Chapter 6

"Caloc!", Stass let out in a hushed whisper. It was three hours since the Council's meeting, and the briefing that Mace had given in one of the communication suites. She had only now found Caloc, sitting alone at a long table in the Temple Library. A steaming mug of warm blue milk sat on his right, and a holobook clasped in his left hand. She bent down to read the title of the book he was reading in the light of a lantern droid. "The advanced art of the… forbidden techniques? Caloc, we discussed this. If the Council finds out, they will expel you."

"I know, I know.", Caloc glanced around, making sure they were alone. "I know that the advanced shatterpoint technique is rare, but I'm telling you, I have the skill! You saw what happened on Devaron."

Stass rubbed her temples in frustration. This was the fifth time she had discussed this with Caloc since the training mission disaster on Devaron. "The technique is not just rare, Caloc. It is dangerous. Shatterpoint drifts close to the Dark Side. It takes extreme focus to ensure that you do not drift with it. You haven't mastered even regular focus. How are your meditation exercises going?"

Caloc shrugged, "I'm okay at feeling the Force in conflict."

"I asked how your meditation is going.", Stass frowned at him, "Not how calm you can be while duelling."

Her padawan lowered his head, "I admit that I am still struggling, Master. It has only gotten worse since Menach."

"I know.", placing a hand on his shoulder, the Tholothian pulled him up and steered him from the table. She pointed over at the huge vault in the back of the Library. "Do you know what's in there?"

"Holocrons", Caloc answered, "The most secure information archives of the Jedi."

"That's right.", Stass grinned, "You can only access one in a deep meditative state."

Caloc shrugged her hand off, "So give me one. I know I can get into it without going into a 'deep meditative state'."

"Ha.", a deep and regal laugh interrupted them. Together, the master and padawan turned to see the elderly librarian, Jocasta Nu, staring at them from the end of the table. She reached into her bag, grabbing a strand of strangely cut metal chips. Data keys. She fingered each one, studying them before dropping them back into the pouch.

Stass swallowed. Even after being knighted years ago, she still felt nervous around Madame Jocasta. Although the library custodian appeared frail, she was still fit, and kept an eagle eye on her collection of books and trinkets. It seemed that she could always appear in the blink of an eye whenever a Jedi even thought of doing something against her rules. She gave a kind grin to the woman, "Madame Librarian. Can we help you?"

The elderly librarian smiled kindly, "Having trouble with your padawan, Master Allie?"

"No, of course not.", Stass was admittedly offended. Other Jedi were not supposed to insult another's teaching techniques. The librarian seemed to have forgotten that.

Jocasta beckoned Caloc closer, and he warily inched toward her. When he was within reach, she placed a single withered finger on his forehead, tracing down to his chest "Even I can sense something is blocking the Force in you, young one. I can sense anxiety. Something, perhaps something even hidden from yourself. It inhibits your abilities to touch the Force."

"There is something blocking the Force, but I don't know what it is.", Caloc admitted.

The older woman stood up and ran her fingers along the shelves, scanning the books housed there. Finally, it landed on a book that glowed red. Her hands grabbed one of her keys and she swiped it past the spine. Stass frowned, concerned, "Isn't that one of the forbidden books, Madame Librarian?"

"Indeed, Master Allie.", Jocasta smiled at her, "I always enjoyed Keltr Tress' company when you joined me in here for your lessons. You learnt quickly. It appears that you have also remembered what he taught you. Few books are forbidden to the knights of the Jedi Order. Those that are hold dark secrets or dangerous information. This book is normally classified for Council Members only. I alone control who reads it and when they are allowed to do so. And I believe it may just be what your padawan needs."

"How can you be sure?", Caloc held the book gingerly, as though it was laced with poison. It may as well have been. Stass remembered one of the library's few rules. Never touch the forbidden books, and never remove them from the room.

But now Jocasta just smiled at him, "Read that while you're away, child. Perhaps it will bring some clarity to your… issue."

Stass frowned. Perhaps the librarian was getting softer as she got older. Perhaps this is a trap. "We will take good care of it for you, Master Nu."

"Of course you will.", Jocasta smiled kindly, but her eyes were steely, "You know the rules. And the punishments."

"Which of the forbidden books did she give you?", Stass asked.

Caloc glanced down at the cover. They were sitting in one of the Temples common areas, where comfortable chairs were set up for the Jedi to sit in while they had discussions and debates. He frowned at the lettering. "It's written in Menachi runes. That's odd."

"Another link to your homeworld in the Temple?", Stass frowned, "That is odd. Why would Madame Jocasta give you this?"

"Perhaps it is a test.", Caloc began to scroll through the pages. Being raised in the Jedi Temple, he had been taught Aurebesh, and had not been given access to his homeworld's written language until eight years earlier. His grip on the text was decent, but he still took a moment to skim the datapad, "It seems to be a bunch of advanced meditation techniques. Here's 'finding oneself in the darkness', and here is, 'the unique technique of the Umbaran sages'. I wonder if she thinks one of these ways might help me to find my Force hinderance."

A chime sounded from his belt, and he looked down at it. A red light flashed from a spherical comm device. He looked up at one of the nearest waterclocks. "I have to go, Master. I'm meant to be calling someone tonight."

"Very well, my apprentice.", Stass nodded. This was not the first of Caloc's mystery calls, she knew. They had been happening more frequently since his accident on Devaron. "Just be ready to move out. Get some rest. Our mission tomorrow is extremely important. Your starfighter must be ready to leave along with the rest of our team."

He nodded and hurried away, heading towards his dormitory, his gait hurried. Stass watched him go, a smile on her face. Hopefully, this mission would not end with her padawan in the med centre again.