>>5522453>>5522478>>5522490>>5522507>>5522515>>5522516>>5522523>>5522524>>5522608>>5522722>>5522795>>5522979>>5523029>>5523147>>5523368>>5523491>>5525753“All I want to know is what your plan is for dealing with Vader," you declare loudly, "Since last I checked, he’s less than a day away from making planetfall.”
In the silence that follows, the quiet whine of the air cycler sounds like the gale winds of a typhoon. The smile on Potkin’s face has become utterly frozen, striking a contrast against the grim expressions of Sia-Lan and Ma’kis. Behind the hostess, the other three Jedi suddenly straighten in their seats, suddenly alert at the mention of the Sith.
“How about dealing with the 501st?” you add coolly, without giving her the opportunity to respond. “Sure, Vader might be the last attendee to this conclave, but your invitation’s been extended to the Clone Troopers under his command.”
The smile cracks. Potkin’s face turns a mottled, dark shade of red. “I…what are you saying?!”
“Did you only plan on jumping him with lightsabers?” you say, glancing up towards the top of the mineshaft. “Or in the event that you couldn’t kill him, line the walls with explosives to bury him with you? Don't forget the three Venators that're hot on his heels if you planned for an escape..."
“What is the meaning of this?!” demands Darté. The general leaps from his seat, and makes fast towards you. Close behind are Arana and Farr, both sporting equally intense looks. “Knight Ren, explain yourself!”
<span class="mu-i">With pleasure.</span>
It’s hard to avoid being smug, but you manage to stay level-headed. The gravity of the situation is too much for you to take pleasure or otherwise gloat.
“Everyone in this room is going to die because of what she did,” you accuse, pointing sharply towards Potkin. “I might’ve been uninvited, but at least I didn’t decide to deliberately invite a Sith Lord to a Jedi Conclave.”
Farr’s eyes go wide as he draws a sharp hiss of breath. Arana’s already-severe glare intensifies, glittering with…something. But Darté turns to face her, utter shock scrawled across his grizzled features. “Is this true?!”
To her credit, Potkin recovers quickly. But the look on her face is ugly, and if it could kill, then you’d be dead several times over. “We are gathered here to take actions to secure the future of the Jedi-”
“By hoping to ambush Darth Vader,” interjects Ma’kis with a flat, almost disappointed candor. “I’d be more amenable if you shared a tangible plan, but thus far, I see nothing beyond the initial ambush.”
"That's-!"
Sia-Lan makes no attempt to hide her disgust, or her anger. Her furious voice carries up and down, off the walls of the mineshaft as she screams: “Stop lying! We saw what you leaked to the Empire! The only reason that Vader is coming is because you said that General Kenobi would be here!”
(cont.)
