not bad, but something in between.

Windu looked at Lotitichow in a faint sense of disapproval, but he spoke very politely just as if he were one of the Council. He knew Yoda had requested his presence for good reason.

"Do you know who this is?" he asked the new arrival (Lotitichow), referring to Corja as if she were not here or as if he were about to introduce some celebrity of sorts. She didn't know which she should take it as.

[Hashut's Blessing]

Lotitichow made sure not to dally around. He entered swiftly and bowed graciously to the arrayed masters, ignoring the being radiated pure Dark Side energy.

"I am afraid I do not, Master Windu," Tee-Em-Dee translated for him. "However, I sense a lot of..." he paused to gauge a method of stating the despicableness exuding from her without stating it, whilst simultaneously attempting to hide his opinion from her. "Indulged emotion, from her. How may I be of service, council masters?"

He continued to try to act indifferent towards her. He had learned in many of the same lessons as Qui-Gon Jinn, a master that he admired for his understanding of the Living Force.

[joker]

"This is Corja Lejen," he replied, assuming the name should tell him all he needed to know. Listening to him, Windu frowned deeply, his eyes narrowing and his brows furrowing, causing heavy lines to his brow. "I see..." he murmured darkly. His suspicions were becoming confirmed.

"Well, we're not quite sure what to do with her..." he replied. "She claims to want a new life, a chance to join the Jedi Council..." His face showed his skepticism, "For obvious reasons, we're not quite sure of this."

Yoda looked to Lotitichow. "Watch her, you must," he said simply.

Windu caught his meaning and frowned even deeper.

"Master Yoda..." he started, catching his master's eye.

Corja could feel misgivings in every Jedi Knight within the room. No one trusted this Jedi in the slightest. The fact that he was "grey" made it horrifying to contemplate. From what she could read, they all felt that his watching her would further corrupt him and tip the balance, making him Sith. Corja, personally, felt it would take more than that, but it wasn't really as if they'd care for her opinion anyway.

[Hashut's Blessing]

The name struck Lotitichow, but he did not allow the knowledge to pass to his hairy features. He had instantly thought that she must be contained. As he heard that she wished to reform, he decided that she must be watched and was about to say as much when he received his assignment. He detested the idea of having to guard against a dark Jedi, but he figured it was better that he do it than waste a council member's time.

"Of course, it shall be done, Masters," he replied, bowing. He turned to Corja. "I expect you'll have to earn a council seat, much like the Jedi." He had purposely not said 'rest of the Jedi'. She was not one of them and he distrusted her, despite attempting to remain true to his teachings.

"Is there any other matter of business, council masters?" he added.

[joker]

Corja could tell he'd heard of her when he didn't ask for further information. The shock was hard to miss, too. He was wary of her, but that was to be expected. Well really all that would mean was she was going to have to be exceptionally careful, which she always was. She gave a serene smile she didn't think she could ever muster up, and nodded her consent.

"Yes, I suppose I will," she replied in a warm voice she also didn't think was in her, "I look forward to it. It is long overdue that I change my ways. I'm just grateful that the Jedi Council has been so kind as to give me that chance."

Every face in the room had the look of cynical disbelief. This she expected, too. Trust would come with time and great effort. The Master himself had told her he had expected her time to be no less than a few months, and even that was riding on her being one hell of an actress.

Windu turned his mistrustful gaze from her to Lotitichow, still not changing his expression.

"Yes," he said, "It would seem Queen and Senator Padme Amidala is in terrible danger. She is being held captive on her home planet, Naboo until she has consented to help the Federation. She is holding strong, but we wonder how long it will be before they execute her out of frustration. Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn and his padowan, Obi Wan Kenobi, were on their way, but an emergency arose on a different planet, so they had to leave her behind. We want you and Corja to go in her place. One of us would, but we can't afford to leave now. We have information that the Federation might try an attack when the Council is vulnerable. Will you do it?"

[Hashut's Blessing]

Dying to prove his worth and eager to be assigned to his mentor's original mission, he bowed and replied, "With utmost diligence, Master Windu. Thank you for assigning me... Sorry, Corja and myself, to tis assignment. May I have a word after Corja has left for briefing, council members?"

He looked imploringly. He had a question, but did not wish to offend the newcomer. He could sense that she would likely use her roiling emotions when they came to the boil and didn't wish to aggravate them. He would do his damnedest to make her truly turn away from the Dark Side.