Tython

Apparently, word had been put out to the front gate that Shemric's arrival was to be noted and he was immediately to be escorted to the grand master's office. Shem wondered what had prompted that, but he supposed it could have been his disappearance on Coruscant and the supply ship's return without him on it. It turned out that she was not even there, but the youngling who had been given the task to escort him looked quite determined, so Shemric simply sat and meditated. Even if it had never felt like a home, the temple here was at least a peaceful place. After a time, the youngling grew restless and Shemric said he would tell the grand master that her messenger had done his job well. The boy smiled and ran off quickly, leaving Shem alone.

"I thought it must be you," came a voice in the midst of his meditation and Shem opened his eyes to see the Battlemaster watching him. "No one else has quite the … unique … feel in the Force as you do. I see Satelle is making you wait."

"A very determined youngling saw to it that I came here immediately," said Shem.

"And only you among all the masters would sit here patiently under the eye of a child," said Nofa. She ran her hand threw his hair affectionately. "What is that on your chin?" she asked.

"She likes it," said Shem. "Well, sometimes."

"Ah, so it was your Sith yummers again, was it?" she said. "Well, anything exciting happen?"

He smiled. "We fought a Sith Lord and five Mandos on Coruscant," he delivered dryly. "Then we flew to meet the Mandalore herself, only to be promptly betrayed to the Empire. We made a bit of a mess and then were rescued, sort of, by the Mandalorian champion. With half the galaxy looking for us, we hid for a couple of weeks on an uninhabited planet in the Outer Rim, went on a camping trip to a Force nexus and nearly died of hypothermia. After we tired of camping, we made a little luxury visit to Corellia and then she sent me off on my own private ship to return. How 'bout you? Anything interesting happen?"

"Cleary I need to get out more," mumbled Nofa. Then she poked Shem in the chest with a small walking stick. "I'll expect a few more details when the grand master is finished."

"Why not wait around for a bit?" he suggested. "I am sure she will invite you in with us."

"You think?" she speculated and then hopped up on a chair next to him. They talked about the stir he had created when he did not return, and the fact that she had already initiated some of their anti-Mandalorian training without him. "I have fought a few of them in my time," was all she said.

After perhaps another hour, Grand Master Shan appeared, alone, and her eyes widened slightly when she saw Shem sitting.

"Master Norm," she said and there was definite amusement in her voice. "How long have you been waiting?"

"I was not keeping track," he shrugged. "Two or three hours. Nofa here has been keeping me company."

"Well let's go in my office before anyone else wants to speak with me," she said, and shooed them through the double doors. When they were all seated, she continued rather abruptly. "Shemric, I have been very anxious of late. I think something is going to happen and I want to know what you have been doing lately."

Shemric blinked several times and wondered how to respond. Julienne said that he was not to tell the grand master anything, but apparently, she already knew.

"Shemric and his Sith lady are recruiting allies," said Nofa. "At least that much is clear to me."

The grand master looked at him and he nodded. "I do not really know the whole plan. Julienne says it is to protect me—and I am not good at keeping secrets."

"Well, without sounding to overly dramatic, I sense that we are nearing a point of decision or action," said Shan. "And you are saying you cannot tell me more?" Her gaze was stern and Shem could only shrug.

"She told me to go back and train hard," he said.

Nofa cackled. "Oh, this is going to be fun."

What developed was a small training group of masters and advanced knights who worked personally under the direction of Master Bariim and was quite often joined by the grand master. Shemric felt them coming together as a group and wondered if the dozen or so individuals that were included would be the core of their strike team when they inevitably assaulted the Emperor. Nofa insisted that Shem reveal to them his unique ability to absorb and repurpose Force-power which gave him a free hand to do pretty much anything he wished.

Since he had brought his Mando armor with him and was comfortable in it, he also headed up the anti-Mandalorian training for many of the other Jedi. When Nofa suggested he integrate it into his own training he began to develop a unique, often unpredictable form of fighting that combined several disciplines and use the Force and technology in equal measure.

And unexpected side result was that the masters all came to consider him one of them and they were harsh on anyone who suggested he did not deserve the title. If there was one surprise, it was that Orosan had not joined them, nor had she sought him out.

"I sent her off," said the grand master, when he mentioned it.

Shem blinked. "How do you mean?"

The grand master gave him a kindly smile. "Do you think we would have been able to keep her back from what we are doing?" Shemric shook his head. "And do you want her death on your conscience?" This time his head shake was even more emphatic. The grand master shrugged. "I found something for her to do out in the Outer Rim as far away from the Sith capital as I could find."

Shemric nodded gratefully. It was one thing that he would not have to worry about when the time came.

When Shem had been back for four weeks, something happened that showed him clearly that their time was short. The Grand Master was away for something and she had left Master Panarch in charge in her place. He and his former master were walking back from the training floor after a particularly trying session and they turned a corner to come face to face with a group of armed men and women. To anyone but a Jedi they might have passed muster, but Shemric immediately felt their hostile intent and had his lightsaber in hand before any of the persons in question could attack. Even then, he was a step behind Master Panarch, who leaped into their midst even as they began firing. Several red sabers ignited then and blaster fire came hot and heavy, but in the face of two dangerous masters the assassins did not stand for long.

When the last enemy was down, Master Panarch turned quickly to look over Shemric and then nodded brusquely. "I don't sense other enemies, but I want to know how they made it this far." He ran off and Shemric fell in next to him, unease permeating his consciousness. He felt for Master Panarch's solid Force-aura and found his center quickly. They found several bodies of Jedi and younglings in the hallways as they made their way to the front gate. It was empty and the Jedi on guard had been shot neatly in the head with what Shemric suspected was a long-range weapon. Panarch was fuming as he punched in the general alarm and the Temple began to stir like an insect mound poked with a stick.

"Shemric, I am calling a council meeting immediately and I want you to go somewhere and make yourself very small," said Panarch. "Pick somewhere random. I don't want anyone to find you. I don't like something like this happening when the Grand Master is out. It seems too coincidental. I will send my guards to the gate. Wait for them and then go." When Shemric nodded, Panarch ran off quickly. Within five minutes, a full squad of Jedi with a master in charge took over at the gate, looking grim. Shemric did as he was told and spent the night in an empty room he picked at random. He sensed no more turmoil, but he was not comfortable sleeping either.

Panarch found him in the morning and updated him on the Temple's status before sending him off to sleep. "I want you sleeping in a different bed every night," said the acting grand master. "I am going to post guards on your room, but it will be empty. Let's hope Satelle comes back sooner than later.

The atmosphere in the temple felt much like it did during the war years and every entrance was manned at all times of the day. Training was suspended and there was a sense of impending conflict coming that was remarked on by many. Shem knew it was so. It was why he was not surprised when Julienne finally came back to him.