Chapter Text
“Alright, everybody here? Good. Then I hereby call this first…well not really first…but somewhat first official meeting of the Council of the New Jedi Order to session…Ezra stop laughing.”
“Luke, I’m pretty sure using your lightsaber as a gavel is against some kind of Jedi code, back me up here mom.”
“You are asking the wrong person, Kata. Nightsisters weren’t exactly big on the Jedi code. What’s so funny, Kanan?”
“I just realized, most of us on this council have already had a pretty loose interpretation of the code. I mean, statistically most of us are married.”
“Ahem, well…strictly speaking marriage and attachments are-”
“Obes, if I hear even one word out of you on attachments, I will end you. Yes, Kira?”
“Master Vos…I’m pretty sure killing Obi-Wan would be against the code.”
“Right as usual, Padawan Mine.”
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The circle of chairs set in the solarium of the former Jedi Temple turned former Imperial Palace turned current seat of government seemed to glow with light, and Luke was pretty sure it wasn’t because of the golden hour currently bathing the Coruscant skyline in warmth. As Vos himself had declared, this was the strangest Jedi Council he had ever seen, but, as he said it, “We might just need a little strange.”
Council membership had been handed out shortly after the knighting ceremony on the balcony a little over two months ago and, while Luke doubted it followed any traditional sense, he believed it represented the best of them.
There weren’t that many Jedi to go around anyways, so they needed to stick together.
Vos had been an obvious, nearly unanimous vote when Luke had asked the others who they thought should be on the Council. A member of the old Order but with a more pragmatic view of what the old Order was and was not, he stood to provide valuable insight. A fact that Vos seemed to find endlessly funny. His newly chosen Padawan, Kira Kestis, was delighted.
Kanan and Ezra were selected very shortly thereafter, the first master and apprentice bond to make it start to finish really after the fall of the Republic and the old Order gave them credence. And besides, they had practically already been leaders at the Fortress. This felt natural.
Interestingly enough, Cal had declined a seat saying something along the lines of feeling called towards a different direction with the end of the war, but recommended Merrin in his stead. Merrin had been surprised, no shocked was really the better way to describe it, by the offer. But really, Luke and the others found in her the perfect balance for their Council. A Force user, trained as a Nightsister, welcomed as a Jedi, she offered a unique insight that none of the others could.
She brought with her Kata, who had been offered the job nearly on the spot. “You were our primary contact on Tanalorr towards the end there.” Luke had explained to her. “You are the bridge between those at the Fortress and the next generation of Jedi, we’d be honored to have you.”
There had been the slightly awkward realization then that Kata had never been formerly knighted, and her insistence that she wasn’t ready yet. And if even Vos was a little shocked at the idea of having a Padawan on the Council, they all concluded that needs must and silently planned a fast track for the rest of Kata’s training.
Luke had tracked down Obi-Wan, who had taken to finding quiet, out of the way places in the former Imperial Palace to meditate, and offered him a seat. Obi-Wan had been silent for a long while before politely declining. “I…that is not for me, Luke. But I thank you.”
“You could teach us a lot, I know you could.” Luke had insisted. But Obi-Wan held firm.
“No, Luke, I have walked that path once. It is not for me to tread again.”
They had compromised on Obi-Wan being a part time advisor.
Master Plo had accepted a seat as well, but only on a part time basis, claiming his age and the desire to take a step back. All the others had understood, graciously agreeing, and laid plans to see that the old master’s twilight years could be spent enjoying some of the hard fought for peace.
Ahsoka had taken some time to convince. Even after so many years, she still stubbornly held on to the idea that she wasn’t a Jedi. The argument that neither was Merrin didn’t work. Finally though it was the idea that they needed more insight into that place between the ice and the storm as Mara had often called it to inform the path ahead that got through to her.
Katooni had been the last selected, though she agreed to only be a member on rotation. “When you need me, I’ll be there. But there’s a lot of work to do. We can’t all just be in one place. The galaxy needs the Jedi.”
Luke had figured that would be it, well…he thought so anyways until the others asked what his and Mara’s plans were for the first Council Meeting.
“Uh, isn’t that for you guys to decide?” He had asked with genuine bewilderment.
“Luke, you’re talking like you aren’t on the council.” Ezra had laughed.
And that was how Luke found out he was the previously unofficial, now official, Grand Master of the New Order of Jedi. And Mara, as the co leader of the Fortress that had helped organize them all right alongside him in their Inquisitor days, was brought on for her expertise in galactic affairs and affinity for Force techniques strong in the Light. It didn’t seem to bother anyone else that their Knighthood was less than two months old.
As the first official Council meeting finally got settled, Luke began again. “Alright, so I suppose the main question on everyone’s minds is, what now?”
“Ah the renowned Jedi mind tricks.” Han said from the corner of the room where he sat looking rather smug.
“Who invited him again?” Katooni asked with an eyeroll.
“No one, technically.” Mara answered with a side eye that could make a full grown gigoran run for cover.
“Hey, I’m just here for moral support.” Han said, popping a piece of Mantell Mix into his mouth, Chewie leaning against the wall gave a low chuffing noise kind of like a laugh.
Leia, who had a seat in the circle, glared at him before turning back to the group. “I want to thank you all again for having me.”
“The pleasure is ours, Princess.” Ahsoka said with a smile and incline of her head.
Leia returned the nod of respect and gave a warm smile of her own, deep brown eyes sparkling in the late afternoon sun “Are you kidding, this got me out of a senate debate on Hyperspace traffic laws. Trust me when I say the pleasure is mine.”
The room laughed good naturedly and turned back to the matter at hand.
“The truth of the matter is, we need somewhere to set up, somewhere to rebuild.” Luke said, pulling out his datapad of talking points.
“On behalf of the Galactic Senate, I do want you all to know that we are happy to extend an invitation to you all. Coruscant was the Jedi’s home for generations. It could be again.” Leia spoke graciously.
There was a subtle shifting in seats and shared looks that confirmed what Leia herself already knew.
“We appreciate the offer, really.” Luke said.
“Please make sure to tell the senate that.” Mara added with an incline of her head.
“But we can’t stay.” Ahsoka ended.
“We took back Coruscant for the people, we took back our home in the memory of those that died defending it, but…this isn’t our place anymore, not really.” Vos added and all nodded sympathetically. The memories were hard on all from the Old Order, but especially for its psychometrics. There was a reason Cal was primarily coordinating things from Tanalorr and the Fortress and why Vos himself was looking forward already to getting off world.
“For one, it’s far too big. This building has been used for governmental purposes for a while now. It would take us years, maybe even decades to fill the space and it can be much better used for the rebuilding Republic.” Mara spoke, tugging at the edges of her robes.
“Besides…something about it just feels too much like stepping backwards. We need to move forwards. Part of the downfall of the old order was also how intertwined it was with the galactic politics. Not that we don’t plan to be friends to the Republic, we do. It’s just…” Katooni spoke in that quiet sort of way she had that people couldn’t help but pay attention to and Leia nodded saying:
“You need your own space. I completely understand. If the New Republic can help you in that endeavor, please do not hesitate to ask. And of course, we would love to know where you settle.”
“You make it sound so final.” Ezra said with a chuckle.
“We will be sticking around Coruscant for a while yet, if you’ll have us that is.” Luke said with that Farmboy charm that had won over an Empire. “We can help stabilize things, get stuff set up while getting our own established out of the Fortress.”
“Of course you are welcome!” Leia exclaimed brightly.
“Then that just begs the question, where do we go?” Kata asked, leaning forward on her knees.
“There have been a few ideas.” Ahsoka said after a moment’s consideration. “The Fortress of course has been our home throughout the war.” Her blue eyes flicked between Kanan and Merrin who nodded as she continued. “But we’ve all discussed, it, while the Fortress will forevermore belong to the Jedi, it is not the place to rebuild, to one day bring our children. The darkness of its past has been abolished, but it’s time for something new, a fresh start, a clean slate. Something to rebuild upon without all the memories.”
Kanan and Ezra were in a hushed, animated discussion where they sat next to each other until Ezra turned and spoke up “What about Lothal?”
“Lothal?” Mara asked, tilting her head, fingers drumming her arm rest.
“Sure.” Ezra continued. “The Jedi definitely used to have a presence there. There’s an old temple and the planet has always felt…connected to the Force in a way.”
Those gathered considered it a moment, it wasn’t the only world discussed. Dantooine, Takodana, even Yavin had all been contenders. Even one unusual, though gently probed question was directed at Leia.
“What about…what about the planet you went to. With Master Yoda?” Katooni had asked.
Only those that knew her well caught the small shiver that ran across the features of Princess Leia Organa at the words. She had debriefed Luke on what had happened there, the visions of the destruction of her world, the death of her parents, the nearly week spent training, and perhaps the hardest of all to relate to her newly found twin brother after the loss of their father, the insistence of her teacher that it was her destiny to confront and defeat Vader. She had entrusted Luke to relay the information to the others and he had, much to the shock of especially the former Padawans of the old Order now Knights of the new who remembered fondly the eccentric teacher of many of their creche days.
“I cannot speak for what you all will want to do about Master Yoda. But as for Dagoba…it was mostly swamp land. Not very conducive to building.”
“Agreed.” Obi-Wan spoke for the first time in the meeting. “I…I do believe in time, we should attempt to make contact with Master Yoda. However…Dagoba is not known for being hospitable and rebuilding is our primary concern. Perhaps an envoy to meet him, tell him of the new developments?”
That received several nods, and shared questioning looks amongst the group. If Obi-Wan’s hiding during the war had been hard to accept by some, Yoda’s was harder and many were uncertain what the former Grandmaster of the Order would make of the new or whether he would accept it at all. But, by Obi-Wan’s suggestion, attention was turned once more to the more pressing matter at hand, how to rebuild. And the talk moved smoothly back to the discussion of planetary systems.
The circling of the debate though always seemed to come back around to Lothal.
“It’s a peaceful place.” Merrin said. “But rather far from the core.”
“Not as far as others, it’s close to key hyperspace lanes that would make it easy enough to travel.” Han remarked with a shrug.
“But far enough away that it would give you all some space to grow.” Leia nodded, understanding mixing with the warmth of her words.
“What do you think, Ezra?” Luke asked. “Do you think the new government being set up on Lothal would be okay with a bunch of Jedi moving in?”
Ezra laughed, settling back in his seat. “Are you kidding? Ryder, though I guess that’s Governor Azadi now, actually called to offer when he heard we were looking into other planets.”
“We fought for them. No one is going to forget that anytime soon.” Kanan said with a soft smile that pulled at the edges of the scar over his eyes.
“It’s poetic in a way. The first world we freed becoming our home.” Ahsoka nodded, contemplating the idea in her mind.
“All in favor of moving to Lothal?” Luke asked and all around the circle, hands rose in agreement.
“Well, I suppose that settles it. The New Jedi Order will make its home on Lothal.”
“Hey Luke?”
“Yeah Ezra?”
“I really don’t think you are supposed to use your lightsaber as a gavel.”
A pillow hit Ezra square in the face.