A Qixoni crystal hunt

[Kriel Firin]

As they neared the planet, Kriel was able to glimpse a portion of its curved surface through a heavy cover of thick clouds. The planet was still largely uncharted. And the first impression was invariably accurate – it looked a little grim.

Kriel checked the ship’s monitors. No cities, no mass of life-form readings either. It still only attracted the curious and the foolhardy.

Their ship sailed through the twilight halo separating pitch black space from the planet’s surface. Kriel then plunged their craft into the white blanket of mists.

As expected, he couldn't see a thing. His vision was entirely obstructed by the dense whiteness pressing against the canopy windows of the ship. His only choice was to control their ship by instruments and the Force. And given the scopes weren't registering anything, he had to rely on his capabilities with the dark-side.

When an alarm began to buzz, Kriel turned to Ara – now knowing of her dislike of flying. “All of the scopes are dead, but that is expected. I'm going to start the landing cycle and trust in the Force.”

He mused that this would be an excellent test of a Disciple’s learning. If they trusted in the Force, as he did, the landing would be fine. If not, they would crash. He considered the lesson valuable yet too costly in real terms. Writing off ships and Disciples this way was not an efficient use of resource.

He increased the shields to prevent the lightning damage that he’d heard was common when approaching. And suddenly he broke the clouds and the ship’s spotlights extended brilliant cones to the wet ground below. Kriel located a clearing that looked like a field of white boulders, but as he shone the light down to cut through the creeping ground fog, he saw that the white rocks were actually spherical fungi. As the beam-played across them, their sensitive skins burst, showering fine spores. He could hear the faint boom of fungus blasts as the lumps reproduced in the sudden wash of light.

Kriel set the ship down, keeping his fingers tense on the controls in case the ship should begin to cant or settle awkwardly. But the ground seemed stable beneath them. He switched off the engines.

“Care for a stroll in the swamp?” he said.

[member="Ara Ren"]

 

[Ara Zambrano]

Ara had somehow been convinced to take the co-pilot's seat. In the entire ship, it was probably Ara's second least favorite seat, topped only by the pilot seat itself. Her legs where crossed and her back plastered against the back of the seat, a light sheen of sweat covering the little bit of skin showing.

Her eyes, kept firmly shut throughout a majority of the trip, opened a hair, just in time to see the ship engulfed in white mist. The colorful string of curses that sprang to mind kept closely in check by sheer power of will, her hands gripped the arm-rests of the seat, nails digging in.

"Trust in the Forc- oh Bantha poodoo!"

She bit her lip to keep from finishing her statement, her trust in the force not extending to it's ability to prevent painful and fiery death in the form of a crash landing. No, she was going to sit there, with her eyes closed, picturing beautiful solid ground beneath her feet. She was going to trust in the skills of her Master to bring them to a safe, soft landing. Or she was going to throw up. Each option was viable at this point in the adventure.

Throughout the entire landing sequence, her eyes never opened, her hands never unclenched. She focused inward, on the texture of the fabric beneath her fingers, the feeling of the blood rushing through her veins, even the rapid staccato of breathing. Anything to not think about the fact that she was in a giant tin capsule rapidly heading towards solid ground with no line of sight.

The moment the ship settled, Ara opened her eyes and peeled her sweat soaked hands from the arm-rests.

"Anything to get me off this karking piece of scrap metal."

She probably shouldn't be so flippant around Talon Ren, but it was only her second time on a space craft since the incident that left her with a mind-numbing fear of flying and she hardly knew how to handle it. Eventually she'd learn.

She unpeeled her legs from their crossed position and stood, muscles cramping from lack of use. Carefully, working the feeling back into her legs, she followed her Master off the ship.

[member="Kriel Firin"]

 

[Kriel Firin]

Kriel knew that Ara struggled with flying. But given they lived and operated in a galaxy and not on one planet, there was little he could do to assist her. Although, in the back of his mind, he saw a practical use. Her fear would become a powerful weapon in time. It was the hardest emotion to control but it was also the most useful when it came to the dark side. If you could harness the energy it generated without becoming paralysed with fear, it was a way of lifting yourself way above the average Ren in terms of power. But that was for another day.
Kriel stood on the boarding ramp. A mist had already begun to unfold. The snowy shower of white spores settled to the ground from the sensitive spherical fungi. Even through his mask he could smell the damp odour of decay and fresh life.

Kriel knew where the cave was located. “Follow me,” he said and they trudged away from the ship and into the brooding swamps. Enormous gnarltrees stretched to the sky, their twisted roots like multi-legged creatures balanced with bent knees. The roots were sweeping and arched, forming dark warrens for innumerable creatures. The day was grey and fog-shrouded, growing darker with each moment as sunset approached.

They slogged through puddles, climbing over fallen trees, and scaring creatures that fled into darker hollows, splashing into the swamp. Much larger growling things moved in the distance, crashing between trees.

The ground fog thickened into white tentacles that wrapped around their lower legs. A knobby white spider as tall as a human heaved itself up from a pile of underbrush, its legs like twisted forerunners of the thick gnarl-tree roots. But the knobby hunter meant them no harm, and stalked off in search of smaller prey.

“Oddly, in this place, the things that are most likely to kill you will be too small to see. So tell me, using the Force, what can you sense?”

[member="Ara Ren"]

 

[Ara Zambrano]

Ara followed dutifully behind Talon Ren, glad beyond belief that she'd chosen to dress conservatively considering the environment they were now plugging through. She'd never imagined there would be a place in the galaxy she hated more than the slums of Coruscant, but Dagobah took the prize. The mist had settled and she found herself struggling to see through to the labyrinth of gnarled roots and mucky puddles beneath. Her boots were mostly likely ruined after an adventure such as this. She doubted anything could get bog-stench out of leather.

The stench itself was a combination of the worse bar she'd ever been to and the alleys of rotten food found littered around the lower levels of her home. The undercurrent of decay punctuated everything and she regretted turning down the offer of a mask. Even if it meant she'd barely be able to see, the filtering out of the putrid smells would have been benefit enough.

The mists clung to the fabric of her close-cropped jacket, her hair hung limp with the added moisture. She cursed as her toes caught on a root and she barely avoided landing face-first in a puddle of murky swamp water.

Taking a deep breath, and promptly choking on it, she continued trudging forward, eyes on her master's back. The varying sounds of creatures slithering and splashing through the swamp around them was unnerving, but she knew from experience that they were moving away from the pair, rather than towards.

As the fog thickened, Ara found herself sticking as close to the darkly shrouded silhouette of her master as possible. She had a hard enough time seeing in the low-ight alone, the addition of a blanket of white tendrils of fog meant shadows and deep pools of black were the only discernable things below her feet.

She paused as Talon came to a stop, hands clenched into a fist as a gargantuan spider heaved itself onto it's long legs and scurried off deeper into the shadows. She had never been squeamish or scared of the myriad of creatures who lived in the dark and seedy underbelly of Coruscant, but none of them had been human sized either.

Talon's voice broke her out of her reverie, reminding her that she was hardly defenseless in this place. As bidden, she sent her awareness out, searching for the thing they came for, a Qixoni crystal. Every creature in the swamp was a small force signature, not worthy of her attention. She was searching for something stronger, much more powerful. Closing her eyes to better concentrate, she focused on expanding her range.

After a few minutes of meditation and a couple of steps deeper into the swamp she grinned. There, deep in the swamp and slightly to the north, was a signature far stronger than the others. She raised her hand and pointed in the direction she suspected she'd find a cave, and a crystal.

"It's there." She turned to Talon Ren, expecting either a confirmation or a rebuke if she was wrong.

[member="Kriel Firin"]

 

[Kriel Firin]

Kriel maintained a steady pace. There was an art to walking in swamps, one he’d learned the hard way when he’d lost a boot to the elements. It was one he was willing to share – if asked – but thus far Ara had been gainfully progressing all by herself.

By now he was standing, waiting for Ara to take the lead. Her training had been functional so far and she’d picked up the basics with relative ease. What she was about to learn was the difference between using an ability in the comfort of a training room, versus the reality of using your senses out here, with a myriad of distractions and an equal number of things lurking, quite ready to eat you if you put a foot wrong.

And she was right in her deduction. No more than fifty metres away was the tree that grew from just above that evil place, its huge blackened shape jutting upward through the surrounding trees. Beneath and between its tangled roots, just visible through the mists and shorter vegetation, was the dark entrance to the cave itself.

Nodding his agreement, Kriel strode forward and soon they were next to the cave.

Up close, the tree straddling the cave looked as evil as he remembered it: twisted, dark, and vaguely brooding, as if it was itself alive with the dark side of the Force. And maybe it was? In truth, Kriel couldn't tell for sure, not this close, with the overwhelming emanations of the cave flooding his senses.

“In there are, I suspect, many crystals. One or more will call to you. They may not look any different to the others with the naked eye, but rest assured, through the Force you will know which one to choose.”

He put a hand on her forearm, as if encouraging her to wait. “But before you go in, reflect on this. What you are about to face will be your greatest test to date. Perhaps ever? It is the nature of the cave.”

He let her arm go. “Beyond that, I cannot help you. I cannot enter with you, only you can face your challenge. Nor can I tell you what the trial will be – it will be personal, that is all I can share. But as I am not you, I cannot tell you any more.”

“I shall wait here, for your return.”

[member="Ara Ren"]

 

[Ara Zambrano]

Ara stared at the entrance for a long moment after he released her arm. The branches of the tree were gnarly and twisted, wrapped around the entrance of the cave until she couldn’t tell where the tree ended and the mouth of the cave began. She hesitated. He had said that it would be her greatest challenge yet and it was hers to face alone. Was she ready? What would great her inside the dark nexus brimming with the twisted and menacing power of the darkside.

The energy called to her, the power emanating from the darkness drew her further into its shadows, even as the light of the swamp was swallowed and she found herself completely blind. One foot in front of the other, she moved slowly, each step a test at first, until she was sure there was solid ground beneath. The sounds of the outside world ceased to exist in the kingdom of darkness, her breathing and the echoes of her footsteps the only clue to her location and her surroundings.

She searched, not with her hands or her eyes, but with the Force itself. There, in the distance, a knot of power beckoned her, a shard of light in an otherwise pitch black world.

She smiled, recognizing it from before, the crystal a ball of warmth in her chest, drawing her closer. Another step and then….nothing. The world fell out from under her in an instant and she scrambled, clinging to anything she could grab a hold of. Her fingers scraped across the stone and dirt of the cave floor, at the last moment, pocket marks in the floor becoming handholds.

Her breathing and heartrate thudded in her ears as she clung to the side of the chasm that had opened up beneath her, her lower half hanging in the open air. A few muttered curses accompanied her efforts to find footholds as well. Her feet found purchase and she dragged her body over the edge of the hole, collapsing on the ground in a heap, muscles shaking and tears forming in her eyes.

She was glad she was here alone. How embarrassing to be brought down from something as simple as a little fall. She strained to see, the darkness still engulfing her vision. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

She sat back, slamming a hand against the ground, the pain pushing away her anxiety long enough to focus. The signature she’d been following had shifted. Instead of being straight ahead, it beckoned from below, from somewhere in the deep abyss inches from her hand.

”Is this some kind of cruel joke?” She muttered to nothing in particular, not expecting a reply.

”Cruel, yes. Joke, no.”

The voice echoed through her mind, her head whipping around to find its source. She knew it was a futile exercise even as she did it. The voice was a haunting memory from a past she’d refused to remember. Pushing herself to her feet, she stepped to the edge of the stone, feeling for the open air with her toes.

Reaching out with the Force, she focused on the aura below, attempting to call it to her. No response. Not even the sound of shifting rock.

”Karking sithspawn.” She cursed and paced, momentarily blinded by anger. ”What good is sending someone into a cave to find a stone that no one can get to?!”

”Who said you can’t get to it? You just have to jump.” This time the source of the voice was obvious. A specter standing just off to the side, her form ringed in soft silver glow, staring into the abyss. Almost as if she sensed the disciple’s glare, the image looked up, a familiar knowing smile settled on her face.

Ara sucked in a breath from between her teeth, momentarily frozen in shock. The woman was slightly taller than Ara herself, but just as thin and athletic in shape. Her hair hung in loose waves down her back, pulled away from her face by a simple band. Piercing green eyes met her gaze. Eyes Ara saw every day when she looked in the mirror.

”Mother…” Her voice trailed off as anger and pain replaced shock. The woman who’d sent Ara into the streets to scrap and fight for scraps of food and tech had never been as beautiful as the image standing in the cave. She’d been riddled with addiction to spice, her cheeks and eyes hollow and feverish with the cravings and withdrawals. She’d never spoken in soft tones, nor with any hint of kindness. This woman, whatever she was a trick of the cave. As was the chasm in front of her.

Or was it?

Ara picked up a small handful of rocks and tossed them into the chasm, ignoring the amused and slightly patronizing stare of the ghost of her mother. The sound of each small chunk of stone hitting the side and bouncing off echoed for far longer than she was comfortable with. The disciple winced and returned to pacing, as the woman chuckled.

She turned to the woman with fire in her eyes. A hand reached into her robe, drawing the hilt of a borrowed saber. ”Go away.” She snarled, advancing on the image, nearly falling into the pit in her haste. The specter laughed, a harsh sound grating on the ears as it echoed through the cave.

”You have to jump. Whether you like it or not, you have to jump.”

”I don’t have to do anything. Least of all, anything you tell me to do.” She returned to pacing, her hand clinched around the metal hilt of the saber. She stopped and ignited the blade, the crimson light reflecting off the limestone walls, showing a massive drop-off directly in front of the young Ren. The light didn’t penetrate farther than a few feet in front of her, and another strangled yell of anger escaped the girl.

”What is there to fear? Jump and retrieve your crystal.” The voice was so calm, so reasonable, it pissed the girl further and she advanced on the ghost.

”I. Am. Not. Afraid.” A blatant lie, considering her reaction to almost falling into the depths a few moments before. She stood within inches of the glowing woman, her saber held off to the side but at the ready. ”What do you know of fear? You stayed in your squalor and sent a child out for a few ounces of spice! You never knew fear or struggle or cold or hunger, so GO. AWAY.”

The anger welled up without so much as a trigger. The simple sight of the woman who’d given birth to her combined with the rising anxiety of the sheer drop off, a volatile combination.

”When you admit it to yourself, the reason you hate and fear what has to be done, then you will be successful.”

Before Ara could act on her impulse to turn the saber on the conjuring, the woman was gone. Cursing the cave and its illusions, she turned her attention back to the problem at hand, how to retrieve the crystal somewhere in the depths of the crevice in front of her.

What was she afraid of? She could lie and say pain, but she didn’t remember the pain of hitting the ground the one time she had fallen from such a height. Pain was not her motivator.

No, pain had never bothered her. In fact, if she was truthful, it pushed her further.

Death?

No, she did not fear death either. She’d spent enough time on the streets starving, frozen to her bones, and wishing for the simple peace of death. Her life was worth more now, but she knew that one day she would die in service to the Order and she found peace in that.

What was left?

The only thing she valued beyond anything else, control. Her hand flexed, the blade of her saber disappearing in an instant. But she didn’t need the light anymore. She knew what she had to do. She had to release control. She had to trust in the Force, in the power surrounding her, rather than her reflexes and her charm.

She stepped chasm, her toes hanging over the edge. Her heart thudded in her chest as she stood over the unending darkness. Her hands clenched and unclenched, her knuckles white from the pressure. Before she could talk herself out of it, she wrapped the blanket of power around her and let go, falling into the darkness.

There was no sensation of falling, just solid ground beneath her feet. Her eyes snapped open to find a glowing red crystal nestled in the rock in front of her. Prying the crystal from the wall, she felt a ripple of something powerful wash over her. Tucking the shard carefully into a pocket, she turned and strode back towards the entrance.

((OOC: Ehhh....not 100% happy with it but I'm tired of rewriting it :lol)

 

[Kriel Firin]

Spoiler

I just there was more than one 'Like' button

Kriel waited patiently. In his meditative state it was difficult to measure time but when his senses indicated that it was time to open his eyes, he was aware of light trying to peer through the gloom of the clouds. He suspected that he'd been here all night, and his Disciple had spent all that time in the cave.

He knew that not every Disciple made it out alive. And some returned but were never the same again. As much as he had faith in Ara, he could not be sure what would emerge from the cave - let alone who.

Her aura was largely unchanged, he sensed that. But there was something else. He was no master of Empathy but he could detect strong emotions and there was an overwhelming aura of confidence being exuded by whoever was exiting the cave.

He nodded to his Disciple once she came in to view. He chose not to speak and would allow her the chance to share as much or as little of what had transpired with him. It was her mission, her innermost fears, her story. He would be a willing listener - but he would accept if she chose not to share. Many did not and he would never hold it against any Disciple.

[member="Ara Ren"]

 

[Ara Zambrano]

Spoiler

Awww....shucks :blush:

The trek back to the entrance of the cave was far easier than the passage in. She no longer took her time hunting for a place to step, instead she just did. The cave had tested her and she had returned victorious. She studiously ignored the shaking of her hands as she emerged into the misty grey of dawn.

She paused as her vision adjusted to the light, able to see again, even if it was blurry and tinted with dark shadows. At some point she would need to share the extent of her vision deficiency, but she suspected he already knew. It was no secret that those of Hapan heritage suffered from low-light blindness, and she was no exception.

She was not surprised to find his still silhouette waiting for her, his mask and robes a daunting visage in the swirling mists and fog of the swamp. She raised an eyebrow, smiling in approval.

She bowed once, out of respect and in thanks for his patience. From the folds of her robe she produced the crystal, holding it out in the palm of her hand.

"It is done. Thank you, Master."

She offered little else, tucking the gem back in its resting place.

[member="Kriel Firin"]

 

[Kriel Firin]

Kriel was invariably pleased when a Disciple was successful at the cave challenge. It was vindication that his judgement and faith were well placed.

As she approached him, she showed him the crystal. He could sense its power but knew that it was more special to Ara – and once she’d crafted her saber and attuned it to the Force, it would perform better for her than any other dark sider.

And as she neared him, he sighed. This was long overdue. From a small bag attached to his belt, he pulled out a length of silk. “Around your eyes,” he said. “There is more than one way to see and you need to be proficient in all light levels.”

Once she affixed the scarf, he nodded. “Right. Now connect to the Force. Meditate and focus. I will know when you’re ready.”

[member="Ara Ren"]

 

[Ara Zambrano]

She raised an eyebrow, one side of her mouth quirking up into an amused smile. The length of silk reminded her all too well of their first meeting and subsequent saber lesson. He's insisted that she use a scrap of silk to rob her of her vision in an attempt to strengthen her bond with the Force, and she suspected this would be a similar exercise.

"Yes, sir."

She took the length of fabric without protesting, although she frowned slightly as she tied it tightly around her eyes. Instantly her hearing picked up, overcompensating for the lack of a fifth sense. For a moment she just listened, identifying the sounds of the nature around them. The sounds of birds cawing to each other from high in the gnarled tree branches, insects waking in the soft light of dawn, even the creatures that slithered and swam through the murky waters around them.

She sighed and took a moment to tune out the background noise of the swamp, focusing on the energy flowing around her as she'd been directed.

It was easier now than it had been that first time, but it still took a moment of thought and meditation to clear her mind of its distractions. Once there was nothing left except her thoughts and the rhythmic sound of her breathing, she located the thread that bound her to the energy of the Force and opened herself to the power surrounding them.

A wide smile crossed her face as it did anytime she tapped into the power of the darkside.

[member="Kriel Firin"]

 

[Kriel Firin]

Once he was confident she was in a meditative state, Kriel spoke again. “Meditation is always about a deep connection to the Force. And thoughts are a distraction – but unlike how the Jedi teach, emotions can be a boon. I use my pain to help me meditate. The raw energy allows me to focus with laser like precision.”

“It does not need to be that way, but if it presents itself, don’t look to eradicate them. Embrace them.”

He closed his own eyes now, despite the fact he was wearing a mask. Within seconds he was deeply connected to the Force.

“I have chosen to close my eyes. You were given no choice. Regardless, we are both connected. Now I am sensing every living thing around me. And using the Force, I am placing them on a mental map in my mind. Unlike my eyes, this map can give me three hundred and sixty-degree vision. Now perform this task yourself. You may not be able to generate the detail I can or the range but that comes with time and practise.”

[member="Ara Ren"]

 

[Ara Zambrano]

She listened as he spoke, closing her eyes out of habit even through the fabric blocked out all sight. She was surprised he admitted to being in pain and using it to fuel him further, it was one of the only personal things he had shared. She filed it away, it would be a question she could ask another time. Although she doubted he would answer.

It was difficult to keeps the sounds and auras separate in her mind. She'd depended on sound and sight for far longer than she'd ever trusted or used the Force, it was a hard habit to break. Each living being was a spot of light in her mind's eye, each one unique and drawing her attention. She could locate them, but now, she needed to focus on every signature at once as opposed to one at a time.

First, she placed herself and her master at the center of her mind's map, his aura was brighter and stronger than hers, but there were similarities between them. Another signature shone brightly with theirs, the crystal. She added it to her map and spread her awareness outward. Off to the right was a smaller signature, a creature of some kind. She added it. Behind them, a few yards back, the cave was a miasma of darkness, she added that as well.

She wasn't sure how long she stood there, quite a while she assumed by the way her feet and muscles ached when she finally stopped. She turned her head, smiling as her mental image adjusted with the movement. It was mall, maybe ten yards in all directions, but it was there.

She hesitated, not wanting to break the meditative state by speaking, but wondering what to do now. She turned towards her master, despite not being able to see him.

"There is a map, but...." She paused, considering how to phrase the question she needed to ask. She could feel the strength of an aura but if you asked her for details, friend, foe, creature, plant, she'd be useless. "How can you identify the difference in each signature? I can tell you apart because you are....brighter, stronger, than the rest. But other than that, they all appear the same."

[member="Kriel Firin"]

 

[Kriel Firin]

Kriel was patient. When Ara finally spoke, he had his own mental map drawn out. It reached maybe twenty-five metres in every direction and he could see ‘through’ some of the thinner trees but the thicker ones cast a shadow that he could see nothing behind.

“You have started the process and I suspect are using Force Sense at the moment. You can see auras and, if you any existed, you would see the absence of one. This is useful in spotting Force dead creatures like the Vong. They would appear as a null in your mental map.”

“But now you need to add Force Sight. You need to tell the Force that you require to ‘see’ all around you. It is usually a passive ability, but to begin with you will need to prompt the Force. If you see a gap, call it to the Force’s attention. In addition to the aura’s you should be able to see every tree, plant and creature. Non-living things will appear opaque. There is no Force in them, so you cannot see them. Or through them, at least not to begin with. In time you will learn to see through walls and across greater and greater distances. It will always remain monochrome, but it will be something similar to a black and white holovid in your mind.”

[member="Ara Ren"]

 

[Ara Zambrano]

She nodded, listening and focusing on holding the mental map steady in her mind. Her eyebrows winged up in surprise as he explain the extent to which she could see using the Force. Not being able to see more than shadows when the bright light of day waned had been her reality for so long, than for a moment she hesitated. There was no reason to do so, being able to see and sense the environment around her was a boon, a strength, but it was also change. She thought back to her experience in the cave, a frown forming and her resolve strengthening. This was one more way she could take control of her life and her destiny and so she would.

She waited until he was done speaking and turned, focusing on a small tree off to her right. She already knew it was there and the faint aura helped guide her mind's eye. She started to reach out with a hand, stopping herself abruptly with a disappointed shake of her head. This wasn't about touch, this was about the Force, pure and simple. Lowering her hand back to her side, she closed her eyes, the simple act a crutch to help her concentrate. She would have to break herself of that habit, it could become a weakness and a detriment in the future, for now, she was content to allow it to happen. One step at a time was all that was needed at this juncture.

Her connection with the swirling energies of the Force was already present, active in the simple task of mapping the auras of the living creatures. Now she changed her focus. He'd said she would need to prompt the force, but that wasn't her way, it wasn't their way. Knowing what she was capable of was half of the battle, a simple nudge with the power revealed the shape of the gnarled and twisting trunk in front of her.

A self-satisfied smile bloomed and she turned, using the force to uncover each spiraling tree. Once she was satisfied that each of the towering oaks was visible, she turned her attention to the flora and fauna in their respective turns.

She was covered in a sheen of sweat and moisture by the time she finished, the mists of the swamp having taken their toll on her clothing and hair. She resisted the grimace that wanted to grow, instead marveling at the picture painted in her mind. A monochrome map splayed out before her, a little more than five yards in all directions before it tapered off. She suspected her master could see much farther than she could, but it came with practice and time. And she would practice this. As much if not more than her ability with a saber, she valued this. A chance to see the world in it's entirety, without the restriction of light or shadows.

She stepped forward and placed her hand on the trunk of the tree, curling her fingers lightly over the bark. She moved to the next one, carefully stepping over the dark spots in her mind's eye that signified a lack of living being. The rocks scattered across the ground, once obscured by the swirling mists, now vibrantly visible by the simple act of not existing at all.

"Thank you." The simple whispered phrase was full of emotion, her respect for the man training her growing with every skill and ability he showed her. None of which were as personal or meaningful as the pure ability to see unfettered by the restraints of her heritage.

[member="Kriel Firin"]

 

[Kriel Firin]

Kriel waited and given his eyes were still closed, he chose to sense what Ara was doing. He could feel her interact with the Force but of course could not tell to what ends.

There was a change in her demeanour at the same time. One he’d witnessed with her before – and that was confidence. And the funny thing about the Force was that confidence led to competence. It was a self-fuelling cycle.

Finally, he was aware that she was moving, touching the swamp around them, no doubt confirming what she saw in her mind’s eye.

“A handy tool for seeing in low light. Or in a pitch-dark cave. Or for fighting when surrounded by mist or smoke. Most Jedi would fight in those circumstances and have a good idea what you’re likely to do next. But could they see that low branch you’re backing them into – or those rocks they’ll likely stumble on? No. It is in many ways a simple attribute, but none the less a powerful one.”

“Now, back to the original reason for coming here. Do you have a design for a hilt for your saber in mind?”

[member="Ara Ren"]

 

[Ara Zambrano]

Ara turned towards his presence, the soft smile still present. Reaching up, she untied the blindfold and offered it back to her Master. Her hand unconsciously moved to touch the stone in her pocket. She hadn't thought much about the hilt of her blade beyond knowing she wanted the curved hilt of a traditional Makashi blade.

"Other than a curved hilt, I haven't considered many other options."

She clasped her hands behind her back and took a step away, glancing up through the trees at the light far above. She'd let the monochrome Force Sight fade when she'd removed the silk from her eyes and she found that the hazy edges of her vision didn't bother her as much as they had even an hour before. Knowing she could augment her own vision with the force with a little effort and concentration was a huge confidence boost.

"What are they typically made from?"

It wasn't as if she found many lightsaber hilts in the technology graveyards surrounding her former home. Other than the practice sabers they'd been working with, she had no experience with the traditional Jedi and Sith weapons. She tilted her head and turned, thoughts lost on what a potential blade of her own could look like.

"Have you ever seen anyone...carve a design into their hilt?"

She raised an eyebrow in question, thinking about the intricate embroidery she'd always envied on the higher end dresses. If she could replicate something similar on her hilt, it would be perfect. A delicate and spiraling design encasing a heart of crystal with the unrivaled power to destroy. A perfect metaphor.

[member="Kriel Firin"]

Spoiler

 

[Kriel Firin]

Kriel did not press the process. Some Ren knew from an early age precisely what sort of saber they wanted. Others had a plan and changed it regularly. Others, himself included, were more ambivalent. The form was irrelevant to him; it was only the function that mattered.

In response to her first question, he shrugged. “Typical is hard to state. They vary. I suspect the majority are metallic. Durasteel for example. Some use natural materials like petrified wood or bones. Some uses more exotic metals. It will be about what feels natural in your hand. How heavy or light you want it, and if aesthetics are important.”

“And as for design? No two seem to be alike. Many are functional but a large number are ornate and carry words, or runes or just a design that matters to the user.”

“But once you’re settled, we should go somewhere symbolic to craft it. Either somewhere that means something to you, or I can choose a place if you like. I should be near you when you craft it, but the process needs to be undertaken by you alone.”

[member="Ara Ren"]

 

[Ara Zambrano]

A picture was forming of a curved hilt with intricate designs carved around it in her mind.

"Aesthetics are always important." She said quietly, her mouth curving into a seductive smile. She considered the variety of materials he suggested. Bone and petrified wood were beautiful and unique, no doubt, but she needed something stronger. She reached down and ran a finger lightly across the surface of the training saber she'd used since their first sparring match.

The metal was smooth, cold to the touch, but could withstand blow after blow without so much as a crack in its exterior. She unclipped the hilt from her belt and held it, weighting it in her hand. The first time she'd been handed the saber, it had felt heavy and solid in her hand. Now it was a comfort, it's weight almost unnoticed as her hand curled around the smooth metal.

"A little heavier than this would be perfect. It needs to be metal. Something strong and...exotic as you said."

She wanted a saber that reminded her of her past, but also her future. Something that would not break or bend no matter how someone tried. A blade that was cool to the touch, pretty, but with a wicked sting.

"I have no place in mind. I'd be honored if you would chose."

In truth, her mind flashed to the skyscraper she had fallen from years ago. How fitting that the blade that would pave her future should be forged in the place that tried to rob her of one. But the simple thought raised the hairs on the back of her neck, the knot of anxiety in her stomach threatening to unroll even here. No, she'd be content to let him pick an appropriate place.

[member="Kriel Firin"]

 

[Kriel Firin]

He smiled behind his mask. He had no complaint that Ara was concerned about how the saber looked. His own was entirely about function but form had its part to play, he understood.

“We have all the parts you need on board the ship. You can learn about the construction on the way to our destination and when we get there, you can assemble the saber."

He led them back to the ship, his pace swift and conversation was a minimum. He saw words as necessary when information needed to be shared but superfluous at other times. Before he was a Knight he was something of a Lothario and would lavish time and words on women with but one intent.

But that was then and this was now.

Once on board, he went to the cockpit and took control of their journey whilst Ara researched the construction of a saber and chose the appropriate materials. Finally they existed hyperspace and in front of Kriel was the planet where, in his opinion, the man that so many of the First Order obsessed over was truly born.

Mustafar burned with lava streaming from volcanoes of glittering obsidian.

At the fringe of its gravity well, their ship streaked into an atmosphere choked with dense smoke and cinders. The ship followed a pre-programmed course towards what was once a significant installation, an automated lava mine built originally by the Techno Union to draw precious metals from the continuous rivers of burning stone.

The habitable areas of the settlement were spread among towers that looked like poisonous toadstools sprung from the bank of a river of fire. The former main control centre squatted atop the largest, beside the small landing deck where they landed.

[member="Ara Ren"]

 

[Ara Zambrano]

Following the shadowy figure of [member="Kriel Firin"] back to the ship, she repressed a shudder as they boarded, happily leaving the cockpit behind to do the required research while they travelled. Her anxiety and fear where there, the strength of her aura spiking with the increase of emotions, but offset by the task at hand and the decisions she focused on instead of the fear inducing trip through wild space.

By the time they'd arrived, Ara had sorted through and collected the required materials, power assembly, crystal chamber, stabilizing ring, and belt clip. She'd chosen a duraplast casing with silver electrum plating. The material was strong and durable, the contrasting colors perfect for the carved design she had in mind. She'd scrounged about and found a few pieces of shaped obsidian that would add a dark edge to the aesthetics of the hilt.

Strong, durable, and beautiful, it fit the bill perfectly.

Her research had lead her to a collection of modifications meant to compliment her fighting style. First, a fencing emitter, chosen to augment her Makashi form, creating a blade that could easily parry attacks, even if it left her vulnerable to blaster fire. A bifurcating cyclical-ignition pulse would allow her to use the blade even in aquatic environments. A duel phase module would also allow her to switch between blade lengths, should the need arise.

She'd forgone an activation button, instead having read up on Force Users who chose to create blades that could only be activated with the use of the Force. As a boon, no non-force user could pick up her blade and turn it against her, but she also ran the risk of being unable to reactivate her blade if she wore herself out or lost her force-connection. It was a risk she was willing to take.

Once all the parts were assembled and placed safely in a bag, she settled back to meditate. It was never going to be one of her strengths, but it gave her something to do other than give in to the anxiety curling in the pit of her stomach.

After they landed, the disciple joined her master in the cockpit. The planet laid before them was unlike any she had ever seen, her eyes widened as she beheld the rivers of molten lava entwined amongst the mountains of obsidian.

"Holy kark..." The breathless curse was born of awe and a twinge of fear. If the jungles of Virgilia had been a foreign environment to the girl, this was a planet born of nightmares.

They'd landed amongst a collection of buildings that stood out harshly against the rivers of fire they bordered. She momentarily regretted letting the Knight choose the location, wondering if dealing with a fear of heights may have been preferable to the possibility of death by incineration. But if she'd learned anything from her time spent with the mysterious Talon Ren, it's that everything had it's purpose.

She removed her robe and folded it, leaving it in the navigator's chair. She assumed the heavy material would act as a hindrance. She followed him off the ship, wincing as the oppressive heat washed over her. The sheen of sweat that had coated her on Dagobah was a refreshing mist compared to the instant drenching she received the moment the ship's hull opened to the elements.

"And my sauna quotient for the year has been filled." She muttered with a grim smile. She hefted the bag of components on her shoulder and raised an eyebrow at the dark visor of her master. "You said assembled, but somehow I doubt it is that simple." She offered the commentary with a questioning lilt, unsure if it really was as simple as putting the saber together or if this was yet another test.