Jedi Protector (MHA X Star Wars)

Chapter Five - Phantom Menace

After the attack on Ilum, K'Kruhk and Eri traveled back to Coruscant and immediately went to the Jedi Council to report on the attack. As K'Kruhk informed the Council about the circumstances about the attack, the Council was disturbed by this. 

Yoda: Disturbing, this is. 

Mace Windu: What of the one who hired the mercenaries?

K'Kruhk: He seemed to have been trained in the Jedi arts. The Dark Side was strong with him. 

As K'Kruhk made that fact know, the Council was left even more troubled. Not only was the ringleader had a strong connection to the Force, but he seemed to follow the Dark Side of the Force. 

Plo Koon: Do you think we're dealing with a Sith Lord?

K'Kruhk: I cannot conclude definitively. He may be a Sith Lord or a Fallen Jedi, but his connection to the Force is undeniable. 

Oppo Rancisis: It cannot be a Sith Lord. The Sith have been extinct for a millennium. 

Adi Gallia: That may be, but the danger is still clear Master Rancisis. The temple on Ilum is sacred ground. Very few outside the Jedi Order know of it's existence. 

As the Council deliberated on K'Kruhk's news, K'Kruhk and Eri reflected on how the attacker fought. It was clear that the stranger had training. The stranger seemed familiar to K'Kruhk, but he couldn't deduce his identity. 

K'Kruhk: I don't think he came here for the temple. I believe Eri and I were the targets.

Upon hearing this, the Council became wary. This deeply disturbed them as they didn't know the exact details. 

Ki-Adi Mundi: How can you be certain?

K'Kruhk: We recovered one of the mercenary's comlinks and found a transmission from the ringleader. He knew we were coming. 

As K'Kruhk said this, the Council took a moment to reflect on this. The circumstances behind the attack were troubling. But there was nothing they could go off of.

Mace Windu: We will use our resources to unravel this mystery. We will discover the identity of your attacker. May the Force be with you, Master K'Kruhk. 

With that, the meeting was concluded and an investigation an the attack on the Jedi Temple on Ilum. As K'Kruhk and Eri left the council chambers, Eri reflected on the attack as well as her trials in the Crystal Cave. She was deeply troubled by the attack and it's circumstances. She then turned to her master. 

Eri: Master? Do you think these people are....

K'Kruhk knew exactly who Eri was referring to. He could feel Eri's fear and uncertainty. He smiled and placed a hand on her shoulder. 

K'Kruhk: The people behind the attack are not the ones you escaped. Your home planet did not possess the technology for star travel. 

Eri then began reliving memories of her tortures under Overhaul. She remembered being disassembled and reassembled for the sake of Overhaul's goals. She had her worries about whether Overhaul was responsible for the attack. K'Kruhk then knelt before her. 

K'Kruhk: You have nothing to fear, Eri. No matter what happens, I will protect you. As your master and your teacher, I made a vow to protect and guide you down the right path. We will find out who this attacker is and why he attacked us. We must put our faith in the Force.

Eri smiled towards her master. She was grateful for everything that he had done for her. He had taken her away from a life of torment despite not knowing her at all. 

K'Kruhk: Once in a great while we have a chance to look at our lives and make a choice that will define us. You have that choice. It is ahead of you. Do not make it in haste. Use your head as well as your heart. There will be many trials ahead for us both. The road will be long and hard for us. But I had no doubt that we shall overcome these trials together.

Eri: I....I understand, master.

K'Kruhk smiled upon his new Padawan. Not only was she gifted in the Force, but she had a good heart despite her upbringing. 

K'Kruhk: You are young and the ways of the Force are truly mysterious. The wisest Jedi masters can live a thousand years and still not yet come close to comprehending the mysteries of the Force.

Eri: Even you, Master K'Kruhk?

K'Kruhk: Yes, my young Padawan Learner. Even me. 

After that exchange of dialogue, Eri soon changed the topic of the conversation back to the attacker. 

Eri: What's next? What about the attacker?

K'Kruhk: There is nothing more we can do at the moment. The Jedi Council will investigate the attack. With fortune, we may be able to find the answers we seek. But we must be patient. Learn to recognize when speed is not important. Race when being first is important; move at your own pace at all other times. It is not necessary to always strike the first blow, to provide the first solution, or to reach a goal before anyone else does. In fact, it is sometimes vital to strike the last blow, to give the final answer, or to arrive after everyone else. Do you understand?

Eri: Yes, Master K'Kruhk. I understand. 

With that, K'Kruhk and Eri retired for the day. As the two Jedi began to meditate, both would reflect on the attack. What they didn't know was that the stranger who attacked them would seek them out. For now, K'Kruhk and Eri would continue their path as Master and Apprentice.