Crystals in the Rough

[Tyberius Fel]

Jedi Padawan Vorian Adasca watched as the great blue orb of ice and snow rapidly grew larger and larger as the shuttle hurtled through the atmosphere. Ilum. The great Jedi Kyber Crystal planet of yore. For millennium, through times of both great peace and strife, throughout the Cold War and the Hyperspace War, generation after generation of aspiring Apprentices and their Jedi Masters trod upon the frozen surface of the planet into the famed (and creatively named) Crystal Cave to search for worthy power sources for the signature weapon of the ancient order: The lightsaber. Truthfully, Vorian could hardly contain himself in his seat, constantly pestering his master, Jedi Knight Dune Rhur, with question after question about the planet of Ilum and it's history. Anyone but Vorian would have found it a difficult challenge to think of so many inquiries about a planet that practically had absolutely no other significant features besides the famed deposits of lightsaber crystals.

Fortunately Dune Rhur was just as much of a scholar as his apprentice, figured Vorian, for otherwise he would have been surely driven mad.

With a dull hiss, the ramp extended with a dull thunk into the packed, blizzard whipped snows of the planet. Emerging in several layers of isolation over his Jedi Robings, Vorian seemed unfazed, perhaps even comfortable. With the intense cold. His home planet of Arkania was quite a similar tundra. A bleak beauty with it's majestic wildlife, thoroughly designed cities, visually stunning nights, poverty stricken ghettos crammed full of oppressed minorities and galactic labor law violating diamond mines..

The Arkanian Jedi shook his head, forcing the more.. unfortunate parts of his homeland out of his mind.

Glancing over his shoulder back to the ramp, he spoke through the bone chilling blizzard: "To the Crystal Cave then, Master?"


[member="Dune Rhur"]

 

[Dune Rhur]

This would mark the Bith's third journey in his life to the ice-world of Illum. It would be his Padawan's first and the young Vorian was practically bouncing in his seat with anticipation. Not that Dune could blame him and he patiently answered the barrage of questions. However, even a Jedi's patience could be tested by a sixteen year old apprentice with enough energy to power a Corellian freighter.

Coming in for a landing was something of a relief as Vorian broke off his questions so Dune could focus on landing. Once safely touched down, they gathered their things and headed down the ramp into the teeth of another blizzard on a world racked by them. "Yes, we will head there very shortly," he replied as he punched a button on the shuttle's exterior to draw the ramp in. Indeed, despite training to withstand extreme cold such as this, it would be prudent to head inside the shelter of the Crystal Caves.

With apprentice beside him, Dune drew up his hood against the chill wind and headed off towards the nearby entrance.....



[member="Vorian Adasca"]

 

[Tyberius Fel]

"Excellent!" Beamed Vorian, a smile spread across his face even as the relentless snow bore down upon the both of them. He shot a glance to the gray skies, whirled on a heel and dutifully followed his Bith Master into the dark unknown of the crystal cave. Shivering at the drastic change in temperature, the Arkanian's pair of white orbs that were his eyes adjusted to the darkness of the icy enclave. Scanning about, his deft senses gradually picked up upon a dazzling array of blue and green. It appeared a few smaller crystals, nothing large or fine enough to be used in a lightsaber, decorated the mouth of the cave. Taking a moment to observe the sight, the young Jedi Padawan yet again followed behind his Master as they twisted through the stony surfaces.

"Have you been here before, master?" Inquired Vorian, apparently having forgotten Dune's request to refer to him in a informal manner.

Of course, Vorian knew that a experienced Jedi Knight with several previous Apprentices had almost certainly been to the practically holy planet of Ilum before, the question was that that begged to be asked regardless.

[member="Dune Rhur"]

 

[Dune Rhur]

"This is my third time journeying here," the scholar replied as he drew down his hood.

Safely shielded from the biting winds, he took in the main entrance, it's graceful arches in marble still as pristine in it's whiteness as he recalled. Their breath misted, even shielded from the worst of the elements. Illum had always been a planet in the depths of a winter never ending. But he didn't focus on that, instead drinking in the calming energies of the Light all around them.

"The Crystal Caverns are within a very old Jedi Temple," he explained as his eyes continued taking things in. "All around us, the energies of the Light permeate. This truly is a special place, my apprentice. Remember it well."

[member="Vorian Adasca"]

 

[Tyberius Fel]

"I would find it difficult to forget it, Dune." Replied the Arkanian to his master, finally having become relaxed enough with the Bith's presence to use a more informal tone of address.

His pearly eyes flickered from gleaming crystal, to gleaming crystal, head pivoting to fully absorb the.. magic of this place. Vorian took a single step forward, Jedi boots clacking sharply off worn rock. It sent a shiver down his spine to know that centuries and centuries ago, young Padawans just like himself walked the same path, held the same blossoming desire to follow in their own forefather's footsteps to craft the piece of art that was a lightsaber. Perhaps Sith synthetic crystals were more efficient, easier to produce, focused into a slightly more powerful beam. But unlike a walk in the crystal caves, it failed to truly teach their adherents the value, the gravity of what the glittering mineral represented. The Sith cheapened crystals, turned them into a mere assembly line commodity to be divvied out to their Acolytes until they were viewed as nothing more than a mere tool of instant gratification to be used and then discarded when no longer needed or something prettier tempted their eyes and piqued their appetites.

Vorian thought it was a fitting analogy for the entirety of Sith philosophy. Instant gratification.

"I think I 'ought to get a green one. The traditional color of consulars, no?"

[member="Dune Rhur"]

 

[Dune Rhur]

"Traditional, yes," he replied "But the crystal will call to you at any rate."

His own focusing crystal had turned out to be blue, years ago, for what it was worth.

With Vorian's attention drawn to the crystals, the Bith had to draw his attention back to reality.

"We'll go in further in a moment. First, know that the caverns can hold dangers. There are wampas, gorgodons and other predatory creatures. Then there are dangers of a metaphysical kind. Each journeyer's experience is different and it is your Trial alone."

[member="Vorian Adasca"]

 

[Tyberius Fel]

"Wonderful."

As he was habit to do, Vorian had studied the crystal caves of Ilum extensively before venturing there with his master, Dune Rhur. Nonetheless, it did not dampen the true impact of comprehending how he was truly, physically here in the darkness of the caves, with predators potentially lurking in every little nook. Of course, Vorian knew that the crystal caves were not truly perilous, as otherwise they wouldn't be such a popular destination for mere Padawans, but the Arkanian did not want to go down in history as one of the few who managed to attract the attention of a wampa and become mauled to death.

"I am ready, Master. I think.. I can already feel something. Deeper in the cave."

[member="Dune Rhur"]

 

[Dune Rhur]

Nodding, Dune swept his hand towards the open mouth before them. "There lies your path, Padawan. I can accompany you no futher now. Find your crystal and return."

With a smile and a nod, he stepped back from the entrance and folded his hands within his robes.

[member="Vorian Adasca"]

 

[Tyberius Fel]

So the training wheels come off. Metaphorically.

"I will do you and the order proud, Dune." With a quick bow of his upper body, the Arkanian smoothly pivoted his heels across the creviced stone that composed the cave and ventured deeper into the darkness of it's cavernous depths. More than once, did Vorian nearly slip off a puddle of half evaporated snow and went tumbling off a ledge. Steadying himself upon a outcropping of rock, Vorian gritted his teeth. Remember your training. Many others, lesser than you, have done this before and you will succeed aswell. There was a hint of arrogance in Vorian's self reassurance, but the vision of the indignity of failing the one task that was considered to be relatively trivial (in regards to actual difficulty) made him grit his teeth in indignation. Blasted darkness..

The Arkanian pulled himself fully onto his feet, eyes squinted in the encompassing, oily blackness that consumed him like the maw of a great beast. Vorian pulled himself forth, channeling the illumination of the light side of the force to empower his senses and give him sight in the darkness. Once the force flowed throughout him, Vorian felt his senses sharpen like a blade upon a fine whetstone. The Padawan, moved timidly at first, before gaining momentum and then finally charging through the cave, possessed with a person. He could feel the crystal calling to him through the force! Beckoning to be made the center piece of a fine lightsaber forged of coral and hard work. Slamming through the darkness, Vorian suddenly found himself in a sort of cavernous atrium, dim light seeping through from a hole in the rock ceiling.

There, as if the sword of ancient kings lodged in stone like the old Arkanian legends, was a emerald green crystal, seemingly calling his name with ever glitter and gleam off it's perfect faceted surface. Vorian's usually stoic composure was broken with a wild grin as he reached out with the force, carefully -- yet excitedly working to ease the crystal out of it's position in the stone. Just as the crystal freed itself from it's prison, a set of heavy footsteps -- too heavy to be his master -- sounded behind Vorian.

Then, a roar.

[member="Dune Rhur"]

 

[Tyberius Fel]

A bone chilling shiver traveled up Vorian's spine. Lump in throat, the Arkanian slowly pivoted on his heels, eyes widening to saucers at the sight of the hulking mass of snarling protein nucleotides. Two predatory eyes, slits narrowed, stared to him as it's body crouched close to the ground, synapses primed to fire in a lethal pounce. It's sulfur-yellow gaze burned with something more than just mere carnivorous rage, something stronger... Out of the corner of his peripheral vision, he caught a nest of pearly round objects, spotted. Vorian's countenance flickered with absolute terror as the realization washed over his body.

Maternal instinct.

Eye to eye with the Asharl Panther, Vorian managed to resist the screaming urge to flee that rippled through every fiber of his being and instead, focused upon the force. Extending out a gentle touch to the mind of the creature, Vorian attempted to soothe it. To small avail. To protect it's young, it's legacy was the all-encompassing priority of every reproducing lifeform in the universe and little could overpower it. With little other choice, the Arkanian Padawan murmured a small curse under his breath, disoriented the beast and immediately took to his heels through a side corridor, lightsaber crystal in telekinetic tow. The force surged throughout his leg, hyper activating the muscle fibers within his quadriceps. To his alarm, he perceived the rapid chatter of two sets of legs rapidly closing the gap behind him. The panther had quickly recovered.

Heart pounding with such a intensity as to threaten to break through his ribcage, Vorian mustered every last vestige of his wits, cunning and on-heel dexterity to dip, dive and weave throughout outcrops, snow ladden ditches and winding stony corridors to avoid the inexorable advance of the beast. Yet, it continued, unrelenting, merciless and oddly almost innocent in it's conviction to protect it's spawn. Survival instinct rushing throughout his veins in the form of potent adrenaline, Vorian whirled around, momentum carrying him off his feet and soaring through the air as he caught a glimpse of the beast tossing itself into the air, claws bared and olfactory tendrils quivering with raw aggression. Channeling the force in it's most primal form, Vorian collapsed a dense layer of rock and snow upon the beast, trapping it underneath it's hold.

Breathing heavily, Vorian felt utterly exhausted, both mentally and physically. Staggering onto his feet, the Arkanian peered upon the trapped beast, now mewling and scratching it's claws feebly against the rubble that now entrapped it. It's time was numbered. How would it's children survive without it's mother?

Suddenly, Vorian felt a sickness boil in the pit of his gut.

It's just an animal.

Are we not all just animals?

Murderer.

Shaking his head to dismiss the infectiously ruinous thoughts, it suddenly occurred to Vorian that he had no idea where he was. Without rations, he would surely starve if not be crippled by extended exposure to the cold. Forehead beaded with cold sweat that quickly froze into miniature icicles. The Arkanian Padawan peered to the beast, it's eyes now lidded with only it's upper chest moving to indicate any sign of life. Like a dark fruit, a idea grew ripe within his mind. Vorian didn't know whether it was Ashla or Bogan, but the force guided his legs to the creature and with a trembling hesitation, he lowered his hand down to the forehead of the dying feline...

[member="Dune Rhur"]

 

[Tyberius Fel]

The pitiful creature's howls and choked cries echoed throughout the cavernous corridors of the crystal cave as the Arkanian, utilizing a dark side of himself that he wasn't quite aware existed, filed and tore through it's memories. Non-sentient memories were odd, primal, raw, more grounded in smell and sensation than sight. For a moment, he perceived himself as the creature, rutting, running and ripping through prey. Vorian had to remind himself of who he was, lest he become enraptured within the beast's mind.

With a low whimper, the creature breathed it's last. But Vorian held within his mind, it's detailed memories of stalking these dark enclaves and thus now knew the crystal caves like the back of his hand.

Though Vorian felt unclean. A deep seated, moral filth that no shower could possibly hope to cleanse. Murmuring the Jedi code shakily under his breath, Vorian gathered his breath and limped his way out of the crystal caves, emerald crystal in hand.



"M-..a.... Dune." Stammered Vorian wearily bowed to his master, platinum hair scattered about his shoulders as a result of his padawan braid being accidentally severed in the chase.

"I have my crystal."

[member="Dune Rhur"]

 

[Dune Rhur]

Dune had sat, legs crossed and performed breathing exercises while he awaited his learner's return. It was some time later that his meditations were broken by the distant echoes of a confrontation within the caverns. He quickly rose to his feet and the young Arkanian came stumbling into view. Steadying him with a hand on his shoulder, the Bith nodded slowly.

"Yes, Vorian, I see that. Well done, my apprentice."

He helped the weary Padawan sit down.

"Rest for a little while, then we will begin to construct your lightsaber," he said as he drew the components from within his robes.

[member="Vorian Adasca"]

 

[Tyberius Fel]

With a exhausted sigh escaping between two frozen pink lips, Vorian nearly collapsed, muscles aching in spasming pain.

Construct your lightsaber.

The Arkanian reached down into a pouch at his hip, withdrawing the coral hilt that Matsu Ike had gracefully gifted him in exchange for his contributions to their little venture to the watery world of Manaan. Something (Like most Jedi, Vorian simply attributed it to the force) had possessed Vorian to bring the fine work of artisan craftmanship with him, which the Padawan thanked for he did not wish to journey all the way back home to retrieve the hilt. With his free hand, he hefted the sparkling emerald crystal.

"I am ready, master." He said with a feeble, hollow smile.

[member="Dune Rhur"]

 

[Dune Rhur]

Handing Vorian the final few components he needed for the internal mechanisms, he nodded and sat in front of his apprentice. "Draw strength from within, Vorian. We must complete the ritual."

While he knew it sounded harsh, it was a Trial that all apprentices needed to complete. Sometimes a Jedi would be exhausted, demoralized and ready to give up. However, they couldn't and had to draw from within themselves the resolve to go on. Directing Vorian to place the components between them in order, he spoke again in a calm voice.

The crystal is the heart of the blade.
The heart is the crystal of the Jedi.
The Jedi is the crystal of the Force.
The Force is the blade of the heart.
All are intertwined: The crystal,The blade,The Jedi.
You are one.

Dune invoked the ancient mantra as a focus for his weary apprentice.

[member="Vorian Adasca"]

 

[Tyberius Fel]

A shaky breath rattled the body of Vorian. He felt cold suddenly, though the calming voice of Dune reciting the old mantra that the Arkanian Jedi Padawan knew all too well helped ground his feet back in reality. Seating himself in a meditative cross legged position, Vorian pushed the thoughts of the panther mother out of his mind and tapped into the force. Delicately, he wrapped the force's invisible tendrils around the various components of the lightsaber. Of course, he knew assembling the signature weapon was a incredibly volatile process, and even the slightest misplacement of the components could resist in a weapon that failed to work, or worse, failed to limit excess energy correctly and detonated in one's hand.

Emitter matrix, activation stud, crystal and all the other components telekinetically levitating, Vorian furrowed his eyebrows and began the hours long process...

[member="Dune Rhur"]

 

[Dune Rhur]

It took many minutes, long and grueling, but Vorian didn't falter. Dune watched with an aura of calm certainty, knowing his Padawan had memorized the details of a lightsaber. He'd spent many hours pouring over the schematics, had the youth, until the point he could draw the diagram blindfolded. Still, the work was exacting and required the precision and focus of a sculptor.

Slowly but surely, it came together and the Bith's lips curved into a smile as the final components clicked together, hovering above the Arkanian's outstretched palms....

[member="Vorian Adasca"]

 

[Tyberius Fel]

Vorian wiped a lump off half frozen cold sweat from his forehead. There, infront of him, emitter shroud and all, levitated his coral hilt lightsaber. With a single flick of his wrist, Vorian called the lightsaber to his palm. Unless the various mass produced training and combat lightsaber he used, the lumpy coral material felt entirely at home -- natural even, within his pale palms. Through his deep exhaustion, both moral and physical, a grin cracked across the teeth-chatteringly cold visage of the Arkanian.

"This is my weapon.." He murmured outloud, in awe of himself.

With a single flamboyant flourish, he ignited the lightsaber with the distinctive snap-hiss, the emerald beam extending from the emitter shroud like as if some plasmic stalk from it's metallic bed of soil. Face now framed with a shimmering green light, he flickered his gaze upon the Bith Jedi. "Thank you, Dune." He disignited the weapon and bowed his upper body.

[member="Dune Rhur"]

 

[Dune Rhur]

Dune bowed his head, still smiling.

"It was you, apprentice, who did this. It is a good day."

Some time later, they made their way back to the shuttle, thankfully the blizzard had died down by now. They'd spent some time a light meditative trance and that had helped Vorian somewhat. However, the Bith knew his apprentice needed proper sleep. He could do that now, aboard the shuttle back towards Jedi space. It had been a good day.

[member="Vorian Adasca"]