Chapter 15

"Lucas?" asked Master Kresh from the entrance to the clan common room. It was a few hours after the duel, and the initiates were getting ready to go to bed. "Come with me to my office, please."

Lucas, who had been sitting at one of the tables, reading, stood up and put his holo-pad aside before walking over to follow Kresh to his office. His office was nearby, as was his quarters. His office was a simple affair. To the right was his desk that faced the wall, with a computer and holo-com on it, as well as a teapot and two tea cups on a silver plate. The tea pot was steaming. To the left were two meditation pads, that he and Darro sat on.

"So," said Kresh, clapping his four hands together. "I guess you're wondering why I brought you here."

"I might have an idea or two," said Lucas guardedly.

"Hmm," said Kresh, who turned to grab the plate. "Tea?"

"Yes, please," said Lucas, who gladly accepted a steaming tea cup, before taking a sip. "Thank you."

"Well," said Kresh after they spent a few moments sipping. "I noticed, earlier today, that you were rather friendly with Kohlo."

"Yes…" said Lucas slowly, clutching his tea cup closer to himself, as if to guard it from attack.

"I'm glad that you are finally making some friends," said Kresh, with a slight smile. "It's a step in the right direction, but I want you to know that you shouldn't feel obligated to make friends if you don't want to. It was wrong of me to demand that you do. For that, I'm sorry."

Kresh then heaved a sigh.

"Lucas," he said. "I feel that I must apologize for what happened yesterday, and earlier today. I… when you first came here, I thought you would be just another initiate, another child that I was responsible for. I didn't take into consideration your history, and what kind of impact it could have had on you, and for that I apologize. I understand now what kind of affect your history had on your mind."

"I see," said Lucas quietly. "I apologize for my rudeness yesterday. I shouldn't have shouted at you."

"Under the circumstances, I understand," said Kresh in a wry tone. "as for earlier today, I should have stepped in when Brajus had his breakdown. I apologize for that as well."

"Why didn't you?" asked Lucas curiously.

Kresh frowned deeply, casting his mind back to that particular event. He had felt the anger leading up to the event, and had planned to have a strong word with Brajus about his feelings afterwards, but the event itself had caught him by surprise. When Brajus had realized that he couldn't beat Lucas, his anger had turned into despair so quickly that Kresh hadn't been sure how to react.

At first, he had thought it was Lucas's fault, but Lucas was just as surprised as he was. Uncertain what to do, Kresh had simply let events play out, and then cleaned up afterwards.

"Let's just say that even I can be surprised at times," said Kresh in response. "I don't blame you for what happened, Lucas. I don't think anyone was expecting it, least of all you."

"Er… thank you? I guess," said Lucas confusedly. "is that all?"

"One last thing," said Kresh. "I will be reporting to the High Council tomorrow, and I plan to recommend that you receive therapy, due to the obvious issues you have remaining from your life as a slave, and to help you adjust to your new life."

"Oh. Well, thank you, Sir," said Lucas, who seemed relieved. "I look forward to it."

Kresh frowned slightly. That was odd, he had expected Lucas to resist. Oh well, he guesses he should know now to expect the unexpected from Lucas.

"You're Welcome!" He replied, before indicating the door. "You may go."

With a slight bow, Lucas left.

(***)

"Ah, Master Yndul," said Kresh cheerfully when he arrived in the council waiting chambers.

Yndul was a brunette human female with brown eyes and a slim figure. They were both going to deliver their reports together, as to compare notes and such.

"Master Kresh," said Yndul calmly, looking up from her holo-pad. "How are you?"

"Oh, I'm doing fine. Raising younglings can be difficult sometimes, but it is rewarding," said Kresh with a smile. "How are you doing? Having any problems with your younglings?"

"Quite fine, thank you," Yndul replied. "The younglings are doing fine, no problems. How about yours?"

Kresh was prevented from answering by the beep of the com. The Council had called for them.

"Shall we?" asked Kresh, indicating the door.

They walked though it to see that the full council wasn't here, just Mace Windu, Plo Koon, and Adi Gallia. This was rather common, as the Council had various duties that kept them from always attending a full council if it wasn't warranted.

Kresh was a bit surprised to see Adi Gallia there, but it made sense, given that Adi was the High Council's liaison with the Council of Reassignment, which was the group that handled Initiate care.

"Master Yndul, Master Kresh," said Windu when they arrived, standing up to greet them personally and shake their hands. "I hope you are doing well?"

"Quite fine, thank you," said Yndul.

"Me too," said Kresh.

Windu sat back down.

"So, it's been two months," said Plo. "How are our probational initiates doing?"

Kresh clasped his hands behind his back, giving a significant nod to Yndul to indicate that she went first.

"Anakin is… still adjusting to his new life as a Jedi," she said. "He still misses his mother and Lucas terribly, but he is progressing well. He's having a difficult time making new friends, as everyone refers to him as the chosen one, and tend to shun him."

"How are his studies going?" asked Adi.

"He's behind," said Yndul. "all the other students have been training for years, but Anakin has only just started. Even with his mastering over Shii-Cho and the basic Force abilities, it will be a while before he catches up to the others. I believe that he will be ready to initiate trials in 2 to 3 years. The only place where he is ahead is in his science, mechanics, and engineering classes."

"Any areas that he struggles with?"

"Not particularly," said Yndul, who then hesitated. "but I have noticed a… peculiarity."

"Such as?" asked Windu.

"Well…"

(***)

"BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!" yelled Anakin as he mowed through a horde of Droids.

(***)

"He said Lucas taught him to say that when they were training," said Yndul with a blush. "I've managed to get him to stop, but it's hard going. Other than that, I feel that there's nothing to worry about."

Kresh couldn't help but suppress a chuckle.

"It sounds like he's adjusting well," said Adi, not hiding her own laugh.

"Yes," said Yndul.

"Master Kresh, your report?" said Windu, who didn't seem amused. Then again, it was Windu.

Kresh gave a sigh, the seriousness of the situation returning to him.

"When you said Lucas was unusually talented, I didn't realize by how much," said Kresh sincerely. "Within the first month, Lucas outstripped his peers in his force training. He easily mastered techniques in weeks that took his clan mates years. Like Anakin, he's already attending advanced science, mechanics, and engineering classes. With his mastery over Shii-Cho he started training in Soresu though he only has the bare basics down. The only place where he is behind is History and Politics class."

"Interesting," said Plo. "So, he is a prodigy."

"It would seem so," Kresh replied. "But…"

"Yes?" asked Adi.

Kresh sighed.

"Lucas has experienced significant trauma in his life before coming here," said Kresh. "Until I asked him about it, he made very little attempts to make friends in his clan, and in fact socially isolated himself. When I asked him about it, he said that he preferred being alone. When I told him that his clan was supposed to be his support and help each other, he said and I quote:

'Help people in need!? Don't make me laugh, if that's true then why is still slavery in the galaxy why is there countless people in shackles right now and the Jedi are doing nothing about it. Where were the Jedi when I was separated from my mother because I didn't want to be a sex slave! Where were the Jedi when a 9 year old child had to risk his life in order to gain freedom for him and his new family from the Hutts!? The Jedi have never helped me before, and I don't need their help now.'"

Kresh paused briefly to let that information ripple around the room.

"Of course, he said that in anger and irritation," he continued. "but I think it has a basis in truth."

"Do you believe that we made a mistake allowing him to join the Order?" asked Windu, who seemed a bit shaken.

"No," said Kresh, shaking his head. "Lucas is an extraordinary individual who needs guidance and help. Expelling him from the Order wouldn't be a good idea. I think he would make a wonderful jedi. He just needs help adjusting.

Kresh paused significantly. "He needs to confront his past so that he will be ready for his future."

"So you're suggesting therapy," said Adi thoughtfully, before turning to Windu and Plo. "I believe it's a good idea."

"Initiates have never needed therapy before," argued Windu.

"Lucas isn't an ordinary Initiate," said Plo. "Like Kresh said, he's an extraordinarily talented young man who has a traumatic background, a young man we admitted because we couldn't ignore said talent. If he needs help, then it is our duty as Jedi to give him whatever help he needs."

"I concur," said Adi.

Windu sighed.

"Very well, we will arrange for Lucas to receive therapy," said Windu. "And so long as he's doing it, we might as well have Anakin do it as well."

"Thank you, Master Windu," said Kresh.

(***)

Dr. Camora Douran, Jedi Knight, Ph. D. Psychiatry.

Office of Jedi Psychiatry.

Subject: Lucas Skywalker.

Race: Human.

Admission: Order from Jedi High Council.

Notes: Subject was admitted to the Jedi Order at the age 12 for displaying an unusual talent in the Force, along with an unusual maturity. He is here on 'Probationary Status', a status created by the High Council just so that they could admit him and his younger brother Anakin. Admittedly highly unusual, but everything about this case is 'Highly unusual'. Subject will be attending sessions with me thrice weekly.

All records are appended.

Session Transcripts

Session 1.

Lucas: Hello, Master Douran.

Dr. Douran: Welcome, Darro. You may refer to as Camora.

Lucas: Thank you, Camora.

Dr. Douran: You're Welcome. Please, have a seat.

Dr. Douran: So, you're the prodigy everyone's talking about these days, yes?

Lucas: Sure.

Dr. Douran: It says here that you were ordered to attend these sessions by order of the High Council, and the recommendation of your Clan Master. Tell me, Lucas, do you want to attend these sessions?

Lucas: Not particularly, but I feel that I need them.

Dr. Douran: Oh? Why do you feel so?

Lucas: I think it will be good for me to finally resolve all these issues I'm sure I have. I don't believe that someone with my history would have come out entirely sane.

Dr. Douran: I see.

Lucas: So, where do we start?

Dr. Douran: Why not at the beginning?

Lucas: That sounds fair. Ok, I was born in a…

*INTERSESSION*

Lucas: …and that's how I came to be here today.

Dr. Douran: …

Lucas: Master?

Dr. Douran: I can see why you're here today. Anyhow, our time is up, see you on Monday, Darro.

Darro: I look forward to it.

Session 10.

Dr. Douran: Lucas, I noticed that… during our talks, you tend to skip over your time at 'Institution'. Is there a reason why?

Lucas: It's too painful to talk about.

Dr. Douran: You'll need to talk about it eventually, Lucas. Suppressing your memories of it isn't healthy.

Lucas: I know. I just… I can't talk about it right now. Eventually, but now right now.

Dr. Douran: Very well.

Session 28.

Lucas: Good afternoon, Camora.

Dr. Douran: Good afternoon to you too. What do you feel like talking about today?

Lucas: I think… I think I'm ready to talk about the Institution.

Dr. Douran: Are you sure?

Lucas: Yeah, I'm… I'm tired of not dealing with it. I almost hurt Kahlo because of it.

Dr. Douran: I heard.

Lucas: Yeah, it seems everyone heard. I don't want that to happen again.

Dr. Douran: Of course.

Lucas: Right. So. Where do I start?

Dr. Douran: At the beginning.

(***)

Dr. Douran's office was a fairly pleasant room, painted a homely shade of reddish brown, various plants everywhere, a few landscape paintings. When I had attended therapy in my past life, I had sat down in a chair. Here, I was laying down on a couch.

"At the beginning, that sounds good," I said, before sighing. "You remember what I told you I did to avoid the child sex thing, right?"

"Yes, I remember," said Douran.

That's what I like about her, she didn't judge me for stuff.

"Right, well… a few months after that happened, my owner, Gobda, had me tested, and found out that I was in the 91st percentile for intelligence, just high enough to get into Brababa's institute, which he sold me to."

"When I arrived, I was 'processed' the way a criminal might be processed when they enter prison. The Handlers had me washed, gave me a shave, checked for any smuggling, and gave me a set of clothes. I was led to a holding cell, where I stayed for two days with three other boys.

"On the third day, we were led out one by one to surgery, with implants that would notify our handlers everything we do with a computer or datapad. Thankfully they gave me anesthetic, so I wasn't awake during the process, but it wasn't pleasant to wake up with it.

"Afterwards, we were all led to our cells, which was more like a suite, as it was a bedroom with the study room and bathroom attached. The bed was soft and nice to sleep on, we could turn the lights on and off, the temperature was kept at a nice 80 degrees, and the bathroom wasn't nasty.

"When I arrived at my cell, I thought the next few years would be ok. Not great, but ok. I was proven wrong within the hour."

Here I paused, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. Flashes of memory played out under my eye lids.

"Shortly after my arrival, I was ordered to enter a classroom and sit in the chair. There was a droid hutt along with at least 200 others with me. The droid hutt began teaching us and after 2 months we had a test. I remember that I had gotten a 79 on that test. Anyway during the same night my neighbor was ejected into space." I said

"Excuse me when you say eject into space do you mean…."

"Yes, the guards dragged him out into an airlock and ejected him into the airlock." I said with an empty voice.

Dr. Douran's skin began to pale and he was quiet. He looked at me in both pity and understanding.

"We can stop if you wish to." Dr. Douran said and I nodded as I walked out of the room.

(***)

"How do you feel about your time at the 'Institution'?" Dr. Douran

"I hated it." I said

"Understandable, I do have another question. How did you cope during your time there?"Dr. Douran asked

"I accepted it." I said

"Accepted?"

"I was born a slave, taken from my mother and that my life was at the hands of cruel people. I accept all that happened to me." I said

"How did that help?" Dr. Douran asked with a little worry in his voice

"I was powerless and I could rage against the cruelty of the galaxy but that wouldn't help me at all. By accepting my circumstances I realize the only thing I could do is persevere to see the next day and the next."

"I see." Dr. Douran

(***)

"Tell your opinions on the Jedi." Dr. Douran

"Why do you wish to now?" I asked

"Well during your burst in front of Master Kresh it applies you blame the Jedi to what happened to you and your family to some extent." Dr. Douran

"It's complicated." I said

"Don't worry about it. Take your time."

I took a deep breath before collecting my thoughts. During my time at the Temple I read about history. I was not dumb enough to rely soley on my meta knowledge. Anyway after reading about the history from the Temple books and meditating on my memories. My opinions on the Jedi Order were solidified.

"As people I believe the Jedi are good people who wish to do the right thing." I said

"I'm sensing a but." Dr. Douran

"But as an organization it's fundamentally flawed." I said

"How so?" Dr. Douran asked in a inquisitive tone

"There are a number of flaws I can tell you but let's summarize with the top 3. The Acquisition department and how younglings are raised reminds me of how slaves separate families and raise the children to be perfect slaves." I said

"In what way?" Dr. Douran in a curious but affronted tone

"The Jedi might have the legal right to take every Force sensitive but that doesn't stop the hatred and depression of the parents. Have you ever seen a mother separated from her child in which I have seen countless times. The mother either goes into depression and doesn't come out or has a deep hatred of the galaxy which often leads to their deaths." I said

"Some parents happily allow their children to be accepted into the Order." Dr. Douran said

"True," I conceded that point, "but what about those who don't want to give their children up to the Jedi? What do the Jedi do?" I asked and Dr. Douran stayed silent because he knows what the Acquisition department does. I moved onto my next point

"What makes slavery so preverlant in Hutt space is very similar to how very few Jedi leave the Order. You see since most jobs in Hutt space are done by slaves so if by some off chance a slave gets free you won't find any jobs in the sector since they are done by other slaves so the only way you have a stable life has a free slave if you leave Hutt space entirely or are lucky enough to find a stable job which the chances are very low. Which discourages slaves to ever think about attaining freedom similar to how the Order discourage leaving because you will be leaving the only life you ever known." I said

Dr. Douran looked with slightly widened eyes before shaking his head. I sense some form of appreciation of that comparison.

"What are the other reasons?" Dr. Douran asked, trying to move on from my description of the Order requirement pitch.

"The Order's negligence. I know the Jedi can't solve every wrong doing in the galaxy because I know it's impossible. But that doesn't excuse the Order for doing nothing about slavery. They had what 1,000 years and they did nothing to curve slavery? Maybe if Jedi did something decades ago slavery might not be so prevalant in outer-rims or Hutt Space" I said

Dr. Douran seems to agree with me on that note.

"Your final reason?" Dr. Douran asked

"The final flaw of the Jedi that I believe to be the ultimate flaw of the Order." I said

"What would that be?" Dr. Douran asked

"The Order being tied down to the Senate." I said and Dr. Douran looked with some form of understanding and agreement.

"The Order before the Ruusan Reform were monks who traveled across the universe helping people in need such as fighting 1 man wars against the Hutts or other criminal organizations without the Senate or legal authority. Sure it can be argued that the past Jedi did more harm than good but that's just a matter of opinions. But with the current Order only going around interfering with things the Senate deem worthy of their attention. Even though the Jedi do good despite the corruption, the Jedi ultimately don't help the small people, only the Senate." I said

Dr. Douran took note on his datapad.

(***)

"Dr. Douran, Dr. Azel, how are our patients?" Adi asked

Azel stepped up with all his notes with a calm confidence that I envy right now.

"Anakin's trauma is manageable. Sometime he forgets he's free to make his own choice and have a deep seeded hatred for slavery but in time I believe I can help with his emotions." Azel said in a confident tone.

"What about you Douran?" Adi asked

I took a deep breath before sighing, "Lucas does have some trauma but he easily handles it then one would suspect." I said

"Uhm interesting, may I ask how he managed to do so?" Adi asked

"In his own words, acceptance. Lucas accepted that he was a slave and crying about it wouldn't help him at all." I said

Adi nodded but looked at me, "I'm sensing there's a problem about young Lucas?"

"Yes, at Master Kresh's suggestion I asked him about the Order since Master Kresh believes Lucas blames the Order for what he and his family went through." I said

"Does he?" Adi asked

I shook my head, "No, he doesn't hate per say but more along the lines of frustration. He knows that the Jedi can't destroy slavery in it's entirely but he's frustrated on how the Jedi don't try to free other slaves or at least help the worlds in the mid and outer worlds."

"Uhm interesting. Are there any other frustrations that young Lucas has?" Adi asked

"You don't know half of it. Lucas wrote entire essays about the flaws he sees in the Order through his own opinions and historical records about the Order through our library. Almost all of his arguments have merits to them which is frightening to say the least." I said

"Uhm may I read these essays?" Adi asked and I nodded as I pressed the send button on my datapad to send the essays to Master Adi.

Adi looked at her datapad and nodded before looking back at us, "Thank you for your work." Both me and Azel nodded

For people complaining about Lucas actions so far let me tell you he's human. I'm not going to make Lucas into a Gary Sue who always makes the right decisions. No he will make mistakes, feel fear, anger, despair and have his own weaknesses. The reason why Lucas told Sidious about his technique he created was because of fear. Lucas knew if Sidious really wanted to know he would have by pass his "weak" mental barriers and if Sidious digged a little deeper he would have found information about the future. That was not a risk Lucas was willing to take to he told.