Chapter 44: The Council of Masters
After retrieving the bag that the droid was holding, the four of us walked out of the Senate building. Several minutes passed as we walked back to the speeder. We were all excitedly discussing the possibilities and whether we should publicize our status as the first official guild on the forums.
After all, while Galen and I were nearly level 20, even players like my dad, Tomas, and Jeremiah were only level 9. Their levels wouldn't even be that high if not for Galen and I. Well mostly me. Regardless, the requirement to found a guild was level 10. There was no requirement to join one.
I then remembered the notification I got. Pulling out my comm, I quickly noticed the new application. I opened it and found that it was a guild management system. It was quite simple with just the guild ownership, ranks, and membership. There was a default system of ranks that I quickly fiddled with to at least have something for now.
Anything else would have to be figured out by us. Maybe I could hire someone to design that? We also needed a guild insignia that would strike fear into our enemies and release the falls between the legs of all women. Well, maybe not for those reasons but we still needed one.
I selected Tomas and Jeremiah in my contacts and invited them to the guild. Both of them pulled out their communicators at the same time and then looked at me. "Pretty cool, eh?"
They both nodded and tapped "accept" to join the guild. I then promoted them both to guild elder. While there was no official contract or delegation of responsibilities yet, this would at least give them some limited management capabilities when it came to the guild.
In addition, there could only be one guild leader. I decided after some careful thought that Galen should be the guild leader. He may be an idiot but I was about to get myself into something that could become a great interference with the guild.
However, there could be more than one guild owner. Thus, I put both Galen and myself as owners with equal holding. I also removed my name from any officer position such as elder and vice guild leader. I did not want there to be any chance that my new adventure could interfere with the guild's development. Regardless, I would still have authority higher than the guild leader as the owner.
With the owner role it would allow Galen and I to appoint a guild leader in the future that was more capable in management and diplomacy than either of us. While we, as owners, would still have the final word, most of the guild's operations and decisions would be controlled by them and the elders. After all, the true purpose of a guild leader is not to be the strongest, but to be the most capable when becoming the glue that holds the organization together through management and leadership.
Jeremiah turned to me while smiling. "So, what should we do first?"
I shrugged. "Not sure. Whatever it is, it won't involve me. I have something that is way more important to handle. I'm not sure how long it will take me or if I'll be able to reach you guys while I'm there so please don't wait for me."
Tomas shook his head. "Wait wait wait. What could possibly be more important than the development of the first official guild?"
I smirked. "It's a surprise. You guys will find out soon enough. Anyways, just follow Galen around. If I remember correctly, he has some friends that can join us."
Galen nodded. "I've already contacted them. They were excited to meet you but I guess that will have to wait. Do you need us to drop you off somewhere?"
I nodded. "That would be nice."
Galen glanced at me. "So where might that be?"
I laughed. "The Jedi Temple."
-GE-
A raspy and mechanical voice came from directly in front of me. "Are you alright, young one?"
I nodded. "Sorry, I was distracted. I'm ready now."
The voice responded. "Very good."
I was currently sitting on my feet with my eyes closed. My hands were resting on my thighs. It was a comfortable meditation position. Sitting around me was one of the two most powerful groups of individuals in the entire galaxy; The Jedi Council. The other, of course, being the Dark Council.
The task at hand was something very familiar to me. Anakin went through this as a child when he was being evaluated. Rather than Yoda, Grandmaster Zym was the one administering the test.
I cleared my head and opened my mind, allowing the network that was the force to establish a connection. I quickly realized that the force within the Jedi Temple had great power. Was this one of those nexuses of power that the Force Priestess mentioned?
Pushing that to the back of my mind, I focused on Grandmaster Zym in front of me. His mind was open like a book but empty of any words.
Suddenly, I was able to "see" a blurry image. I turned my focus towards it and it gradually cleared up. It was a cylindrical object with some metal bands around it. There was also a stopper sticking out of the top.
I smiled. "A barrel."
The image then disappeared only to be replaced by a new, but blurry image. I repeated the process.
"A cup."
"A bean."
"A blaster."
"A helmet."
"A ship."
Zym then spoke again. "Very good. You may rise."
I nodded, opening my eyes and standing up. I was able to feel many piercing gazes that felt as if they saw through everything in my mind.
Grandmaster Zym, who was in front of me, was a Kel Dor male, like Plo Koon. Thus, he was wearing a mask to protect him from the oxygen rich atmosphere.
Zym smiled. "How do you feel?"
I sighed. "Judged."
Zym nodded. "Yes, indeed. Are you nervous?"
I nodded. "A little bit. This means a lot to me."
Zym shook his head. "That may be true, but this isn't the only thing you are nervous about."
I tilted my head, curious what he meant. "What do you mean?"
Zym rested his chin on his hand and relaxed his expression. "I wouldn't quite call it fear, but you have something that you don't want to lose."
My eyes widened a bit. A Jedi could get that much information? What the fuck?! "Um, yes. I have a father."
Zym nodded. "Yes. And your mother?"
I sighed, glancing out the window and quickly taking in the view of Coruscant. "She passed away several years ago."
Zym nodded. "I can feel that you are nervous that you'll lose your father too. This… anxiety, it's dangerous. It can lead to fear. Fear leads to pain. Pain leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering."
I nodded. "Yes, I understand that. I spoke to the Force Priestess of Sadness about this."
Zym's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Hmmm. We have spoken to other travelers but none have mentioned conversing with a Force Priestess."
I shrugged. "That checks out. Most of the others didn't bother, opting to treat the priestesses like droids."
Zym nodded. "Compassion is a valuable quality for a Jedi. Our role as protectors requires it."
He remained silent for a few moments before continuing. "I can tell that you have developed great control over your emotions. This is the deciding factor in our evaluation. You shall be trained as a padawan."
Another Jedi Master to my left then spoke. "I will be taking you on. I am Master Ven Zallow."
I looked towards the voice and was shocked. This was the guy that would duel Malgus in the Jedi Temple! He was almost on the level of a Dark Council member. I could learn a lot from him.
I bowed slightly. "Padawan greets master."
Ven nodded in approval. "Those lightsabers you have are not suitable for a Jedi. Our first step will be the Gathering." He then stood up and started walking out of the council chambers. "Shall we?"
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