Things sort-of start moving forward...

Chapter 7: The Board is Set

The window was back in place, and Master Adi had gotten me inside the quarters once again, after a celebratory dinner, I decided to move my first piece in this intricate game of dejarick. "Say Master, I know this is probably top secret info, but is the Council aware of a situation on the planet Radnor?"

Through the mind link, I felt her mild surprise, "Radnor? What's there?" mistimed, plan B required.

"Oh, so you didn't get that info yet. Expect to be awakened by an emergence summons sometime around midnight. This dustball, Randor, has a bunch of pirates and looters, a toxic leak, astronomical casualties, and is ready to be invaded by their neighbours. Don't worry, you're gonna send Masters Obi-Wan, Rigol, Soara Antanna and Siri Tachi with their motley crew of Padawans, they'll handle it, fear not."

I would have expected more shock from her, some 'wow' moment or another, or disbelief, nope, I just got acceptance. "Why'd you think that? Oh, I should have known, the Whills…"

I nodded in affirmation, "The Whills. I'd tell you more, but that'd probably complicate the situation. Suffice it to say that there will be a comprehensive mission report by the time they get back, and not from them."

I felt another spike of wonder, kind of what I imagined it would feel to sense the emotion behind a quizzically raised eyebrow, and Master sort-of off-handily asked, "You're trying to prove yourself to the Council, right?"

I replied in a really cheeky voice, "Nope, coz there is no try. I am however, proving myself to the Council…." Master didn't appreciate the joke, apparently it is as old here as it was on Earth.

"You write up that report after they leave, and I'll hand it to the Council. We'll see what correlates between yours and theirs." With a grateful smile I dismissed myself and headed for my sleeping chamber, I would have a rather interesting day tomorrow.

I was not disappointed, for indeed Master was awoken at roughly twenty three hundred, leaving me to my business, she hurried off with a "well done" kind of thought. Seeing no need to be up, I fell back asleep and dragged through the night with dreams of evil bad guys before my mind's eye.

I awoke on schedule, my self-discipline carrying through to this reality, and did my new usual morning routine. Using the katas that I learned, and the sequences I invented back home, to kick start my drowsy self – in case you are unaware, scary dreams plus Force Users usually equals exhaustion – I was ready in less than thirty minutes. Master Adi was back, and looking as well rested as if there wasn't a several interruption to her sleep cycle.

"I need to visit some of my political friends and the Chancellor, so I won't be around for most of the day, Padawan…" munching on what appeared to be the local version of cereal I patiently awaited my orders, "There is a lecture on hyperspace dynamics which I'd like you to attend, it's in … ah blast it! Just check your datapad, I'll beam it to you when I get the details. I'll share with you the next Shii Cho sequence and I'll want you to have it down by day's end. Otherwise, you are free for the day."

That was fine by me, and after another knowledge transfer, I went over to the workstation in the living space to start writing up my report.

Who would have thought that a military report was so much effort! I had always considered myself a reasonable, if not even an above average, writer at school. I had always written A-grade essays, had a knack for summarising material, and left several language teachers gobsmacked, but a puny little mission report, which by all means was nothing more than a dressed-down summary of a children's novel,was giving me loads of trouble and a big headache.

Seeing that I had been working for a good one-fifty minutes, I chose to give it up in favour of a better time filler, namely a practice session in the training halls. That turned out to be a mistake. I do not even want to go into the deals, for it was embarrassing. There is nothing more frustrating than having a high and mighty ten year old harass you about your technique and the fact that you are not practicing more advanced drills. Lucky for me, I had vast experience in dealing with brats, unlucky for me, he was as bratty as they come, running to his clan leader in tears.

No, just look, for the purposes of proving that I was right, here is a conversation with said clan leader. "Come here, you!"

"Excuse me, were you addressing me?" look, I know they don't know I'm vision impaired, but shouldn't they pick up on something like that? I mean, he's a Jedi Master, right?

"Yes you with the saberstaff! How dare you disrespect your elders!" Wow, I classify that kind of people as the 'moronic yelling retards' or just 'myr'.

"Excuse me Master – I'm sorry I don't believe we've been introduced – however I did not see who you were addressing. What did you want to talk with me about?"

He was Sullustan, big, fat, ugly, and looked like he wanted a fight, despite being a Jedi. "How could you not see me? Or not know me? Everyone does!"

I officially hate my stay here, or maybe just that guy. "I'm sorry, but not all people have perfect vision. And I was unaware of your name due to that same fact, and also the little matter that I only recently came to the Temple."

"Preposterous! All Jedi are raised in the Temple, and all younglings know their crèche masters! How dare you be so rude as to imply otherwise."

I am not dark. I am not dark. I am not dark. I will not drive my shiny new lightsaber through his skull. I will not drive my shiny new lightsaber through his skull. "Master – I still do not know your name – but my rudeness aside, what was it you called me over for?"

The MYR's face twitched for several seconds, then I think he figured that intimidation would not work on me. "This little one," funny how his voice became almost grandfatherly, "Says you insulted him. And I do not find it hard to believe him as you are insulting the entire Order by using your weapon."

Dude, get your head screwed on straight, or get screwed altogether. "My training saber? How so?"

"Not that you numbskull!" back to being an anal di'kut, "Your saberstaff! It has been outlawed ever since Exar Kun! It leads Jedi to the Dark Side!"

Really? "Really, I was unaware of that. And neither was Satele Shan, or do you claim a Jedi Grand Master deliberately subjected herself to the temptation of the Dark Side during one of the darkest periods this Order has ever seen?"

"OUT NOW!" Seriously, I'm legally blind, but that doesn't mean I don't know where the door is. On the contrary, it is the first thing any sane person like me notes. "Don't you cross my clan again! You hear me!"

I would have sniped at him, but I did not want to cause a scene while Master Gallia was not here for backup. So with a military about-face I stalked out of the dojo. But that guy better watch himself, real careful like.

My grumpy path lead me down many a hallway, with no input from my mind, not consciously anyway. As I drifted this way and that, I replayed that vid where Satele kicked Malgus' ass on Alderaan. Now that I had a saberstaff of my own, I so wanted to do that too. The problem being that because of Darth Bane, there were only two Sith. Oh well, maybe I'll get to kill Asajj or Bulq or someone.

I was literally jolted out of my musings when I instinctively grabbed onto a door jamb just before I would have taken a six meter tumble. It was a strange place around me, reminding one more of Moria than of the Jedi Temple. Hardly any light illuminated the passage, and I seemed to be far away from the more populated areas. The hall was vaulted, just like everywhere else in this structure, but the walls and floor were made of rough stone blocks rather than the pretty tiles elsewhere.

Thinking the place too eerie for my tastes, I wanted to go back, but as soon as I had that thought, something tugged on my mind to move forward. Now dark creepy halls and strange mental urges, are as any sensible story, film or fable, would tell you, bad news. That made me want to not just retreat, but retreat every fast. Until the arch behind me ceiled up with a stone slab that appeared out of nowhere. The whole thing decided to smell like a Sith tomb, smell metaphorically I mean.

Having no other choice since I didn't have a grenade on me, and being very brainless, I decided to move forward. Four tries and my grapnel line embedded itself above archway on the other side of the cavern. One Death Star airshaft-style leap and I was standing on the other side.

I did not have a glowrod, but had two lightsabers, which in theory were as good as one, so using the single training blade for illumination, I moved forth. The journey proved remarkably easy, no traps like I've read about the Korriban tombs, well I guess, being beneath the Jedi Temple, this would be more visitor friendly. I walked on for probably thirty minutes along a very twisty-windy route until I reached a grand antechamber, with carvings on the walls, and several doors leading off it.

After only a few attempts, I had discovered that the complex, for lack of a better word, was thought based. In essence, to close a door, you had to visualise the door, and give a mental command for it to close. All the doors in the centre chamber lead off to hallways, each of differing length, at the end of which were different rooms. Down one was a command centre, down another a set of luxurious living quarters. Another lead to a secret hangar and launch tube, while one passage took you to a hub with other hallways branching off from it.

After finding the training room, I spent a good ninety minutes repeating all I'd learned and practicing against training remotes. When that grew boring, and after discovering that there was no lunch to be found, I ventured down the library passage.

When I tried to command the door to open, it stayed as shut as the first time I attempted to do so. Only after a careful mind look over did I notice the mental puzzle. Big thanks to Master Adi for teaching me fine telekinesis, for I had to move a little crystal inside the rock slab for it to open. Though it took me several minutes, and exhausted me thoroughly, I found that it was worth it. On a pedestal square bang in the middle of the floor rested a shining cube, a Jedi holocron.

Now, here is some information about holocrons: don't touch. Many holocrons contain the personality imprint, a part of the maker's spirit, or even their entire essence as with Sith units. Quite often, individuals with less than benign intensions would store their being in a holocron only to transfer to the first body that touches said device. Also, the Gatekeeper could bungle your mind so bad that you would not know wet from red or even totally dominate your mind. So the point is, I was not going to be foolish and activate it. Not until I checked things over.

The other walls in the room were lined with book shelves, which in turn had holobooks, datapads, boxes of datacards, and one set of shelves even shimmered with a stasis field protecting flimsi books. On the floor, paved with the same strange stone, was the sword and wings Jedi crest. The pedestal reminded me of a bird bath though without the basin, and tapered apart into four claw-like well claws, with the holocron supported between them. The sculpture was wrought out of some metal with gold running in intricate patterns all over and forming an inscription in some ancient language.

I recognised said language, as it was from Earth, and it being my first language, I had no trouble reading it. The translation to English, or to Basic, whatever you want to call it, was slightly harder, but I managed it for you.

"Corusca gem to be its home,
And to few it will be known.
Under fortress tall and fair,
Vaults that many will not dare.

When for the Good, the times are grave,
Come will one, this journey he will brave.
Through halls hewn of rock as old as time,
Many doubts borne in his mind.

If seeking knowledge and advice,
And time is nigh to light's demise,
Then you will know of whom I speak,
Use the Force, and wisdom seek."

It was strange, that when I read the inscription, the constant tugging on my mind had stopped, as if I got to the place where whatever brought me here wanted me to go. Did I ever mention that when an artefact seems to prophecy your coming you should definitely avoid it? Well no, not really. Did I also mention that I was feeling brainless? Yes I did. Well, I chose to consider this place a good guy place, judging by several cliché things like colour scheme, and lack of evil and/or bad feeling, you know….

I don't know why I did it, but I did. I concentrated on the Force and released the clasps holding the Holocron. I levitated it over to my hand, and thought really hard trying to activate it. To my surprise it began emanating a blue glow, feeling warm, and showed a hologram above it.

"Greetings young Jedi, I see you have found me. Your time must be indeed harsh if you made it here."

It took me several moments to recognise the figure, but eventually I did, or at least it's apparel. "Master Shan? Satele Shan?"

"Who did you think? Darth Angril? Yes I'm the holocron of Satele Shan."

"My studies never yielded that gatekeepers had a sense of humour. I thought they were mired in endless cryptic nonsense and bits of perceived wisdom like their original holders."

"My studies never yielded that Padawans could be sarcastic. It was my understanding that the Council routed such behaviour out after the mess they caused at Ruusan."

"You're a glorified Rubik's cube that just so happened to be beneath the Jedi Temple, you cannot conduct studies."

"Oh, but I thought that a Rubik's cube had to have different coloured sides and divided into rotatable sections?" Now this was getting interesting. I must be going really mad, I'm in the middle of a verbal sparring match with a holocron.

"And how would you know that? It could be a flashy thermal detonator for all you know?"

"I highly doubt that they would sell thermal detonators in the toys isles. Besides, your folk haven't invented thermal detonators." How was that said in such a manner that I felt Satele stick her tongue out at me? "That's because I did!"

I heard a laugh behind me, and the same voice said, "Good luck with that, you're going to argue with her for ages." I spun around, snatching up my saber, even though I probably would not be able to do anything with it, and who do you think I saw? Satele Shan, in the flesh, ah glowy blue, Force-Ghost flesh.

"What is it with me and Force spectors?" I groaned, resignedly.

"Qui-Gon already told you, you were the most convenient operative." I banged my head on the nearest wall, several times.

"Do you have something to teach me, tell me, or a third option, or are you going to harass me alongside your holocron?"

"Option four: all of the above!" Creepy to see the holocron and the spirit chorus that.

It was the same day, but evening when I emerged from the Temple's bowls and made my rather unsteady way to mine and Master's quarters. Be it not for my chrono though, I wouldn't have known that. I was deathly tired, both physically and mentally, and rather un-Jedi like. My patience was at an all-time low, upset by a certain holocron and Spector. My body ached in places that shouldn't even exist, and it was a wonder to me how I walked even remotely steadily.

Many hours had passed in the strange apartments, hours spent following vague instructions in lightsaber combat, and Force related mumbo-jumbo. Despite those replenishment exercises, I was ravenously hungry, and I wanted to throw something against a wall. Satele Shan's holocron was one of a kind, where the gatekeeper inherited far more traits from her template and had unique and special features. Those included an ability to connect mentally to people in close vicinity – like on the same planet – and read their minds effortlessly. And of course, the holocron had an incredibly frustrating personality. It would speak in riddles, poke fun at mistakes I made back home, and generally make things hard for me. By the end of the day's training, I began to doubt whether it was an artefact of the Light, surely Light Side objects are supposed to be conducive to Light Side points?

"I am, nerf herder!" Okay, I also discovered that the holocron was at least semi-sentient, was Force-Sensitive, and had a most un-masterly-like temper. "Wow, congrats! Hip-hip Hooray! You finally figured it out!" I just chose to ignore it … her … it….

As expected, the moment I stumbled inside the apartment, Master Adi saw something was wrong. It was hard not to, a blind mynock would have, wait, aren't they blind by default anyway? Who cares! "What happened to you?" Note a double dose of reproach, exasperation, concern and a bit of curiosity mixed in.

"Training…" I was short, but in my state it was forgivable.

"With who?" Bemusement… I dislike bemusement.

"This!" I thumped the holocron down on the table and slumped over on the nearest couch. Before I go any further, it is important that you know how holocrons work. A Jedi holocron is typically a cube-shaped object, wrought from some crystal or another and bound in some flashy material. It can hold lots of yottabytes – not 'Yoda'bytes, 'yotta'bytes - of data, and even some Force impressions. The info is displayed in holograms and the interface is usually voice, but the Force is necessary to unlock a device in the first place. A gatekeeper is the AI if you will, that has a personality imprint from the creator of the device and works as a search engine if necessary. It can teach, and has the ability to grant or restrict access to certain knowledge. Basically holocrons are confusing, and can screw your brain real bad if you don't know what you are doing.

Master's surprise was expected, but I just didn't care, however Holocron Shan chose to stand up for herself. The innate object glowed blue, a hologram fizzled into existence, and the voice came on, "Master Gallia I see. Your Padawan of less than a week thinks highly of you…"

Master was a Councillor, so not many things surprised her, and apparently a this didn't really, "Yes, I do believe that's me. Pray tell, how you know this and who you are?"

The hologram straightened up and declared in a parade voice, "Jedi Grand Master Satele Shan, dead as of three and some thousand years ago."

I fell asleep shortly, and missed their conversation, but when Master shook me awake some hours later, she looked a tad bit flustered. "I see why you looked so worn out…" I got the impression of a rueful grin coming from the Force Bond, "And thank you by the way, Padawan…"

"For what?" Still a bit drowsy, and not at all rested, I could not fathom what on Coruscant she was going on about.

"For many things, for being cautious today, for acting more like a Jedi than many would, for your trust in me, for your respect…." I was still drawing blanks, "I had an enlightening discussion with the Holocron, not least about your emotions…" Oh that….

"So does that mean it is safe?"

"Hhyes, you can carry on your training with it… In fact, you would get further in your academic studies with its help."

Later that night, as I lay awake for some inscrutable reason – seriously, why whenever you need to sleep, you just can't – I pondered my long term plan. Now that I had two Masters, my training would go much faster. If I was lucky, I should be done by the end of the Clone Wars. The rest was like chess, or dejarick, I had to play my pieces just right, and everything would fit into place. There was a black hand moving the figurines from the shadows, so I would stick my own fingers in the game. It would all start in a few weeks' time, with my first pawn. An evil chuckle left my throat, I rolled over, and was blissfully asleep in seconds….

Evil? No. Dramatic? Definitely not, but I have a few schemes going through this head of mine. Hopefully I explained everything so far, but well I guess I'll never know unless somebody tells me.