may the wrap be with you

Tera and Doran take a minute to think about it before Tera speaks up.

"It has something to do with that organ, right?"

"Yes," you confirm.

"Did the Autsen have the Force-sensing organ?"

"No. It's called the fened by the way. Means, 'guiding-vane' in the Haenden language."

"So, did the Haenden just think that all the Autsen were Changers, and decided to ignore them?"

"No. If that were the case, they would have done the same to practically every other sentient they came across."

Tera gave a little hum as she thought. "Wait, this story was about the importance of culture studies, right? So is there some taboo for the Haenden regarding the fened?"

"You're on the right track," you say. "They placed supreme importance on the fened, regarding it as more important than their eyes. All the native fauna on their planet actually have a fened, every single one using their sense of the Force to navigate. Which actually suggests that the Changer was not native to their planet in the first place."

"Is the answer related to Force-sensitivity? Are the Autsen just unable to sense the Force?"

"No," you say, shaking your head. "It's been confirmed that the Autsen can produce Force-sensitives. The only reason why there aren't any Autsen Jedi is that they are highly communal. Where one goes, at least a dozen others follow, which wouldn't be allowed in the Temple. Also, their extreme biological needs for a specific atmosphere completely toxic to any other sentient would require a portion of the Temple to be sectioned off and retrofitted with a life support system just for them. Sticking them in a haz-suit and giving them rebreathers like with Master Plo Koon wouldn't work either, as they habitually make skin-to-skin contact with one another as often as possible."

"All right, I'm giving up," says Tera with a sigh. "Doran, you have any ideas?"

At this, Doran, having been concentrating on his food, shakes his head. "Xena, just tell us. Leading us to the answer like the Masters do is all well and good, but I really don't feel like thinking anymore today."

"Maybe I should tell you two to meditate on it," you muse.

"Please, no!"

"Alright, fine. Jedi Knight Cern and his Padawan happened upon a strange Haenden just before the ultimatum came to a close. This Haenden, unlike all of her kind, actually acknowledged the Autsen's existence and seemed to be extremely concerned about the Autsen's weapon. During their meeting, the Haenden revealed to Cern that the Haenden had a foundational belief related to the Force and the fened. In their legends, monsters come from a world where the Force could not be felt, could not be seen. The world itself was not completely devoid of the Force, but for some reason, the Force was trapped within the planet itself. The sky was empty, the streaming auroras of Force that the Haenden used to find their way absent. Any creature, blessed with a fened or not, that lives under such a blank sky, must be a demon. A monster, damned to a life of suffering, not knowing where it stood in the universe.

"The vast majority of planets that we know of are wrapped in the Force. Any Force-sensitive should be able to look up and see the flow of the Force around them and in the atmosphere. And, the Autsen homeworld is no different. The Force flows through them, through their world, and through the atmosphere. But, there is one problem. The composition of the Autsen climate creates perpetual clouds that prevent a fened from 'seeing' up into the upper atmosphere. Because of this, the Haenden thought that the Autsen must be monsters, completely deprived from being able to bask in the glow of the Force in their atmosphere. They were demons, shadows in the corner of the eye that must be ignored.

"The two Jedi quickly acted on this information, frantically racking their minds for some way to prove to the Haenden that the Autsen did indeed know of the Force around their world. Eventually, the strange Haenden suggested that they use a creation myth of the Autsen which extensively listed observations a Force-sensitive group of Autsen had made regarding what and where the Force could be found, including in the atmosphere.

"The Haenden collective, after being given this information, decided that the Autsen were simply unfortunate beings, deprived of the atmospheric rivers of Force through no fault of their own. If their ancestors were once able to glimpse the Force up there, then perhaps their species was not damned after all. They stopped their invasion and ended up paying reparations over the next decade."

You conclude your story satisfied, having remembered all the facts correctly. You sit in silence with your friends while you finish your food, it having gone cold while you spoke.

While the three of you move to return your tray and dishes, Doran asks, "How could that Haenden have known about that myth? And why didn't she just bring it up with her own government?"

"Well," you say, "Knight Cern was asked that question too. For some reason, he seemed uncomfortable about it, trying to dodge the question whenever it came up. In one interview however, his Padawan mentioned one thing that confuses people to this day. The Haenden they spoke to didn't have any fened."

≡][≡ ⬦⬦⬦ ≡][≡

After dinner, the initiates are released from their mandated classes for free time. Studies, meditation, and play are the most popular activities during this time. As such, you now have another chance to think about your dream.

Force visions are a known quantity, not exactly common, but are a phenomenon historically experienced by Jedi. You've heard of incidents where a Jedi received some abstract vision in their sleep, leading them to come up with a new Force technique, give a life-saving warning, or spout some weird prophecy. Whatever it the vision was, it was generally something important and usually led to a big change in the Jedi's life.

You are now wondering if what you saw was a Force vision, telling you of something that is to come. If that is the case, then what could it mean? Force visions are almost always up to interpretation, so it's possible that it could mean practically anything.

In your musings, you have been walking the wide halls of the Temple, subconsciously heading toward the security offices. This isn't the usual kind of place for an initiate like yourself, but you have come here often enough just to chat with Master Masbau when you feel troubled.

As you approach the offices, the air rings with an electronic chime, alerting the off-duty guards inside that they have a visitor. You stand outside the door, shifting your weight from foot to foot as you wait for them to go fetch Master Masbau, knowing that you are likely there to see him. After a moment, Master Masbau opens the door and beckons you inside and into his personal office where he takes a seat behind his blocky granite desk.

The room is spartan, even more so than what could be expected of a Jedi. Very few personal effects adorn the room, only an ancient-looking clock and a small clay sculpture (made by you more than five years ago!) sit on his desk. Everything else is purely utilitarian.

You're always embarrassed to see the little gift sitting there. It's obviously not well made, but you're not sure you could do much better even now. Master Masbau refuses to get rid of it though, saying that he needs it to balance out the layout of his desk. Sitting cross-legged in the chair in front of the desk, it being uncomfortable to hang your too-short legs off of it for long, you take a moment to center yourself before speaking.

"Master Masbau, I had a dream last night. A weird one."

He raises an eyebrow in curiosity, repeating back to you, "A weird one?"

"A weird one."

"Alright, let's hear it."

"I saw… a storm. A storm of colors and monsters."

"Close, or far?"

"I - I don't really know. It seemed like it was… everywhere, all at once. It didn't really feel like a dream though. It felt - it felt different."

He sits back in his chair, considering.

"Master Masbau, this felt different than all my other dreams. For once, I actually remember it all. Completely. I've been thinking about it all day, actually. It felt scary, as if the things I saw could potentially see me too. It even felt like something was about to notice me!"

"Hmm…" Master Masbau hums. "Any interpretations?"

You think for a bit, then speak quietly.

"I've been thinking that it could be a Force vision. A premonition. Maybe of a conflict, something soon to come."

He closes his eyes, his forehead wrinkling as he thinks.

"Have you meditated on it? On what it could mean, that is? Allow the Force to reveal more to you."

"I tried!" you cry. "But, I just keep thinking and thinking, going in circles!"

"That's not what I meant. Don't think. Just… dive deeper in. Let the Force take you to the meaning. Even if it doesn't, perhaps you'll find more information that will allow you to make better interpretations."

Calming down, you say, "I guess I haven't really tried that — going deeper into it."

"Alright then. Would you like to try right now? I have some time."

Nodding, you close your eyes.

And let go.

.

..

…

≡][≡ ⬦⬦⬦ ≡][≡

…

..

.

Master Masbau's voice is there, just at the edge of your hearing.

"There is no emotion, there is peace."

You see an enormous storm of indescribable color, stretched upon an intergalactic scale.

"There is no ignorance, there is knowledge."

Horror and wonder and fear and joy and a million emotions flicker through you. This time, you force yourself to keep looking, but you feel as if you're missing something.

"There is no passion, there is serenity."

Winding currents and protean gusts and unspeakable things with far too many teeth and eyes hurtle past.

"There is no Chaos, there is Harmony."

You attempt to scream, and something's attention turns to—

"There is no death, there is the Force."

You choke back your scream and shrink in on yourself, making yourself as small as possible as the EYES sweep over you. A creature of mischief and madness swims past you, buffeting you in its wake. You roll over and over, spinning out of control. You dare not spread your limbs out to detumble lest you be spotted, instead waiting for your body to slow and stabilize in the viscosity of the Empyrean. After a few more moments, you untuck your head and stare out.

And you see… nothing. NOTHING.

Where? Where is it?! The light in the void – the beacon?

Lost! We are lost! All is LOST!

Wait! No! You're being a fool… Of course you cannot see it. You cannot see at all!

How can you see when you have not even opened your EYE?