The Guardian of the Chosen One (English Version of "La Gardienne de l'Elu")

Chapter 70: Renunciation

Here's the sequel, with some changes that may complicate our heroes' quest. Feel free to vote if you like it, or to comment.

Obi-Wan's point of view

Several days later,

Sitting in my master's chair, I stared at Kyria standing before us, holding my chin. To say I was worried was an understatement. My friend had willingly disobeyed an order of the Jedi Council. That could be grounds for expulsion, in the worst-case scenario. And from what I could see in her eyes, she didn't seem to regret her initiative. And the Council members wanted to make an example of her, even though the press had publicized her exploit, making her popular. Making the judgement rather complex to manage.

Windu: Chevalière Organa, you have deployed resources in Arkasis' civil war without Council approval. We've made it clear that we don't want to send troops that might be essential elsewhere. What do you have to say to justify your disobedience?

Kyria I only did my duty as a Jedi, Master.

Windu: Your duty? And what do you think your duty is?

Me: To be a defender of peace and justice. Not the general of a galactic war putting worlds to fire and blood.

Windu: We fight for peace, Knight.

Me: That's not the impression I get, Master Windu.

Ki-Adi Mundi: The soldiers you deployed and lost in this campaign could have been used to defend another, more important world. Avoiding deaths and contributing to the end of this war.

Hearing this remark, I saw a glint in Kyria's eye. And I had a bad feeling about my friend's intentions. I stroked my chin nervously, already dreading her future words.

Kyria: I brought peace to a world that threatened to fall into chaos, with millions of possible deaths.

Windu: Our duty is to ensure the security of the Republic. And your initiative could endanger it. Do you understand that, Knight?

The two faced each other in an intense duel of the eyes. Then she cut it off, speaking with determined eyes, looking quickly at the Council members one by one, before returning to Windu. And the resolution and firmness worried me. It didn't sound at all like someone accepting her wrongs with humility.

Kyria : Yes. I understand perfectly, Master.

Windu: Good, you may dismiss. We'll decide your punishment.

Kyria: That won't be necessary.

We were surprised to hear this, as Kyria stepped forward, handing over her sabers.

Windu: What does this mean?

Kyria: You understand perfectly. I refuse to serve, one more day, an Order in which I no longer recognize myself. Betraying its principles, day by day. Good-bye, Masters.

With that, she bowed and turned to leave, without a word. We looked at each other, bewildered by her gesture. Master. Yoda's eyes were closed, his ears lowered.

Windu: I knew she didn't have strong enough shoulders.

I was rather annoyed by this cold remark. On the contrary, Kyria was a solid person, with great insight. She could have become a great Jedi and her departure is a great failure for the Order.

Plo Koon: It's a great element that we're losing. Kyria had the talent and spirit of a Jedi. Maybe we should start thinking about our practices. Maybe there are things we need to change, to adapt.

Ki Adi Mundi: We're not going to call into question a thousand years of stability, just for the whims of a knight who couldn't stand the pressure!

Me: But that stability is no more. Darkness is gaining ground all the time, and we're still no closer to finding its origin. Perhaps we should begin to bring about an evolution, within the Order.

Windu: Our first priority is to put an end to this conflict. Then we can think about possible reform after the war.

Yoda lowering his ears: Clairvoyance, perhaps lurking beneath Kyria's cold words. Do not neglect, we must.

Ki Adi Mundi: We'll have the pleasure of thinking about it after the war, Master Yoda.

But I could understand the reasons for the Master's fear for the future. If someone like Kyria, who had great respect and interest in the Jedi philosophy, had such a thought, it could get worse for novices who didn't have the same solidity as her. But as I listened to the speeches of the other members of the Council, and the war continued to drain energy from our forces, I began to have serious fears for the Order's near future.

Later,