Chapter 14
Savyna sat with her hands folded in her lap. She had been directed to take a seat in the ante-chambers and wait until the Council was ready for her to enter. While she waited she wondered what exactly would happen when she entered. She knew from her vision that at least two masters would be leaving the council. She had a pretty good idea who one was. She knew that Luke, Mara, and Kyp were upset enough with Tionne's actions that there would be some penalty. But the other missing chair had her a little confused. She just could not think of who else might have reason to leave the Council.
Savyna did not have much time for her ruminations. After a short time, the doors swung open and she felt herself being summoned into the room. She stood and stalled a moment to smooth her robes while composing herself before taking measured steps into the room. When she reached the center of the room she stopped. Keeping her gaze forward she saw that she faced Master Horn. Then she remembered that Luke had said he asked Corran to investigate the situation while they were gone. It made sense that he would be leading the meeting that day.
For several moments silence filled the room. Savyna sensed the masters watching her and gauging her emotions. She fought the impulse to slam her shields into place and allowed them the access to her mind that they were seeking.
Corran appraised the young woman standing before him. He like the others in the room had watched her grow up. Like Savyna, he knew of her mother, though he could not recall ever meeting Callista. He had, however, seen the effect the Force-blind Jedi had on those who knew her. It was for that reason, as well as his investigative background, that Luke had asked him to talk to Tionne and others at the Academy to find out why Savyna's training had been neglected the way it was. He watched her carefully as he asked "Savyna, would you please tell us why we are here today?"
Whatever she had been expecting, it was not that. Savyna knew that the entire council knew what was going on. Gauging the master in front of her, she realized that Master Horn was testing her. He wanted to see how she felt about the situation and how she would describe her former master's actions. She thought for a moment before slowly speaking.
"Twenty-eight years ago, Cray Mingla accompanied Master Skywalker on a mission where they found an Imperial Dreadnaught whose AI was programmed to destroy the settlement at Belsavis. To ensure the destruction of the ship, Cray chose to sacrifice herself and be with the man she loved, another Jedi who had died despite her best efforts to save him. At that time, she offered my mother, whose spirit was trapped in the gunnery computer of the Dreadnaught, a second chance at life, and love. Cray did not want to continue living without Nichos Marr, and mom despaired that she had found someone to love, only to lose him. Neither of them knew the consequences of what they were doing.
"I don't know how people felt about her when she first returned to life. But I do know now many people disapprove, not only of mom going against the will of the Force and returning to life when she should have died, but also for the way she left Master Skywalker."
Realizing she was heading off on a tangent, Savyna paused for a breath and to once again gather her thoughts.
"During Nichos' illness, Master Tionne helped Cray look for treatments and possible cures. Through this endeavor they became friends. Good friends. When Nichos died, Master Tionne did what she could to ease Cray's grief and, later, help build the Nichos droid. She firmly believes that Cray wanted to live. That even though she was going through a tough time, losing her fiancé, she would have eventually moved on. Because of this Master Tionne is unwilling, or unable, to accept that Cray chose death. She believes that my mother forced her way into Cray's body, and that Cray would have returned to the Academy were it not for my mother.
"Since my mother is dead, Master Tionne is unable to settle the matter with her. Instead she has decided that I am unworthy of becoming a Jedi. Over the last four years it has been her goal to drive me away and prevent me from completing my training. Not once in my apprenticeship to her have I had a lesson in how to use the Force. She has regularly told me of how great Cray was and of my mother's errors. She has systematically driven away nearly everyone that I called friend. I have heard numerous times that..." Feeling her throat start to tighten with emotion, Savyna forced herself to swallow. "She has said that I am an abomination and a reminder of one of the greatest atrocities in the history of the Jedi.
"Master Tionne has let herself be blinded by her emotions over the loss of her friend. Instead of dealing with the pain, she let it fester. And instead of releasing her anger with my mother, she has transferred it to me.
"However, even though she intended to stagnate my training, Master Tionne has taught me much. I have had a lot of practice at shielding my mind and being aware of my surroundings. Through her attempts to read my mind or catch me unawares, she, inadvertently, honed these skills. She also taught me how to search for answers, where to look when the information I seek is not obvious. While it is not a normal skill of the Jedi, this talent has recently proved useful."
At a loss for what else she should say, Savyna fell silent. Looking into Master Horn's eyes she saw no emotion. Only the face of a man weighing his thoughts. Turning her attention inward she looked at the connection each master had established with her. She could feel each one judging the honesty of her words and measuring her own emotions. Through these bonds she also could feel Master Tionne becoming agitated. She did not turn to look at her former master but kept a portion of her attention on the older woman. Savyna did not expect Tionne to do anything in front of the council, but she also did not want to be caught off guard.
Remaining where she stood, Savyna turned to look when Master Katarn asked her a question. "What is the source of your information? I know that you believe you are telling the truth, but how did you come by it?"
She answered, "Master Tionne often told me of her friendship with Cray. She told me of how they worked together to save Nichos, and her belief that Cray was just going through a difficult time. That she would pull through and be all the better for it. As for how I know what happened between Cray and my mother, I..." She paused to look at Luke. Seeing him give a small nod, she continued. "I saw it. I have visions of my mother's life, or the portion where she had use of the Force. Shortly after I was apprenticed to Master Tionne and she began telling me of how my mother stole Cray's body, I saw in a vision mom and Cray making the decision to trade places."
Corran looked over to where Tionne was sitting. "What do you have to say to this?"
"Alright so I don't want the brat to become a Jedi Knight. She doesn't deserve it. She's an abomination. It's a pity she didn't die of the same plague that took the rest of her family. But there is no way that Cray would have chosen to stay behind. She had too much to live for. She had friends that cared for her. She'd just passed her trials and had so much promise. I cannot believe that she would have wanted to die. The brat's mother must have forced her way into Cray's body."
Savyna fought the urge to flinch at Tionne's words. She'd kept her back to the master as she spoke but still felt the heat of her anger.
Corran returned his full attention to Savyna. Eying her carefully, watchful for any sign the young woman might not be up for his request, he asked her carefully, "Savyna, would you please show us the vision that you saw?"
Savyna felt her stomach drop and her palms turn clammy at the request. She thought back to what she had experienced the first time she witnessed it. Again she looked at Luke, but this time she got no indication of what she should do. Realizing that he was leaving the decision of whether to relive it again up to her, she closed her eyes and took a calming breath. When she opened them again, she met Corran's gaze and simply said, "Yes."