Jedi Insurgency 125

Corvus slow-clapped at her performance, the motes of dust in the mausoleum shifted due to his action, and the light of the rising midday sun began to shine brightly through the room's colored glass. 

Padmé eyed him vigilantly from within Obi-Wan’s embrace, and the bearded Jedi Master was staring at him critically, judging his every word & action. 

Corvus subtly nodded, acknowledging their resolve. Standing in the face of a seemingly immortal living legend, one who had the power to bring the dead back to life, neither one of them had given in to him. From this point alone, he admired them and their resolve. Knowing that he was ‘Revan,’ Padmé sought clarification and understanding. True, her words were perhaps ignorant of Revan's full history, but the substance was mostly correct.

“You hold much fire in your belly, this is a good sign. It is clear to see that your daughter has inherited much of your temper.” Corvus laughed good naturedly as he recalled the scene of Leia giving Vader/Tarkin lip on the Death Star. 

“Leave my children out of this.” Padmé aggressively stepped forward, and had to be held back by Obi-Wan. 

“Oh, my apologies. I've seen so much of your children, in visions, you see. They were instrumental in overthrowing the Empire 20 years from now.” Corvus spoke in a nostalgic tone, and looked over the pair's shoulders as he recalled fond memories of watching the movies. 

“Forgive me, Revan, but if you were aware of the Emperor’s defeat, why interfere at all?” Obi-Wan questioned. 

Corvus noticed his blurry reflection in a nearby dull mirror, and stared at the mask he had chosen as his symbol. Shadows from his technique licked the edge of his figure like flames on a log, it was as if he wasn't there, merely a phantom in a dying world. Yet the rainbow colored light pouring in through the glass reflected off the mirror, and cast a glow on his figure. In the mirror, he saw his students standing behind him. They were silent whilst the ‘adults talked’ and had supported him in everything he said. 

Then his attention was drawn to the battered Mandalorian replica mask. When Revan dawned this mark of conquest, he intended for it to stand for all that the Jedi of old aspired to be. For freedom, justice, and peace through strength. Sentiments that Corvus respected, and aspired to live up to. 

Turning away from the mirror, he looked the Jedi Master in the eye. 

“The Force brought me to the Temple that night, Obi-Wan. I had not intended to join this conflict, the Jedi Order, and the fate of the galaxy were not my concern…” 

“Yet here you are.” Obi-Wan whispered, his voice carried with it a complicated tone, as if he was both uneasy, and expectant. 

“It does not change the fact that you are a warlord. I am not blind, Revan, I can see that you harbor interests in recruiting me to your cause. I want to believe in the Jedi, but history has weaved such a cruel tapestry regarding your actions. I am sorry, but I have to ask you to leave.” Padmé stated resolutely. 

“Padmé, I-”

“It's done, Obi-Wan.” Padmé shook herself out of his grasp, and crossed her arms. 

Yon stepped forward at that moment, and opened his mouth to bark something out, yet Jax held him back. The white haired teen marched up to Padmé without a word, and delivered a resounding slap across her pretty face. 

“Jax.” Obi-Wan all but growled, and took a step forward to catch Padmé. 

Jax coldly looked at Obi-Wan, glared at Padmé, inclined his head at the Queen, then left without saying a single word, refusing to elaborate. 

Padmé held her swelling cheek, and looked on in shock and confusion. 

“What is the meaning of this?” Neeyuntee finally spoke up, the teenage slip of a girl glanced between the two parties, trying to retain a regal persona, yet her age belied her youthful inexperience regarding such matters. 

Yon stepped toward the Queen, to which the teen girl took one look at his face, and stared at the ground blushing. 

“No disrespect, Your Majesty. But my Master just saved Naboo. Maybe your memories were muddled for the last few hours, but a vile plague was ravaging Theed until seconds ago.” Yon spat venomously. 

“Revan, is this how you have instructed your students?” Obi-Wan once again asked that same question for what felt like the 100th time. 

Corvus looked down at Yon, and glanced at Jax's departing back. He then stared at the red palm print of Padmé's face, and clucked his tongue. On the one hand, this revealed to him that against a top tier politician, his high Persuade stat was useless. That even if he wanted to dialogue his way through everything, that didn't mean he would necessarily succeed. On the other hand, it showed that Jax was one cold mofo! He didn't know if he should praise the kid, or punish him. Obi-Wan was right, was he teaching his students to grow into mini Sean Connery's? 

Shaking his head, he wondered if she would understand that a lot of what Revan did was for the betterment of the galaxy. In war it was literally impossible not to have collateral. The fact that he was the only one brave enough to confront the Mandalorians spoke to the character of the spineless Republic politicians, and pacifistic Jedi. Corvus himself was a man who wholeheartedly believed in peace through strength, that a nation, people, or society could not exist unless the laws of the land were backed up by a tangible force. It was thanks to corruption and negligence that the current war had occurred. As far as he was concerned, the Clone Wars would have happened eventually. Palpatine merely fanned the flames of war, the wealth disparity between the Core & the Outer Rim was apparent for all to see. Yet people like Padmé who had been born on an uber wealthy planet, someone who had held power since she was 14, just couldn't comprehend what crippling poverty was like. They could weep for the people on camera, and make impassioned speeches, but pacifism without power was as stable in reality as a sugar cube pyramid. One splash of water, and the entire structure would come crumbling down. 

The truth about Revan, was that he was no traitor. He was a man who gave his everything for the Republic, and was brainwashed by Emperor Valkorian. When he was broken from that geas, Revan then rebirthed the Jedi Order, and destroyed Malak's Sith Empire. Afterwards, he had an epic battle with the Sith Emperor, forcing that vile sorcerer into a pseudo coma that took hundreds of years to recover from. Revan was quite literally one of the top 3 Heroes to have saved the galaxy. His name should be sung alongside that of Luke Skywalker, or the nameless Jedi Knight who slew Valkorion, not reviled in the mud by some lifelong politician. 

Corvus wished he could communicate this history to that young firebrand, yet convincing people to change their minds, to admit their faults, was almost impossible. A headstrong, highly intelligent, highly educated person like Padmé Amidala would cite history books, and tons of sources that painted Revan as the villain. The more he defended himself, the guiltier he would appear in her eyes. 

Sighing to himself, it became readily apparent that his idea to reform the Senate would not be so easy when the trust of what should be a key ally was not so easily achieved. This was the real world, not some place where friends & enemies were black & white. Palpatine was an obvious enemy, yet he seemed to have better synergy with a cannibalistic bug man-Poggle the Lesser-than a human who was supposedly Star Wars’ greatest champion of democracy. 

Silently watching the professional politician work herself up into a tizzy, he was about to head out-as he knew when he was not welcome-however, the Queen spoke up, halting him in his tracks. 

“Thank you, Captain Panaka.” Neeyuntee closed a handheld communicator, and grabbed everyone's attention. “Everything the Jedi said was true, and last I was aware, We are Queen of Naboo, not Padmé Amidala.” Neeyuntee said in an authoritative voice. 

“Neeyuntee, you cannot mean that. He is a murderer, a slaver, this man claims to be an ancient being that has committed more war crimes than any other person in the history of the Republic!” Padmé was now standing, and was full of vim & vigor with her denouncement. 

“This ‘war criminal’ is responsible for saving Theed, perhaps, all of Naboo, and so long as We sit upon the throne Revan, and his students…” Neeyuntee briefly paused to glance at Yon super quick before looking away. “Are welcome on Naboo.” 

“I cannot believe you are doing this.” Padmé stated in astonishment. “You are like my own sister, Neeyuntee, you must see reason.” 

“Then as my sister, you must respect my decision. Revan, and Yon, was it? Please join me in the palace, I would be pleased to host you.” The Queen mustered up a smile, and gestured towards the exit. 

“Oh, will those tiny soft cakes be served?” Yon unknowingly stepped closer, and gripped Neeyuntee's hands like some oblivious shounen protagonist obsessed with food. 

The young Queen blushed crimson, and couldn't get a word out edgewise. 

“Come along, Yon.” Corvus gripped his student's shoulder, and dragged him towards the exit. “We apologize, Your Majesty, but we'll have to decline your hospitality. An Imperial Legion hangs above this fair world, and I would hate for them to ruin our luncheon. Enough violence & bloodshed has been meted out this day.”

“Oh.” Neeyuntee hung her head in sadness. 

“But Master~” Yon whined. “The cakes.” 

Corvus typically saw this student of his obsessively training to get stronger. If he wasn't sweaty after working his lightsaber late into the night, he typically was trying to see how long he could hold his breath with what he had learnt via the holocron. Right now was one of those rare moments when he actually acted his age, when he wasn't being edgy, or acted on the PTSD he experienced as a child soldier. 

Seeing the short, black haired teen looking at him like a puppy dog that was promised a treat, he couldn't in good conscious send the boy packing. 

“Oh very well-” 

“Yesh!” Yon fist pumped. 

“But we'll come back after the inevitable Imperial inquiry has settled down. We'll keep in touch. That goes for you two, too.” Corvus met Padmé, and Obi-Wan's eyes, and then began to push Yon out of the mausoleum. 

Padmé had her arms crossed, and was fuming at him like she had just met Hitler in the flesh, and Obi-Wan was rubbing the bridge of his nose looking like a husband that was about to get an earful from his overly opinionated wife. 

Corvus chuckled at their byplay. 

Watching them argue, with Obi comforting her, he could almost see a bit of a ship forming between the pair. Padmé, scorched by the touch of a wilder, younger man, runs into the bearded embrace of a much more suave, mature diplomat, one who actually understands how to negotiate, and is not swayed by moody outbursts? A man who had raised a child once, and can take the lessons of his failures, and become a better person for them? 

Holy shit, is this the birth of Daddy-Won? 

Hearing Corvus’s chuckle, Padmé shot him a glare full of daggers, and Obi-Wan slightly shook his head in disapproval. Noticing that Neeyuntee's quick looks at Yon's back, he couldn't hold it in anymore, and roared with laughter as he slammed the door to the mausoleum shut behind him. 

“Master, what's so funny?” Yon stared at him quizzically.

Corvus silently shook his head, then caught Jax T'd up against the wall with his arms crossed, and Jedi hood up. 

Walking over, he ruffled the teen's hair, and lowered his hood. 

“Honestly, you two are a handful. Let's grab Triss, and Omega then get some lunch.” Corvus said in an upbeat tone, and dragged his students along. 

Jax glanced at him as if he was going to be punished, but Corvus knocked his knuckles on the crown of his head. 

‘Be ready for a spar.’ Corvus transmitted through their bond. The meaning was clear, the teen would be put through the ringer for how he had acted up. 

Jax lowered his head, yet he couldn't hide the smile from his face. The kid was clearly expecting an earful, but instead became anticipatory for this? 

Corvus’s lips twitched. ‘This little shit.’ 

“Oi, Master, how about we buy up alll~ of the tea in Theed?” Yon ran up and had a devious expression on his face. 

Jax took a moment, then slowly nodded his head in agreement. 

“Oh, and why is that?” 

“Do I have to say it out loud?” Yon fiercely looked over his shoulder at the door leading to the mausoleum, as if it would creak open at any moment. 

Peeking out from some nearby bushes, Queen Neeyuntee's robe could barely be seen. 

“Just how have I raised you two?” Corvus sighed once again, and lightly clunked their heads together like a pair of coconuts. 

“Owe! Okay, okay, we can do something else!” Yon complained as he held the side of his head. 

“Master didn't say no.” Jax quietly spoke up. 

“Oh!” Yon's smile went from ear to ear as he looked up at him. 

“Cheeky brats. Fine, we'll buy-ahem-deny Master Kenobi the pleasure of drinking his favorite tea.” Corvus pushed the duo forward, and began to walk into town. 

His two disciples glanced at one another, and shared an evil smirk, and they were off. 

~~~~~~~

(Meanwhile, in the Mausoleum) 

“I feel a disturbance in the Force.”

“Is it Revan?” Padmé questioned. 

“I'm not sure, but I feel as if a part of me is about to go unbearably thirsty.” Obi-Wan frowned. 

‘Thirst is the precursor to the fall of man. Watch yourself, Obi.’ 

Obi-Wan could only shake his head, his Master was becoming annoyingly cryptic…more so than usual. He wondered, was that a side effect of becoming a ghost? Would he become cryptic once he became a ghost?! 

“Obi-Wan!”

“Mm, yes, Padmé?” 

“How are we going to deal with Revan? Or for that matter, Palpatine?” She demanded. 

“Well my dear, I suggest we discuss such matters elsewhere. No offense, but I'd rather not be doing this inside your dusty chamber. Not even my lightsaber could lighten up the mood properly. Besides, I think we should discuss your children, no?” 

Padmé bit her lip, clearly conflicted. “Of course you are right, Obi. Come along with me to my boudoir, there's a secret passage I had installed here in case I ever needed to fake my death.” She then pulled on a hidden lever, and a staircase unfolded on the floor. 

“Now I've seen everything. Lead on, Senator, I am curious to see where your chamber of secrets shall take us.” 

With that, the two departed from the mausoleum, yet all the while, Obi-Wan felt as if he had lost an important opportunity. 

~~~~~~~

AN: Someone the other day expressed that they didn't want Obi-Wan & Padmé to become a couple. Although this was my intention, if it's an actually unpopular sentiment (40% or greater) I'll keep it platonic. That said, a poll will be going up shortly after posting this chapter.