Chương 6: Rann v. Authority Figures pt. 2

Authority Figures pt. 2 62 BBY – 938 ARR – Coruscant Zucul spoke the Code.

"Do you believe it," asked Rann, "or only teach it?" The Miraluka was silent. ~*~*~*~ The Crèche was abuzz, not that you could necessarily notice it just from looking at the younglings. To a Force-null, it would appear to be a perfectly calm group of children quietly meditating under the guidance of a new and extremely strict Crèchemaster, Yula Braylon. Force-sensitives, however, could feel the intense emotions rolling off the children like a fog-bank.

This was nothing the Crèchemasters hadn't dealt with, and nothing they wouldn't have to deal with again. It was that time of year: the Gathering on Ilum. Of course, this wasn't an acceptable reason for the emotional outbursts and warranted renewed meditations on control. For the third time today. Rann was bored to tears. You tell a group of children that they're about to get laser swords and then punish them for losing their minds, he grumbled. Even though, internally, he understood the logic.

Emotions existed in the Force. This was something that he couldn't really have wrapped his head around in his previous life. Philosophers debated the nature of reality, sentience, and emotions endlessly in his old world, sometimes arguing that the others around them could possibly be non-real entities. Here in this universe, that was unequivocally not true. Being able to Feel others in the Force, and especially their emotions, meant that on a fundamental level their existence was undeniable.

It also made their emotions into another sensation, like overly bright rooms or loud concerts, but more powerful. The Crèche currently felt like being at a rave in a mosh pit: flashing lights, booming music, and jostling bodies. Rann had wondered why earlier in the day the normal Senior Padawans and Knights who would sometimes assist at the Crèche had been absent, until the Crèchemasters informed the initiates that the trip to Ilum to harvest their kyber crystals was going to be tomorrow.

Rann knew that the Crèchemasters' shielding must be incredibly good to weather the storm. One of the odder effects of being in a crowd of Force-sensitives all experiencing intense emotions is that it tended to have exponential effects. As one person became more excited about going to Ilum, this spread to the next, and their excitement would be transmitted back.

This meant that for the first thirty minutes of being told that they were going to Ilum, the Crèche had been in delirium, a heady mix of excitement and anxiety. Ten children had passed out. This is dangerous, Rann realized at once. What if we had been feeling fear, or terror? He started to draw the right conclusions, and began to understand the Jedi's single-mindedness about control.

A loss of control could essentially cripple an entire crowd of force-sensitives if they weren't very well-shielded, even if they weren't the strongest empaths. Or if they were Sith and focused on harnessing emotion, he finished the thought. Rann had much better shielding than most in his clan due to his strong connection to the Unifying Force. The Crèchemasters had noted him down for extra shielding practice and meditation, which he had resented very strongly until moments like this.

Despite that, and his renewed interest in the craft after his excursion into the midlevels of Coruscant, he still had a migraine. Finally, after the mood of the Crèche had been brought down to a level comparable to a subway busker instead of an industrial warehouse rave, they were released from meditation. He turned to Mace, who still had his eyes closed. Rann could still feel the emotion roiling off him, but he poked him anyway. Mace opened one eye and scowled.

"What?"

"Want to go train?" Rann knew that his friend probably needed to work out some of that energy. Mace didn't reply but he stood up and straightened out his initiate's garb. Rann rolled his eyes but got up and followed him to the salles. The next two hours consisted of him getting his ass handed to him by Mace. He still had a migraine and felt wary about letting his shields down even a little bit to fall into the Force, which was his normal advantage against Mace.

He was also working on his Form III, while Mace was bludgeoning him with Form VII, Juyo. When he couldn't access the Force, the difference in their saber abilities became starkly apparent. After a while, Rann called for a stop.

"Feel any better?"

"Yeah." After last month's kerfuffle, there had been a few uncomfortable days where the normally inseparable pair had been awkward and touchy around each other. It had settled down, though, and they were back to normal. It had helped that their Initiate Trials were upon them, and neither one of them wanted to miss their first opportunity to make a lightsaber. They had made up and immediately begun helping each other prep for the exams. Both passed with flying colors, of course.

"What do you want to do now?" asked Mace.

"Cool downs," he moaned, rubbing on his sore wrists. Juyo's tendency to pound away at the opponent relentlessly was not helped by his limited Soresu abilities. Instead of the smooth deflections masters of the form could pull off, Rann normally took the force of the attack directly, which strained and rattled his wrists. Mace rolled his eyes.

"After that."

"Dunno. Probably sleep." His head was pounding even worse after sparring. Even though training sabers were nowhere near as bright as lightsabers, it hadn't helped his light sensitivity.

"Do you have a headache?" asked Mace with a frown and a knowing tone. Rann shrugged.

"Rann…" Mace sighed. Switching the topic of conversation, he asked, "Why do you not like the new Crèchemaster?" Rann shrugged again.

"Rann," whined Mace. While he didn't exactly advertise it, Rann knew a fair bit about the goings-on of the Temple. Part of this was his knowledge from another life, but he had other sources as well. He was respectful, asked insightful questions, and knew when to be quiet. This made him one of the more acceptable younglings amongst the older Jedi. He was also willing to help people out and study with them.

He had a quiet sort of human capital that didn't necessarily make him the most popular or a leader but meant that he was more connected to the pulse of things than a lot of other Younglings. Only Mace and maybe Master Nu really understood that, not that it bothered Rann for others not to bother him. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. This had set him and Master (and former High Councilor) Yula Braylon on a collision course.

Three weeks ago, just before the Initiate Trials began, she had entered the Crèche and been introduced as a new Crèchemaster. Instead of working to integrate herself into the Crèche, she had starting "correcting" things. In a mere three days she had lectured the Initiates about everything, from their understanding of the Code to Lightsaber Forms. This had, of course, immediately made her the least popular Crèchemaster amongst the younglings.

And even though he couldn't prove it, he was equally sure that the other Crèchemasters weren't exactly fans of her behavior. Rann had so far managed to skate under her radar. When he saw (or Saw) her coming, he did his best to avoid her.

"Because she's shady," he finally answered Mace. Mace gasped, agog.

"You, you-" he spluttered.

"You can't say that! She's a former councilwoman!" Shady was a serious insult. Shade is, after all, a step away from a shadow, and what is a shadow if not a step away from Darkness? To call someone shady meant that they were on the path to darkness and was one of the worst things a Jedi could be called. Rann started laughing. Mace just looked on with indignation.

"Rann!"

"Sorry, sorry," Rann calmed down a little.

"It's just… your face." Mace glared at him.

"You know you can't call a Master bad words, Rann."

"Look… it's…" Rann couldn't really find the words.

"She's rude, strict, and she didn't step down from the Council."

"What do you mean?"

"She was kicked off, though they did it quietly," Rann confided. Rann hadn't heard gossip about why she had been removed from the High Council yet, so he decided not to share that.

"I think that's why she's here, serving as a Crèchemaster for the Bear Clan, so Master Yoda can watch her." Mace now made a face.

"But you can't tell anyone," Rann hurried to add.

"Yeah. Maybe she is a… bad word." Mace was troubled, Rann could tell. A Master doing something bad and getting kicked off the High Council didn't mesh with his worldview. They left the Salles shortly after that, making their way back to the Crèche.

"Initiate Crys, your final scores have come in," called Crèchemaster Zucul. Rann eagerly rushed to the Miraluka Master who oversaw the Bear Clan. He held out a flimsiplast that contained his scores for the Junior Initiate Exam. He had already received his grades in Force Abilities and Saber Abilities but was still awaiting his Philosophy scores. He took the flimsy from Crèchemaster Zucul.

He had already tested out of the Mathematics and History sections and was taking Padawan-level courses, so he was really only waiting on his scores for the Jedi Code section of the final exam. Force Abilities Telekinesis Superior (5) Physical Enhancement Good (4) Sense Outstanding (6) Saber Abilities Shi Cho Superior (5) Additional Form (Soresu) Good (4) Philosophy Mathematics Outstanding (6 – automatic) History Outstanding (6 – automatic) Jedi Code Low Pass (2) Low Pass? Rann knew he had done better than that.

He scrolled further to the section detailing the critique of his essay on the Jedi Code.

'Initiate does not understand'… he did.

'Initiate fails to consider'… he did consider and had an entire rebuttal paragraph!

'Initiate misinterprets'… he disagreed. Finally, he made it to the very end. Master Yula Braylon. Of course, he thought.

"Master Zucul, could I speak to you in your office?"

"Of course, Initiate Crys," he agreed with a faint weariness in his voice. He knew what this would be about. They made their way to the hallway that contained all the Crèchemaster's offices and entered the largest one. There was artwork up all around the office, with no particular interest given to it being in line-of-sight. He wasn't sure if Zucul hung the art as a joke of sorts, considering he didn't see using the light spectrum, or for some other reason. Zucul left the door cracked.

Rann jumped into one of the oversized chairs across the large desk from the Miraluka, who sat and put his weathered hands onto the desk.

"What would you like to say, Crys?"

"I think I did better than a Low Pass, Master. I would like for there to be a re-evaluation." While a Low Pass wouldn't necessarily tank an Initiate's chances of becoming a Padawan, a Low Pass in the Jedi Code section in particular was considered very bad. It would certainly chase off some potential Masters, no matter his other scores. And since it was part of his permanent record, it would be there forever. A Low Pass in the Jedi Code section could haunt him for quite some time.

"You won't accept this score?" he asked, knowing the answer.

"No, Master Zucul."

"And you don't want to discuss this with Master Braylon?" He asked, this time sounding almost pleading.

"No Master Zucul. I don't think it will change anything, considering her commentary." Her critique had been almost as long as his fifteen-page essay.

"Indeed it will not, Initiate Crys," came a new voice from the doorway. Great, he thought. Just what I needed. Master Braylon didn't wait for an invitation, and instead stepped into Master Zucul's office.

"No amount of arguing could convince me to change your score, Initiate. I don't believe in it. And I showed you exactly where your deficiencies are." Rann nodded his head, trying to be respectful, but turned back to Master Zucul.

"I would still like my exam-""-You will not have your scores changed by going over my head, young man." She stepped closer and loomed over him in his seated position. Rann looked to Master Zucul for help, but he seemed just as taken aback and slightly cowed. He said nothing. Rann couldn't look to him for help, he realized.

"Look at me when we are talking. Do you not accept your score for the Jedi Code section of the Philosophy exam?"

"I accept your interpretation of the Jedi Code like I would accept a Gamorrean's lecture on diplomacy," Rann said coolly, looking her dead in the eye.

"I find your commentary on attachment especially trite, Master Braylon." The office was silent, except for the muffled coughs of Master Zucul.

"You little-" she shrieked, before cutting herself off.

"You will accept your score, Initiate." Rann looked at Master Zucul.

"Please inform Master Yoda that I would like to speak to him as my advisor on the Jedi Code, please." He flicked his eyes back to Yula Braylon.

"Apparently, I need to review my understanding." She stared at him with baleful eyes, Force presence pressing against him like a vice. Master Zucul prodded her in the Force and shielded him. A few more seconds of twitching hands and heavy breathing, then she left, slamming the door on her way out. Rann and Zucul sat in silence for a moment. Then the Crèchemaster sighed and rubbed his mouth.

"Never easy, is it," he murmured.

"How did you know?" It wasn't public knowledge that Yula Braylon had been kicked off the High Council. It was even more secret that she had been kicked off the High Council for having a secret son and covering for his illegal actions, getting involved with criminal elements and sabotaging a speeder in the process. The Council had hushed up and quelled any rumors to spare the embarrassment. Apparently Master Zucul had been informed, which made sense, since he was supposed to be her supervisor. Rann kept silent.

His heart was still in his throat and his eyes were now prickling with tears. It wasn't exactly easy to battle it out with Jedi Masters. Their very presence in the Force challenged you. Master Zucul not saying anything hurt.

"She is leading the trip to Ilum tomorrow," Zucul announced to the quiet office.

"Ah."