The day was moving toward early evening at the Comraich Charterhouse. The sun was setting and the sky was painted in spectacular shades of red, orange, gold, and purple. It was the last hurrah before twilight fell.
Daibhidh Mac Dhomhnuill, Grand Master of the Grey Order, sat in his study nursing a headache. He closed his eyes momentarily to the dull aching pain and the feeling that he had a tight band wrapped around his head. Damn tension headache. He always developed one when he had to deal with the Elder Council. It wasn't that the council members were intentionally rude, obtuse, or argumentative. But when one is working with multiple sapient species one must be continually aware that they don't necessarily think and react like homo sapiens. Of course, humans are as confusing and frustrating to non-humans so it all evens out eventually. Getting everyone on the same page takes a lot of work, patience, and the sure knowledge that there is a bottle of fine whiskey and good pipe tobacco waiting for you when you are done.
"Well Daibhidh, that was rather entertaining," commented Seneschal MacSheumais.
Mac Dhomhnuill paused in the process of massaging his temples to glare at the Seneschal. "I suppose so, Dòmhnall, considering all you had to do was take notes."
"Of course," he responded with total equanimity. "My job as your second in command."
The Seneschal stretched, picked up his Glencairn of whiskey, and took a sip. He smiled with appreciation. "You've been hoarding this bottle of The Balvenie, Daibhidh"
"Pour a dram for me, if you please, Dòmhnall." He took the glass from the Seneschal and drank half of the golden liquid.
The Meimeal set the glass down with less force than he wanted and fixed Dòmhnall with a speculative look. "Your thoughts?"
"Several council members are skeptical about assisting Master Ren and Master Skywalker," replied the Seneschal.
"That was obvious," the Master agreed. "Master Honvoba of the Ryloth Charterhouse and Master Dystetir Ralinimm of the Shili Charterhouse believe more study and meditation in the Force is warranted. Master Lovome of the Iridonia Charterhouse and Master Heiron of the Zeltros Charterhouse have felt disturbances in the Force prior to our meeting and believe they can be attributed to the attacks on Master Ren and Master Skywalker.
The Master paused to finish his whiskey. "They did agree that the attacks they are experiencing probably are the work of Sith or other dark Force users, though they were not sure that they were enough to tip the balance towards chaos."
"If I might make a suggestion," ventured the Seneschal, "I can consult with my counterparts in the other Charterhouses, coordinate a search in the Force and attempt to pinpoint the origin of this disturbance."
"Good idea, Dòmhnall. Make it so."
**TaBa**
The insistent buzzing of his comm unit brought Inspector Falkus out of a troubled sleep. He reached over, grabbed the offending unit in question off the bedside table, and thumbed the 'voice only' button to connect to the caller.
"Who in the seven bloody hells is calling at such an ungodly hour?" he growled, rolling onto his back and covering his eyes with his free arm.
"Oh dear, I'm sorry old chap," exclaimed the cheerful voice. "I forgot to allow for local time variance."
"Director Bolera," yawned Falkus. "To what do I owe the pleasure of a 3 am comm call?"
Tobian Bolera, Director of the United New Republic Investigations Bureau was not the Inspector's boss per se, but he was a bit higher up the food chain and deserved, if not respect, a bit of grudging tolerance.
"I have great news Peter!" he burbled. "The High Court has agreed to issue a warrant for the arrest of one Ben Solo, also known as Kylo Ren. The First Speaker is having an extradition request created as well."
"Are you serious, Director? Kylo Ren is one of the most powerful Force users in the Galaxy." Not to mention, he thought that the other most powerful Force user in the Galaxy happened to be his girlfriend. "How the hell do you expect me to arrest someone like that?"
"Peter, you know that it's not over until the fat lady sings," gushed Director Bolera. "We need to make the best of a bad situation and strike while the iron is hot. You're already there to arrest Armitage Hux. Might as well kill two birds with one stone and bag them both. Opportunity doesn't knock twice, Peter."
Falkus rubbed his forehead in frustration. He could feel the tension headache blooming behind his eyes. "It sounds like a good way to get killed Tobian. I'm certainly not a Force user and neither is my colleague Inspector Dameron or our guard."
"You can cross that bridge when you get to it, Peter," effused Bolera. "I'm sending a secret weapon along with the courier who will bring the documents you need to arrest Kylo Ren."
"I'm listening," he responded as he got up and walked across the room to turn on the lights. No voice controls. Figures. He's never coming back to Comraich when he's done with this case.
"I must caution you first that you can't breathe a word of this weapon." breathed Bolera
"Will I be put on double top secret probation if I do?" retorted Falkus. Ok, that's pretty snarky but to be fair, it's 3 am and he's not asleep.
"Umm, no, Peter. But it could get you arrested and dropped in a cell indefinitely."
Falkus rolled his eyes. Tobian was such a drama queen.
"Understood. So what are you sending me?"
"Well," said the Director, lowering his voice, "In the wake of the Palpatine emergence the government has been working on a project to neutralize and capture Force-sensitives as necessary."
"Are you talking about Force suppressing shackles?" interrupted Falkus.
"No. As far as the UNR is aware most of them were destroyed by the Empire and the rest were destroyed by the First Order." stated the Director.
Falkus had a sudden suspicion that he knew what the 'secret weapon' was.
"If it's not Force shackles then what are you sending?"
"It's something called Neurostrin. It's an injectable force suppressant that's supposed to last several hours."
Falkus wasn't sure why the Director thought it was top secret. Unless the government was handing it out to bounty hunters like candy and keeping quiet about it. Or it could be that Tobian Bolera was an idiot. Either was feasible.
"Send the details on its administration, dosage, duration, and side effects with the drug, Tobian. When should I expect the courier?"
"Oh, we sent him two standard days ago. He should be there in 3 standard days."
"Anything else?" asked Falkus.
"No, that's it for now. Ciao Peter!"
The Director signed off. Great. Now he's wide awake, he has a headache and he's expected to do the impossible. Welcome to the Bureau of Investigations.
**TaBa**
When Rey lived on Jakku the sun was her enemy. One wrong decision - running out of water, straying too far from shelter, and she would have been a desiccated warning to other desert dwellers.
The sun over Comraich, on the other hand, was a gentle friend that wrapped her in comfortable warmth.
She was sitting outside with Kylo in a stone meditation circle located between the Guest House and the Charterhouse. Well, to be fair, it was actually a circle of standing stones with stone benches placed at regular intervals. At the moment she and Kylo were sitting on the ground, legs crossed, hands resting on their knees, and opened to the Force.
As she felt the ebb and flow of the Force she noticed a growing disturbance.
"Is that what we are, girl? A disturbance?"
Rey's eyes snapped open. In front of them were two figures surrounded by a blue glow.
One was a young man dressed in dark brown and black Jedi robes. He had brown hair that reached his shoulders and piercing brown eyes. There was a scar on the right side of his face that ran from his forehead to the outside of his right eyebrow. He was wearing a black glove on his right hand but his left hand was bare.
The other Force ghost was shorter, dressed in medium brown and cream-colored Jedi robes. His light brown hair and beard were short and neat, his bright blue eyes piercing and intelligent.
Kylo was standing between her and the Force ghosts, his hand on his lightsaber. After a few moments, his shoulders relaxed and he dropped his hand.
"Master Kenobi," he said as he put his palms together in front of his chest and bowed slightly.
Rey scrambled up and imitated Kylo. Palms together, she bowed to the Jedi. "Master Kenobi, Master Anakin, greetings."
Kylo frowned slightly. "I'm not sure I want to talk to you, grandfather."
Anakin rolled his eyes. "I told you, Snoke and Palpatine were blocking my access to you. And your fixation on my Darth Vader phase certainly didn't help."
Rey elbowed Kylo. "Stop grumbling. Maybe they can help." She turned to the Jedi. "We have been attacked in our dreams several times. We think it has something to do with the Sith but we don't know why they are attacking us."
Obi-wan snorted, "Sith again, hey? Buggers are as bad as cockroaches. They breed in the dark and you can't stomp 'em fast enough to get rid of them."
"I suspect they wish to subvert and control your Force abilities, grandson," declared Anakin portentously. "And you also, my dear girl," he added graciously.
"What can you do to help us?" asked Kylo.
"Not a whole lot," admitted Obi-Wan. "The combined powers of the ascendant Jedi Masters went into juicing Rey's power in the Force so she could defeat Palpatine. We're out of gas at the moment."
"Your best chance right now is to accept the help of the Grey Adepts," added Anakin. "Daibhidh Mac Dhomhnuill is an annoying old coot, but he is strong and knowledgeable in the Force."
He gave Kylo a pointed look. "Emphasis on knowledgeable."
Kylo chose to ignore the barb. "Anything else?"
"Nope, that's about it," acknowledged Obi-wan.
He and Anakin bowed formally, palms together in front of their chests.
"Masters," said Anakin in farewell.
Kylo and Rey returned the formal gesture.
"Masters," said Kylo. "Farewell Grandfather," he added only a little grudgingly.
Author's Notes: Summary - The Grey Council of Elders have met and are pondering whether they will help Kylo and Rey. Inspector Falkus gets an annoying late-night comm call. Kylo and Rey talk with two Jedi Force ghosts.
I'm sorry this is a bit late. I had to take my grandson home this weekend and I was pooped by the time I got back. I've got the next chapter blocked out so it should be up in a few days.
I really enjoy writing the Inspector Falkus sections. He can be a real curmudgeon at times.
I haven't forgotten Phasma and Kateria. They will be back soon.