Black Lagoon

[Sorel Crieff]

They made quick progress down the mountain. Optimism was high – they had found much of interest here, but the true excitement would be where they headed next.

She kept her senses attuned to any potential threats but her mind also considered their future.

Not knowing if anything still existed where they were heading to was part of the fun – at least in Sorel’s mind – and she voiced her thoughts.

“So, do you think we’ll find things still intact, or will we be beaten to it?”

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Hmm now that was some of the fun that they might have with it. "Don't know, it has not been seen for a long time. From most things my mother found no one has been there or even found reports of it. Just one of her colleagues who was searching for it." She knew Domino one of the Twi'lek masters had been going around and searching for it along with a number of other places in the galaxy that were knowledge centers. Orihime looked forward though to the search and the anticipation was there as it was going to be a very nice undertaking and they had a map or at least an old invitation. She brought some things up for them to see as it had mapped and plotted their course back tot he ship with a look at the jungle. "THis has been fun, now we go and do another part of it that is exciting.... so worth it. We'll just likely need a small resupply in one of the silver stations along the way and should be ab,e to make good time."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

It wasn’t until Orihime explained the situation that she fully understood the magnitude of what they were embarking on. When it came to treasure hunts, finds were difficult to keep quiet. Things crept up for sale on the invisible market, or technological advances were linked to a specific find. So the fact that nobody had publicised finding the planet in all this time suggested that whatever was stored there was still waiting to be claimed.

“This sounds like it’s going to be the discovery of a lifetime,” Sorel said. “I mean ships and data are one thing – and Holocrons are historic and have knowledge – but a whole planet used as a library? I mean the volume of information stored must be mind-blowing, especially given their technologies.”

She beamed at Orihime. “And yes, a small resupply sounds good. And I wonder what climate we’ll encounter? Or might it be under some sort of biodome? That’s the problem with uncharted territory I guess, you don’t know what to expect.”

But if anyone knew what to expect, it would be Orihime.

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Perfect then, there was more tey might be able to do as they were arriving back at the ship now. Whatever had chased them likely only came out at night which would be a plus and something to warn the others about so if they wanted to find it they could at least know when. Orihime herself was moving now until she was near the ship and the ramp. A few things here placing a beacon for the other people whenever they got a chance to come down to the planet and explore. She knew they were going to want to get other teams out to explore different worlds. "Exactly, there is a chance for the two of us to have a real find on our hands and get to really explore." Who knew what they had maybe some ancient map to some secrets worlds that had been lost from other galactic charts full of knowledge but also riches. Jedi dind't need things but it was less what the stuff was then the adventure going on it. She was kind of of the mind the map and journey would win out over the prie which could just be a meal and something to drink.... but have a planet of dangers between her and it.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel kept a watchful eye on their descent and was pleased to sense nothing out of the ordinary coming out of the shadows to attack them. This was largely a ghost planet – although what chased them last night was anything but a spectre.

As they neared the ship, Sorel’s mind turned to the upcoming journey. “I appreciate this is a planet full of information, at least potentially. But what – apart from their galactic travel technology – were they known for? I was just contemplating what we might discover.”

And like Orihime, the value of such finds was not even on Sorel’s mind, just the prospect of exciting and advanced technology.

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

"A number of things, most of their technology in terms of travel is the most advanced in the galaxy. Their terraforming and production materials so that they could build on planets. They ability to store large amounts of information." She was looking at Sorel and bringing up for them as she secured the jeep some fo the areas of space. "We have been working on a few of the things now. I know my mothers seeder ships have been mapping out and setting up resource locations in systems that might not have life within them but has places." She was going over a nuber of the other things for the two fo them to see until she pulled up the best course and where one of the massive crucible stations were. "We can restock here, it is one of the crucible class for well anything you need to restock and supply. Self sustaining and using the biot droids."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel listened to Orihime once more. It was a pattern they repeated from planet to planet. Sorel the learner and Orihime the teacher. And Sorel had shared enough of her likes and wants for Orihime to know what sorts of things would interest her – and the ones that might bother her.

“Hmmm…terraforming.” Sorel saw both the good and the bad in this technology, as Orihime knew. Used for positive reasons, it could offer life. But invariably that came at the cost of upsetting the eco-system and Sorel was always wary of the ability to tamper in this way.

Increased production was a neutral technology and so an opinion one way or the other was pointless. But the ability to store a lot of information was intriguing. “I think I’d like a datapad with the capacity of a library. I mean, I know we’re not far off it now, but to hold the data remotely, on one device? That would be impressive.”

Sorel checked her pockets. The benefit of travelling light was the ability to check supplies in this way. “Actually, I think I’m good. It’s just whatever we need for the journey itself. At least I think so.”

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

She was looking at Sorel with a nod of her head that they were doing everything needed. Looking at the technology well. "Well they used their technology on Tython which it isn't to changed. Might explain why so many species have been there or have put claims upon it." She was looking over at many of the other things they might be able to do while adjusting and sending a message to the station itself. A chance for them to get the supplies needed as well as work with some of the droids or the AI that handled all of the small things for them. "Still the older civilizations of the galaxy all seemed to have some of the same technologies for adjusting worlds or even maintaining themselves as a galactic power. Most still have the best technologies int he galaxy and it is valued compared to what we have now. If there is a chance I am always going to want to try and recover it but something to be prepared for." She had a grin looking at some of the things though and the archives in a datapad they might be able to do soon enough given how good they were getting at organizing and gathering it all together.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

“Interestingly Tython is a planet I never visited. When I was a Padawan, it was a fortified Republic planet and off-limits to anyone under a Knight. Then the Sith took the planet and the opportunity hasn’t presented itself since it was liberated.”

“But I agree that, as a planet, it is a magnet for Force users of all denominations.” She busied herself, helping Orihime, “And to be fair, anything we can find would be a bonus. The historical value alone is immense.”

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Looking at her with a grin on her face while they were movign and having all of the things secured she was prepared to work on it. "Historical value is always a good value for things." There was a small nod of her head before they were moving and able to go off towards the bridge to set it up with the coordinates for them. Orihime was prepared for the real fun that would come from this in the form of breaking down countless walls and problems of the galaxy before she was moving around. "Hmm wonder what else we might be able to find out here in the outer regions of the galaxy. There is a lot of places some people might have forgotten about from long ago."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel rarely – if ever – placed a value on anything that was not practical. Her knowledge was based upon what she needed to know, never what was interesting or of any esoteric worth. She would investigate the library planet – as she’d come to reference it – for anything of personal interest and because she was performing a service for the Silver Jedi.

But Orihime’s comment sparked a new thought in Sorel’s mind. They were heading into what must be uncharted space. Who knew what other planets might be uncovered during their journey? Or what races and cultures they might encounter?

“I never considered myself an explorer type, but I can see the attraction.”

Sorel couldn’t wait to get started.

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

She looked at Sorel an motioned for her ship so her cockpit and her controls. "We are jedi, we are everything in many cases. It might not be the most liked thing but we have been trained for any number of things and exploring means a chance to also see if there are new aspects of the force." She prepared for it but a chance they could do before they moved around to get a seat and could head out. Orihime was ready for anythign bringing up her small bag of things including the crystals, the information for reading material and what had been downloaded. A chance to get ideas of the culture while they left the world so she could make a report.... oh that as well make a report to many of the jedi so others could come here and not be in the dark.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel checked the bag she’d brought with her and found what she was looking for. It was Master Shan’s Holcron. She cradled it between her two hands as she listened to Orihime, whilst taking a seat. For Sorel, as much as she enjoyed Orihime’s company, a long journey meant the chance to learn. She still took direction from Knights and Masters where possible, but having access to two Jedi Holocrons meant she was able to learn from those deemed accomplished in a given ability.

Currently she was developing her knowledge of Tutaminis. The gatekeeper had assured her that, with time, she would be able to destroy a blast door simply by using the Force to break it into pieces, or even dismantle hex droids with a mere gesture.

She had a long way to go, but every journey – however long – started with a single step. So once they were underway, Sorel would consult the Holocron and continue her learning – Orihime would be able to benefit from the training too if she wished.

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Ohh Orihime as they were traveling looked at Sorel and her eyes lit up seeing it. There was a holocron and that could only mean one very important thing. There was a chance to learn while she relaxed a little, not sleeping but she did lose a number of articles she had been carrying. She was standing there in te pants and a sarashi like her mother had out fo the robes before getting one fo the other shirts. Her hair like a curtain around her shoulders then she took off the boots and set them there with her robe for one of the cleaning droids. She was comfortable in the ship and could still train or do anything important. She just you know wanted to feel free from the confines of everything while she rubbed her feet they had been on for a couple days now exploring. Rolling them and popping as her eyes rolled back a little feeling good. "Oh that is the spot. Which holocron is that?"

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel smiled as her friend took great pleasure from the simplicity of merely being able to shed her Jedi boots. They were entirely practical but not in the least designed for comfort. Sorel considered kicking her own off, before Orihime’s question distracted her.

“Master Shan’s. I’ve been using it to learn Tutaminis mostly. And using a saber staff too, but mostly the whole concept of Force power. I can absorb energy already – a saber or a blaster bolt. I can’t use it yet, that I hope comes in time. And I’ve also learned to generate energy from the Force – not quite able to shatter a blast door, but I can blow a hole in a lot of things now.”

As she spoke, she activated the Holocron and the image of Master Shan appeared. “What would you like to learn today?” she asked.

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Hmm well that was one way to do it and well practicing tutaminis skills like that was something not always easy. She had practiced like that... knowing that if it was a training saber you might not think it was a risk so you wanted the danger possibly but that could cause real harm... Which wasn't exactly good. So she usually practiced with her sisters who could toss energy at her to work on absorbing it. "That sounds like something good and Grandmaster Shan is a good one to learn from." she was not certain though and rarely used her saber staff that her saber could become but she was always up for being able to learn more about it when she took a seat to watch and prepared herself. "Lets see what she can say."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel nodded at Orihime and together they looked at the gatekeeper.

“Tutaminis is a varied discipline – but at the heart is an ability to work with energy. Firstly to absorb it without damage – perhaps from a blaster bolt or even a lightsabre. But it needs focus. Typically a Jedi pools the Force in their hand and use this to enable them to absorb the energy.”

“Once this is mastered, a Jedi can learn to use the energy, to effectively fuel an ability or even to heal one’s self. And finally a Jedi can learn to generate energy through the Force, to become a human blaster in effect.”

“To start, you need to learn to draw on the Force and feel it move around your body. And then direct it to your hand. Feel it pool there.”

Sorel had done this exercise countless times before but did so once more at Master Shan’s bidding.

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Orihime stood there while she was looking over it and prepared herself witht he lesson and she was listening to it. Prepared to go through the lesson while she stood there with a look on her face, a large area they would be able to operate in without knocking into each other as she breathed in and then breathed out allowing the force to come around herself. The jedi knight stood there following the lesson as she opened herself to the force and the flow of it around her body. Letting her skin glow a little as it resonated throughout with her hands rubbing together to make small swirls of white light. "Alright." She was listening to the ancient grandmaster with a look in the force more towards Sorel.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel was keen to see how Orihime was doing, but understood that this was a sure-fire way to become distracted and therefore fail. She was confident in Orihime’s abilities and so focused on her own performance and followed the Jedi Master’s instruction.

“Good,” the gatekeeper said to them both. “When you first learn to utilise the ability, the Force will be like energy armour. It will absorb energy in many forms – from a blaster bolt to a saber. But it is not infinite in its protection because you will grow weaker from prolonged use. With time and practise you will be able to sustain the ability for longer.”

“Knight Crieff, please follow the lesson I first showed you.”

Sorel nodded and quickly located a blaster. Setting the power to its lowest level where it caused a shock and no more, she pointed it at Orihime’s hand.

“Ready?” she asked and she gently squeezed the trigger.

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Wa... what... orihime opened her eyes for a moment and thought about it but she was focuing the energies and allowing herself to be ready for this. She knew there wa sa danger but there was also the important aspect when working with the holocrons. They weren't going to try and hurt people and were pretty good at the whole knowing your limits thing usually better then the one learning the skills was. Orihime herself was thinking about it and she nodded to Sorel herself while she was prepared focusing the energies into her hand when the blue shimmer looked like waves and an area she would be able to block and absorb. She knew how to do this but couldn't move when she was really focusing. "Alright lets do it."