[member="Tionne Thanewulf"]
***
The Skyspirit touched down on Vjun after a day's flight; Vjun was near Yavin, but the hyperroutes weren't exactly straightforward. The best shelter, a rocky ledge, didn't quite cover the courier. Shule ran through postflight as acid rain began to score the paint on the ship's nose. The exit ramp, though, would be covered.
"Turns out I got my wires crossed. The expedition is a Clan Rekali operation after all." He grimaced. "Their clan father is a retired Jedi Master, but he's getting old and hardly anyone's seen him in years. His granddaughter Alec is the heir apparent., and she's your age or close enough. Alec Rekali is clever, but she doesn't have a Jedi's experience, or her grandfather's skill with Force Light. If Ember Rekali isn't able to protect his clan anymore, that's got implications. Plus Clan Rekali isn't just Mandalorian -- it has quite a few Dathomiri as well. No wonder they're having problems. We may have to find a way to recommend that people be transferred out before they can become dangerous. Let's hope the shielding we bring gives their Force-sensitives enough of a paradigm shift to know that would be a good idea." Left unsaid, of course, was that Clan Rekali controlled the Yavin system, and that the Jedi Academy personnel were the clan's guests.
Outside, the rock ledge gave enough shelter to reach the nearest door without entering the acid rain. The facility was a durable prefab base with an odd sheen to it. He paused at the doorframe, touching the glossy bulkhead. "This is anti-acid lacquer. Expensive stuff. The Rekalis must be serious about a long-term presence."
The door opened, revealing a handful of Mandalorians, some of whom had Dathomiri runes on their armor. He felt the Force in several, all at the apprentice level.
"Su'cuy gar," said Shule with a bow. "I'm Master Windspeaker, and this is Jedi Thanewulf."
"Su'cuy gar," said one of the Mandos; he couldn't quite tell which one. "Welcome to Port Imbris. Thank you for coming. If you need to meet with all of us-"
"No need to disturb you. A quiet place to work will do fine. I'm teaching Jedi Thanewulf how to counter the influence of the Dark Side on the minds of multiple people. If any of your Force adepts want to sit in with us, they can learn how to keep their own minds protected." A little local goodwill never hurt, especially when the necessity of this operation might be in doubt.
***
In fairly short order, the Jedi found themselves in a supply room, with crates as seats. Four Mandalorians joined them, two with Dathomiri markings on their helmets and pauldrons. They removed their helmets and sat as well.
"All right," said Shule, pleasantries out of the way. "It's important to recognize that this isn't your fault. You know Vjun's history. This place is strong with the memory of what happened here. Your expedition is far from the first to experience depression. The four of you may even have had temptations in the direction of the Dark Side. That's completely to be expected, and there's no dishonor in requesting a transfer back to Yavin or Dathomir. I can have a word with your clan leaders if necessary. Better a transfer than potentially slipping into the Dark Side. That said, I think you're strong enough. I don't feel any deep-rooted darkness in any of you, and sensing the nuances of minds is my specialty.
"So let's talk about how to keep that from happening. We'll teach you how to insulate your minds against Vjun's influence. You'll be able to operate without losing your equilibrium, though you'll still be able to feel the sadness of this place, and the spiritual cold. There's no royal road to immunity; we're just giving you the tools to keep your minds your own. I'll also teach Jedi Thanewulf how to extend our protection over all of Fort Imbris. The plan is to give all your clan brothers and sisters a few days of rest -- some time to do their jobs without worrying about the depression. Jedi Thanewulf, while I make some preparations, would you mind showing our hosts how to protect their minds against the worst effects of a Dark Side aura?"