The Punishment Due... (TJO/Pub and LS Jedi Only)

[Tydeus of Tion]

"Thank you, Master Karr."

Ryan bowed slightly. It seemed just yesterday when [member="Kian Karr"] had been a padawan in his group training class. Ryan had been newly knighted then, but Karr passed him up some time ago. It was just a title, but one the Kel Dor deserved.

The redheaded Jedi's lips twitched as he caught [member="Corvus Raaf"]'s look. He gave a one shouldered shrug.

Oh well.

 

[Kana Truden]

For each passing moment the conviction that [member="Ket Van-Derveld"] was a Sith passed away. He didn’t seem in turmoil, no emotions on overdrive, no ill intentions and no reason to injure her in the slightest. She looked at the door, then [member="Shule Windspeaker"] and then Master Van-Derveld again. As he stood kneeling in front of her she hesitantly, shakingly reached out with her arm and placed her palm on his shoulder.

“Thank you,” Kana’s smile grew and she paused for a moment. “Master Yoda.”

“I entered this room all…” The bitingly bitter reality came to mind again and her smile was gone. “... Ready to convict you. Yet... Here I am...”

They were still in a cell, and Ket was still to be put to trial. Smiles faded and regret kicked in. How would they fix this? His track record was long, and bad. What could she as a Knight do to sway the mind of Masters? She shot Ket a worried look as she got out of her chair. There was little said as she paced back and forth. She had entered the room ready to send him off to prison. Yet here she was, thinking of ways to ensure anything else.

“There must be some kind of way to fix this.” She thought out loud. “Parole, maybe? No, there is no parole for these type of crimes. Maybe let him go?” Stopping for a second she looked over at Ket again before returning to pacing around. “… No, that wouldn’t work.”

Could they induct him to the Order? Keep him under constant surveillance? Kana’s thoughts spilled out of her mouth still. All except the ones questioning why she suddenly turned her side of the table. Maybe he had a point, people could stand to learn from his experience. She suddenly stopped and dragged her hand through her hair with a curious look to her.

“To know your enemy, you must become your enemy.” She whispered as she let herself fall into a lean against the table. “But you can cut off the latter half of that. You have knowledge that we need yet could never achieve.”

“It’s a weak defense, not much to go on, but maybe… Maybe if you put that point across - to more people than just me - the Order could work something out with the Republic. We need all the information we need on the One Sith and as far as I know you’ve got that.”

Oh how she did not know of his allegiances.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Kana Truden"] [member="Ket Van-Derveld"]

At last, Shule stirred.

"You don't get to make yourself a prophet or messiah when there's a debt owed to justice, Ket. You've convinced me you're capable of using the Light Side of the Force. It'll take a long time, a lot of service, and a serious injection of humility before you'll convince the Masters that the Light Side of the Force is using you. And no true Jedi would deny justice, so you may not even get that opportunity. Wouldn't you agree?"

 

[Avalore Eden]

Puffing, ponytail swinging at her back, Avalore came to a slow-beated walk before Hal as he waved her down. She paused by the man, looking him over and shaking her head, "Mine's fine ... I thought maybe the cream smelled a bit off when I made it last night, but I only just bought it at the market the day before."

Frowning, she gave [member="Hal Terrano"] a shrug, "It's probably just gas."

Because strange nasal sensations and tummy rumblings don't really connect in her head.

 

[Ket Van-Derveld]

The old wolf stood upright as Kana began to think aloud. He knew he would always be the old wolf, it was in his blood, even as a teen-aged Padawan learning from the Masters of old so, so long ago. He watched, he could be feral at times, but he always protected his pack. Perhaps that's what he was doing now, protecting the pack once more, in a very different way. Still, he had to smile a bit as Kana kept trying to think of ways to get him out of this. But his amusement was very short lived. She did not understand the bigger picture yet. Masters Raaf and Windspeaker were wise beyond their years. Like it or not, there was still a penance to be exacted from his old bones. And rightfully so. And then Shule struck a nerve, but one he was not entirely unprepared to be struck, all things considered. Looking to Shule, he nodded lightly.

"Shule... I do not seek nor try to be a prophet, and surely not a messiah. I am not a god nor deity. As I said before, I am just a man, seeking to do what is right. I am not out to convince anyone that the Force has chosen me to do anything..."

This was when the fury of Ket Van-Derveld began to show once more. But this was nothing like what anyone expected. This was not something tainted by the Darkside. This was something different. Something pure, something he truly believe now with every fiber of his being. Most were not there, they did not understand just what it took for him to be cured of his madness once and for all. The toll it took upon him, mind, body and soul. How close he came to death during the ritual, and what it was like for him to fight back against the breaking of his psyche, and all he had known for over eight hundred years. But he could not blame them, he could not judge them for their opinions or there stance when it came to him. He was Ket Van-Derveld; a Sith Lord, a Murderer, a Thief, a Spice Dealer, a Spice Addict, a Drunkard, a Horrible Father, and most of all, an affront to all that was true and good. He accepted that, for the past was not something any one of them could ever run from. The past always caught up. That was why he was here. He would not give his past the chance to have it's day.

"Shule... I know full well justice must be served. I can only hope you understand what is truly going on right now. I still have inate knowledge of the Force unlike almost anyone within the Jedi Order, or the One Sith. I know full well that all of you expect me to reveal that I am still a Sith, and try to murder you all, and take your heads as trophys. But I will not let that happen. I fought for my life back with Inari in Moross territory. The Force would not let me go, no matter how many times I begged it to let me become one with it. The Force is my Master. The Force is your Master. It is everyone's Master. No one cna change that. No one can tell the Force what to do. Every time we call upon the Force, the Force itself lets us use it as we want because it sees fit to let us..."

Ket walked toward Shule, and let his head fall. He cared not for who captured who. He had been given a job to do by the Force itself, and he would see it through. In that respect, he fell to his knees. He let his head hang low as he held his hands out in such a way that they could be schackled once more. And he spoke low, a humble voice, who knew what must happen now.

"My name is Ket Van-Derveld. I am a criminal, and I must be punished for my crimes. Even though I am now a True Jedi once more, I know full well that Justice MUST be done."



[member="Shule Windspeaker"], [member="Kana Truden"], [member="Corvus Raaf"], [member="Kian Karr"], [member="Ryan Korr"], [member="Hal Terrano"], [member="Avalore Eden"]

 

[Kian Karr]

"Oh yes," Kian said nodding along to [member="Corvus Raaf"]'s words, "from what I have read, his crimes are great." Kian folded his hands behind his back and thought about it for a moment before continuing.

"Redemption is something we can offer, but absolution from guilt is not. He'll have to answer for what he has done." Kian wasn't entirely sure what that would entail, but he was sure that was something that would be debated at length by the politicians. Kian wasn't here for that. He wasn't here to offer [member="Ket Van-Derveld"] absolution or redemption, for they were not his to give. Kian was here to satisfy his curiosity and to gather any important information he might.

"What do we know of his surrender? Does it seem sincere?" Kian asked turning to them both once more. "Or do you suspect foul play?"

[member="Ryan Korr"] - [member="Kana Truden"] - [member="Shule Windspeaker"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Ket Van-Derveld"]

Shule leaned forward. "Then start by figuring out humility," he said quietly, and leaned back again, his voice returning to normal volume. "Ultimately, I'm an affiliate member of the Order at best. I'm not the one you have to convince, and your fate's not in my hands. I wish I could wish you peace, Ket."

He tossed a nod and a shrug to [member="Kian Karr"], [member="Ryan Korr"] and the others as he left the cell and made for the borrowed ship in the docking bay.

 

[Kana Truden]

Her head that had been so focused on [member="Ket Van-Derveld"] slumped down into a stare at the table. What was to be learned from all of this? He wanted to protect the names on his back yet he wanted to see justice done unto him. It was like a contradiction, he wanted to help yet he wanted to lose the chance to do so.

Unless. Unless his faith in the force was that grand. It felt odd to Kana, the punishment upon him would be settled by the actions of men, not the force. Though maybe she simply hadn’t come around to understand ‘the truth’ or fully embraced it yet. For now she remained quiet, what little she could do had already been expended. If Ket was to be given his punishment due she’d simply have to put as much faith in the force as he did.

There was no reason for her to keep the others waiting any further. Kana walked up to the door and opened it with a swiping hand motion she gestured for someone to open the door. A step outside the cell and she took a deep breath as her mind told her it could go either way.

“I think it’s time.” She motioned at the others to enter the cell. “I think he’s ready.”

She led the others back inside the cell. It felt a bit cramped at best but such was the case when a few dozen jedi stepped inside a room meant to hold only so few people.

“We need to discuss what’s next for Ket Van-Derveld.”

[member="Kian Karr"]​

[member="Ryan Korr"]​

[member="Corvus Raaf"]​

 

[Tydeus of Tion]

"I don't know the measure of the man," Ryan replied. "He wants judgement, but not redemption. He claims to be humbled, yet speaks arrogance."

The Jedi Knight gave a one shouldered shrug.

At that moment, [member="Kana Truden"] walked down the hall to the rec room, which is where they all were, and motioned them back to the cell. Ryan followed, face a mask of stone. He still held a cup of caf in his hands and by the Force, did he need it right now. He passed the third unknown party on his way out, a grizzled looking late forties, early fifties looking man. Ryan gave him a nod of deference and continued on his way.

He crowded into the cell and leaned his back against the wall. This should be interesting.

[member="Corvus Raaf"] [member="Kian Karr"] [member="Ket Van-Derveld"] [member="Shule Windspeaker"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus duly followed the others, but hung back. Her views on the subject had been duly noted and wondered what the prisoner was 'ready for.' She stared at Kana for some form of understanding but her friends face was impassive. Or unreadable. Or unintelligible. Or some other word that began with 'un.'

So she simply filed in and waited...

[member="Ryan Korr"] | [member="Kana Truden"] | [member="Shule Windspeaker"] | [member="Kian Karr"] | [member="Ket Van-Derveld"]

 

[Ket Van-Derveld]

He watched quietly as the rest filed into his small white cell. Master Raaf, Master Karr, Knight Korr, and anyone else who felt that they needed to be here. Straightening the lapels of his leather coat, he stood there, thinking quietly. The Force was his guide, his master, and his teacher. It showed him what he must do, and he would do it dutifully. The Force was all knowing, all seeing. It held them all like little grains of sand in it's hand. He was devout to the Light that it shone over them all, a Follower of the Light, through and through. It showed him the path to his own personal redemption in it's eyes. And through all the pain, misery, and anguish, he followed it's guiding Light like a moth to the flame. If the Jedi Order did not believe him, then so be it. He was not out to change their minds, he was simply doing as the Force showed him. He had faith in the Force, and he let himself go into it's will. Looking to them falling in, he spoke the following words under his breath as his eyes closed.

"The Force is my shepard, I shall not want. ​

It makes me to lay down in green pastures. ​

It leads me beside the still waters, it restores my soul, it leads me in righteousness, for it's name sake; ​

yay, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of the Darkside, ​

I will fear NO evil. ​

For the Force is with me, it's rod and staff, it comforts me. ​

It prepares a table for me, in the presence of my enemies, ​

it anoints my head with oil, my cup runs over. ​

Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, ​

and I shall dwell in the presence of the Force, ​

​

Forever."​

​

​

And so, as his prayer was completed, he awaited what the Jedi gathering would have for him, what the next step would be. His faith was within the Force, and he knew that as it had saved him from his own demise once before, it would not forsake him this day, so long as he kept the faith.



[member="Corvus Raaf"], [member="Ryan Korr"], [member="Kian Karr"], [member="Kana Truden"], [member="Kiskla Grayson"], [member="Avalore Eden"], [member="Hal Terrano"]

 

[Tydeus of Tion]

"Sounds oddly familiar."

Ryan was not amused.

The steam from the cup hissed across Ryan's face as he looked over the rim at Ket.

He took another sip of caf and continued to lean on the wall. The Jedi Knight didn't know what these ancient verses had to do with Ket's situation, but maybe instead of doing the whole cryptic routine the guy might actually fess up and say something. Seemed to be one of those people who felt like silence had to be filled up with words.

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus held up the cup and drank slowly from it. Not because she was thirsty but because she was bemused and sometimes she wore her heart on her sleeve. Emotions under lock and key, facial reactions masked by drinking, she waited.

Is this what Kana wanted them for, to hear a prayer? Knowing her friend she doubted it, so catching her eye, she raised an eyebrow. That eyebrow. The one that invariably managed to convey entire sentences with a single twitch. This time (in code of course so only Kana could understand) it said, 'What the -'

[member="Ryan Korr"] | [member="Ket Van-Derveld"] | [member="Kana Truden"] | [member="Shule Windspeaker"] | [member="Kian Karr"]

 

[Kana Truden]

Her face scrunched up as she looked over at [member="Corvus Raaf"] in a shrug. She had no idea what the prayer was about either. It told of [member="Ket Van-Derveld"]’s look upon the force, of course, but not much else. [member="Ryan Korr"]’s apparent frustration on the matter - which if Kana had interpreted it right - was understandable. It was still a surprise to see [member="Kian Karr"], but it still made sense. He was the master of shadows after all and this was a former Sith.

“Well, we all came to see Ket Van-Derveld, and seen him we have.” That sounded way too stupid but she had still managed to say it. “The problem is, I don’t know what to do with him.”

“He claims he wants to serve the light and protect those he cares about, yet here he is. A wanted man who seeks his punishment and after the discussion we had I fear too much bias could mix into it on my end. To truly have justice done I’d either have to abstain or hear what you guys think.”

It was worrying. Almost odd actually. Kana had only spent a few moments with the former Sith yet she had reached the point where she no longer trusted herself to make the right move. As much as she wanted to look past all crimes and forgive there’d be one hell of a hard time for the rest of the galaxy to forget.

The others didn’t have the same mentality, at least not all of them. Not everyone sought to forgive and forget or appease the entire galaxy and it was these things that made them the ones who were most capable of giving Ket his ‘punishment due’ and not Kana. She would simply be there for the discussion but leave the actual punishing to the others.

“I leave the decision in your hands.” Kana nodded at the warden and then Corvus. “Not that it ever was my punishment to give, of course.”

 

[Tydeus of Tion]

"Master Raaf and I did not come to see Ket Van-Derveld. We came to arrest him."

Gray eyes turned from the blond to regard the barrel-chested Sith Lord. Confliction raged inside Ryan Korr. Part of him hoped that this man could be redeemed, because if he could then so could... so could she. Ryan grit his teeth. Then again, Ket had murdered people. There was a difference between him and her. He killed for sport. She killed because she had to. Yet turning to the light side did not absolve either of them.

He had a duty to uphold justice. He would see it through.

"I have seen no remorse. I have seen no penitence. He refused to give up his accomplice in the attack on the Praxeum and he has shown a level of arrogance that belies his protests of humility."

Korr looked down into his cup of caf, staring into the swirls of brown and the strands of wafting steam. His eyes narrowed and came up to stare directly at Ket.

"As the arresting officer I will have him processed through the proper channels. He will stand trial. And the Republic will see to it. We do not hold the power to absolve him, even if we wished it so. I will testify at his trial. He will likely receive a prison sentence for his attack on the Praxeum. After thirty years in a correctional facility we will see what sort of recidivism he slides into, if any. Then he will be extradited to Omega Pyre, to atone for the people he slaughtered there."

[member="Ket Van-Derveld"] [member="Corvus Raaf"] [member="Kana Truden"] [member="Kian Karr"]

 

[Darth Odium]

[member="Ryan Korr"]

From across the galaxy someone would remember his old dear friend.
<<Unforgiving as a Sith. It's good to watch compassion die.>>

 

[Tydeus of Tion]

Whispering fingers against his mind. The touch of an old foe.

"If only the divide between us were that simple, my adversary."

[member="Darth Odium"]

 

[Darth Odium]

[member="Ryan Korr"]

<<Soon Brother.>>

 

[Kiskla Grayson-Matteo]

“Can you please read this message, Master? It’s beeping incessantly.”

“I thought that was just your means of communicating.” Kiskla replied, opening one eye at a time from her meditative state. She’d been in the stars for a few days now, returning from wild space and a most insightful meeting regarding the voxyn presence and advances.

“You know very well I’m versed in the dictions of more than mere astromechs.”

Kiskla frowned — he was correct. The droid’s endless chatter made her partially envious of R9 and Rowdy’s gentle coos. But altogether, she preferred to travel solo. This guy just came with the ship, and it was one of her main means of transportation. So she spent an awful lot of time with “You’re right. I know this very well.”

She moved from her seat in the meditation wing of her small Jedi cruiser, and navigated to the communications room. A thread of messages were awaiting her response, all tying to the assignment [member="Ryan Korr"] had been delegated to handle.

“I took the liberty of reading the thread. It seems the prisoner is seeking your input solely.”

“An acceptance request?”

“Redemption, I believe.”

“If you’ve read the messages, you should know.”

“Okay. Yes. The Sith Lord has come back, and he wants to be a recognized Jedi Master.”

“A recognized Jedi Master?”

“I believe he wants your recognition.”

“Titles mean little — this is the whole point of the dissolution so—“ she took in a deep breath, lowering her hands which had almost balled into fists in agitation. “I’m going to uphold that.” Kiskla murmured. Time was pressing and those handling the case of the old wolf were qualified individuals, despite the demand. She could administer if necessary from a distance. If more assessment was required, beyond the perceptive eyes of the Jedi with Ket, then she would make an appearance. Meanwhile, a holovid of the praxeum robbery played to her left -- showing Ket and an accomplice intercepting the mobile school.



To: [member="Ryan Korr"]
CC: [member="Corvus Raaf"] | [member="Kana Truden"] | [member="Kian Karr"]
RE: Van-Derveld
What’s the status of this case?

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian followed the others into the room and for the first time in his life, Kian set eyes on [member="Ket Van-Derveld"]. The man was reciting an odd pray of sorts.....a pray to the force. It struck Kian as odd. But before he could take much time to ponder the pray, [member="Kana Truden"] was explaining the situation too them. It seemed the man had come seeking absolution for his crimes and to.....protect. That was a noble sentiment, a very Jedi sentiment. Then [member="Ryan Korr"] was speaking and Kian listened to him intently, clasping his hands behind his back and stepping forward to take a better look at Ket.

Kian considered the man for a moment before speaking. "You are correct Jedi Korr in stating we do not have the power to absolve him.....but we do have the power to request or recommend that he be absolved." Kian said turning to the more seasoned warrior. "It has been done in the past, many great Jedi came from dark, dangerous beginnings....." Kian said smiling and inclining his head toward Master [member="Corvus Raaf"], "I'm sure Corvus just had several names rattle through her mind at the mere mention of it!"

Kian turned his attention back toward Ket and raised a taloned hand up to his anti-ox mask, stroking the mask spikes as if they were a beard, his head tilted to the side as he examined the man.

"The question is.....should we make such a request?" Kian asked and stepped so that he was standing directly before the prisoner. "There is likely a great deal of intelligence in that brain of yours." Kian said gently, "Why do you hesitate to cooperate if you wish to be brought into the fold? Surely absolution for your crimes is far greater than oaths or promises made to those who would seek to hurt others?" Kian asked and stretched out to touch Ket's mind with his own. Probing at the man's surface thoughts.

Something unusual happened however when Kian's mind touched the mind of the prisoner. A flash of images rushed through his mind, as if being displayed directly before him. They were chaotic and jumbled and Kian couldn't make much sense of them. He saw himself, and many of the Jedi present, standing united. He saw the war and the Sith.....and he saw victory. Kian arched an eyebrow for a moment, and said nothing, taking in what he had just seen. Kian wasn't the sort of Jedi that often had force visions.....any glimpses at the future Kian usually achieved through reports and covert intelligence. He found the images interesting, but he also viewed them with a great deal of skepticism. One could be lead astray very easily by being so heavily focused on the future and sometimes the message you gleamed wasn't the message that was meant to be interpreted.

Stepping back, Kian shook his head, as if to dispel the images. "What do you think we should do with you?" Kian asked finally. "In all honesty. If you were in our shoes, and a man with your past was brought before you, how do you think you would proceed?" It wasn't a trick question, Kian honestly wished to know how the prisoner would consider such a question and he felt the answer would tell him a great deal about the man, as would his responses to the others.

[member="Kiskla Grayson"] -