I’m Star-Lord (SW Xover)

C235 The Jedi’s Eye Opening Moment

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The Jedi Temple – Council Chamber

The grand circular chamber of the Jedi High Council was silent except for the faint hum of Coruscant's cityscape outside. The Masters sat in their respective chairs, their gazes fixed on the group standing before them: Padmé, Anakin, Jar Jar, Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and a figure in a crimson coat with a mask concealing his face.

Star-Lord. 

The Council members' disapproval was palpable as they eyed the masked figure standing alongside the others. Ki-Adi-Mundi broke the silence, his tone sharp. "Why is he allowed here?."

Several other members nodded in agreement, their expressions ranging from disapproval to confusion. Plo Koon spoke next, his tone measured but firm. "Grandmaster Yoda, surely there must be an explanation."

Peter raised a hand casually before Yoda could respond. "I'm here because Padmé is my lover and Anakin is my apprentice. Where they go, I go."

A ripple of murmurs spread through the Council chamber, disbelief etched on the faces of several Masters. Adi Gallia leaned forward, her brow furrowed. "Your apprentice? You are no Jedi."

Peter tilted his head slightly, the glow of his mask giving him an air of unsettling calm. "I don't need to be a Jedi to teach someone, do I?"

The tension in the room thickened until Yoda raised his hand, silencing the room. "Enough," he said, his voice steady yet firm. He turned to Padmé, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Explain, you must. What happened?"

Padmé stepped forward, her hands clasped in front of her, her voice steady despite the weight of the Council's scrutiny. "We were looking for a shuttle to return to our ship in orbit when we stumbled upon a duel in one of the Senate hangars."

She paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. "Count Dooku was fighting Master Yaddle. And… he was wielding a red lightsaber."

The murmurs erupted again, louder this time. Ki-Adi-Mundi shook his head. "A red lightsaber? Impossible. Count Dooku is no Sith."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Padmé held her ground. "I know what I saw. His blade was red."

"And Master Yaddle? Where is she?" Someone asked, hoping to get her side of this. 

"The infirmary." Obi-Wan answers. "Her wounds were quite grave, but she should make a full recovery soon enough."

Yoda's expression remained neutral, but his ears twitched slightly. "And the duel?" he asked. "How ended, it did?"

Padmé hesitated, glancing at Anakin before answering. "With Dooku running away. He seemed to sense something before running off to his ship. After that, the hangar erupted in explosions after Anakin… accidentally triggered one of the ships' weapons."

An embarrassed cough came from behind her, but she pressed on. "Dooku escaped in the chaos. But not before we saw him speaking to a holographic figure—a man in a hood, who called Dooku his apprentice."

Ki-Adi-Mundi frowned deeply, his tone dismissive. "This is a troubling claim, but a hologram could be anyone."

Adi Gallia nodded. "Count Dooku has always been critical of the Order, but to align himself with the Sith? This is difficult to believe."

Plo Koon, however, interjected. "It is not impossible. A Jedi who leaves the Order is vulnerable. And Dooku's criticisms of the Republic have grown more extreme as of late."

Still, the Council remained divided, their skepticism evident in their guarded expressions.

Before the discussion could spiral further, Qui-Gon stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "I was there as well. I fought my former master alongside Master Yaddle. Padmé's account is accurate."

The Council turned their attention to Qui-Gon, whose reputation carried considerable weight. He continued, "Dooku's blade was red. His combat style was unmistakably Sith. He used the Dark Side, of that I am certain."

Obi-Wan stepped forward to support his Master's testimony. "I fought him as well. The energy he radiated… it was not the Force as we know it. It was dark, destructive, and overpowering."

The chamber fell silent as the weight of their words sank in. Even the most skeptical Council members seemed to reconsider, though doubt lingered on a few faces.

Yoda, who had remained silent during the debate, finally spoke. His voice was heavy with both sadness and resolve. "Long suspected, this path for Dooku, I have. Proof, now we have. Dangerous, this is."

Murmurs spread among the Council as they considered the testimony they had just heard. Ki-Adi-Mundi leaned forward, addressing the room. "If what we've heard is true, then Count Dooku has fallen to the Dark Side and taken up the mantle of the Sith."

"Agreed," Plo Koon said, his modulated voice resonating. "This revelation is both alarming and urgent. The Republic must be informed immediately."

Yoda remained silent, his gaze fixed on the group before him. The only sound was the rhythmic tapping of his cane against the floor as he contemplated the situation.

Peter stepped forward, his voice cutting through the quiet like a blade. "That's a bad idea."

The Council turned to him, several members visibly displeased. Ki-Adi-Mundi's brow furrowed as he asked, "And why would that be?"

Peter crossed his arms, his stance casual yet commanding. "Because you don't have proof—just a bunch of eyewitness accounts. Do you really think that's enough to convince the Senate? Dooku's allies will tear your testimonies apart and make you look incompetent in the process."

Shaak Ti's voice was calm but firm. "We have the remains of the hangar as evidence."

"Rubble isn't evidence," Peter interrupted. "It's rubble. Maybe, if you're lucky, an investigation will turn up something useful. But we're not dealing with common criminals here. This is the Sith. You seriously don't think he isn't already covering his tracks as we speak?"

The room fell into a stunned silence. Peter's words hung heavy in the air, and his defiance seemed to radiate through the chamber. Anakin glanced up at his mentor, wide-eyed, while Padmé's expression softened, understanding the weight of his warning.

Mundi scoffed, his tone incredulous. "You assume much, Star-Lord. The Republic—"

"—is full of politicians," Peter said sharply. "Politicians who'll do whatever it takes to protect their own interests. You think they'll risk their careers on the word of a Jedi and a Queen? They'll hesitate, stall, and Dooku and his allies will use that time to spin the story against you."

Plo Koon tilted his head. "And what would you have us do? Sit idly by while a Sith roams free?"

Peter shook his head. "I'm not saying do nothing. I'm saying think. Play the long game. Dooku and his master aren't some low-level thugs. They're smart, dangerous, and two steps ahead of you. You want to beat them? Don't let them control the narrative."

Yoda's ears twitched as he observed Peter closely. Though the Grandmaster said nothing, there was a flicker of agreement in his expression.

"Enough," Yoda finally said, his voice calm but authoritative. "Wise, your words may be, Star-Lord. But faith, in the Republic, I still hold."

Peter gave a slight nod, though the tension in his stance didn't ease. "Do what you want. But if this backfires, don't say I didn't warn you."

Yoda inclined his head. "Grateful for your insight, we are. But speak in private, the Council must."

The Grandmaster gestured toward the door, signaling the dismissal of the group. Without another word, Peter turned on his heel and strode out, his coat swishing behind him. Padmé and Anakin followed closely, their expressions unreadable.

As Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan moved to leave as well, Yoda raised his hand. "Stay, you must. A matter, we still discuss."

Jar Jar blinked in confusion. "Mesa stay too?"

"No," Yoda said firmly, though not unkindly. "Wait outside, you will."

Jar Jar nodded quickly and shuffled out the door, which sealed shut behind him.

————

With the outsiders gone, the Jedi Council reconvened, their voices lowered as they debated the situation.

"We risk much by informing the Senate," Plo Koon admitted. "But can we afford not to?"

Ki-Adi-Mundi nodded in agreement. "The Sith's presence must be eradicated, and the Republic must be united in that effort. The Senate will be our strongest ally."

Yoda sighed, his gaze heavy. "Difficult, this choice is. Yet inform them, we must."

The Council voted, and the decision was unanimous: the Senate would be informed of Dooku's betrayal. As the vote concluded and the meeting was set to adjourn, Qui-Gon stood, his face unusually serious.

"Before we leave, there's something else I must bring to your attention," Qui-Gon said, halting the Council's movements. All eyes turned to him, curiosity evident.

"What is it, Qui-Gon?" Ki-Adi-Mundi asked, settling back into his seat.

Reaching into his robe, Qui-Gon withdrew a small device and handed it to Yoda. The Grandmaster's ears perked as he examined it. His eyes widened as he read the results, the normally unflappable Jedi visibly startled.

"Twenty-seven thousand…" Yoda murmured, his voice barely audible.

"Twenty-seven thousand?" Plo Koon repeated, leaning forward. "Whose test is that?"

Qui-Gon's tone was calm but carried weight. "It's Anakin Skywalker's. Star-Lord's apprentice. I happened to obtain(steal) a sample of his blood during our journey here and ran some tests on it."

The Council erupted into murmurs as the device was passed from one member to another. Each of them reacted with shock, their minds racing at the implications.

"This is… unprecedented," Shaak Ti said, her voice laced with awe.

Ki-Adi-Mundi frowned, his skepticism still evident. "A Midichlorian count that high… If true, then Anakin may be another possible Chosen One..."

"But Knight Quill's test was much higher…" Plo Koon added, receiving nods from all around. 

Yoda's gaze turned distant, his expression unreadable as he stared at the device. His voice was soft but firm as he spoke. "Great potential, this boy has."

The room fell silent as the weight of Qui-Gon's revelation settled over the Council. The future of the Jedi—and the galaxy—had just grown infinitely more complicated.

————

Galactic Senate

The Senate chamber hummed with tension. Thousands of pods floated in their designated places, senators and representatives leaning forward as the Jedi began their testimony. In Naboo's pod, Peter sat beside Padmé, his mask in place, his posture deceptively relaxed. Anakin stood near the back of the pod, his youthful curiosity overshadowed by the weight of the moment.

At the center of the chamber, two Jedi Masters—Plo Koon and Ki-Adi-Mundi—stood, their robes flowing as they addressed the Supreme Chancellor and the assembled Senate. Their calm demeanor contrasted sharply with the murmurs of unrest rippling through the pods.

"We have come before you to report a grave discovery," Plo Koon began, his voice clear but edged with urgency. "Former Jedi Master Count Dooku has fallen to the Dark Side. He has aligned himself with the Sith."

Gasps echoed across the chamber, followed by a crescendo of whispers. Padmé sat up straighter, her voice firm as she whispered, "They have to take this seriously, don't they?"

Peter's masked face turned toward her, his silence speaking volumes.

The Supreme Chancellor, his face pale, leaned into his microphone. "This is indeed a grave accusation. What evidence do you have to support these claims?"

Plo Koon's voice remained steady. "We have multiple witnesses, including Jedi, the Queen of Naboo, and her companions. Including Jedi Master Yaddle, a trusted member of the Jedi Council. Moreover, the recent destruction of the Senate Hangar stands as evidence of the battle that took place before his escape."

Before he could continue, a pod floated forward. Senator Taa of Ryloth, his bulbous form leaning over the edge, raised a hand. "Witnesses, you say? But witnesses can be mistaken. Where is this Jedi Master Yaddle? Shouldn't she be here to corroborate your claims?"

"She is recovering in the medical wing of the Jedi Temple," Ki-Adi-Mundi replied. "Her injuries prevent her from appearing today."

The chamber erupted into murmurs again, many senators exchanging skeptical looks.

Another pod moved forward, this time belonging to Senator Ask Aak of Malastare. "And the destruction in the hangar? That could have been caused by any number of things. A Sith? Or perhaps the Jedi themselves, overstepping their bounds?"

From another section, Senator Tynnra Pamlo of Taris added sharply, "The Jedi have long acted autonomously, without oversight. Now they come to us with this? An accusation that implicates one of their own? How convenient."

Senator Mee Deechi of Umbara leaned forward, his voice icy. "You speak of Dooku as if he's a Sith. But wasn't he one of your greatest Masters? Perhaps this is merely a Jedi power struggle spilling into our chambers..."

The murmurs intensified, many senators nodding in agreement with the pointed accusations.

Ki-Adi-Mundi raised his hand, his voice firm. "The Jedi are not here to sow discord. Count Dooku chose to leave the Order years ago. His actions are no longer aligned with the Jedi Code."

Plo Koon stepped forward, addressing the room with a calm but authoritative tone. "This is not about politics or factions. This is about the safety of the Republic. Count Dooku has embraced the Dark Side, and his actions have already endangered lives."

From a pod closer to the center, Senator Mon Mothma spoke up, her voice cutting through the chaos. "If what the Jedi say is true, then Count Dooku poses a significant threat to us all. But we cannot act on hearsay alone. We need tangible evidence."

The Supreme Chancellor nodded, his expression grave. "Indeed. The Senate cannot move forward on this matter without concrete proof. An investigation must be conducted."

As the murmurs quieted, another pod floated forward, revealing Senator Viento of Serenno, Dooku's homeworld. His voice was smooth, yet laced with indignation. "My people will not stand idly by while a former servant of Serenno is slandered. Count Dooku is a man of honor, a scholar, and a statesman. He may have left the Jedi Order, but to accuse him of treachery without irrefutable proof is unacceptable."

Senator Aak nodded in agreement. "If the Jedi can accuse Dooku today, who will it be tomorrow? Will they stand here and accuse senators next, without evidence, to further their own agenda?"

The sentiment was echoed by others, their voices rising in unison.

"Exactly! What safeguards do we have?"

"How do we know this isn't a ploy for power?"

…

..

.

After hours of heated debate, the Senate reached its decision. An official investigation into Count Dooku would be launched, but no immediate action would be taken without "further evidence."

As the session adjourned, Padmé turned to Peter, her voice low but angry. "This is a disaster."

Peter nodded. "It's exactly what I warned the Jedi about. The Republic can't handle the Sith. They're too slow, too wrapped up in their own politics."

————

At the Jedi Temple, Yoda sat in quiet contemplation, his hands resting on his cane. He had felt the currents of the Force shifting during the Senate session, and Peter's warnings now echoed in his mind.

"Blind, they are," Yoda murmured to himself. "Dangerous, this path becomes."

A/N: 2528 words :)🚨🚨