Chapter Text
Tython, 3641 BBY
Deep within the halls of the Jedi Archives, a lone figure navigated the halls of the building. Their footsteps fell distinctly across the marble floor, sending an echo reverberating through the room. But the noise mattered not to the cloaked figure. They were looking for something. The holocrons shimmered and cast a blue hue on the man as his footsteps slowed. There. Right at the end of the shelf. The man pulled down his cloak, revealing his grey hair, streaked with hints of navy blue, and reached for his prize when-
Creeeaaaak. The door opened.
“Master Truvestin?” A lone voice reverberated from the entrance. The figure paused. A sigh.
“Yes, padawan?”
“The Jedi High Council requests your presence.”
“I will meet them momentarily.” He looked back at the holocron, but the messenger insisted.
“They suggested you meet them as soon as possible.” He noted the way the padawan held himself stiffly. Rough form, but he’s not presenting a false bravado, Esinon mused. Best not to get him in trouble with my tardiness.
“Very well.” The Jedi’s hand retreated back into his robe and he hastened towards the Council Chambers, padawan in tow.
The double doors opened as Esinon approached, revealing the council members waiting for him. As one, they turned to meet his gaze, nodding ever so slightly, before returning to the middle raised area.
“Jedi Sage Esinon Truvestin. Our gratitude for your timely arrival to our correspondence,” Grand Master Satele Shan intoned, nodding to him as he entered the chambers.
“It is only my duty, Grand Master. What is the reason for my summoning?” Esinon planted his feet in the middle of the pedestal and looked up at her and the rest of the council, awaiting her orders. Shan shared a brief glance with her peers, and looked back down at him.
“There was a commotion in Nar Shaddaa,” Shan explained. “A padawan was involved.” Esinon did not betray his full thoughts save for a slight exhale.
“How old?”
“14 years of age.” Esinon closed his eyes, collecting himself.
“Which area did the event occur within?” Shan did not answer this, but Esinon immediately knew what she was not saying. Most incidents in Nar Shaddaa went down in either the Star Cluster Casino, or the Red Light Sector. The former was a hotspot for impromptu fights as a result of gambling one too many times, and the latter was very attractive for underhanded deals for prosthetics and other concerning items. Regardless of the location, Esinon was curious as to how and why a padawan found trouble there, alone…
“Extent of injuries?” Esinon braced for the worst.
“The authorities stationed there were not entirely forthcoming in their report, but they did mention lightsaber wounds.” Not good. Not good at all. The fact that the report even mentioned the nature of the wounds only was concerning enough.
“And where is the child and their master?”
“The child is in a bacta tank at the local medcenter. As for your second question, Master Vidar Brenau was completely unaware that his padawan was even on Nar Shaddaa. As a matter of fact,” Shan’s voice grew colder, although her expression remained the same, “he was meditating in his quarters here on Tython. Esinon’s shoulders tensed, questions running through his mind in an instant. How did a master lose his padawan? Getting a shuttle off of Tython is complicated enough, let alone to Nar Shaddaa as a padawan . Shan continued, “you will be accompanying him on a shuttle to the medcenter to examine the situation in greater detail.”
Esinon went to speak, but Shan was not quite finished.
“Let me be a bit more clear, Consular Truvestin.” She stood up this time, putting her full gaze on him. For a moment, Esinon was taken aback by this action. Her short dark black hair, dashed with a few streaks of grey, swayed as she moved. Her eyes suddenly beamed a wearier age and stature that Esinon had rarely seen from the Grand Master. “At the moment, considering the circumstances, the Council does not believe Master Vidar Brenau is in a fit state to see his padawan alone. It is true that we promote as little emotional attachments as possible, but the bond between a guardian and their ward is not so easily stifled.” Esinon nodded in agreement. This was part of why he could not accept a padawan in the first place. “You are one of our most dedicated Sages. The local authorities have some preliminary information about the event, but they are short-staffed with another crisis in the Corellian Sector involving droid trafficking. Your skills are considered highly valuable among them, and would aid Master Brenau as well, who is a Sentinel and is not as well-versed in this field as you are.”
Esinon took all of this in, running it through his mind. It all made sense. Truth be told, he was more curious to meet Master Brenau. It might be too soon, but based on the information he was given, Esinon was not willing to rule the master as completely innocent in this event. He had the responsibility of looking after a youngling. Regardless of how this went down, the Sentinel would be facing severe repercussions following the investigation. He looked back at the Council.
“I agree to this mission. I shall seek out the affected party immediately.” He bowed to the council, who nodded back.
“One last thing before you leave, Sage Truvestin.”
“Yes, Grand Master?” Esinon turned to see Satele rise from her seat and join him as he left the chambers. She was a head shorter than him, but kept pace as they walked towards the shuttle dock.
“Please, exercise extreme caution during this investigation,” Satele whispered, looking up at him. “The council is concerned that with the severity of this situation, it could very well be-”
“An attack?”
“From one of us.” Esinon stopped in his tracks and turned to his superior. He raised his eyebrow, mostly for show. Satele glared back.
“Times are rife, Sage Truvestin. Our faith must remain steady, but it is not out of the question for even this hope to fade among some of our own. Report your findings immediately if they pertain at all to our way of life being threatened.”
“Yes, Grand Master.”
“Very well, then.” They had arrived at the dock. “You shall wait here for your companion. May the Force be with you.”
“May the Force be with you.” And just like that, she was gone. Esinon breathed deeply, taking a moment to tune out the noise at the station. He could have been back in the Archive, looking through integral moments for the Jedi Order. But now… he was investigating possible subterfuge. He could only wait for his fellow Jedi now, and pray that the child was all right.