Rise of The Empire

Secrets

A/N: Most of the chapters from now on will be in third person because I feel like writing in third person, I'll let you know if I switch from third to first in the beginning of the chapters :) Hope you enjoy!

19 BBY ~

Obi-wan, Anakin, Teegan and I were on a ship to drop of Chancellor Palpatine at the Republic  government building. Lots of senators were there to greet him. In the back of the ship stood Emerald and Tavo who were guarding Krosto, who had handcuffs around his wrists. Chancellor Palpatine was first to exit as the ship landed, followed by R2-D2. Obi-wan and I followed Anakin to the door, Teegan sat back and watched Kosto.

"Are you coming, Master?" Anakin turned to ask Obi-wan as Anakin walked down the last step of the ship.

"Oh no," Obi-wan began, leaning against the doorframe, "I'm not brave enough for politics. We have to report to the council." Obi-wan smirked, "besides, someone needs to be the poster-boy."

"Hold on," Anakin said, "this whole operation was your idea."

"Let's not forget Anakin, it was you who rescued me from the droids, and you killed Count Dooku, and you resuced the Chancellor carrying me on your back." Obi-wan smiled at him causing me to scoff.

Anakin put his arms out and scoffs, "Fine, but you owe me one. What about you, Jade? You coming?"

Jade shook her head, "I need to go to the council meeting and deal with Krosto." She gestured to the back of the ship with a tilt of her head.

Anakin nodded, his emotion becomming a bit grim as he waved at us and walked away. Although, Jade was able to get a look at Padmé who was waiting for Anakin. Jade had found out a year back that Anakin and Padmé had gotten married when he took her back to Naboo after the battle of Geonosis. And Jade couldn't have been more understanding and supportive. 

Once they got to the Jedi temple, Jade and Obi-wan walked off to the council room with Emerald and Spade excorting Krosto and Teegan bringing up the rear. The council was already there except for the few who weren't really there but were holograms from their place in battle, Yoda included.

When the group walked in, the Jedi masters' mouths parted slightly at the sight of Krosto. They parted even more at the sight of Teegan's now mechanic hand. Jade took their repective spots in their seats, Emerald and Spade escorted Krosto to the center of the partial circle of chairs. He looked confident yet there was a lingering amount of fear in the Force, it was radiating around him like a plague.

Jade studied the boy before asking, "State your name, age, place of birth and accused crime and then your argument."

Krosto took a deep breath before speaking, his dark black hair was roughed up from fighting and there was small splatters of dirt on his face and hands. "My name is Micky Krosto. I'm nineteen, I was born on Jedha in the Jedha system--"

A lot of the Jedi were now interested, Jade leaned forward towards the boy as he paused. Jedha was a place where the Jedi get most of their Kyber crystals and was considered an ancient moon for people who wanted to go and spiritually connect with the Force.

Krosto continued on despite the looks of fascination he was getting by the other Jedi Masters, "My crime is that I fought for Count Dooku, as his apprentice, I've killed countless amounts of your clones troopers and just this morning I cut off one of your Jedi's hands in a duel." He looked down at his feet, obviously ashamed of what he has done. Jade tilted her head, feeling a large amount of sympathy for him.

"My argument is, well, that I swear I didn't want to do any of it. Dooku came to Jedha because he needed a new apprentice and I don't know why he chose me but he did and he said that if I don't do what he told me to do then my little sister and my parents would be killed." Krosto began talking quite fast to which Yoda and Jade made eye contact.

Obi-wan nodded slightly before speaking, "If that was the case why didn't you come to us sooner? Instead of only telling Jade this when she was about to kill you?"

Krosto sighed, "He has them. Dooku had my family hostage, I don't know where, but when Dooku died, I felt it. I was finally assured that he couldn't hurt them if I told you everything."

All the Jedi looked to Jade, including Yoda. Jade sighed, "He's not lying." 

"Willing to vouch for him, are you?" Yoda asked Jade who stupid Krosto carefully, every move he was making, the way his breath was staggering.

Jade nodded before speaking once again, letting the other Jedi's thoughts run through her mind, "Krosto, the reason Dooku chose you is because your exceedingly powerful in the Force. We can all feel it. And it's not the dark side that has engulfed you, and it isn't the light side either I can tell."

Krosto stayed silent as all the Jedi made eye contact and Jade continued to speak, "You have two choices, you can join us, I'll vouch for you and you may become my padawan."

Obi-wan leaned forward slightly, "Jade-"

"Or you can return home back to Jedha. Either way your family will be safe." Jade explained, her voice was slow yet powerful, ignoring Obi-wan's comment.

Krosto thought for a long time and Jade clasped her hands together, "You don't have to answer you, you can stay at the temple for as long as you'd like."

Krosto nodded, an innocent look on his face, "Thank you." He turned to all the Jedi. They nodded at him, some of them with a still cautious look on their faces.

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Later that evening, Jade and Obi-wan were sitting by the fireplace in one of the living areas for the Jedi in the Jedi temple. They made this a room when they realized the war was starting to stress the Jedi out, they needed a place to relax and enjoy the company of other Jedi. 

Jade handed Obi-wan a cup of tea as she sat down in front of the fire. Other smaller groups of Jedi sat around the room on the sofas and seats. 

"How's Anakin doing?" Jade asked, looking into the fire.

Obi-wan shrugged slightly, "Okay, I assume. He seems a bit more cynical these days, I can't say I'm not worried about it."

Jade only sighed as she looked at Obi-wan with a caring expression and took a sip of her tea. "What do you think Krosto will decide?"

Obi-wan tilted his head as he stared off into the fire, "you're a great master, he would be foolish not to train with you."

Jade shrugged, "have you ever thought about how many Jedi would've chosen different paths of life given the choice?"

Obi-wan's eyebrows furrowed in, "No, I guess I haven't."

"Saying Krosto would be foolish to chose a different path is foolish in of itself. I assume he'd want to be home with his family, unless he didn't have a good home life," Jade spoke almost as if from experience.

"Would you have chosen a different life, Jade?" Obi-wan turned his head to her.

It was then that Jade looked at him and thought about it, realizing the only reason she hadn't run away from the Jedi Order was because of the one thing Jedi despise the most: attachment and compasion. Jade spoke softly, looking at Obi-wan with such compassion, "no, I wouldn't have."

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SINCE IVE BEEN GONE SO LONG I DECIDED YOU GUYS DESERVE A JOBI MOMENT. :))

-CHLOE