Tyscio sat at the restaurant savoring the taste of the Naboo dishes he had never seen before. The thought made him smile to himself as he contemplated what he saw all around him.


Are people now so different from the people of then?


He grinned for Hespante would have a fit if his lessons on the Symmetry of Life were totally ignored.


The Cycles of Life.. he thought with a bit of sadness as amid the selfless acts of others, amid the pure motives of honest people, there were those that would tear down for reasons entirely selfish. On the Holonets boasted the politicians spouting their goals and shifting blame....and in the distance, he saw the tops of the Jedi Temple.

His one misgiving with her...

Her unwavering devoltion to the Nephys..

He took a sip of a citrus drink as his mind latched onto that thought.

How much of her actions are her own personal desires and how much are they merely duty to this... this.. unseen 'Force'?

What if this Force 'tells' her to kill me? To sacrifice her children?

..and just what would I do about it?



One of Hespante's impassioned warnings to him came to mind...

"Tyscio, the woman is impressive and her actions just. Righteous even." The Simulacrum put his hand on Korban's shoulder.

"But think on this: Her's is a life of war, thrown in at a very young age. Her's is a life that has sacrificed everything... everything for duty.

But duty to what?

Her powers are equally impressive and is a Master in their use." Hespante's face went sad. "And if that was it, then perhaps I wouldn't worry. But these Jedi do not just use this force...

They follow it.

They heed it's commands without wavering.

They center their lives around searching to do the bits and pieces of commands from these microscopic symbiots."


Tyscio looked up, "So you think the Nephys are symbiots?"


"I think this force is a form of life that we haven't scratched the surface of understanding. Even these Jedi do not understand it fully and they've based an entire Order around servitude of this Force's wishes.

Who is to say what action this force will require of them in the future?"

The Simulacrum's voice became quiet. "Korban, this woman has lived a life of stoicism. Do you know the mantra of this religion? This and that forbidden."

"I know.. I've heard, Hespante.." Tyscio answered irritated.

"Then you know that these Jedi Masters of old, though wise in some areas were ultimately wrong. You cannot protect life by divorcing yourself of it. You cannot justify actions taken to protect life if you cannot appreciate life's nuances.

"The Jedi Code was put in place to protect the Jedi. To keep them from falling into tempation." Tysico had answered, though the words sounded hollow.

"Korban, if you listen to nothing else I say, listen to this: You do not protect yourself effectively by hiding from the temptation.

You protect yourself by facing it in the course of your life, enduring, overcoming...and only then can you ultimately triumph over temptation.

That woman is at war with herself. At war with what she desires and what she perceives to be her duty. It is a war that she has fought for years..."


"She can still grow!" Tyscio came back angrily. "The limitations we face are the limits we shackle ourselves with! The Code served it's purpose for it's time. Now, we are living in another era. If the Jedi are to surviving, flourish and have purpose, so too must their Code."

"It heartens me to hear you say that, my boy."




Tyscio's eyes had glazed over a bit and he'd missed the waiter refilling his juice.

"...so too must their Code." he whispered.


He knew that his fears regarding her were based mostly on supposition.

"And fears are quelled with understanding."


It was useless to worry about how Leia would be affected later by this Force as long as he knew nothing about it.

He grinned sardonically, "First learn, then fear."


But in his mind, a course of action already solidified. If they were to have any future..

Hell, if I am to live in this era of the Force...

..then he knew he would have to learn.

And not just tricks. Learn the philosophies... the progressive philosophies of the Jedi.


For all he knew, the Jedi were a danger to life more insidious than the Sith he had heard about.

He shuddered to think what would happen if that was the case.


What lies beneath the veneer of this religion?


He turned once more to the sight of the Jedi Temple in the background and sighed.


The things you do for...

Finally, it's over... I'm free!


After paying her last respects to the Queen and other officials seated around the table, Leia had chosen to take her leave from the meeting, eager to get on with the day...


However, a sudden impulse caused Leia to pause at the door, and turn back to face the company she had just departed.


"Queen Cordé... I was wondering if perhaps I could ask a favor of you?"


Cordé's gaze swept from the table to Leia (as did everyone else's). "What can I help you with, Jedi Solo?"


Leia took a few steps back towards them before replying.


"Well... as you most likely know, my ship suffered heavy damage during the trip back to Naboo, and... I had hoped to arrange for a trip to Dagobah during the remaining free time I have left. My brother Luke trained as a Jedi there under Yoda, and he's told me so much about the planet... he spoke of how unique the Force was there.


I was hoping that you could perhaps speed the repairs to my ship along, so that it would be spaceworthy in a few days for such a trip. I mean it's not necessary, but if you could.... I would very much appreciate it."


Corde nodded, and smiled amiably. "I shall see what I can do for you. In the meantime... enjoy your vacation, Jedi Solo."


"Thank you...." Leia smiled in return, and exited the room.


***


As Leia reached the main entrance of the Palace to leave, a guard intercepted her.


"Good morning, Ma'am. Shall I send for a speeder to give you a lift?"


Leia waved her hand dismissively at the guard.


"No, no... that won't be necessary. It's a nice day out, and I"m just headed back to the Academy. I think I'll walk..."

Tyscio eyed the aging structure that represented the stronghold of the Jedi Order as if weighing his options.


Eventually his curiosity won out and he crossed the over and through the entrance and on into a massive courtyard.


The hairs on the back of his neck stood up as an unreasoning apprehension grabbed hold.

He noticed some areas that were under repair... as if the temple had undergone some sort of attack.

He began to look around for some sort of admissions area.


Are you sure you want to do this?

[font=Fixedsys][font=Fixedsys]Heart rate pumping like oil rushing from the lower parts of the deepest seas. The rush of this 'dream' had done something to the fallen Sith Master; it had awakened his mind. Though a disturbance was around him, something that dared to place a sense that all would soon be lost.[/font]


[font=Fixedsys]A plague.[/font]



[font=Fixedsys]Doctor's were rushing in to the medical room where Recon Klain was held. Inside a prison of bacta he laid with the sensor's reaching an all time high. Beep beep beep beep beep. It only got faster. As the doctor's leaned over to the bacta tank, his piercing red eye's shot open and stared directly at them.[/font]



[font=Fixedsys]The sense of capture had sent an alarm in the sith. [/font]



[font=Fixedsys]He quickly made haste with his breathing tube as he ripped the eight-inch long tube from his lungs. A foolish move was about to take place, the sith swung his large fist at the glass as it had shattered. [/font]



[font=Fixedsys]Bacta lay all around the medical room and the sith had fallen down on the broken glass, placing cuts around him. Though it was not something that required major attention. Lay naked in the slime of the bacta he had reached his weakened body over to one of the doctor's as he grabbed his throat.[/font]



[font=Fixedsys]Die... die my captures.[/font]



[font=Fixedsys]Though, it didn’t last long he had fallen once more. Though he was out of his coma, he wasn’t fully regenerated. He needed time to heal his wounds and awake to his fully regenerated self. [/font]



[font=Fixedsys]The doctor's quickly made use of the medical table as they laid him ontop of it. His body was frail with the remains of the slimy bacta. One doctor recalled; this was a first. They were taking him to another room where it looked like... a decompression chamber. [/font]



[font=Fixedsys]White all around and only a glass window was his sight to the outside. These turn of events were quickly notified by Dakkor as he reached the room where the sith was being held. Something he wanted to see, the sith would sleep for no more then a day or two to fully get his strength back.[/font]



[font=Fixedsys]Night started to comb the planet of Bpfassh...[/font]



[font=Fixedsys]But an unsuspecting turn of events would be soon [/font][/font]

It was not long before Leia found herself passing into the courtyards of the Academy. She ambled slowly along the main walkway leading towards the building, in no particular hurry.


The sense of a familiar presence made her suddenly perk up.


It could be....


She quickened her pace, to catch up with the presence. It seemed to be wandering around somewhere in the Academy...


Anxiety took her despite her self control. She was unsure of what she would do when she caught up with the presence...


Leia entered the Academy building, and closed her eyes to reach out through the Force. Just around the corner, moving away.


She quietly rounded the corner, and studied the back of the man moving away from her. For some reason he seemed to pause, though she didn't know why.


He was within hearing distance...


There were many ways she could have acted, and might still have yet. But initially Leia grinned, and playfully assumed the role of Jedi Master greeting a lost newcomer, to get his attention.


"Can I help you with something?"

"I am sorry Sir, but I am only a learner and cannot help you be a Jedi." the alien before him voiced out of an artificial box that seemed wheeze every time a breath was taken.

"I am only asking about the admission to your august ..." Tyscio groped for the word, "school."


"I realize that and may the Force guide you in your endeavor.."
May the Force guide my boot up your arse if you don't start being helpful.. Tyscio nearly growled to himself.

"... but I am only a learner and am not the one to dispense with the required testing for admission.."

"I realize that you are young.." Tyscio suddenly snapped back sweetly making the emphasis rest on the word young hoping to ruffle the alien's feathers figuratively. "..but can I be directed to someone who can admit one such as myself?"

"I would be happy to sir." the wheezy voice started after a slight hesitation and victory seemed to be within Tyscio's grasp. "but it would be unseemly for me to overstep my boundaries as a mere learner..."

"Oh, forget it!" Tyscio snapped.


This was the third initiate he had asked regarding Admissions and this was the third runaround he was getting.

No wonder there are few Jedi. No one can get to the bloody Admissions Desk. No one wants to step out of their assigned roles... @#$@#!!


Even Tyscio's thoughts ended up in curses.

He had to admit that the architecture he had seen so far was very intricate and amazing. But that was as far as he seemed to have gotten. He would walk up the steps to some temple only to be turned aside by a watchful Padawan. When he asked the Padawan about directions to admissions, the Padawan merely said that the 'force would guide a truly gifted one'.


It sounded like a load of huey to Tyscio. More likely, the Padawan, though young, went through the same impossible hoops Tyscio was experiencing and so didn't pass up a chance to haze a new guy.

Organizations for Higher Learning sometimes were like that.


And so he paced back to the courtyard and simply watched the members mingle here and there going about their business.


I'll figure this out yet, he thought.


And so lost in his mind was he that he did not notice the presence behind him until the voice penetrated his thoughts.

"Can I help you with something?"


"Praise All Jedi Great and Small!" Tyscio exclaimed as the helpful question was digested.

"You certainly may---" he started as he turned around to view his savior.


He stopped in full surprise. Last he had heard, she had charted a space flight off of Naboo and so hadn't expected to find her here.

A slight grin came to his face.

"Well, this Force works in mysterious ways."

Just then the myriads of questions that came flooding into his mind. Questions like: how she's been, what she's been doing, was she still ticklish in.... (well somethings were left to simple musings of the mind). However, those questions were pushed aside as an irritated scowl came forward, his recent frustration over the things around bubbled over, things that the woman in front of him represented. "Just who does one have to kill around here to get admitted." he said jokingly.

Leia frowned at Tyscio, uncomprehending.


What in blazes is he talking about...?


Out of the corner of her eye she spotted a Padawan standing nearby, quietly observing the two. The Padawan was of an alien species that Leia had never seen before until he had come to the Academy, but she had become familiar enough with him since to interpret his body language. It seemed he was quite amused with the exchange....


When Tyscio glanced in the direction Leia was looking in to see what was so interesting, he shot a glare at the alien, who only appeared to be further amused. There was only one explanation for the current situation that made sense.... Tyscio was Force sensitive, after all.


Realization dawned on Leia, and she jolted slightly.


"Ohhhhhhh.... you....."


Leia stopped, took a breath to reorganize her thoughts, and started over again.


"Admission to the order is fairly simple, all that a Jedi hopeful must do to secure a serious discussion about admission is locate myself, since there are currently no other higher ranked Jedi wandering about at the moment.


If I am not in the immediate vicinity, all you have to do is ask the right questions and keep your head...


Believe it or not, how potential Padawans handle themselves once they walk through that gate is very important to us. With no clear 'admissions office,' you are forced to take your own initiative."


Leia grinned, and tried not to chuckle as she continued.


"In a way, it is also their first test.... Especially if they do not find what they are seeking right away. A display of patience and perseverance is usually most encouraging to us."


Leia studied Tyscio, exaggerating her actions for effect. There was a mischievous gleam in her eye...


"You seem rather frustrated... not doing well on your first test, eh?"

Hespante’s voice laughed in Tyscio’s head.

"Admission to the order is fairly simple, all that a Jedi hopeful must do to secure a serious discussion about admission is locate myself, since there are currently no other higher ranked Jedi wandering about at the moment.", she had said.


1. You were off-planet last thing I knew. 2. Your back is too the entrance so you must have just gotten here. 3. Do the higher ranked Jedi just wander around?


Tyscio was not in a good mood right now.








"..If I am not in the immediate vicinity, all you have to do is ask the right questions and keep your head...

Believe it or not, how potential Padawans handle themselves once they walk through that gate is very important to us. With no clear 'admissions office,' you are forced to take your own initiative."


Jedi turning to the darkside all of the time but what’s important is how one walks through a gate! Hespante’s voice did nothing to aid Tyscio’s mood.



But then again, if they stopped grumpy old sods like me from walking through their gates, maybe they would have those who turn… ,Tyscio's mind answered back.


Then Leia laughed and as her smile lit her eyes his grumpy mood vanished.



Pretty pair of legs and the boy…



Tyscio tapped the side of his head and Hespante’s voice fell quiet.


“You could say that." he started at her question, "I had not expected a test walking through the gates.” His grin flashed, “You know, for the most powerful organization in the galaxy, one usually expects to experience a rather untroubled admission.”


An eyebrow rose slightly, “Now that I have you, what must I do to secure this … serious discussion?” Mischief began to take hold, “Dinner? Hot Tub? Foot rub?” He bowed, “I am yours to command.”


Hespante’s voice groaned.

"...an untroubled admission?"


Leia sighed, and her shoulders slumped as if a heavy burden was reseating itself on them.


"If we were to allow just any Force adept person to waltz in here and start training without any question or tests, we would not have a chance to identify traits of the Dark Side within them, if there were any. And if we didn't know they had these traits, we would not be able to help them handle their dark tendancies. Ultimately... we would just be helping them down the path to the Dark Side by teaching them how to harness their powers... soon we would have a Sith in our midst, who might have no reserve about walking into our rooms at night and killing us in our sleep.


We have to watch them, from the very moment they walk through those gates, or before we know it we will have done the galaxy more harm than good...."


Leia changed the subject fairly quickly, unwilling to let the worries that constantly shadowed her weigh on this occasion. She suddenly grinned, and closed the distance between the two.


Perhaps Tyscio was expecting something else, as in response he leaned towards Leia and not away from her. What he recieved however, was... nothing.


"You are too much, Tyscio. Let's just settle for a nice walk around the Academy.....


...and you know what?"


She embraced him in a hug.


"...I've missed you..."

Tyscio's first hug from Leia since they had parted ways was both long and welcome.... and for a moment, Tyscio was at peace.

But as they parted, he could see the day to day worries of being a Jedi Master casting shadows and lines around her eyes.

He knew she was a fighter and he knew she could take care of herself..


But being able too.. and wanting too.. are too different things.


Still, this was her world, her customs and her way of doing things. Who was he to simply wander in and expect things his way?


Tyscio bloody Korban, Protector of Leia Organa Solo... and inside he grinned. Tell that to her face and she'll have your head.


And so he allowed himself to be led as she began to show him the different aspects of the one place that held such an important part of her life.


If this place were to fall, what would become of you? He wondered silently, watching her talk, listening to a voice he had grown to take pleasure in.

He recalled the very same questions he asked himself when he felt despair at the chances of his own world surviving slipping away.

And all the while, in the recesses of his mind her words were played over and over again...

"If we were to allow just any Force adept person to waltz in here and start training without any question or tests, we would not have a chance to identify traits of the Dark Side within them, if there were any. And if we didn't know they had these traits, we would not be able to help them handle their dark tendancies. Ultimately... we would just be helping them down the path to the Dark Side by teaching them how to harness their powers... soon we would have a Sith in our midst, who might have no reserve about walking into our rooms at night and killing us in our sleep.


We have to watch them, from the very moment they walk through those gates, or before we know it we will have done the galaxy more harm than good...."


She had grown quiet as they passed through an area simply called "The Gardens". Flowers of every sort decorated the architecture as they both seemed to step into another world.


Life creates it... makes it grow..


It was a place that seemed innocent, where all the troubles of the galaxy could slide away and right away he knew this was more for the Masters than the apprentices.

"Mastery over the force is not enough." he murmured, almost half to himself. "This darkside, does it shape a man or can the person shape it? As with evil, once you start down the road to evil, it does tend to dominate one's destiny.

But there is redemption, is there not?" He turned to her.

"There is hope, is there not?"


He sat down for a minute on a nearby stone bench and watched as the wind picked up pieces of the flowering plants and set them afloat.

Groping for the right words, he continued, ""Not to disagree with one so experienced as yourself in these matters but I must admit that when you informed me that you did not simply allow force adepts waltz in and start training, my first queston was: Why not?


A person should not be judged unworthy as they are attempting to gain admittance, even if they hold traits of the darkside of the force. Mostly, I would think, those traits would tend to merely be the untrained personality of the individual trying to survive in a galaxy that has been cruel to them.


You give your Order too little credit. I did hear some of the battle that broke out when darksiders attacked this place. But the evil they visited was purposeful. Anyone coming to your Order with evil purpose in mind, would be hard-pressed to hide it especially when most are very adept in the force.


I mean, have you ever unknowingly trained a darksider?

When I say trained, I do not mean simply teaching them how to use a lightsaber, how to fight with one and how to do battle using force tricks. That's military training.

I would imagine that the Order would also "train" these force adepts how to live in a world full of people that do not possess their gifts. How to deal with pain rather than simply burying it. How to love life enough to respect it. Defend it. And grow in it.

It seems to me, and mind you I do admit to being a novice and I do know next to nothing.. but it seems to me that scrutinizing every newcomer as this Order does smacks of fear. It gives a false sense of security for you and created an intangible and ultimately divisive barrier within your ranks.

It just seems to be a wrong way to begin one's training for someone destined to protect the innocent. For won't they then wish to 'test' the innocent to make sure they are indeed innocent and worthy of their protection?"


Tyscio laughed a self depreciating laugh and shrugged his shoulders. "But what do I know? I am glad to be alive and I am here to learn something."

He had slipped his arm around her as he talked and gave her shoulder a squeeze before letting go and standing up.

"This is your Order and it is not for me to judge your ways of doing things." He grinned. "I'll learn first and then judge later."

"If I do not pass a test, I'll try again. I won't say I'd be happy and I won't say your confounding padawans won't irritate the hell out of me....." he broke off just looking at her look at him with that almost superior amused expression.


"God, it's good to see you." he whispered.