Tython – Jedi Temple

3640 B.B.Y.

Sweat poured down Lanaru Ryn's forehead and his muscles screamed their defiance of his movements. Keep going, he urged, as he fought head to gain ground on his slower, but much stronger, opponent. A hard push and he was off, leaping through the air and slicing down with his lightsaber, a killing stroke for sure. But his opponent wasn't as slow as he looked. He familiar tug in his stomach, Oh fek-, instantly he was pushed across the room, suspended by the Force's lock on his innards.

With effort he righted his path and planted his feet on the ground, pushing off to renew his attack. Speed was his ally. So long as Hutama, his Yinchorri opponent, was prevented from landing blows victory was still in reach. But Hutama was strong in the Force as well and his natural immunity to telekinesis seemed to augment his resistance to other Force powers as well. That the reptilian humanoid was a good meter taller, and about 400 pounds heavier, than him was a sign that he must keep his distance. All in all, the odds weren't great. Still, he was not without some abilities.

He kicked out adding the Force into his momentum and connected with Hutama's chin. That brought about a grunt as the reptilian shifted backward to compensate for the blow. Even in his momentary disorientation, however, Hutama was a Jedi Knight who knew his own weaknesses and had long ago learned to compensate for them. Even as Ryn's heel connected with his chin, Hutama brought up his lightsaber in a powerful diagonal sweep forcing Ryn, in an effort to keep his legs, to leap away.

Hutama was on him as soon as he landed landing blow after blow in Shien-style, battering away at his defenses and forcing him to deflect his strikes left and right, a costly effort on his already flimsy defense. Suited to larger beings like Wookies and Yinchorri, Shien was designed to inflict maximum damage on an opponent's defense, raining blow after heavy blow and devastating any weaker opponent who attempted to weather the strikes. The disadvantage – along with its inherent lack of agility – was that it inflicted a costly side-effect on its user, forcing them to swing hard wore down on the user's stamina.

Master Qworli, the temple's Battle Master, once told Ryn that if he ever encountered a skilled Shien practitioner that he should count himself fortunate if he could simply manage to survive long enough to wind him; which is exactly what Ryn was doing now.

Hutama's blow were coming faster now as he sensed victory, and Ryn was hard pressed to move anywhere that might help him level the playing field. His lightsaber was moving fast, deflecting everything Hutama brought but with each landed blow he felt his muscles strain and protest. With a flurry and a burst of Force energy Ryn delivered a series of quick, twirling strikes towards Hutama's midsection – which he blocked – but which allowed Ryn to strike out with his foot at Hutama's ankle, forcing the giant lizard to step back momentarily. It was all the space Ryn needed, using the brief respite he flipped backward, braced himself on the wall and pushed off hard, somersaulting over Hutama and ran.

Hutama bellowed in frustration, believing Ryn to be fleeing battle but this was hardly the case. Ryn needed space to attempt his last gambit. Spinning around in mid-jump Ryn blasted a Force push in Hutama's direction that briefly slowed him. In that time Ryn bounded off the wall again and shot up into the air. He closed his eyes and let the Force flow through him, filling him with its life-sustaining energy and feeling the hairs on his neck bristle with electricity.

He focused, gathering the Force in concentrated clusters in his hands and behind his eyes, like his Master taught him. He could still hear her voice, You must Focus, Ryn. Your powers are special and require extra care until you master them. Feel the Force. See the Force. Ryn prayed it would work. Sometimes it did. Sometimes it didn't. At the apex of his jump, 4 meters above the ground, Ryn opened his eyes to a complex series of red and green and blue lines all intersections each other with other lines of assorted colors lying on top of them or spreading out in a myriad of directions.

They were everywhere sometimes intersecting, sometimes running parallel. At times it looked like a grid with squares or rectangles sitting evenly next to each other. But at seemingly random intervals the lines curved or made sharp turns. Sometimes they changed color, or perhaps it was simply that one color stopped and another continued on. They appeared sometimes from the floor, sometimes from the walls. But most importantly, they often clustered in various ways around living beings; beings like Hutama.

His Master told him that what he was seeing now was called Shatterpoints; lines that existed in the very fabric of reality; microscopic fractures that are normally undetectable except by the most sensitive of instruments. These fractures existed in all things and if one put enough Force-pressure on them – if one squeezed enough Force into them – they would shatter like corroded durasteel.

But the lines weren't always about structural integrity. Some of the lines you see are fractures in the Force itself, Ryn. For all its power and pervasivness, the Force is fragile. It cannot hold all things together by its will alone. It needs us to help. By pushing on these types of Shatterpoints Ryn would, in theory, be able to change the events of things to come. Topple future governments, prevent future atrocities, or cause them to come about. He had never done it before. That kind of power unnerved him a bit. But structural power, that he was more than willing to push on.

He focused in on the ground beneath Hutama's feet. There were several points of intersection to choose from but he had to hit the right one. They were constantly changing color, shifting as the Force and the physical world interacted – Force and physics – both trying to maintain control: nature trying to exert entropic destruction, the Force trying to create order. This was the critical point. Which did he choose? He was wrong. A lot. But time was running out. He was falling now.

Yelling out Ryn unleashed the Force blast in his hand in a concentrated flow aimed at one of the Shatterpoints and raised his lightsaber in a defensive posture as he reached Hutama. As expected, Hutama resumed his furious pounding on Ryn's defenses even before he had landed. Slash. Evade. Slash. Block. But on the third stroke something changed. Hutama's aim was way off, high over Ryn's head and seemingly erratic. The Yinchorri released a strained grunt as he struggled to keep his balance on one foot, the floor having collapsed under his left foot. Ryn saw his opening. With supreme effort his lept over Hutama's head and delivered a crushing kick to his head and landed behind him, lightsaber poised to take off the lizard's large head.

"Grrrr. Impresivvvvve Rrrryn." The gravelly voice of Hutama shook his core. "I was wonderrrring what you werrrrrre doinnnnng."

Ryn shook his head. "That was a last ditch effort and, honestly, I wasn't sure it would work. I count myself fortunate. But knowing my luck, in a real battle it would fail, and I would be dead." Hutama had extricated his ankle from the hole beneath him. He gave a low grumble and a snort as he turned to look at Ryn.

"You do yourrrrrslef discredit Rrrrryn." He was dusting off his robe. "Yourrrr skillllls are much betterrrrr than you acknnnowledge. I knnnnow Mmmmaster Shan bbbelieves this as well."

"Yes, Master Hutama."

The Yinchorri pounded his foot in frustration. "Do nnnot do that! We are no differennnt. We cammme here together, rememmmber? Mmmmany seasonnns ago. I am nnno mmmaster to you."

Bitterness welled up in Ryn, but he let it pass over him and sighed. "You are a good friend, Hutama. But that does not make my position any more agreeable. I am the only of our classmates still living that has not achieved Master status. That must say something about me."

"It says only that you have a different path than the rest of us. Some, the Force destines to be Masters; to be leaders of others; to send others to their deaths." At this he paused. "And others," he continued after a moment, "must follow the less travelled path. Have you considered your Path recently? What you will do?"

Ryn stiffened. "I will do as the Force wills, my friend, as we all do." He turned, "Thank you for the sparring match, Hutama. It was very helpful for me. If you will excuse me, though, I have a meeting with Master Kryll that must get to."

There was a brief silence where Hutama simply looked at Ryn, reading him in the Force. Then with a grunt that might have been the Yinchorri version of a sigh, he turned and walked out of the sparring arena.

Ryn sat in his small room warring with himself. He shouldn't have been so terse. After all, Hutama wasn't the cause of his troubles. His comment about "Paths" had been in reference to the Choosing, a colloquial term adopted by the Knights designating the specialization that you planned to master. Padawans who became Knights traditionally chose their specialization right away but the Sith War had caused many deaths among Knights and so Padawans were being called up in groups rather than on an individual basis. These new Knights were given a few years of experience before being forced to "choose" their specialization. It sounded grim, but, according his master, the Council reasoned that any Knight who survived after a few years of experience was more than capable of choosing the path that best suited them.

Ryn had survived, and so chosen. In his idealism and vigor he has chosen Guardian, of course. He wanted to be a weapon master, a lightsaber specialist who knew all the forms and mastered every concept. He had been so excited, but it was in vain. He excelled in technique and knowledge, but was unsuited to battle like a typical Guardian. He didn't have the stamina other Jedi had. He fell behind and soon was approached by one of the Master who advised him to reconsider his choice.

Feeling already that he was in the wrong place he agreed and opted for Consular, with ambitions of being an ambassador. Again, he poured his heart into it and, in the beginning, did very well. He was great at reading people and had a talent for using the Force for sifting through lies to find the truth. But he was not great with people. Sure, he knew how to talk, and casual conversation came easy to him. But when he was in a situation where deception was being practiced, strange things happened to him. His perception changed. People became blurred. His vision would darken and his eyes would go fuzzy. It was so distracting that he often lost concentration – or his temper – and the situation was hopeless.

He lasted a while and learned a great deal about the Force but found he was unsuited for the work and pulled himself out of it. Dispirited, he sought guidance from the High Council but they seemed to preoccupied with the war to give any solid advise. After a while they said they and would summon him after they deliberated. The resulting meeting was not what he had expected. He was to be placed "under the supervision of Master Shan, who would guide him in the path she deemed right."

He had reeled with shock. After all his hard work, months of training in various areas of the Jedi way, he was to be essentially demoted back to a Padawan state! But shock quickly turned into anger. The shriknas these so-called "masters" had! They had never asked him about his trainings, never sought the extent of his knowledge, never once asked what he wanted. Now he was to have an official master again? At the age of 26? Granted, it was Master Shan, the greatest master in the Order and one of the most powerful in history, but still!

But his "apprenticeship" with Master Shan had been anything but typical interactions between Padawan and Master. She was wise and knew the ways of the Force well. Hell, it seemed like she knew him better than he knew himself. She had incredible insight into his difficulties.

"Why do you think you had trouble with the Paths, Ryn?"

"I don't know Master Shan. I just had concentration issues. It was like every time I had to focus really hard on using the Force to get anything done I couldn't concentrate."

"And your vision? What about that?"

"Again, it's a mystery. I had issues with it when I was young but it went away. I have had the Healers check me out a dozen times but they don't see any problems. Stang!"

"What?"

"Sorry. It's just…something that happened…the other day."

Silence.

Ryn sighed. "I walked into the dormitories the other day and everyone went quiet and looked away. They were talking about me. I know it! They think I am a wash out. Not fit for the Order."

"And? What do you think?"

"Maybe they are right. Maybe I should just go home. Maybe enlist. Help the Republic that way."

But Master Shan would have none of that. With a flash she had her lightsaber out and was on him. He only narrowly escaped her slash at his head before ducking away. Igniting his lightsaber he parried her strikes. This went on for a few minutes and then, without a word, she stopped.

"If you were not fit for the Order, you would have died just now."

"I….I….What was…How…I."

With that she had walked away and he took her point to heart. He was a Jedi. Nothing would change that. But as much as he wanted to be a "typical" Jedi, it wasn't going to happen.

"Why did you want to be a Guardian?"

"In truth?" He sighed. "Part of it was the glory. You know, go to battle and kill Sith. Protect the Republic. Become a great saber dualist. Be feared by evildoers. All that."

"Does it have to do with your parents?"

Ryn jerked his head to stare at her. "I…I don't know what you're talking about."

Master Shan smiled at this. "I am referring to the fact that both of your parents were "Imperials" and that your mother was a Dark Side user."

Ryn exhaled heavily. "How do you know this?" It was a foolish question really. She was Grand Master. She knew a lot of things.

"Never mind that. Answer the question. Does the reality of your parents identity affect your desires?"

"Yes. It does. I don't want to be like them. I don't want to live in the Dark Side. I don't want to trample over those weaker than I am to gain power. I want to stop them." He was on a role now. "I want make sure that no one else is hurt by their greed or lust for power! To do that I need to be active! I need to be great."

After this they sat for a long time in silence. At length, she said, "The nature of most sentient cultures is structure. Structure allows us to have order, and order brings peace. The Republic and even the Jedi Order is built on this foundation. The Republic has a Senate, that governs and creates rules. These rules are structured to work together harmoniously, giving each person under the system equal opportunity. From the Senate you have planets-systems, which have their own governments, and from there individual planets, then nations or states or provinces, then cities. Smaller and smaller they go. The Jedi have a Council which governs everyone. From there you have Masters, Knights, and Padawans. In the system Jedi are encouraged to choose where they believe they fit best. When people are doing what the Force wills for them, they are happy; and with happiness comes peace."

"I guess that is why I am not at peace. The system is broken."

She laughed at this; a bright tickling laughter with resonance like sound passing through a crystal. "Jedi at your age always believe the system is broken, unjust in some way. Perhaps you are right. The unfortunate truth is that structure, order, ultimately leaves no room for variance. Anything that doesn't fit is marginalized. Does this undo all the good that the structure does? No. But still doesn't account for the injustice that it causes to some."

Resentment welled up in Ryn. "So you're just saying I should just accept it and move on?"

Now Master Shan grew very serious. "Absolutely not. Injustice is never acceptable. It breeds contempt and hatred which are paths to the Dark Side. What I am saying, Ryn, is that despite the Jedi Order's adherence to its system of operation, I recognize, as does the Council, that there are those of us who do not fit correctly in it. You are such a person. And so, we, you and I, are going to do our best to find a place in the Order for you to be successful and to serve the Force faithfully."

They met over and over. Day after day. Week after week. For four months they worked together. When she had a mission to go on, he accompanied her just like a Padawan would, though it was clear she did not think of him as a Padawan. Sometimes they talked, other times meditated, still other times they did obscure training exercises. It was these exercises, which at first had seemed pointless, that had eventually led them to discover his "talent." He would never forget the day.

"I was speaking to a friend of mine the other day and she gave me an idea that I want to try. It will be a bit draining though. Are you up for it?"

"Of course. Anything to pass the time in hyperspace. I find these long trips to Coruscant tedious."

She nodded. "Mmmm. At times I do as well. But good relations between the Jedi and the Republic are at the core of the Order's reason for existing. Now, sit over here, facing me."

They were in the lounge cabin of their ship, a modified Eta-class Jedi ambassador shuttle. It only fit three or four people max so it was a little too cramped for any real training exertions. The lounge consisted of a small booth and table for eating, a kitchenette for preparing meals and a few seats next to the windows for bored passengers. But the center of the space, where he was now sitting facing Master Shan, was clear.

"This is primarily a concentration exercise. Pull the Force into you. Breath it into your system and let it fill you up completely, but do not let it out. Keep letting it build. I will do it with you."

Ryn closed his eyes and began his meditation. He opened himself up to the Force, basking in its radiance and warmth and letting its power flow through him. He was a conduit, a bridge between the ship and the Force. He inhaled it through his body and let it flow from every orifice and pore. Then slowly he began to close those openings. The Force flowed into him, but not out. It was like a damn holding back the water. It wasn't normal. As the Force built inside him he felt feverish. His skin prickled and beads of sweat formed on his skin.

Despite his concentration he began to feel a pressure on his consciousness. At first it had been too small to notice but now he was sure it was there. Like a bubble pushing against him and expanding the pressure increased. It dawned on him that it had to be Master Shan's presence in the Force as she gathered the energy into her own body. Except hers was nothing like his own. Hers was massive, and growing at an impossible rate.

He concentrated harder, not wanting to look weak in front of her. Bracing himself he plunged into the current of the Force and felt icy-hot as its energy cascaded into him, pressing at the very seams of his body. Every molecule of his being was being supercharged and bloated with the Force flowing into, but not out of, his seated form. The pain was excruciating but with it came a sense of euphoria. He was very nearly now one with the Force. He body was almost to the point of dissolving into that blissful flow of energy that animated all things. He wanted to slip away. Become one. Become whole….

"RYN!"

Master Shan's voice came crashing over him and in that instance he opened his eyes and unleashed the pent up energy trapped in his fleshy frame. The torrent of energy was agonizing to his hands, feet, and skin but all of it was forgotten when he opened his eyes. The ship was gone, hidden by a dizzying array of colors, lines and shapes all mingling in various ways to form patterns. The lines shot out in every color from everywhere twisting and turning into shapes and other atypical geometric forms and then suddenly dissipating in a cloud of energy that lingered. Everywhere around him was a haze of light and energy and in the middle of it all, shining like a star was Master Shan.

The aura that surrounded her was intense. She was literally glowing. Her skin had a bluish color that faded and changed randomly between green and yellow with hints of purple. Her eyes were blazing white and looking straight at him, maybe even through him. All around her the colored lines swirled and twisted sometimes touching her and running along the frame of her body, other times passing right through her but always circling, like florescent strings being whipped about by the wind.

Then everything went dark.

When Ryn woke, three days later, he had found Master Shan waiting for him in the medical wing of the Jedi Temple. She had explained to him what happened; how he had pulled too much Force into him without an outlet, how his body had literally fluctuated in and out of corporealness until she called out to him and he let it all out, and how he had passed out afterwards. She had apologized and said it was a foolish idea. But he had disagreed.

He told her about what he saw, the lines, the haze, the shapes, the colors. How the ship had receded into the background while the Force that held it together became dominant in his vision. How even she had taken on a new appearance, a reflection of her manifestation in the Force itself. She had listened intently for over an hour, asking him questions about every detail he remembered. Afterwards, she left him to rest.

A week later Master Shan had expressed a certain level of confusion over his experience. The lines were easy to explain. They were known as Shatterpoints. Only a few Jedi in known history had the ability to see Shatterpoints and he was blessed by the Force to have the talent. But this ability did not explain everything Ryn had described to her – the dissipation of the lines, the colors, and the shapes – nor did it account for the difficulty Ryn had with his concentration during his training in the Paths – a trouble now decisively linked to his abilities. So she had set up an appointment for Ryn to meet with the Temple's scientist Jedi Myami Kryll. That appointment was right now.

Ryn got up from his bed slowly. It had been a long few months and he was tired. Fortunately, things finally looked like they were getting better. Sure, he was an anomaly. Sure, he didn't fit into the Jedi Order in a typical way. Sure, he didn't have a whole lot of friends and everyone thought he was a bit of a loner. But he would find some way to use the Force and help the Order and the Republic and perhaps this ability, if trained right, would help him turn the tide of the War back in their favor.