Control The Uncontrollable // The Acolyte

37. Presences

"They have already asked for your presence at the council, you'll be late," Elzar rushed after you, down the hallways.

You looked back at him, smiling.

"I think we are owed our dramatic entrance," You said, turning to the guards, before you stormed in, silencing every conversation held in the room.

"Hey, you wanted my statement," You said, facing Master Gios, who had taken Grand Master Yoda's seat due to his lack of presence.

This room was special, a room filled with traditions and rituals. In the past, you used to honor them. You would walk in nicely, bow to the Master at the front, be silent and wait for the moment you were asked to speak. Things had changed. You could no longer walk into the room acting obedient. Everything had gone wrong, the moment you held your head down. Everyone, Yord, Master Sol, Qimir, they all ran over you. You had enough. From now on, you were going to take charge of the narrative.

Master Gios was clearly surprised by your confidence. You had always been... Bratty per say, but now you were demanding. Gios looked over at his friend, Elzar who gave him a nod of approval. Gios looked back at you. Maybe this confidence could change the tides. You wore all white loose clothing, it was casual, underdressed for a council meeting, but who was he to judge after what you had been through. He noticed your eyes were on Tasi in the corner.

"She was here to give her statement to the council," Master Gios explained.

You looked over at him reluctant.

"She can leave, if you desire?" He asked.

"This meeting is best for the people that were involved in my past mission," You said coldy.

Tasi was a problem. A problem you would need to handle, but you could not deal with in front of the council. The force needed to show you another solution to Tasi. You swallowed as you watched her get walked out by some of the guards. You could sense her hatred, and if you could sense it, there were definitely others in the room who could sense it as well. Walking in with the guards was Master Sol. You tighten your jaw and looked forward at Master Gios.

You had not spoken to Master Sol since the last time the two of you were here together. It was evil of you, but you did hold a grudge towards him. For the longest time you pushed it under the table, but you couldn't deny it anymore. You blamed him. He did not handle your mission how a Master should. He pushed more than he should over on to you, and when it all fell apart, he left you alone. He wasn't any Master in the order either, he was your Master, you had been his Padawan and that was how he had treated you.

"Jedi Knight called in at ... reporting the death of Master Yord and their station..." Vernestra Rhow went through the bureaucratic report of what had happened, but all you did was listening to Master Sol heart. Did he feel the same guilt as you? Or was he just... okay?

You couldn't say.

"The Stranger is reported to be the attacker-" You interrupted Vernestra.

"We need to stop calling him The Stranger," You shook your head.

Everyone's eyes were on you. Vernestra put down her document. Master Sol's eyes were drilling into you, but finally for the first time in a long time, you knew exactly what to say.

"The Attacker, The Murder, he is not a Stranger. Yord, Master Sol and Jecki Lon and I all knew him, and if they told you anything else they lied," Your honesty scar through.