Council Chambers

*The Jawa paused outside of the main large doors that led into the Council chambers, Atch beckoned Lance down to his level and Lance obligingly stooped.*

*Lance nodded and bit his lip, despite the Jedi recruiters words of comfort Lance only felt a chill of loneliness he didn't know what to expect or what he would be asked, without further ado he door swung open and the Jawa motioned Lance in. The room he entered was circular in dimension and contained many chairs. Lit from the glow of natural light allowed in by huge windows. Its walls were roughly hewn and so natural in appearance even grasses and plants grew. The room seemed rather vast and with its floor polished to a high sheen it looked well maintained and slightly intimidating. Seated in front of him was a slender elegant feline figure with soft amber glowing eyes, she remained perfectly poised her eyes seeing through the Humanoid youth. She then turned to the Jawa and bowed her head slightly and smiled revealing a sharp set of canines.*

"Knight Atch it is good to see you looking so well and it seems your journey has proved fruitful."

*She turned her feline smile to Lance, who smiled meekly in response, she then clasped her hands neatly in her hands and then still addressing the Jawa she said in a light tone.*

"So, who have we here."

"Master Vyzlar may I introduce Lance Skia."

*She turned and appraised the boy then closed her eyes for a moment and after a minute opened them and nodded.*

"Very good, so tell me Lance how are you, hm?"

*Taken aback for he presumed some form of interogation.*

"I am okay M'aam."

"Lonely, it is only natural for you to miss home."

*Her eyes narrowed as she studied him feeling his surprise and mild fear ripple through the force.*

*Further shock and fear, but there was no underlying current of darkness, there was no resentment, loss, loneliness, but this was to be expected, nurtured and cared for, given a family this boy could blossom, he just needed a guiding hand.*

"How long have you been able to see the mechanics of mechanisms for."

*Lance turned uncertainly to Atch but the Recruiter remained motionless offering no help. It was true then, this Jedi really could perceive things about him.*

"For as long as I can remember M'aam."

"Indeed, and how do you feel about that."

*She responded coolly as though knowing this information already.*

"I.....I .......... I was afraid."

*She nodded slowly.*

*She held up a furred hand fingers splayed, palm facing her head to add emphasis to her chosen word.*

*Lance wasn't sure what exactly she meant, or even how to begin, yet again as though second guessing his thoughts she spoke.*

"This journey is not to be undertaken lightly, but you will not do so alone. However you must understand that this path has been placed before you and that there is no shame in returning to your world. The life of a Jedi is tough and often you will find difficult decisions and sacrifices you need to make, but you will never face them alone. So I ask you Lance Ski do you wish to pledge yourself to the Order of the Jedi Knights, do you promise to fight injustice and adversity where ever you face it. Do you vow to protect and serve all others, forsaking yourself. Will you abide by the code of the Jedi, the pillars of its wisdom and knowledge and serve and defend the Jedi Order all its factions, beliefs and values with all your heart, mind and spirit?"

*She rose to her full height standing tall above Lance and Atch alike her powerful frame seemed mighty and a fire of energy and intensity burned in her eyes. For the first time Lance felt a stirring within him, one he could not explain and he felt utterly homaged and weak. His mind thought things through, what ever could he return to, a contemptuous Cousin an uncaring Uncle and a solitary life of loneliness, sadness and depreciation.*

"I do so pledge myself."

*She stared at Lance with an intensity and then cast her hands wide.*

"Kneel Lance Skia"

*Once he had done so she walked forward, her body moving with the grace of a dancer. She rested her hands upon his shoulders.*

"I anoint you as a Initiate in the Order of the Jedi, you came to us a friend, now rise and be received as a Brother."

*Unsure of how his shaking legs managed it, Lance rose and then the Cathar beamed a huge smile and lifted her hands.*

"Welcome Lance Skia, it truly gladdens my heart and lifts my spirit that you chose as such, Knight Atch will over see your settling in period and for now your initiation until a Master becomes available. You may call this conclave and Felucia your home and where ever you fare you will always have our aid and support. Now I am sure you are eager for rest. "

*She reached for her comlink and pressed a button. Momentarily the door hissed open and in tottered a blue plated 3-PO droid.*

"Lance this is M3-PO or Meepo as we call him."

*The droid bowed slightly at the waist its servo motors whining as it did so.*

"Meepo this is Lance Skia our latest initiate kindly see that he has a room and then show him anything else he wishes to see."

::Quite so Miss Vyzlar.::

"His Vocoder chip needs reconfiguring."

*This comment from Lance withdrew an outburst from Meepo and the Cathar arched an eyebrow then looked at the Jawa who had Lance known better would've sworn was smiling.*

"Quite so Knight Atch."

*Was all the Cathar Master said at seemingly some unspoken exchange. Meepo then led Lance away still muttering to himself once Master Vyzlar had explained that she wished to discuss some matters with Atch who would be joining Lance shortly. With that Lance left the room following the quirky droid toward the residential wing of the Conclave.*

Rutil closed his eyes and gently waved off the invitation; in the presence of Masters - however much they might have disagreed with who held the title - Knights stood, even when invited to sit.  It was only proper etiquette.  Even if the Zabrak had officially been recognized as a Jedi Master, he preferred to stand regardless.  Sitting around a table discussing politics and the deeper meanings of the Force always felt like a game to him, and when he had matters on his mind like the one he had brought to Master Calmcacil today, taking a seat simply felt like the wizened warrior was further distancing himself from the problem.

"Master," Rutil began, "I was on Naboo recently, trying to prevent an ancient Sith holocron from falling into enemy hands.  As I was doing so, a Sith somehow managed to take hold of an entire village and turn them against me, even as I tried to protect them.  Forty-odd people, simply going about their lives.  I doubt even a one of them is alive right now."

The mere mention of what had happened in that village filled Rutil with venom.  He had fought the dark side's adherents before, but none had tried to pull what the monster on Naboo had done.  If that was the first of many to surely come, the Sith were growing stronger.  It would be only a matter of time before another village fell to a dark acolyte's fury.  For all Rutil knew, mere days stood between the Jedi and another massacre at the hands of a Sith Lord.  And what had they done?  Snot-Nose was palling around in the Outer Rim.  Yavin - even after an attack by the galaxy's fiercest marauders - simply stood by and meditated.  From what he had seen so far, Master Calmcacil and the Felucian Conclave had done much the same.  The Jedi had forgotten their oath to bring balance to the Force.  They had grown comfortable.  Complacent.  Weak.

Such weakness brought about their fall the first time, and Rutil Iorek would be damned if he let it happen again.

"If we do nothing, how long before we see another attack on Yavin?  Or even Felucia?  Why are we standing around with our thumbs up our a-..." Rutil stopped to catch himself, almost slipping away from the diplomat charade, "...why is nothing being done?  Shouldn't we be doing something?  Don't you believe so?"

"Fewer than I'd care to admit."

For all his traversing around the galaxy on a never-ending search and destroy mission, Rutil had little in the way of actionable intelligence beyond what was common knowledge to most of the Jedi Order.  Kashyyyk had been a Sith stronghold for as long as he could remember, and in all that time, nobody had ever managed a successful invasion.  While his first instinct was to gather forces and completely overrun the Wookiee homeworld in the hopes that it would send a strong message to the rest of the dark side's acolytes, being on the losing side of that bet would cripple any further pushes into Sith worlds.  Korriban, while holding the strongest symbolic victory, had little strategic value and was itself permeated by the dark side; holding it was a losing game, and the Sith would fight to the last in order to keep their ancient homeworld theirs.  Further, it might prompt an attack on Yavin IV, and the jungle moon was in no shape to withstand another barrage after the Mandalorians got done with it.  Dathomir held similar problems.  As he ran down the list, his mind kept popping back to the Sith on Naboo.  More than anything - or any world - Rutil wanted him.  The other darksider was also on his list, but he was small fry.

But Rutil would never get the chance at lasting justice - let alone the campaign - if he had nothing to act on, or to bring to the table.  Fervent though he was, he was not about to throw bodies on the pyre to chase after shadows and rumors.

Yet.

"Even in the best case scenario, we would need to gather more support.  As many worlds as we can, as many navies as we can, as many soldiers as we can, and as many of our own Order as we can.  But once we have the resources and the manpower, it's my understanding that Thule is relatively undefended compared to what we could bring down on them."

Thule was an Imperial world, and played host to a Sith academy as well.  In addition to sending a signal, a victory there would stem the flow of dangerous foes to face, as well as give Rutil a personal sense of closure; he had a bone to pick against both the Sith and the Empire, and the possibility of striking a blow at both almost made him smile.

"Naturally."

Though he outwardly agreed, there was a nagging annoyance in the back of his head that Rutil simply could not silence.  He ignored it as best he could, staying in the moment and in the discussion, but some deep part of him could not help but acknowledge; if it meant ending the Sith once and for all, there was no price that shouldn't be paid.  Not that he was going to voice the problem, or even acknowledge it.  Rutil wanted the Sith extinguished, but throwing bodies onto the pyre was counterproductive at the best of times.  That same nagging voice told him to tell the ass-kissers in the Senate to shove it, but that was also not going to advance anybody's goals (especially not if, as Master Calmcacil rightfully worried, a two-pronged counterattack was lying in wait).

"That said, some groundwork needs to be laid.  Someone more tactful than I should parley with the diplomats, pacify them until they grow a pair and act.  The soldiers need to know what they're up against as well, and to do that someone - and I'm not saying who," Rutil said while pointing both thumbs upward at his face, "needs to get out there and see just where these bastards are.  Everything should fall into place from there."

Rutil almost started speaking before Master Calmcacil had finished, his tone making it clear that he had merely been waiting for the Jedi Master to ask.

"I'll need to borrow one of your corvettes. A few commando squads wouldn't go amiss, either, just in case I do find something."

"Immediately."

While Master Calmcacil hadn't heard it before, the dangerous edge that Rutil's voice carried when speaking to his ride's crew member had returned, accompanied by a swift look that immediately brought his gaze downward to lock eyes with the Jedi Master. The old man was indeed eager to begin his mission, and the sooner his resources were granted the sooner that could happen; he could sleep on the way. He could also apologize to Master Calmcacil for his deteriorating bearing - and almost had, then and there - but the Knight had forgotten that Calmcacil thought him a Master himself, and that they spoke as equals. An apology could be made after the fact, for two reasons. The first was that apologizing and revealing himself as only a Knight could put him under Master Calmcacil's jurisdiction (and that was if he decided to allow the mission to continue). The second was that Rutil simply did not care to right then.

In his mind's eye, he saw the havoc he would soon wreak, and he fought back a smile as the Force told him what Calmcacil's response would be.

Rutil bowed at the waist, much deeper than he had upon arrival.

"Thank you, Master," the Zabrak said, once again the humble Jedi, "I'll see to it they're taken care of, and your friend as well."

With another deep nod, Rutil stepped out of the council chamber and began to look for his escort. And as soon as the doors closed behind him, a smile crept onto his lips that sailed well past grim and bordered on the demonic.