A New Player in the Force

Knowing that there was no way to put off the coming confrontation and realising that Gar was not an active threat with everyone gathered around us, I picked up my pace and moved up beside Serra.

[The boy is Gar Saxon, Nia and Girk’s son. Be careful.] I sent to Serra mentally as a warning as we approached the group. While she hadn’t yet learnt to respond verbally via the bond, I did get a sense of understanding and caution coming back from her.

“Knight Lhan, it's been a while,” I said with a smile once we were close enough to the group to speak without having to shout over the general noise of the area.

Lhan chuckled, his fangs exposed as he did. “It has, Padawan. If I had known sooner that you were journeying to the sector, I would’ve made sure to have been here to greet you and your masters.” He paused and turned to Serra. “Ah, Padawan… Keto, was it?”

“Yes, master,” Serra replied as she tried to nod, but stumbled due to the duffel-bag on her shoulder. “Sorry.”

Lhan laughed and waved his hand. “It’s quite alright young one. I understand you are not to draw attention to yourselves while out of Sundari, so it is better if you do not show the typical deference one would expect from a Padawan.”

He turned his attention back to me as he continued. “Before you wonder, our meeting here was simply the work of the Force. I arrived back in Keldabe only this morning while sorting out a dispute in the Olankur region.”

“I was saddened to hear that Masters Fay and Dooku would be leaving before I could return to Sundari, however at least I was able to greet the pair of you.” He paused and looked over my shoulder at the transport we had just exited. “Hopefully, we will have time to catch up later. For now, however, I must bid you farewell as I need to catch my flight. Good luck with the locals. They are a stubborn but honourable lot.”

“Goodbye.”

“May the Force be with you, Master Lhan.”

He gave us one last smile before he stepped passed us and began walking towards the transport we had just exited.

With his departure, I turned my attention to the rest of the greeting party, and while Naz and Bo were speaking with Nia – and Gar was staying silent as he watched me like a hawk – I used Observe on the two unknowns.

Taren Kraviss

Level: 29

Race: Human

Health: 98% (artificial lower left arm-modified)

Age: 52

Force Potential: Low

Threat Potential: Intermediate

Reputation: Neutral

Affiliation Loyalty: Clan Kraviss (78%) Mandalorian People (62%) House Kryze (56%)

Emotional State: Curious

Taren is intrigued by the idea of two Jedi, even simple Padawans, wishing to learn the way of the Mando’ade.

She is also wondering how much of your forebearer is in you.

And if the words of Duke Adonai about your potential are true.

…

Krarthog Wrajud

Level: 27

Race: Human

Health: 100%

Age: 48

Force Potential: Low

Threat Potential: Intermediate

Reputation: Disliked

Affiliation Loyalty: Clan Wrajud (100%) Death Watch (72%)

Emotional State: Annoyed/Concerned

Krarthog is less than thrilled to have to teach Jedi scum, however, he will follow Pre Vizsla’s orders.

He is worried that your appearance might disrupt Death Watch’s long-term goals.

And he is concerned your apparent closeness with Pre Vizsla’s daughter might disrupt his own plans.

…

I mentally sighed as I read Wrajud’s details. While it made sense for Pre to have an ally at this centre, the fact that he did have one, was not something I wanted or needed. Add in that the man was also unhappy about Naz’s interest and friendship with me, and it had all the making of a disaster waiting to happen.

Or chaos I could exploit depending on how I handled things.

Kraviss’ information was far less concerning and, based on her affiliation loyalties, it appeared as though she was a supporter of the Duke though she placed more stock in the people themselves. And, since she out-ranked Wrajud, I had to hope she would be able to keep him under control.

As I heard the transport begin to power up, and the landing ramp retracting, Kraviss began to speak.

“Greetings young ones, I am Taren Kraviss, Commandant of the Institute for Combat Training and Protectorate Selection here in Keldabe.” The smile she had started with fell a little as she said the name of the centre, and I noted that both Nia and Wrajud frowned as the name was said. “With me are Krarthog Wrajud, my chief combat instructor, our newest tactics instructor, Nia Vizsla, and her eldest son, and one of our more promising Trainees, Gar Saxon.”

“When Duke Adonai told me that we would be having two Jedi join us this year, I must admit to being shocked. The… animosity most of our people hold for your Order is a well-known fact, so to have two as young as yourselves decide to study here, and willingly remove your lightsabers…” She paused and shook her head even as she smiled. “Brave, yet possibly foolish.”

“That’s a fair way to describe most Jedi,” I commented, which made the Commandant chuckle. Bo, Naz, Nia, and Serra all at least smiled at my comment, while Wrajud and Gar didn’t react positively to my attempted levity. Wrajud’s eyes narrowed as if he was trying to burn a hole through my forehead while Gar kept his face impassive even as he continued to watch me carefully.

“Yes, that is a fair description of your Order,” Kraviss responded before shifting her attention to the two Mandalorians that had arrived with me and Serra. “Still, these two, while young, are also two of our more promising trainees and I am told you have defeated them both in training spars. Impressive.”

“Likely due to his Jedi tricks, Commandant,” Wrajud suggested as he finally turned his attention away from me to speak with his boss. His mouth opened as again as he turned back to face me once more.

“He did not, Instructor Wrajud,” Bo countered, cutting off whatever the man wished to add on. “After our first few spars, they both promised to not actively use the Force, and they kept their word.” Bo paused as her eyes glanced my way before she returned her focus to the adults. “Cam’s…” Her voice trailed off and she grunted.

“He’s better than us,” Naz finished as Bo’s head snapped around so she could glare at her friend. “What? It’s true.” She added with a shrug, before turning back to face the welcoming party. “He’s good. Like really, really good. Even knows a fair bit of Beskar’pel and Beskar’rev.”

“You taught outsiders, Jedi, our ways?” Wrajud all but snarled at Naz and took a partial step forward.

“She didn’t. I did,” Nia growled out as she moved to cut off Wrajud before he reached her niece. “I chose to do so as recompense for my husband’s actions after their ijaat'akannir. As was my right.” Her eyes bore into Wrajud. “Or do you wish to interfere in clan business?”

Wrajud held her glare with one of his own for a moment before grunting. “No. You are Mando’ade, and as you say it was clan business. Others, however, might not be so quick to forgive or forget.”

Nia’s glare narrowed as she smirked. “Let them come. I could do with a good fight.”

“Um, excuse me, Gar?” I said, moving the conversation towards a topic I knew had to be addressed, even as I mentally activated Bullet-Time without seeming to slow down the world around me. “I, I’m sorry about your father’s death. I didn’t want to kill him. It’s…” I stopped talking as he took a step forward, slipping away from his mother as she tried, and failed, to place a hand on his shoulder to stop him.

“I do not like you.” Gar all but spat out as he ground his teeth. “I doubt I ever will. You killed my father.”

Nia took a step towards us, her brow creasing in worry, but I was less concerned. Precognition was not hinting at a threat. Yet, to be careful, I slid one foot back into a combat stance just in case it was wrong.

Just as Nia reached him and moved to place her hand more firmly on his shoulder, Gar took a deep breath and the tension in his shoulders eased.

“But you won the duel. That I cannot deny. You were stronger that day, and my father’s dishonour is my shame to bear.” Gar said slowly as if trying to keep his emotions out of his words.

“No, it’s not.” I countered, shifting out of my combat stance, and taking a tentative step towards him. “The actions of your father are not yours. His choices, good or bad, are not yours. You are your own man.”

“Wise words,” Kraviss said in agreement, drawing the attention of both Gar and me to her. “Ones that match the ideals of a true Mando’ade. With this now settled, I hope there will be no issues between you two once sessions begin?”

“No Commandant,” Gar said, straightening his shoulders before he took a few steps backwards to restore the distance between us.

“No Commandant,” I repeated, recognizing a standard phrase when I heard one.

“Good. Now come on, while you are the most unusual of the new trainees, you are not any more important than the others. And they are likely growing impatient for their training to begin.” Kraviss said before she pivoted with practised ease and began to walk – well march really – towards Keldabe.

Everyone else, bar myself and Serra, quickly fell into step behind her, seemingly expecting this behaviour and used to the more military-styled approach. I likely would’ve followed instantly as well, but Serra’s brow creased at the Commandant’s words.

“They’re soldiers, or at least, act that way,” I explained. “Come on.” I moved quickly to follow the Mandalorians into their city, and Serra soon was beside me as we reached the rear of the group.

We walked quickly but quietly across the landing port, the people there seeming to step out of Kraviss’ way as she approached with a few even snapping to attention as we passed. Soon, we reached the edge of the city proper and I let my eyes wander without losing sight of the adults.

The buildings were just as hodgepodge as they had appeared during our approach, with us passing domed wooden shacks that sat next to duracrete angular warehouses. I swore I saw one building that looked like it was made out of glass, but before I could be sure, we had reached the main gates of the city – which were large enough that I felt I could drive a troop transport through them with room to spare.

However, instead of walking down the main boulevard, Kraviss ducked to the right and led us down an alley that skirted the wall of the city.

“While Sundari is now the capital of Mandalore, Keldabe is a city which has existed since before the time of Revan,” Nia explained without looking back at us, “and until the Dral’Han, served as the capital of our planet, sector and people.”

“Perhaps one day, it will again,” Wrajud added, though without any hint that he believed that might happen.

“Perhaps,” Nia responded as she glanced at the man and I wondered how the pair were going to work together with Nia being ex-Death Watch and Wrajud seemingly being not only a member of Pre Vizsla’s faction of Death Watch.

“Regardless, since neither of our newcomers have completed their verd’goten, nor have you received the permission of their clan elders to explore Keldabe, I cannot allow either of you to legally leave our centre and explore the city during your free time,” Kraviss explained to me and Serra without looking back as she continued to lead us through the alley, sliding with natural ease to avoid a man pushing crates into the alley from out of the back of a building.

“I do not need the potential problems that would occur if an accident befell you while you were off-campus.” She added as we stepped out of the alley onto a street that was smaller than the main thoroughfare, but one that was filled with the smells of dozens, if not hundreds, of different kinds of food. “Understood?” she asked as she stopped and looked back at us.

“Yes, Commandant.”

“Um, yes, Commandant.” Serra’s response was slower than mine, but I expected that, as I suspected did Kraviss, who gave us the briefest of nods before turning back and walking out into the street.

While the street was smaller than the one from before, it was more crowded. People flowed around buying and selling various foodstuffs and beverages and my sense of smell was overwhelmed by the mixture of flavours that drifted around us.

Kraviss gave Naz and Bo a nod before she, Gar and the other adults turned right. I moved to follow them when a spike of shock came to me through the Force. However, I had no time to understand why that was, or keep following the instructors, as Naz grabbed my hand.

As I turned to look at her, and she winked at me, I saw that Bo had done the same with Serra, explaining the source of the shock I had just sensed.

As Naz began to pull me into the crowd, I realised that I had lost sight of the adults and Gar, and while they were likely still with Detection on my minimap, it was hard to pick out anyone when there were tens if not hundreds of thousands of people in range.

We began to weave through the throngs of people with Naz seemingly knowing where she was going instinctively, and I began to wonder if this was some sort of test. Perhaps a way to prove that those who were to attend the Institute and train to become Protectors, were able to move quickly through a crowd, even while carrying a large bag.

I became more certain of this as we slipped between two stands – one selling bread, the other some kind of fruit – and headed for a narrow passage that was barely wide enough for us to enter side-by-side.

The only other option was that Naz was leading me into a trap, but given that she was unarmed, unarmoured and in the same narrow passageway as I was, I considered that highly unlikely.

Still, it was possible, so just in case, I kept an eye on where Serra was on my minimap.

While picking out anyone else from the throngs of people in range would be difficult, Serra was both Force-trained and shared a bond with me. This meant that when Detection was added to the minimap she not only shone brighter, indicating someone who was Force-Trained – and that was why I never bothered with using Detection in the Jedi Temple – but her marker seemed to pulse as we shared a Force Bond.

From what I could tell, she was heading down a parallel alleyway with Bo in the same general direction that Naz and I were, so I shifted my focus back to where I was, and where Naz was leading me.

A large floating bin suddenly spewed out into the passage we were in, cutting off our route at such a close range that Naz wouldn’t be able to stop in time. To prevent her from hitting the bin, I pulled her closer with my free hand and leapt with the Force.

“Eep!” Naz squeaked as we sailed over the bin – which beeped indignantly at us, letting me know it was a droid.

As we landed, I let go of her. “You ok?” I asked, noting her face was a little whiter than normal.

She nodded slowly and placed her free hand – the other one still firmly gripping mine – on her chest.

As the colour returned to her cheeks she smirked. “Yeah. Just the first time I’ve been swept off my feet.” I laughed as she stepped closer. “Kinda fun, but next time I want dinner first.”

“R-right,” I replied as I did my best to ignore the innuendo and the way my body was reacting to having her so close to me, “um, shouldn’t we keep moving?”

“If that’s what you want,” she replied, and before I could respond, turned, and began to pull me along with her once more, resuming our journey.

As we all but flew across another street – from what I could see, it appeared to be a market street with stalls selling fabrics and pottery – I cleared my mind and worked on noting down the various streets, buildings, shops, and locations to fill in my minimap.

Something told me I would need to know my way around in the future.

… …

After being led through another dozen or so alleyways and back-passages, Naz took us through a small gate in the city’s walls and we exited into a large open clearing on the eastern edge of the city. On one side of the clearing was a transparisteel barrier that overlooked the cliff that encircled three sides of Keldabe, and the river could be heard rushing around the bend far below.

The far side of the clearing had a metallic gate and wall. The gate was large enough to allow four or five people to enter side-by-side and had a small, semi-circular glass dome above the apex of the frame. One side of the wall extended out over the cliff-edge suggesting there was an overhanging platform on the other side, while the other edge of the wall extended into the forest, vanishing as the foliage grew denser and darker.

Grouped around the area between the wall and the city were other children, with all of them looking around my age, and none having the green bar on their training gear that Naz and Bo had. Most were huddled around the few benches that littered the clearing, though some seemed to have slipped into the trees to use them for shade while they waited.

The only obvious sign of technology in the clearing, bar the wall and gate, was a large ring – about a metre across – that was half-buried in the centre of the clearing. That was probably a display interface as it looked very much like an enlarged holographic comm unit I’d seen in ships, at the Jedi Temple and in other places in my travels.

About a minute after Naz and I had arrived, Bo burst through the gate from the city with Serra in tow. Their faces were reddened, likely from running, but I sensed a flicker of embarrassment, arousal and shame coming from Serra.

Once we were gathered, Naz told Serra and me that we had to wait here until the Commandant – who I suspected had taken a different route into the Institute – spoke with the new trainees. After that, she and Bo approached the gate.

A blue light had shone on them from the glass dome and swept over them.

As the light stopped, and the gates opened – allowing the two girls to enter – I spotted several buildings inside the walled area. Having now seen it from above, and glimpsed inside from here, I was all but sure it wasn’t a true military base but instead a training facility.

Which, given to the name that the Commandant had used for the place, made a lot of sense. Even if I was a little disappointed as I’d been looking forward to experiencing a military academy in the Star Wars galaxy.

Moments after the gate had closed behind Bo and Naz, two older boys – well, either that or both had hit growth spurts before becoming teenagers – entered the area. They walked forward confidently to the gate where they were also scanned and allowed in. Given that both had two green bars in their uniforms, I suspected that the bars were what the scan was looking for. And that it likely worked as a form of RFID that compared their details to a central computer for security.

With nothing for us to do but wait around, Serra had moved over to the forest-side of the clearing and sat down at the base of an empty tree. While she meditated, I kept an eye on those around us.

I couldn’t use Observe on all of them, not unless I also took time to meditate to accelerate my Player Point regeneration. I could only use the power about a dozen times before I needed to let the regen work. That, plus the fact it would also boost my FP regen as well, was why I was leaning towards taking Enhanced Regeneration with my Perk Point once I reached level 24.

Since I couldn’t Observe everyone, I chose to lean against the same tree Serra was meditating under and watch how those assembled reacted. Meditation wasn’t a definitive sign that someone was a Jedi – especially as neither of us were in our robe nor had our Padawan braids – but it was a decidedly un-Mandalorian thing to do.

Most people seemed unconcerned, if not overly happy, about Serra’s meditation, however, four did not. Those four sneered and earned themselves an Observe.

Andeeld Krhul, Erdar Skors, Tavuk Wirn and Jart Awaud were their names with all being under level 15 and listed as a low threat – or less in Skors’ case. However, it was better to at least know where potential issues could come from, thus I made a mental note to keep an eye on them as best I could over the coming weeks.

Around twenty minutes after Naz and Bo had dropped us off in the clearing, a loud, brisk horn blared from the metallic ring in the centre of the clearing.

“If I may have your attention.” Commandant Kraviss said as a large hologram of her appeared from the ring, confirming my suspicion that it was a projector. “Good. You one hundred standing before me have been selected to attend the Keldabe branch of the Institute for Combat Training and Protectorate Selection.” Again, Kraviss seemed to cringe at the name, and I couldn’t blame her. The name was less than ideal, meaning it was likely the result of the New Mandalorians changing the name when they came to power.

“However, we only accept the best of the best. Therefore, only those of you who pass an initiation challenge will be granted permission to train within these walls.” As she spoke her eyes began to scan the crowd as I noted a fair few people I hadn’t seen come out of the forest. At a guess, there were now about a hundred people standing around the clearing.

“Some of you come from powerful clans, or have influential sponsors,” at this, her eyes seemed to pick out certain people, with her gaze stopping for a moment on myself and Serra.

“Inside these walls, those connections mean nothing. Merit, determination, and skill are what matter here. We are not training privileged sycophants to become followers. We train warriors and protectors.” Her visage glared out at the crowd and I noticed a few people seemed to shrink into themselves under the gaze. I didn’t, as I’d seen far more intimidating glares from Dooku and instructors in my past life, but I was pleased to see that Serra, who had stood up when the hologram of Kraviss had appeared, stood her ground as well.

“As such, the challenge that awaits you all is to reach the centre of the Institute within the next hour and ring the bell located at the base of this facility’s flag outside the central command complex. Any who are unable to complete the challenge in the time allowed will have the choice of attending one of our satellite training centres or returning home and attempting the initiation trial next session.”

“Now, don’t forget your belongings. Oya!” Kraviss finished before the hologram flickered and turned into a clock that began counting down from an hour.

The clearing soon filled with voices as people began to discuss what the Commandant had said.

“Why didn’t they tell us about this?” Serra asked as she turned to face me.

I assumed she meant Naz and Bo. “They probably weren’t allowed to,” I responded with a shrug. “Question is how do we get in?”

I considered how we were going to get in as I mentally manipulated my minimap. Thanks to Eidetic Memory, it was already up to date with what I saw as I glanced through the gates and saw from above.

“If I’m right, there’s another gate about a click northward, and likely one more in the forest,” I said out loud for Serra to hear. Making it seem as though I was just pondering a plan. “But I suspect that there are probably traps and the like between those gates and us.”

Mentally, I went through a few ideas.

I could just leap over it with Force Jump, Phase through the wall, or Teleport to the other side. However, doing any of those would not only out me as a Jedi but also, for the latter two, reveal a power I was averse to letting potential threats know about.

“Why not jump the wall?” Serra offered, verbalising my first idea. “We can both clear that easily.”

“Yes, but If we just jumped it, it would out us as Jedi. Though perhaps we could climb one of those trees and…” My voice trailed off as I saw a group of three trying out my thought. “Eh, looks like someone has the same idea.”

Even as I picked up my duffel bag and slung it over my shoulder, the lead one of the trio reached the edge of the wall.

They slowly leaned forward, trying to get a grip on the edge of the wall, suggesting that it was clear of any obstructions. However, just as their hand began to pass over the actual wall, a shield flared and the person in question jerked before falling from the tree.

“New plan?” Serra asked, and I chuckled at her comment even as we watched the other two leapt down from the tree to check on their friend. A quick usage of Observe told me the boy, Raun Wott was fine, if a little dazed.

“We’ve got time,” I answered as I noted that only a few minutes had ticked away from the floating clock.

A group of ten people moved passed us and entered the forest. They were heading along the wall, and I had to suspect that they were heading to the next gate in the wall in the hope it would be open.

Considering the fact that they’d have to head through a forest, then factoring in the high probability of there being obstacles in their path, I suspected that it would take anyone trying for the next gate – which from my memory was located on the south side of the complex – about thirty minutes to reach it.

While that wasn’t a major thing, it could still leave them needing to get through that gate, though the likelihood that it would take long to do so was low since I estimated that at a fast jog, it would take about ten minutes to reach the centre of the Institute. Which was where I suspected this flag and bell would be located.

Even as I considered all that, another dozen or so set off into the forest, with more trickling after them.

“Hmm, maybe the cliff-edge,” I considered verbally. “It would be difficult, but there should be some form of protection in case a trainee slipped and fell. It serves no one if a child dies trying to enter this place.”

“They’d do that?”

I shrugged at Serra’s question, having heard the concern in her voice just as easily as I sensed it through the Force. “Maybe in the old days. But I doubt the current administration would allow it. They’re very much into non-violence.” Which was about the nicest way I could describe the New Mandalorian faction.

“Then why do they allow this place to exist?” I turned to face Serra and barely managed to resist sighing in annoyance at the decisions taken by the New Mandalorians.

“Because the Protectors serve as a quasi-police force across the sector. And shutting them down, along with places like this, would anger those who do not agree with their thinking.” I explained slowly, making sure to keep my distaste for the ruling group under control.

Serra nodded. “Like us.” My brow rose which she must have seen, as she shrugged. “What? I don’t like the whole ‘peace at all costs’ thinking they have got either.”

“So why haven’t you said so before?” I asked as I noted that Serra had never voiced any disapproval about the governing group of the sector when around me.

She smirked. “No need to, at least when you’re around. I doubt I could come up with a better insult or comment than what you’ve said.” She chuckled. “Plus, unlike some, I understand the art of diplomacy isn’t just speaking softly while carrying a lightsaber.”

I opened my mouth to protest, only to close it again. A smile slipped only my face and I shook my head in amusement. “Fair enough.” I turned my attention back to the gate and its accompanying wall. “So how do we get in?”

It had been less than ten minutes since Kraviss’ declaration, but the clearing was all but deserted.

A group of about ten were looking to see if they could find a way around the wall where it overhung the river. Four more were examining the wall for some reason; probably in the hope that they’d discover a way to disarm or short-circuit the barrier at the top. And the rest had taken off for the next gate.

Thinking the group at the wall might be onto something, I closed my eyes and reached out with Force Sight.

The walls were, rather unexpectedly to me, lacking much in the way of circuitry, with only a thin layer of wiring that likely carried the shock current running along the top. I did, however, discover that there were about a dozen cameras placed in hidden locations around the clearing. All these were linked to the central holographic ring that had displayed Kraviss’ image, with a thicker cable running into the base. That likely carried the signals to a central monitoring station, which meant the staff were probably enjoying watching the newbies try to gain access to the grounds.

Beyond the walls, I could sense power lines and the like for the main base, but the area directly on the other side of the wall was much like the clearing. Small cables underground were likely for cameras, and other monitoring devices, but I couldn’t sense any defensive emplacements. That was likely because either they were offline or unpowered, or that Force Sight was not at a high enough level to detect such things.

As I deactivated Force Sight, I noticed that Serra had left my side and had moved closer to the gate; her head tilted to the right as she examined either the gate, the wall, or both.

With nothing else to do, I headed over to her, though not before picking up her duffel bag.

“What are you thinking?” I asked as I came alongside her.

“How did the gate know to let Naz and Bo in?” she asked as she focused on the scanner above the gate.

“Not sure. Likely the green bars on their uniforms,” I replied as I turned my attention to the gate and the small scanner at the top of the arch in the wall. “They likely held some form of code to allow an active student to enter.”

“No. I don’t think so…” Serra trailed off as she stepped closer to the gate and let the blue light of the scanner wash over her.

As the scan light disengaged, I opened my mouth to tell her that wouldn’t work, only for the gates to click, and begin to slide open.

“Son of a…” I muttered as I realised that my hypothesis about how the scanner worked was flawed, as it appeared that the scan was not linked to the green bars, but simple facial recognition software that ran from the central computer. And since it was letting Serra in, our details must already be in the system.

So, I stepped forward so I could be scanned.

However, my latest theory on what the scanner was doing was disproven as when the blue light washed over me, the scanner beeped once, and the beam turned red. The gates that had been open while Serra walked through them – she was now on the other side – now began to close.

“Yeah, that’s not happening,” I muttered as I reached out subtly with the Force and grabbed each door, gripping them tightly with TK.

I could hear the gears in the wall struggling to power out of my telepathic grip, as I began to walk through the gate as though I saw nothing wrong with it not closing.

When I stepped through the gates, and onto the Institute’s grounds, and heard the voices of some of the few still in the clearing call out, I released my hold on the gears. The gate slammed shut so quickly behind me that I felt the breeze it generated, which suggested the motors had been sending more power into the gears to push the gate closed. As such, it was a good thing I waited until I was inside the gates before I stopped holding them open with the Force.

“I thought someone said we shouldn’t use the Force to get in?” Serra asked with a smirk as she leaned against a nearby tree with her arms crossed and one foot resting against the trunk.

“I never said we couldn’t use it, just that jumping the wall would’ve outed us as Jedi. Subtle use should be fine, so long as we don’t overdo it.” I responded as I pulled her duffel bag from my shoulder and tossed it to her. “And good job with the gate.”

Her smirk expanded into a full-blown smile as she caught her bag and pushed off the tree. “Thanks.”

While she shifted it to her shoulder, I took a look around the area with Force Sight. It was as I had suspected.

The area seemed devoid of any defences, bar cameras and microphones that were dotted around the few trees near the wall.

The path that we were on ran towards a collection of buildings and there was nothing between us and them, bar open ground. While the overall lack of defences irked me, at least the open ground gave any defenders some benefits if the place was ever attacked. Though I still suspected that there were hidden defensive structures dotted around the place that I just couldn't sense as they were powered down and Force Sight was not strong enough to sense them.

“Are you coming?” She called and I turned off Force Sight and turned to see she’d taken a few steps down the path towards the buildings before stopping.

“Yeah. Just… thinking.” I replied slowly before I began to move.

“Well hurry up. Bo owes me fifty credits if we’re the first to ring the bell,” Serra said with a smirk as she began to walk. “Though I thought she was just talking about us being the first to arrive, not the trial.”

“And what if we’re not the first? Do you even have the credits?” I asked as I jogged a few steps to reach her side.

“No, but I know a famous author who I’m sure would be willing to cover for me.” She replied, giving me a smile and a gentle shoulder nudge.

I chuckled. “Maybe, maybe not. But I’d hate to lose my credits, so let’s get moving.” Though fifty credits were nothing in the grand scheme of things. Even ignoring the roughly two-hundred and eighty thousand credits I had stored in my inventory, I had more than enough to cover that with my book sales.

Since, in the roughly five months since ‘The Two Towers’ had been released, I’d earned just over thirty million credits. And while I wasn’t yet able to touch the money – Fay and Dooku held the keys to my account – and I’d transferred around five million to the Lokella to help them set themselves up, it was there. And once I was old enough, and likely made a Knight, then I’d start using it to prepare for the wars to come.

We began to jog, and after only a few minutes spotted a flag as it flew freely in the gentle breeze. The flag had the symbol of the Mandalorians on it, though this mythosaur skull was green on a black background, which from the lessons Bo and Naz had given us on the importance of colours to Mandalorians, meant that duty and justice were the two values held in the highest regard at the Institute.

We had to round a few buildings, but as we came into sight of the flagpole’s base – which was located in what was likely the centre of the facility and next to the only building that I’d seen inside the walls that was more than four levels high – I saw that Commandant Kraviss, Instructor Wrajud and Nia were waiting for us, along with three other adults.

None of them said anything until we reached the flagpole, and since it had been Serra’s idea to use the front gate – and yes, I was mentally kicking myself for not trying the most obvious solution first – I let her ring the bell first.

“Impressive,” Kraviss said as she and the other adults came closer after I had rung the bell. “Most don’t think to try the gate. Though it was only programmed to allow one through.” She turned her attention to me. “I was under the impression that you were not to use your abilities openly.”

“I have no idea of what you’re speaking of, ma’am,” I answered as I slipped into the relaxed military stance I remembered from my old life. “Though if the gate was not meant to let me through, maybe you should have an engineer examine the motors inside?”

I heard Nia chuckle even as the barest hint of a smile crept onto Kraviss’ face as she replied. “Hmm, perhaps that was all it was. Regardless, congratulations on being the first two to arrive. Instructor Varad here will take you to your billets.”

The woman she had indicated – a brunette with an impressive, or scary depending on your thinking, scar that ran through one eye – stepped forward.

“This way,” she stated before turning and marching northwards without making sure we were following.

I shared a look and shrug with Serra before we began to follow, and as we did, Nia caught my eye and gave me a smile and nod.

“Reveille is at zero-six-hundred,” Varad began once we had caught up to her. “You are required to be back at the flag by zero-six-fifteen for morning exercises. Meals are served in the canteen here,” she indicated a large building on our right. “Once you are in your assigned barracks, you will stay there until called for orientation at sixteen-hundred. During orientation, other facilities and locations will be revealed and their functions explained. Do not try to wander the facility until after orientation.”

“You will be sharing a room with up to three others. Upon each bed is a datapad. That datapad is yours for your time here. The rules for the Institute are the only available document currently on it. Read them and understand the consequences of violating any rule. Do you understand?”

“Yes ma’am!”

“Uh, yes, ma’am.”

Serra’s response was not as rapid or forceful as mine, but then again, she was used to the Jedi way and not a military approach. Regardless, Varad did not seem to mind or care as we marched along behind her onto a pathway that led into a cul-de-sac with seven buildings down each side of the path with a fifteenth building at the end.

“Evaar-agol, newbies, are in the second barracks on each side. Girls stay on the left side, boys on the right. The end building is for trainee leaders and champions only.” Varad all but growled out. “Dismissed.”

Without another word, she turned and marched away, likely back to the flag to collect the next group as the bell had sounded twice on our walk over here.

“I thought we’d be sharing a room,” Serra said quietly once Varad was a dozen or so steps away. “N-not that I want to share.” She added quickly as I raised an eyebrow at her statement.

“It would be easier in some ways if we did, but I had expected this,” I replied. “How about we take rooms that can see each other? Say, last room on the second floor?”

Serra seemed to perk up at that and smiled at me. “Okay. I’ll see you from there soon.”

She headed to the female barracks while I entered the male one.

[And you can use the time apart to practice communicating with me like this,] I said telepathically. [While difficult to manage, it’s a handy skill to have.]

I sensed her agreement via the Force, along with a mixture of confusion and hope.

As I entered the building, I chuckled at the familiar smell of a freshly cleaned military barrack. Even if the galaxy was different, it seemed that the smell remained the same.

As I climbed the stairs to the second floor, I noted that the place was in better condition than most of the barracks I had billeted in during my old life and was far more ‘‘user-friendly’’, it was still easy to see the military thinking that went into the layout.

Hopefully, that extended to the actual rooms and beds. The last thing I wanted was to spend the next few months in a military-style school with a lumpy or uneven bed.

… …

… …

My opponent’s fist flew towards my face with all the strength they could muster. However, thanks to my training and experience from my previous life – which translated into my higher-than-normal skills in this one – it wasn’t much of a problem to evade the fist by leaning back just enough that the fist, and connected arm, sailed harmlessly passed my head.

As the fist passed over my shoulder, I leaned away from my opponent and, exploiting the fact that the arm was extended, brought my hand up quickly and struck my opponent’s armpit was a knife-hand strike.

He grunted out in pain, and as he stumbled a few steps away from me, I struck his kidneys with a roundhouse from my far side. This caused his stumble to be more pronounced and he struggled to keep his balance.

Not letting up, I moved forward and turned until I was behind him and drove a foot into the back of one of his knees. As he began to sink to the floor I locked him in a rear-naked chokehold and pulled upwards, making sure the bracers I was forced to wear were driven into his throat.

He struggled against the hold as best he could and pushed upwards in an attempt to regain his footing. However, I was hoping for that and let myself fall backwards as he pushed, and as we fell to the ground, I locked my legs around him in a scissor hold.

He tried to turn and move but the hold was secure and after about thirty seconds of trying to escape, he tapped my forearm.

“Winner, and still leader of Diryc group, Cameron Shan,” Instructor Wrajud called out with a barely hidden sense of annoyance. This set off a small round of applause from the other trainees who had been watching the fight.

I ignored them and released the hold, letting my opponent roll over onto his hands and knees, and stood.

“Well fought,” I said as I offered a hand to help him stand.

He coughed a few times and rubbed his throat before turning his head to look up at me. “You too.” he croaked out as he took the offered hand.

“I swear you’re getting faster Cam,” he said with a more natural-sounding voice once he was upright and standing, even if he was a little unsteady as we broke the grip.

“Nah, I’m just having to be more creative Thun,” I replied to the boy, which made him chuckle. Though after a few laughs, he began to cough and rubbed his throat once more.

As he did that, I considered the boy.

Thun Der was another of the students at the Institute. At the beginning of the session – the Institute’s terminology for a semester – he had been the top-ranked fighter, and the reigning champion, of Diryc (‘lower’ in Basic) group.

Now, just over a Mandalorian month later – which in a strange quirk of calendars, was a few days short of a Republic standard month – he was third.

It hadn’t taken me long to assume the top spot for the group, even if I was about half a year younger than any other Mandalorian trainee, while Bo had moved into second place. Serra was currently ranked forty-ninth which was impressive when our group held a little over four hundred trainees, her ability to fight without the Force or a lightsaber was lacking, and she was younger than everyone here, bar me.

Naz, who was in Laamyc (‘higher’) group, was ranked fifty-seventh out of those roughly four hundred trainees. Gar Saxon was the second-ranked fighter in Laamyc group, and subsequently, the Institute since even the lowest-ranked fighter in Laamyc group was ranked above anyone from Diryc group.

“Maybe you call it creative. For me, it’s just painful.” Thun remarked as he placed a hand on the back of his neck and rolled it. “Still, it’s good to have someone to beat for a change. Last year got boring when I had no one to challenge. Oh sure, there were a few good ones, but none that have pushed me like you’re doing.” He chuckled as we stepped off the circular mat that served as the sparring ring. “And now I’m the one seeking out the fight. Fun doing the hunting.”

“Except when what you hunt is better than you,” I responded with a smirk, and he laughed.

“Keep telling yourself that. I’ll take you down one day.” he countered without any anger.

“Never going to happen.” I shot back, making him laugh once more before we headed to different areas of the viewing stands and I climbed the steps towards my seat.

As I climbed, I considered the last month, and what had happened.

Orientation had taken place when Instructor Varad had stated it would, with Commandant Kraviss giving a speech about the ideals to which all Trainees had to hold themselves to.

After that, she had briefly introduced the instructors, though only Wrajud and Range-Master Marod were identified as the returnees before she mentioned Nia and two others - Tor Skirata and Monk Kumus – were new instructors.

Nia would only be working with Diryc group, likely due to her son and niece being in Laamyc group, but that was useful to me as it gave me a semi-friendly voice among the staff should I ever need one.

Skirata, who was only twenty-one, was serving as her assistant, which made sense, while Kumus was assigned to the close-quarters combat training group with Chief Instructor Wrajud.

From there, she moved on to explaining the daily routine, and as she spoke, it felt to me that the Institute was very much what I imagined a military academy on Earth would be like. Though with more emphasis on combat than academic studies.

Reveille was at zero-six-hundred with everyone expected to muster at the flag within fifteen minutes for morning exercises. Breakfast was at zero-seven-thirty with morning classes – which were more academic in approach – running from zero-eight-hundred until lunchtime.

Our afternoons were to be spent on more combat-focused studies with us alternating between time in a classroom and one of the various ranges and challenge courses the Institute had. And during the first afternoon, when the Instructor had gone over the various tactics and strategies that would be taught, something unusual had happened.

My Warfare [Ground] skill had evolved into three new skills: Small Unit Warfare, Combined Arms Combat and Planetary Warfare.

Small Unit Warfare was where most of the XP from Warfare [Ground] went, which made sense as it was the skill covering tactics used by small squads and that was what I’d spent the most time learning and practising in my old life.

Combined Arms Combat covered the use of armour and air support along with infantry and while the basic principles were the same, the way combat was approached here was different that my old life; likely due to the fact people in this galaxy used blaster technology and that for Mandalorians at least, jetpacks were semi-standard equipment.

Planetary Warfare was a skill that covered warfare on a world level, akin to commanding full armies in a world war or leading an invasion of a hostile populace from orbit.

I had spent time after the class wondering if something similar would happen to Warfare [Space] but the Interface informed me that the evolution of the skill could not happen until it had reached Professional:1.

Evenings also alternated between singular sparring sessions – like tonight – and team-based games. Though those ‘‘games’’ reminded me more of military training exercises than something designed for fun, like say paintball. I’d also gotten a new skill – Mechanics [Blasters] – from those classes.

That skill covered the regular maintenance and repair of blasters, and at higher levels, it conferred the ability to alter a blaster or even design your own, similar to the customization mechanics of the KOTOR series, but far more involved. Learning it was something that I should have thought about studying earlier, since it was something I had dealt with in my former life, however since I had barely used blasters since arriving in this galaxy, I could forgive my oversight. Though the Interface had been kind enough to grant me about a dozen levels in the skill, obviously drawing on my memories from my old life and finding a few things that could be carried over.

I’d asked if we would learn how to repair and maintain armour, but the Instructor had informed me that, due to instructions from Sundari and the ruling government, those classes covering the usage, maintenance and customization of melee weapons were only available for Laamyc group. That was also true for melee combat; hence why I hadn’t taken any training quests linked to those skills.

Wrajud then took over and had explained that there were competitions for range training, individual sparring, and team drills. And as he explained the competitions, three quests were generated by the Interface: Sniper Elite, Alpha Dog and Force Recon.

Sniper Elite

Prove your worth with blasters.

Rating: B

Objectives:

:-: Be ranked in the top 20 of Diryc group with a blaster rifle by the end of the session.

Bonus: ?

Bonus: ?

:-: Be ranked in the top 20 of Diryc group with a blaster pistol by the end of the session.

Bonus: ?

Bonus: ?

:-: Be ranked as one of the top 200 students in the Institute with a blaster rifle by the end of the session.

Bonus: ?

Bonus: ?

:-: Be ranked as one of the top 200 students in the Institute with a blaster pistol by the end of the session.

Bonus: ?

Bonus: ?

Rewards:

:-: 2000XP

A minor increase in Reputation with all current members of Diryc group.

:-: 2000XP

A minor increase in Reputation with all current members of Diryc group.

:-: 1500XP

A minor increase in Reputation with all staff and students at the Institute.

:-: 1500XP

A minor increase in Reputation with all staff and students at the Institute.

Failure:

:-: -800XP

A minor decrease in Reputation with all current members of Diryc group.

:-: -800XP

A minor decrease in Reputation with all current members of Diryc group.

:-: 550XP

A minor decrease in Reputation with all staff and students at the Institute.

:-: -550XP

A minor decrease in Reputation with all staff and students at the Institute.

…

Alpha Dog

Prove your worth in unarmed CQC.

Rating: B

Objectives:

:-: Be one of the top 16 ranked fighters in Diryc group by the end of the session.

Bonus: ?

Bonus: ?

:-: Reach the quarterfinals of the end-of-session tournament.

:-: Be crowned the winner of the sparring tournament, and thus the new Akaan’lor, of the Institute.

Bonus: ?

Bonus: ?

Rewards:

:-: 2000XP

A minor increase in Reputation with all current members of Diryc group.

:-: 1500XP

A minor increase in Reputation with all staff and students at the Institute.

:-: 4000XP

A large increase in Reputation with all staff and students at the Institute.

Failure:

:-: -800XP

A minor decrease in Reputation with all current members of Diryc group.

:-: -550XP

A minor decrease in Reputation with all staff and students at the Institute.

:-: -1500XP

…

Force Recon

Train your team to be one of the best.

Rating: A

Objectives:

:-: Be one of the top 12 ranked teams in Diryc group by the end of session.

Bonus: ?

Bonus: ?

:-: Reach the quarterfinals of the end of session team tournament.

Bonus: ?

Bonus: ?

Rewards:

:-: 4000XP

A minor increase in Reputation with all current members of Diryc group.

An increase in Reputation with all current members of team Brown-Nine.

:-: 2000XP

A minor increase in Reputation with all staff and students at the Institute.

Failure:

:-: -1500XP

A minor decrease in Reputation with all current members of team Brown-Nine.

:-: -1000XP

A minor decrease in Reputation with all staff and students at the Institute.

…

None of those objectives were too hard to reach, though the team quest – Force Recon – was harder as it wasn’t just based on my own skills, but that of the team I’d been assigned to. That team was composed of my three dormmates along with Serra and her three dormmates.

I suspected that at least one bonus for each quest was linked to me not actively using the Force, and if that was the case, it shouldn’t be too hard to achieve as, after the orientation, everyone was called to a formal assembly where Chief Instructor Wrajud had outed me and Serra as Jedi.

Nia and Commandant Kraviss did not look pleased about this. Hell, if Nia’s glare could kill, Wrajud would’ve been nothing but a pile of ashes.

But it hadn’t, and Wrajud had then stated that due to our inherent advantages, we would both be forced to wear and activate Force suppression bracers while involved in any of the combat competitions.

While the bracers were annoying – and carried a penalty that increased the cost of using any of my Force Powers by eight hundred per cent – I had quickly adapted them into my combat style, as proven when I’d used one while locking the rear-naked-choke on Thun in my just-finished spar.

Curious as to why Wrajud had done this, even as most of the assembled trainees turned to glare at Serra and me, I used Observe on Wrajud and discovered he hoped that revealing our status would drive a wedge between us and Bo and Naz. From that, and what I saw from Observe before, I wondered if his plans for Naz were centred around a way to merge his clan with clan Vizsla. An idea that became more obvious when I discovered that his son was in Laamyc group, and the defending Akaan’lor, or in Basic the ‘Fighting Champion’.

In the month or so since Wrajud had revealed our status, things hadn’t gone according to his plan. Apart from me being the top-ranked unarmed fighter in Diryc, I was also ranked in the top thirty in the entire Institute for my pistol and rifle marksmanship. (I’d likely be ranked higher but the first few times I’d fired the weapons on the range, I’d forgotten that things like wind and air resistance were less of an issue for blaster bolts compared to rounds fired from guns in my old life.)

Also, my team was ranked eighth in Diryc, with no other newbie team ranked above twenty-second, and their rankings in the other tournaments were also climbing as I took the time to teach them tricks for both unarmed combat and marksmanship.

Add onto that the fact that Bo had been spending at least two nights a week tutoring Serra to help her poor marksmanship and improve her ability to fight unarmed and that by being revealed to the others, it had allowed Serra and me to show that not only were we here to learn, but also respect and follow Mandalorian traditions, it was likely that Wrajud’s plan had already failed.

“Yeah! Good job Cam!” Andeeld Krhul called out, drawing me out of my thoughts.

Force Disruption Field Disabled

Whatever was causing the disruption and suppression of your Force Powers has ended.

All costs have returned to normal.

…

I mentally sent away the notice as it simply meant that the Force suppression bracers were deactivated, and as I unclasped them from my forearms, I kept my attention on Krhul.

He had been one of the children who’d sneered at Serra when she’d meditated before the initiation test – a test that every trainee passed - on the day we’d arrived at the Institute. Through a quirk of the Force, he had then ended up as one of my three roommates in the barracks.

His opinion of me had fallen to disliked not long after discovering I was a Jedi – and I suspected that had happened with many others, as Wrajud had planned – but his opinion had begun to improve after the first week and now my Reputation with him stood at Neutral. Though given how he was, I suspected it wouldn’t be long until my reputation with him changed to Liked.

Krhul came from a family of traders on Concord Dawn, but he had no interest in business, instead preferring the way of the warrior and since I had taken to tutoring my teammates in both close-quarters-combat and shooting, we’d developed the beginnings of a friendship.

“We knew you could do it Revanite’Alor.” added another member of Brown Nine, and the one serving as the second in command of my team, Huzu Cadora, even as I grimaced at the nickname Bo had given my team; The Revanites.

Somehow, someway, I was going to pay Bo back for that nickname, especially since the name was now used instead of the official name of Brown-Nine on the leaderboards.

Though the fact that I had been assigned as leader of the team made me wonder if Nia – or perhaps the Duke himself – had had something to do with it. I doubted that Kraviss was keen on making a Jedi a team leader, but someone had convinced them to do so.

Now, while I could have picked Serra for the role of second-in-command, she was far too willing to just accept my suggestions and picking her would have further alienated the other members of our team.

Thankfully, Cadora had no issue with me being a Jedi. This likely stemmed from the fact that a Jedi had saved her uncle from Weequay pirates near Felucia, and she was willing to question my ideas if she didn’t agree without going so far as to be insubordinate.

The rest of the team, save Serra, added their voices to those of Krhul’s and Cadora’s. Serra instead just radiated confidence and calm through our Force bond. She hadn’t yet reached the point where she could actively communicate with me via the bond, but I felt it was only a matter of time until it happened as her thoughts and feelings were becoming clear to sense. Strangely, they were also bleeding through less and I wondered if learning to use the Force to speak telepathically actually helped a Jedi control how their emotions bled into the Force.

The rest of our team was composed of Mirali Redi, Ginia Aran, Bhae Bralori and Raun Wott.

Redi and Wott were my fellow dormmates with Wott being the second son of a semi-major Clan chief from the Planet Harswee while Redi, like Krhul, came from a family on Concord Dawn. Though the two had never met until they shared a transport to Mandalore.

Aran and Bralori were daughters of minor clan leaders from Cheravh and dormmates of Serra and Cadora. Their families were long-time allies of both each other and Clan Kryze, though, like most of the trainees at the Institute, they were not big fans of the New Mandalorians and failed to understand why the Duke had allied House Kryze with them.

“Please don’t call me that Huzu,” I muttered as I sat down.

“But you are the leader of The Revanites, why shouldn’t we use it?” Mirali asked and as he turned to look at me, he did nothing to hide the smirk on his face.

“And you are the Revan’ade, are you not?” added Bhae with a wink as she leaned forward so she could look around Krhul to see me. “Or was Bo-Katan just tricking us?”

“I’m going to kill her,” I mumbled as I watched Bo step into the sparring ring I had just vacated. She was going to face off against Balei Saryus, who was ranked sixteenth in the fighting ring and led the highest-ranked team in Diryc group.

Thanks to the way the spars were set up, it meant that if Saryus lost the spar, he’d slide back seven places in the ranking – half of the current difference in their rankings. This loss of ranking for failure acted as a way to limit Trainees fighting people far above their ranking to jump to the top. Well, unless one was sure of their ability to win.

However, if Saryus won, which I didn’t expect, he’d take Bo’s place and everyone from Bo downwards would lose a place until they reached Saryus’ old position.

“Five on Bal,” Wott stated as Wrajud began to step out of the circle.

“Ten on Bo,” Serra responded, using the nickname since the girl in question wasn’t present. I shook my head even as I allowed myself a wry smile.

In just over a month Serra had gone from being uncomfortable and confused around Bo to having total trust in the other girl. It was great to see her do so, as it shifted her attention from me. Though even there, things had been better, and I wondered if the talks that she’d had with Master Fay had covered more than just the dangers of going too far with a political ideal.

The klaxon sounded, and Bo and Saryus began their spar while the next challenger stood at the base on the ring, awaiting their turn.

I leaned back into my seat and began to analyse the fight and I wondered if Saryus would surprise me and pull off the win.

… …

… …

“Relax. Take your time. Watch the way the sights rise and fall with your breaths.” I said to Krhul as he lay prone on the floor and aimed his rifle downrange. “Time the shifts in motion as you breathe. Learn them. And once you are sure of the timing, take your shot.”

Nearly half a minute passed before Krhul’s rifle sent a bolt of energy down the range. I looked up at the camera which showed the target – that was two kilometres away – and saw the bolt strike the target in the right shoulder.

“Kriff it!” Andeeld growled out. “I missed.”

“But you’re getting closer,” I responded as he moved back to a kneeling position and switched the rifle into safe mode. “We’re still a few weeks away from the session break and you’ve moved up nearly a hundred places already.”

The session break was a week's holiday that took place roughly halfway through a session to allow the trainees to head home and catch up with their friends and family. Bo had already informed me and Serra that we’d be staying with her in Sundari, but I wondered if either of my Masters would return to check in with us.

Krhul chuckled as he unclipped the charge pack and handed it to me. “Yeah, but when you start dead last, that’s not saying much.” He replied as he carried out the standard safety checks on the rifle before standing. “We can’t all be as gifted as you.”

“I’m not gifted. My grandfather was just a big believer in being prepared.” I explained, sticking to the excuse I’d been using for a while that the reason I was so comfortable with a blaster was due to Vaner Shan. It was either that or have everyone assume I was somehow still using the Force to help my aim. Which I wasn’t.

So far, I hadn’t needed to do so, though I knew there would come a day in this life when I would need the help of the Force to make an all-but-impossible shot.

Most of the Diryc group seemed to accept that I was simply good at combat, but I’d caught the odd whisper or glance from students in Laamyc group that suggested they didn’t believe that was the case.

Naz had also passed along a warning via Bo that there were rumblings of discontent about a Jedi – and the ‘supposed’ descendant of Revan – showing up Mandalorians on their planet. Especially since I was now ranked fourteenth – out of the entire eight-hundred-odd trainees at the Institute – with a blaster pistol and ninth with a rifle and had not been dethroned as sparring leader of Diryc group.

I doubted the rumblings would be an issue, but if they were, I’d make sure to prove to the other Trainees just how good I was when the end-of-session tournaments came around.

“Cam, there’s being prepared, there’s being ‘‘prepared’’, and there’s being born for war,” he chuckled and shook his head as we walked to the Range-Master’s area. “And you are most certainly the third option.”

“I don’t go looking for battle Ande,” I said, using a shortened form of his name, as I placed the blaster pack on a table while he showed the rifle was safe to Range-Master Marod.

“You may not look for it, but it is drawn to you, Revan’ade,” Marod said, adding his two credits to the conversation.

Dun Marod was in his mid-sixties and was missing one ear that, according to Institute legend, had been lost to a Rancor during his verd’goten. He didn’t speak much, but his words and presence carried a lot of weight around the place with even Commandant Kraviss deferring to him on the range. “Like your ancestor, you are born for war. It calls to you.”

“Well, if you know how, could you ask it to stop calling?” I asked with a smile, which made Andeeld chuckle, “Or at least leave me alone for a few decades? I’d like time to become a Knight before it calls me again.” And have time to prepare for the real war I knew was coming.

Even as I became closer to the people here, I wondered how many would one day follow me into battle and die because of it. And how many wouldn’t, and then die by my blade. It was a sobering thought to always have to rattle around in your head, and why I was trying to enjoy my days as much as I could without the looming war to come dominating my thoughts.

“War waits for no one, Trainee.” Marod said as he turned and placed the rifle Krhul had given him on a rack to his left, “Not least those to whom it calls. May Kad Ha'rangir walk with you, Revan’ade.”

I frowned at the word that Marod had used – was it a name or title? – but couldn’t ask him about it as another pair of trainees came up behind us to return some pistols.

“Kad Ha'rangir?” I asked Krhul as we left the range and began to walk back to our room.

I noticed he was frowning and as he answered he slowly shook his head. “He’s one of the old gods. The Destroyer God, bringer of change and growth.” Krhul chuckled once to himself, though it was devoid of any humour and he licked his lips before he spoke again. “I… no one talks about the old gods anymore. Or at least I didn’t think they did.”

I didn’t reply, and instead, I let silence settle over us as we walked.

… …

“I really don’t want to be linked to a god of war,” I muttered to myself as I stepped into a shower cubicle about an hour later. Range-Master Marod’s words were still running through my mind even as I turned on the water.

He wasn’t exactly wrong, as I was here to get involved in a galactic war, but it wasn’t why I had come to this universe. And while I kept telling myself that it wasn’t true, I couldn’t deny that there was a kernel of truth in what he had said.

Almost all my plans since arriving had been geared towards preparing for the war to come and…

**THUMP**

Whatever thoughts were rattling around in my head vanished as something crashed into the door of my cubicle. Even with the sound of the shower, I could make out the faint hints of laughter. That was likely coming from the four beings that Detection was showing on my minimap were standing in the common area of the shower room.

As I turned off the shower and turned to the door – and mentally scolded myself for being distracted by the Range-Master’s words and not keeping an eye on my surroundings – I activated Enhance Sense for my hearing.

“Yeah, we’ve got him. Go have your fun.” a voice, one that was deeper in tone than those I knew, said. The tone was hushed, but with E-S active, I had no problems making his words out.

I gave the door an experimental push, but as I suspected, it did budge. Though I did hear something scrape as I turned the handle suggesting that they’d blocked that before putting whatever they had in front of the door to trap me inside.

“We will. And we’ll make sure to record it.” another voice replied. While this one was also deeper in tone, it was slightly distorted suggesting it was coming from a comms device.

I pushed at the door once more, though more for show than in a real attempt. If I really wanted out, I could just use the Force, and so far, this reeked of nothing more than a bad attempt at hazing. Though the fact there was another group somewhere also up to something had me concerned.

“Who’s out there?” I called out, trying to draw the four into a false sense of security even as I reached out with the Force and began to slowly move the object – likely a baton – that was blocking the door handle from fully turning away.

“We don’t want your kind here, Jetii,” answered a new voice that dripped with venom, “neither you nor the girl.”

“At least she’s a girl,” a third voice added with a chuckle. “Sure, the others will enjoy that.”

As two of the others chuckled at that, I felt a cold shiver run up my spine and my anger flare. It took all of my control to not blast the door – and whatever object was blocking it – out of the way with the Force.

“Kriff Drum, she’s still an adiik.” the first voice, the one who’d spoken into the communicator, countered. “I still say they shouldn’t go that far.” He added with his distaste clear to hear in his voice.

“By a month!” Shot back another, likely this Drum. “I saw their records Lanze. She’s old enough for some fun.”

I clenched my fists tightly as my anger rose even further. They were going to…

“You will open this door. NOW!” I all but shouted as I used Force Compulsion with the words.

As my anger continued to grow, the more rational, mature part of my mind told me that I shouldn’t lash out. That it wasn’t the way to deal with things. But the younger, more emotional side was all but screaming at me to hurt them for what they were doing. To make them pay.

“We will…”

“Zoma? What?” I heard someone move only for something to happen and it sounded as though one of them had just shoved another to the floor.

“Huh? Wha…”

“The Jedi tried to trick you! We’re not going to fall for that!” Drum called out before laughing. “We’re not going to fall for your little tricks.”

I felt the baton – or whatever it was – slide loose from the handle and took a hold of the large object - likely a bench, given what was in the room – with the Force as I opened my move to respond.

[CAM!!!]

I fell to my knees and grabbed my head – my hold on the two objects failing and the baton bouncing off the door and bench to the floor – as Serra’s voice screamed in my head. Terror, disbelief, and primal fear flooded my mind and I closed my eyes to try to block her emotions from overwhelming me.

Then, in an instant, I was calm again. Too calm and I logically knew that Player’s Mind had auto-engaged as it regarded this as a combat situation.

[Serra? What’s wrong? Where are you?] I called out, hoping against hope that she would respond. Instead, all I got back was the building fear and terror that was overwhelming her and had almost done the same to me.

“What’s the matter JetiiI? Womprat got your tongue?” Drum asked before he and the others laughed.

“Enough of this,” I snarled and with a simple wave of my hand, the door to the cubicle flew off its hinges.

A second, as the door, bench and baton raced away from me, the three boys that I could see – the fourth was blocked by the door – all froze in mid-laugh. Their eyes began to process what they were seeing, and they all did a fair approximation of a deer caught in the headlights. However, none had time to react as the bench crashed into the two of them – lifting them off their feet and into the wall – the baton struck the one I suspected was Drum hard in the stomach, while the door crashed into the fourth, sending him, and the door, tumbling out of the room.

[I’m coming.] I sent to Serra as I stepped out into the carnage.

With a gesture, I dragged Drum, who had sunk to his knees after the baton had struck him, towards me, before lifting him until we were eye-to-eye.

“Pray that they have not hurt her,” I said emotionlessly. “For if they have…”

A flick of a finger sent him upwards, crashing into the lights in the roof which shattered as he smashed into them, drawing a scream for him as the glass and wiring dug into his back.

“I’ll be back.” I finished as I stepped forward, summoned a towel to my hand, and walked over the fallen door, without any concern if the boy underneath was conscious or not.

As I stepped into the changing room and ignored the sound of Drum crashing to the floor behind me – and groaning in pain – I noted that no one was present and turned my attention to my minimap.

It took a second to locate Serra. She was in one of the private training rooms near the sparring hall, and there were six others with her.

A quick check confirmed the room next door was empty and, after wrapping the towel around my waist, I Teleported there.

The main reason I hadn’t teleported directly to Serra’s side was that the fear and terror from her had lessened considerably. A secondary reason was that, without emotions clouding my thoughts, I reasoned that it would be preferable to not reveal that I could teleport to people I didn’t yet trust, while another reason for my caution was that Serra should still have access to the Force, so even though she mentally screamed out to me, she should still have her abilities to defend herself with if she did not have her hidden lightsaber with her.

I stalked out of that room – taking the simple door to the room off its hinges as I did – and turned towards the training room where Serra was, noting that said door was open, and the shadows of five people could be seen from inside.

“She’s under the protection of my clan, Morn,” Bo’s voice growled out of the room. “You touch her and there’ll be war.”

I said a silent prayer of thanks to Bo for being there and made a mental note to thank her for this, as I stepped into the doorframe.

Bo was standing between five older boys. Her eyes were locked on the boys – there was the barest hint of recognition as my eyes caught hers – and her fists were clenched tightly as they held a pair of batons, with blood dripping from the left one.

The boys were scattered around the room, as was most of the equipment, but all had their focus on Bo and Serra. I noted that the equipment, aside from the crate Serra was leaning against, was spread out chaotically around the room with the epicentre of the chaos being Serra.

Serra’s arms were pulled close to her chest and I could see her shaking even from here. Because of where her arms were, I could see that she was wearing the Force suppression bracers and that they were active. Likely this had been for while sparring with Bo, but her attackers had clearly used that against her and timed their assault before she had deactivated them. Though why she didn’t have the components of her lightsaber, was unclear. And I made a mental note to ask her about that, and how she’d managed to call out to me with the bracers active, after this situation was handled.

“Your father has no power here Kryze.” the lead boy, likely this Morn fellow, replied. If I had the name right, then he was Tardol Morn, the fifth-ranked fighter in Laamyc group. I’d seen him spar once and he was good, but I knew I could take him one on one. Five-on-one, however…

[Stay still.] I commanded Serra as she shifted a little in response to seeing me and I held a finger to my lips for Bo’s benefit. The red-haired girl didn’t react to my gesture even as Morn continued to speak.

“We don’t recognize anyone who grovels with the dar'manda.” That statement drew comments of support for the other boys.

“I’ve always wanted a redhead,” another muttered loud enough for me to hear.

Bo’s eyes narrowed and, even with Player’s Mind active, I felt something inside me convulse at the idea of him touching her. Though that feeling passed almost as soon as it appeared, and I took a step into the room and moved silently towards the nearest of the five.

“You challenge my clan?” Bo all but spat out as she shifted her eyes back to Morn.

Morn, rather unexpectedly, laughed loudly. “What clan? Your father and brother are aruetiie, while your sister is off learning from her Republic overlords.”

I watched Bo as she ground her teeth, but she was unable to come up with a response to Morn’s accusation. I knew she resented her father and sister, but that it was so much that she couldn’t even come up with an instant response to defend them spoke volumes of the loathing she felt for their choices.

And made my hopes of reconciling the two girls that much more difficult.

“I bet the reason she’s protecting the Jedi is they’re shacking up together,” another of the attackers, the one closest to me, suggested before laughing once. “I’ve heard rumours about her and the Vizsla girl.”

“What about the Wren girl?” the boy who had commented redheads offered. “That one looks like a right firecracker.”

“Maybe we need to re-educate them?” the fourth offered, and I felt Serra’s fear spike as he looked at her. “I’m sure this one just needs the right persuasion to learn her place.”

“We...Argfwcx.” Whatever Morn was about to say died as he reached for his throat. As did the others.

“For that, I should kill you,” I said, revealing my presence.

I stalked forward as best I could – it’s hard to be intimidating in nothing but a towel – giving the one who made the redhead comment a swift kick to his knee, and Morn a punch in his gut, until I was even with Bo.

There, I turned to face the five.

“You call yourselves warriors?” I spat at Morn’s feet as I directed my anger at him. “Pathetic. You’re cowards, nothing else. You trapped and threatened my friends here while your cohorts ambushed me, they failed by the way.”

I glanced at Bo as an idea came into my head. “You talk about Clan Kryze as being dar’manda yet know nothing about why Duke Adonai made his choice. What would you do if someone killed your mother, your wife, or your child? Would you have the courage to step forward and try to lead your people? Or would you turn tail and run? Try to find the closest rock to crawl back under?”

As I spoke, I tightened the grip on their throats and by the time I’d finished my little speech – hopefully, the message had gotten through to Bo – all five were on their knees.

“I’d call you no better than Hutts, but at least they have some morals.” I finished.

“Y-yo-u’re… no-t…” Morn gasped out as he and the others continued to claw at their throats.

I stepped forward and leaned down until I was right Morn’s face. “Not what? Mando’ade? Maybe not yet, but even now I’m more honourable than you’ll ever be.”

I squeezed my fingers together and Morn’s face slowly started to lose colour.

“No-t… Re-va-n…” Morn added, as he somehow managed to bring the faintest of smiles to his lips. Even as he continued to struggle against my crushing of his neck.

I laughed back at him. “You’re lucky I’m not. If you had attacked his friends, he would’ve killed you where you stood. Me, I’ll let you live.” I finished as I increased the pressure of my Force Crush to the point that if I held it for much longer it would damage their vocal cords. “Maybe.”

“I…I’…ll…ki…ill…yo…u,” Morn barely managed to get out as his face turned white.

“You could try,” I responded as I further tightened my grip on his throat, and he gasped fruitlessly for air. “But on the day where you grow the balls to actually do so, I’ll embarrass you so badly that you’ll never again have the courage to pick up a blaster.”

“Trainee Shan! What are you doing?”

My head snapped up and I saw Nia standing in the doorframe. Her brow crashed into her eyebrows, and her eyes narrowed as she glared at me, and I took an involuntary step backwards, releasing my grip on the boys and sensing Player’s Mind deactivate as I did so.

“These… boys tried to attack me and Serra,” Bo replied, seemingly unconcerned by the glare; or at least, used to it. Also, from what I could sense of her emotions, she wasn’t surprised to see that Nia had arrived, and I wondered if Bo had somehow alerted Nia to the issue. “And from what Cam said, another group attacked him while he was in the shower.”

Nia’s eyes focused on me, and her lips twitched fractionally. “At least that explains why you’re running around in nothing but a towel.”

My lips moved as I considered responding, but I decided not to and instead closed my mouth.

“H-he tried to kill us!” Morn blurted out in a wheezing, cracked voice as he rubbed his throat. “With Jedi tricks.” The other boys nodded in agreement.

Nia scoffed as she looked at him, and his accomplices, as she took a few steps into the room “If Trainee Shan wanted to kill you Trainee Morn, he wouldn’t need the Force to do it.”

She turned her attention back to me. “However, I’ll need you all to…” her voice trailed off as her eyes moved passed me to focus on Serra. “Trainee Keto? What happened?”

I pivoted to take a good look at Serra, even as she seemed to shrink in on herself.

“I heard Serra scream,” Bo began as Serra started to shiver.” They had her pinned against the crate, and Morn ripped her top open and…”

I didn’t hear what else she said as my anger flared, and I spun back around. My fist flew out and struck Morn flush across his cheek. I heard the sound of bone breaking as he fell to the floor.

“AGH!” “Shan!”

As Morn groaned in pain, and Nia called out my name, I drove my knee upwards into his jaw, again hearing something break, before driving my heel down hard into his groin.

“TRAINEE SHAN!” Nia bellowed even as Morn fell to the floor in a heap; his eyes rolling back into his head as he did.

I backed away from Morn, my anger finally coming under control – and the damage done – as Nia stormed across the room and knelt beside the boy.

I turned around, not caring about Morn, and Bo gave me a nod and smiled, which I returned with a nod of my own. However, my focus was on Serra. I moved closer to her, but she pulled back as if trying to sink into the crate. I sighed and turned to Bo. We didn’t say anything, but she understood, gave me a sad smile, and then moved to help Serra.

“Trainee Shan,” I turned around again to see Nia was now standing and glaring at me. “While I understand your anger, and agree with it, attacking another Trainee is a violation of the Institute’s code of honour,” she explained. “As such, I am forced to give you a formal reprimand.”

“Understood Instructor Vizsla.” My response was bland and as unemotional as it could be when I was within sight of Morn.

It did state in the Institute’s rules that fighting another trainee – outside of a sparring ring – was a violation of the code and would result in a formal reprimand. Three such reprimands in two years would see the student expelled, while other actions – like being caught murdering or raping someone – would result in the offender being handed over to the authorities for trial.

While that was what I wanted to happen to Morn, Drum, and their groups, I was concerned that since the two incidents took place in areas with no cameras, it would devolve into a ‘‘he said, she said’’ situation. In those cases, the settling of the problem, and the application of punishments was at the Commandant’s discretion.

She sighed even as she fiddled with her gauntlet. “And since this involves so many trainees, and at least two trips to Medical, I have to inform the Commandant about this.”

As the holographic projector on her gauntlet flicker to life and display a small hologram of another person, she spoke again. “I need medical and security teams in training hall zero-six.”

“And the showers in my barracks,” I offered. “Their friends tried to ambush me there.”

She locked her eyes on me. “Tried you say? Hmm.” She turned back to the hologram. “And the same to the showers in barracks nine.”

She closed the link and turned her full attention to me. “While we wait, perhaps you’d like to explain what happened here. And how you managed to get over here, and into the training area, without being scanned in?”

“Ah,” I began as I rubbed the back of my neck and shrugged, “the Force?”

Hopefully, she and the Commandant would buy an excuse of Force bullshit as to why I’d gotten here so quickly. I’d rather not have to go into specifics and explain that Jedi could teleport. No need to reveal that trick to potential enemies.

… …

… …