Jedi Council Meeting 414: The Ire Of The Jedi

[Trenton Vinh]

Jet Sumner sat in his seat in the circular Jedi Council room. The other six members of the Jedi Council were already sitting, having waited for Jet to return from an errand across planet.
The circle was broken by the doorway directly across from Jet, to the left of him sat Aundria Fenix, San Xaan, and Alexi Corova, the Jedi Scholar. To his right; Reyne Grakin, Evgeni Issus, and Dagon Fenix.
The Council comprised of seven Jedi Masters to keep issues resulting in a tied vote.
Alexi Corova was a female Bothan Jedi Master, with beautiful white fur that no doubt made her very attractive among her fellow Bothans. Jet nodded to her as she bared her teeth to him in a Bothan smile. He smiled back, nodding before turning to look at the other Jedi Masters. They had gathered today for the usual customary meeting, but all seemed to share the same internal worries.
The reason? Trenton Vinh and Roth Fenix had asked to meet with the council during the meeting.
Jet almost shook his head, wishing he could deny the pair of rogue Jedi entry to the Council Chambers. Anger and issues always followed the pair, like an infection.
Jet tried to understand. The pair was just doing what was right for the Galaxy. What they didn't realize, was that the Jedi couldn't just charge into any problem unless they thought it through. The consequences of such acts of recklessness could be terrible. Such acts could have the Jedi outlawed, as had happened once before.
Trent was a force to be reckoned with, and with Roth Fenix, the pair was nearly unstoppable. Jet did not envy the pair's enemy's.
As soon as everyone had settled, Alexi rose and read off the day's plans, starting with a debate over allowing a thirteen year old Force-Sensitive Bith be allowed to begin training. The problem with that, of course, was that the Jedi did not train anyone older than seven. If a Master or Knight had not chosen a Padawan by the time the Padawan got to age fifteen, the Padawan would be left to work in the Temple, as cooks, gardeners, pilots, mechanics, and whatever other hundreds of tasks the Jedi needed.
The Jedi Temple was a secret place, normally closed to outsiders. The choice to use failed Jedi candidates was to keep outsiders from being planted within the Order. It would be a serious security breach.

Hours passed, as Jet mindlessly debated with the other Masters with issues about everything from the training methods of the Masters to the Resistance on Naboo. San offered to travel to Naboo to try to sort out the issue, but he was voted down. If the Jedi were needed, they could be called. Hopefully the Naboo would be able to sort it out themselves.

Then, Alexi read off, "And next, Jedi Masters Roth Fenix and Trenton Vinh wish to address the Council."
She sat back down in her seat, and Aundria tossed Jet a worried look. He furrowed his brow and leaned back in his chair, resting his hands on the arm rests. Trenton and Roth strode into the room as the large doors opened for them.
The pair wore their usual black robes, lightsabers hanging from their belts.
They looked as they normally did, dark and foreboding, dangerous and...
They look like Sith. Jet thought gravely.

Roth nodded casually to San Xaan and his own father, Dagon Fenix.
Aundria only watched him, a dignified expression on her face. Roth had always resented how little his mother showed her care for him in front of the other Jedi. He took it as an insult. If she was not strong enough to display even the faintest traces of emotion to her own son, she was not worthy of his attention. It was, if anything, another thing that caused issues between him and the Jedi.
Trent didn't bother nodding to anyone. The only Jedi in here whose opinion mattered to him was Roth. If the council didn't like what he had to say, they could tell him so. But the Jedi didn't have the strength to do so. They were too barred by their own fears.
Fears that the Jedi claim that real Masters don't feel. How pathetic. Its like the blind trying to describe a simple object they have never seen.
Trenton cleared his throat and said,

"I'd like to begin by thanking the Council for meeting with us on such short notice. The Supreme Chancellor contacted me late last night, and I have been very busy recently. As you know, we have been trying to find out the identity of the Force-User we discovered on board the Kylantha's Jewel."

Jet motioned one hand in a circular motion, "Please cut to the chase, Master Vinh."

Trent paused, taking a moment to stare daggers into Jet's eyes.
Jet felt Trenton's power crushing down on him. Jet's vision darkened at the edges and he felt as if an immense weight was slowly being lowered onto his shoulders. It was all Jet could do not to slouch in his chair. Trenton was using The Force to intimidate Jet, to shut him up and display his dominance.
Jet could barely break the Force Presence Trent was pushing down on him, and when Trent finally averted his eyes, the weight dissipated.
Jet first wondered if he had imagined it, but the knowing look on Trenton's face showed that he hadn't imagined a thing.
Jet felt suddenly very afraid. Trenton was way too loose of a cannon to let run around the Galaxy. He needed to be tamed. Jet knew what he would have to do.
I need to put a leash on this rabid dog that Trenton has become. I'll get a Jedi Master or two to travel with him over the course of the next few weeks to 'assist and support' him in whatever he had to do.
He let the fear slip away as he basked in the Light side of the Force.
Then he realized Trent was talking:

"...After making small talk with the Supreme Chancellor, he told me that he needs to know the direction of the Jedi Order to better understand our motives and our position in Galactic Affairs. He hopes that by gaining a unique perspective on Jedi Affairs he will be able to use the Jedi more effectively-"

Aundria cut Trent off, saying in a displeased tone, "Use the Jedi? What are we to him? Tools to be used and tossed away at his own leisure?"

Trent glared at her, and Jet could tell by the look on her face that she was getting the same feeling of intimidation as he had moments before. Trent said harshly, "No. He does not think that way. He doesn't know what to do with us at all at this point, if anything, hence why he asked to meet with me."

Aundria looked taken aback, and Reyne Grakin asked, "Why you and not one of the members of the Council?"

Trent looked at Reyne and smiled, he seemed to have been asking for someone to ask that very question.
"He asked to meet with me, because as of today, Roth Fenix and myself are to be appointed to the Jedi Council, as the personal advisers of Tork Winger, Supreme Chancellor of the New Republic, and of the Grand Senate of the New Republic."

[Trenton Vinh]

The shock of the Jedi Council was audible. Most didn't even bother to hide their anger or surprise.
Jet was the first to object, "This is insulting! Why would the Supreme Chancellor need to have a pair of representatives in the Jedi Council?"
Aundria said scathingly, "No doubt to keep an eye on us."

Trent listened to several other outcries before saying, "The Chancellor made this decision because the senate wished it as well. In case you haven't noticed, the last time the Jedi got off track, it caused the rise of the Galactic Empire. He wants a secure Galaxy for everyone, and if this is how he must do it, than so be it."

San, seeming not as bothered as most of the other Masters, stated, "Why appoint two Representatives instead of just one?"

Roth answered the question, simply responding, "One Jedi would mean the Council would have an even number of Masters. Ties would be unresolvable until one changed his or her mind. For efficiency and security, two Jedi."
Jet smiled maliciously, "What makes you assume that we will give you the right to vote on Council matters?"
Trent furrowed his eyebrows, "The Supreme Chancellor chose us as his representatives. We are not here to impose our own will's over the council. We are here to show that you are as much a part of the Republic as everyone else."
Reyne asked, "How will we know the difference between what the Chancellor wants and what you want?"

Roth stated matter-of-factly, "Trust me when I say, that if we want to control the Council. We will."
Jet raised his eyebrows, asking, "Is that a threat?"
Roth glared at the Jedi Master, a silent battle raged between them, and Roth answered simply, "That's a vow."
Jet leaned back in his chair once again, looking at the other Masters wearily.
All were thinking the same thing: This is a bold and dangerous move.

The Supreme Chancellor was taking a risk doing this. He could risk being overthrown by the Jedi, but they would never do that. Trenton was sure of this only because he knew they were, as always, frozen in their tracks by their own fears and moral worries.
The Jedi always claimed that they didn't serve the senate, or the Republic. But in truth, they did. They were as much lapdogs as any military personnel or police force. They just didn't want to admit it.

Roth and Trenton didn't smile, nor did they look smug at all. They were doing their jobs, and something they knew to be good for the Galaxy as a whole. The Jedi may not like it, and many more may not either. The holonets would no doubt have a field day, but whose side in this they would choose was yet to be seen.

The two Jedi, Roth and Trenton were about to leave when Jet said, "Ah, Trenton. This may be a good time to let you know. We were thinking of adding you to the council before this, and were going to review your field-work to see if you qualify. So we are going to have a Master or two aid you for a few weeks. Understood?"

Trent responded, "Sure."

Jet nodded and the pair left. Of course, he had been lying. The Masters would never allow Trenton on the Council by choice. But it was the best way to see if the boy was a bigger threat than they realized.

A few moments later, Master Alexi stood and said, "If that is all...Council Adjourned."

The Jedi Masters all filed out slowly, suddenly much less assured of their position in the Galaxy, and more weary of Trenton Vinh and Roth Fenix.