Chapter Six
Not too long after Arden Lyn and Xendor Kashi Mer had left for their missions, five months before, Tiberius had intended to arrange for a chat with Master Pina about the former. After all, the Head of the Council had observed signs of familiarity with a woman he once knew in this youngling. Digging through his genetic records, he was able to confirm who her parents were but vowed to withhold that information until it suited him. But unfortunately, Pina's duties as a Guardian meant that he was out for missions to frequently for a personal conversation.
So instead, Tiberius had resorted to waiting until the next annual Council meeting and see if an opportunity to use the information for humiliation would come up. In the meantime, he would order Councilman Priam to go to Coruscant and remain at the side of the Chancellor until that next meeting. More than ever, the Chancellor was going to need the support of the Jedi Order if he was going to satisfy the requests of the Senate and crush the doubts of the Courts. Especially if he plans to win votes for future terms in his seat Tiberius added to himself quietly.
However, it seemed as though the mention of the future had acted as a gateway for premonition for Tiberius was then flooded with visions of war and death not unlike what he had fought in before. Smiling unpleasantly, he walked back to his chambers and pulled back the drawer in which he put his sheathed sword away after each training session he had with either other Masters or young Padawans. Had it already been nineteen years since he had used this sword to strike down the King of the Kashi Mer Dynasty in fair combat, that long since Pina had ordered that the King's son be spared? That long since the Guardians of Breath had disappeared into hiding, never to return from Known Space?
Was another war already imminent after nearly fifteen years of watchful, well-earned peace? I had hoped that the Order would know peace when we destroyed the Kashi Mer Dynasty. But somehow, I sense the makings of another great war on the horizon he thought to himself. "Damn you Pina, you should never have spared that boy Xendor!" he exclaimed.
"Are you talking to Pina, Master Tiberius?" a familiar voice, from behind the wall, asked. "No Master Jook-jook, I wasn't," Tiberius answered. Using the door that led into Tiberius' room, Master Jook-jook H'broozin entered Tiberius' room with medicine for Tiberius' headaches. Ever since the attack on Kashi Mer, Tiberius had been troubled with heavy headaches after seeing the future.
Having likely sensed his trouble, Jook-jook pleased Tiberius in always having medicine ready. "You were once a great warrior, weren't you?" Tiberius asked. "In my youth, I was one of the finest. But now my Padawan, Danzigorro may obtain part of my legacy as Blendri has," Jook-jook answered. "How is Blendri doing now, if you don't mind my curiosity?" Tiberius inquired.
"She's fine, she has taken young Cuthallox as a Padawan and is training her in the Jedi way. If this one learns as rapidly as Blendri did, we may have another fine Knight," Jook-jook replied. As Tiberius drank the cold, medicinal soup that Jook-jook had made, he guessed what had ailed him. "Yes, the future has always been a trouble for me amongst all the powers that could be taking a toll on me as a result of killing the King.
"I wonder if he struck me with something during the fighting that impairs me so," Tiberius confessed. "Unlikely, this kind of trouble doesn't come from physical blows such as his sword slicing into your skull. This is something internal, something involving the energies of the Force aligning against you when you use this power," Jook-jook countered. "That's comforting," Tiberius sarcastically stated.
"Even if there is another great war on the horizon, you have improved your strategic abilities and have required all members of the Council to do the same. If it's paid off, it won't be any problem overcoming the causation of this new war, would it?" Jook-jook asked. "I don't know, I truly don't know," Tiberius answered. Exactly why I wish I could just feed you some poison and watch you die Jook-jook thought but didn't say.
For years, the old man had watched as Tiberius ascended to leadership of the Order from very humble Initiate beginnings. During that time, he had seen an unhealthy change in the philosophy of the Order that became less peaceful and more like another piece of the Republic Army. Since then, despite his orders to stay in medicine, Jook-jook trained in combat for the day when he'd challenge Tiberius. For the sake of the Order, he hoped that war did come and kill off Tiberius and those who supported him on the Council unless he managed to do it himself.
"Sir, have you ever considered that perhaps you might be able to prevent war from happening by renouncing your ban on the study of Force traditions outside of the Order?" Jook-jook asked. It was a polite gesture though a futile one, he was accustomed to the answer that he would always get. "Of course not, the ban is there so that the Jedi could be united under a single philosophy rather than several conflicting ones," Tiberius answered. "Sorry Master, I guess I have just become accustomed to the wishful thinking of a foolish old man," Jook-jook stated.
But in truth, he wasn't sorry nor had he fallen into the senility of old age that normally claimed human beings. Rather, he merely put this up as an affront that satisfied Tiberius' own questions about whether or not Danzigorro should remain under Jook-jook's supervision. First chance I get, I shall leave you and you will need someone else to give you medicine Jook-jook vowed silently. "Thank you for the medicine, you are dismissed," Tiberius said.
Bowing, Jook-jook left just in time to hear the beginnings of a river of cheering and he wondered what it could be. Descending down the stairs of the dormitory tower, he saw that younger members of the Order were cheering for the return of Xendor Kashi Mer. "So the young man was able to beat back those pirates, after all," he thought aloud with a smile. Xendor smiled, waved, and thanked the other Padawans with full knowledge that he was no longer a part of their crowd.
Then his eyes fell on the old man and he struggled through the crowd to speak with him. "What would you want with the legendary Miracle Man?" Jook-jook asked. "It's private, do you know somewhere we can go to speak alone?" Xendor replied. Jook-jook nodded and guided Xendor to the sparring chambers which were closed to all except them.
"Here, no one will come in here without my consent or Tiberius' and he doesn't like to be bothered for anything at this late hour," Jook-jook said. "I wonder if he can ever be bothered to do anything that isn't in his best interests sometimes," Xendor admitted. "He seldom does, if ever. I doubt he would have waged war on the Kashi Mer Dynasty if it hadn't served his purpose," Jook-jook said.
"Which is what I came to talk to you about. While I was away I came to a cold, desert planet where I thought there would be few to no inhabitants. Sure enough, almost all the Kashi Mer Guardians of Breath and I found out about my past and about how Tiberius had led the war efforts," Xendor said. "Now you wish to know if Tiberius was the one who struck down your father and ordered your mother's execution," Jook-jook guessed.
Xendor nodded and Jook-jook sighed a heavy sigh despite knowing how old he was and how unintimidating death now sounded to him. "Yes, your father and mother were the rulers of the Dynasty and yes it was Tiberius who killed your father by kneecapping and decapitating him. But it was Councilman Priam who ordered your mother be brutally executed the way she was," he said at last. At first, Xendor didn't know what to say as he could hardly believe what another Jedi had told him.
"And Tiberius would have killed me too were it not for Master Pina's intervention," he said at last. "Yes, Pina defied Tiberius to ensure that you lived to be a strong young man who has served the Order well," Jook-jook admitted. "But why?" Xendor asked. "Because Pina believed that by destroying the Dynasty in cold blood, we had become no better than the Followers of Bogan.
"He believed that in order to be purified of our act of random, fearful violence, we needed to spare the life of one of the children of royalty and raise him as one of our own rather than killing them all. But he chose you due to your connection to the Force and your then-unconscious ability to utilize it somewhat," Jook-jook answered. "So any siblings I had were allowed to die just because they didn't have a connection to the Force?" Xendor demanded. "Had Pina found them, they wouldn't have been allowed but he and I both fear they were likely amongst the first casualties," the old man replied.
Xendor sighed heavily, burdened by the fact that all his family were dead and that he and the Guardians of Breath were the only things left in the ancient Dynasty. "Jook-jook, do you have something I could use for experimentation in better understanding the subtleties of the Force? Any herbs known to react certain ways to certain applications of power under the right circumstances?" he asked. "I may have something but I am not entirely sure what you're looking for just on that note," Jook-jook answered.
"In that case, perhaps something that can react to applications of Bogan and any other destructive power like Darksight from the Way of the Dark?" Xendor replied. "Hm, I may have something but I don't know how long it's been in its bottle for. Most of the herbs and medicines I have are ones that haven't been used at least since the Despot War. I am not entirely sure if the older herbs from the Force Wars have maintained their reactivity this long," Jook-jook admitted.
"I thought there'd be a little more of a challenge in persuading you to help me in studying Bogan than that," Xendor said. "Young boy, I already know why you want to: in order to better understand the ways of Bogan and teach the means to control and/or counter it to others. I once tried the very same thing myself when I was young but to no avail as I had no true Bogan power in me," Jook-jook said. "Now, with the Talisman helping me, perhaps I can realize both our dreams and we can come out as heroes of the Order," Xendor said.
"I'll be getting the plants ready for you as soon as you desire, will there be others who will join us?" Jook-jook asked. "Yes but not immediately: only one will join us for now," Xendor answered. "And who is that one?" Jook-jook inquired. "Arden Lyn," Xendor replied with a smile.
Returning on the heels of Jedi Knight Xendor Kashi Mer, her old friend, Arden Lyn had feared her achievements being overshadowed by his own. However, Tiberius had seen to it that she was equally rewarded for her own achievement in finding the Oracle as he had been for his deeds. After that, she decided to see if she could find Xendor himself and ask him what he intended to do with his rank. Hours went by and not a sign of the son of Kashi Mer was to be seen in the Ossus temple but she found him near the sparring chambers after a chat with Jook-jook H'broozin.
The Healer of the Order? What would the Healer want with Xendor or vice versa? Arden asked herself curiously. Walking over to where Xendor was, she was about to ask when he proudly stated that her timing couldn't have been better as he was about to start looking for her. "Wait, why?" she asked aloud.
"Because I wanted to include you into something that Jook-jook and I have unofficially began. Something that may see us coming out as heroes if it's done right," Xendor answered. "I'm listening but I don't understand why you'd want more glory than you already have. You and I have already been allowed to skip over the rank of Padawan and into Knighthood, the first ever to do so," she said.
"You make a very valid point, my old friend but I assure you that this will be even better. We're going to research the mechanisms behind Bogan itself and understand how it works," he said. At first, Arden said nothing as though frozen into place by what he said about researching Bogan. When she finally spoke, what she said might have discouraged him under other circumstances.
"Xendor, that's exactly what the Followers of Bogan tried doing before it corrupted them and ignited the Force Wars. What makes you think you'd have any better luck?" she demanded. "I have the Talisman of my ancestors for one and for two, Jook-jook has our inanimate guinea pigs," he replied. "Herbs from the Force Wars that react to Bogan power being applied to them in a certain way?" she guessed.
"Bingo, we can use it to understand not only what a person possessed by Bogan can do but also research its effects on the mind of the user," he admitted. "You're going to use yourself as a guinea pig as well!" she quietly exclaimed. "Not quite yet but I do intend to get to a point where that may just be the case, yes. But in the meantime, I would like some information from you if you don't mind sharing it," he replied.
"Sure, what can I provide?" she said. She wasn't liking where this was going but it had her curiosity. After all, her aunt and uncle had always encouraged to think outside the box and had told her about how Master Pina was very much a free-thinker himself. But it was when she finally met him that not only was it confirmed but she could see it in action somewhat.
"I would like to know what are some of the core philosophies of the Followers of Palawa? How did they incorporate these philosophies into the training of Terras Kasi or into other life aspects? Did you yourself apply any of these philosophies to aid your understanding of the Jedi Code and if so, how?" he asked. "Well, we-that is the priests of Palawa-believed that after the Jedi destroyed the homeworld, a way to keep them in check was needed to ensure it wouldn't happen again," she replied.
"And Terras Kasi was developed as a result, yes?" he inquired. She nodded and then continued with describing some of the elaborate traditions of the Followers of Palawa. But even so, she made sure that she did not once betray the secret of leadership in the clan for fear of what might happen. After all, early in her training, her supervisors made it clear they wanted no one knowing about the priests.
"Did they ever teach you means by which to fight someone who is armed with a weapon?" Xendor asked at one point. "Before I continue, may I know what has inspired this in you?" Arden replied. "While I was away, I encountered many other Force traditions and learned the fundamentals surrounding many of their beliefs. Just as the Je'daii had been originally a melting pot of a wide range of cultures and philosophies, I believe that the new Jedi Order may need more inclusion.
"You have noticed the way they increase pressure on Initiates to succeed yet will exclude certain ones based on physical or mental malformities, right?" Xendor said. Arden had to admit that she did: shortly after their group had completed their Trials, Tiberius imposed several new regulations. The first of these was a rule that no deformed child would ever be allowed to join the ranks. This order was imposed without regard as to whether or not the child was Force-sensitive as if that wasn't bad enough.
However, he did offer these children a chance to join the Order and become Healers and train under Jook-jook whenever he wasn't training Danzigorro in the mainstream Jedi Code. Tiberius had also declared that in any time of dire need for the Republic, all Jedi were to take up arms at once. Even Healers had to join the fray and Padawans but the last category seemed ridiculous to Arden Lyn.
"Yes, I have noticed. Are you saying that maybe we can persuade Tiberius to loosen up a little bit?" she asked suddenly. "It's possible that we could at least try to persuade him into doing that, yes," he answered quickly. "Then in that case, I'm in but don't think that I won't report these findings to the Jedi if anything really bad happens to you," she warned.
"Arden, you always were the one to do that even if it was something as basic as me stealing some bread for myself. Remember?" he retorted. Smiling, Arden bid him good night and asked to meet him again in the morning for an early start to the experiment. "I was about to ask you that myself," was all the answer she needed before she closed her bedroom door and started meditation.
As Xendor and Arden seemed to be talking about something private in the distance, Awdrysta Pina watched quietly. Smiling, he admired their natural chemistry and wondered if that was due to them both having some sort of experience with him. Perhaps I am to thank for their natural bond towards each other he thought hopefully. The hope restored his faith in the future of the Order for with people like them, he didn't doubt that the Jedi would be led into a bright and excellent future.
"I am old and you two are young. When I am gone, there must be someone there to stop Tiberius from taking away what is most valuable to us Jedi and replacing it with his agenda. Of all the Jedi to do that, I hope you two are at the lead," he said aloud. He knew they wouldn't hear him at this distance but he wouldn't have been surprised if they could sense his presence.
After seeing Arden close the door to her room and Xendor retreat to his own, Pina turned his back on the Ossus Temple to head for his next mission. Reports were coming in of more riots in the Republic provinces closest to the Unknown Regions, Chiss rebellion being the least of it. He needed to restore the peace amongst the free peoples of the Unknown Regions and the Republic immediately. After all, establishing connections with the existing cultures was the only way that the Unknown Regions could truly be mapped and recorded for Republic databases across the galaxy.
But that reminded him of his first true mission as a Jedi Knight which had also been his first mission alongside Tiberius. On a rocky desert planet, there had been two brothers who were causing trouble for the rest of the population but not in the ordinary sense. These brothers were assassins who willingly killed for free between waits for clients to pay for their services. When Pina and Tiberius arrived as younger men, they had chased the brothers into a rocky maze that they knew better.
Unfortunately, this meant that Pina and Tiberius were forced to follow their footprints which they had counted on as a means of ensnaring the brave warriors. At one point during the search, Pina had sensed the approach of the brothers though he misperceived the distance between them. As a result, he and Tiberius were about to turn back from a dead end when they struck for the first time. Tiberius was severely wounded and nearly killed but Pina had managed to destroy both of the brothers with ease.
He was reminded of this mission because he had hoped for a chance at diplomacy between the targeted people and the brothers who used them as live targets for their weapons. However, despite the attack doing nothing to shatter Pina's beliefs, Tiberius was forever a changed man. Though both Jedi took in the gratitude of the villagers, Tiberius grew angry and vengeful at his moment of weakness. He vowed to someday obtain the ultimate power possible for a Jedi and finally master death itself.
"Next time I get caught in an ambush like that, I want to ensure that I am immortal no matter what happens!" he had added. Pina had tried to talk him out of this quest and come to his senses but young Tiberius would never listen to him. Now, Pina walked around with the burden of his failures weighing him down with a promise he would never repeat the mistake the brothers represented. He vowed never again to endanger anyone else in his missions and began working for peace by himself.
Ever since that fateful mission, Pina had become famous as either "The Green Blade" or "Justice's Green Blade" or even the occasional "Emerald of Wisdom". The last one put a smile as he reflected on his life and on what he had done for Xendor and Arden Lyn in his time with them. Perhaps the will of the Force will reveal me to be a fool when it comes to those two. Either way, I am content to serve it like any Jedi should Pina vowed to himself. Then he arrived to his shuttle which took him to the source of the distress signal he had answered.