Chapter Text
“Jedi Knight Reza Ire.” Master Shaak Ti’s tone was usually warm, but was icy today.
Reza winced at her tone and tried not to sweat through her robes. She’d once been so careful to avoid council scrutiny and now all of them were staring at her. Well, everyone from the council who’d actually bothered to show up. Masters Ti, Gallia, and Windu were the only ones present. Windu and Galila were physically present while Ti holoed in from Kamino.
Shaak Ti continued, tactfully ignoring Reza’s discomfort, “You may be under the impression that we convened here to discuss further punishment for your previous actions. That is only partially true.”
Reza tried not to look surprised and failed. She’d been confined to the temple for almost three weeks. With little to do but training, her screw up was all there was to think about. Maybe she’d finally have a chance to explain herself.
Gallia seemed to notice Reza’s optimism, because she frowned and said, “Don’t think that your rash decision making and disregard for the safety of others has escaped us. Three weeks temple confinement wouldn’t be the end of your ordeal under different circumstances.”
“I came here today ready to accept any punishment you saw fit,” Reza said, lowering her eyes before she said something stupid. It was true that she could have handled the situation better, but concern for others was her problem. It was all a matter of who the “others” were. But, if the Council hadn’t bought her side of the story the first three times, they wouldn’t now.
“Lucky for you, we’re in the middle of a war and are severely lacking competent leadership,” Windu said, his tone lighter than the other two. “We’re giving you General status so you can track someone down… and deal with them.”
Reza’s head snapped back up. “You want me to do my old job?”
Windu’s mouth tightened into what could have just been mistaken for a smile. “Exactly. We can’t deny your talents as an investigator, even with our doubts about your mental state.” He activated the hologram projector in front of him. “You also have unique experience with our query that the last Jedi we sent didn’t.”
The projector flickered to life, forming a face that momentarily froze Reza’s blood. She looked back to the three masters. “You think this is a good idea? You want me to hunt her when you already have concerns about my emotional stability?”
Shaak Ti raised a defensive hand. “Your past experience with her is precisely why we selected you. You surely recall how uniquely well you withstood her mind-breaking powers.”
“Of course, if you feel you’re not up to it…” Gallia chimed in.
“No, I can do it,” Reza responded quickly. She looked at the hologram version of the Nightsister Talis. The very same Talis that Reza narrowly escaped from a five years earlier. Reza’s mind raced. Talis had been underground for a long time. If she’d resurfaced there must be a big lure and one that the Jedi were concerned about. There was one thing that concerned the Jedi these days. “Talis is working for the separatist, isn’t she?” Reza asked the room at large.
Windu nodded. “She’s been sabotaging key parts of our operation and extracting information from our agents, Jedi and otherwise, then disappears back into separatist space.”
Reza winced, she knew first hand how pleasant that extraction process was. It was difficult to survive at all, let alone with all your memories in the right places. “You mentioned you sent someone before?”
The three sobered for a moment. When Gallia spoke, it was softly. “We sent Master Amori after her with a squad of ARC troopers. The squad was nearly destroyed. Amori’s mind was… broken… she died shortly after her rescue. That was two weeks ago.”
Reza bowed her head respectfully. Windu cut into her mourning moment immediately. “We’re transferring the remaining clones from her ARC unit to you along with all of the data Amori recovered. We need Talis taken care of.”
Reza felt her cheeks start to burn at the mention of the word clone. “With all due respect, Master Windu, I don’t need that support. As I’m sure you’re aware that Master Dhamiria and I explicitly avoided working with, well, clones. I need my own people who are treated like people.”
Shaak Ti’s eyes narrowed. “You and your former master’s objections to the use of our clone army are well document. That does not change the fact that you need Amori’s clones. They are quite capable.”
“I don’t doubt their capability-”
“Enough, General Ire,” Windu cut her off. “You can use as many of your old contacts as you want, but those troopers are yours to command. Understood?”
“Understood.” Reza conceded, a faint bitter taste in her mouth. “I’ll start my investigation right away. Thank you for this opportunity.” She bowed.
Windu actually smiled. “Don’t make us regret our decision, Reza. You’re dismissed.”
As Reza exited the Council chamber, she wondered if this situation was really better than temple arrest. Talis had left a mark on her that almost ruined her career and took her sanity. No amount of meditation could keep her from making decisions colored by that. Add to that the fact the council seemed to be punishing her for her outspoken opposition to the clone army and this mission already seemed to be crashing down around her.
But she could already feel her restless mind calming as she started to focus on the hunt ahead. She was already starting to feel like her old self again.