Private Golden Heart, Purple Mind

[Cailen Corso]

Location: Hurikane | Soundtrack: Campfire

His eyes cautiously moved up to spot the rock creatures his Master told him about. They stood stoically overhead, watching like stone edifices on the edge of the canyon. Cailen didn't say anything aloud, but he did let Valery know he saw them through the Force. Though he was sure, in afterthought, that they'd sense that just as easily as spoken work anyway. He kept his cool, reminding himself that they were visitors to Hurikaine, not entitled to it.

Cailen walked carefully, respectful of the terrain beneath his boots as he went further into the ravine. He could feel the presence of a crystal reaching out to him. It wasn't like on Ilum though, where his crystal felt almost eager to meet him. This one seemed like it wanted to challenge him. To test him worthiness, and determine for itself if it wanted to be wielded.

He was excited by the challenge.

"It's this way, Master. I don't think it's much farther," the boy said, taking the lead. The crystal was guiding him along, towards a large stone archway formed by years of weathering from Hurikane's winds. It seemed to dip down, winding into a cavernous mouth with a hard corner they could not see past until they neared the entrance.

Cailen looked to Val with a mix of determination and skepticism. Caves made him nervous, but it was a stress he could work through if it meant getting closer to the crystal. Maybe it was even part of the gem's challenge. A trial, of sorts.

---

Tags: Valery Noble ​

 

[Valery Noble]

Hurikane

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Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Cailen Corso

Valery kept an eye out on the people of Hurikane watching them, but she felt no ill intent from any of them. It was either curiosity that brought them here, or perhaps something she hadn't anticipated. Either way, she kept walking forward with her Padawan, following his senses until they reached what seemed like quite a big cave system. It's possible that the crystal he's meant to find here is somewhere within the caves, but it was hard to tell.

She hadn't acquired her own from any cave, and others who had traveled here in the past went through unusual trials to earn their crystals as well.

"We were told you'd come," a voice then called out to them, as another native appeared from within the entrance. Those who had been watching from above were scaling their way down, surrounding the two Jedi, but there was no increase in tension or danger in the Force. These people were not here to harm them.

"We could feel it in the rock," another added.

"You came to help our people," yet another spoke.

But help with what?

 

[Cailen Corso]

Location: Hurikane | Soundtrack: Campfire

"We were told you'd come," a voice then called out to them, as another native appeared from within the entrance.

Cailen’s eyes widened as the voice spoke out, followed by others, too. They were descending the into the trench, closing in on the pair of Jedi at the bottom.

“We could feel it in the rock.”

“You came to help our people.”

Something stirred in the Force, a sort of calmness that told Cailen there was nothing to be afraid of. He looked to the stony life form in the cavern entrance with curiosity. He’d thought all this time that he needed to find the crystal, to claim it as he did the first one. But now, it seemed the crystal was the one who needed him. And it wasn’t the only one…

Cailen’s eyes shifted from the creature to his Master, then back again.

“M-my name is Cailen Corso. I’m a Jedi Padawan.”

He swallowed, wondering if it might set the creatures off. What if they didn’t want a Jedi to come around and take their kyber crystals? It was a valid fear. But the stonemen remained motionless. Cailen continued, cautious but eager to learn more.

“What can I do to help your people?”

---

Tags: Valery Noble ​

 

[Valery Noble]

Hurikane

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Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Cailen Corso

Valery glanced at the natives as they appeared, but turned to Cailen to meet his gaze. She simply nodded and allowed him to lead the conversation with them for now. It'd be a good experience, but something also told her that it was meant to be him. His journey as a Jedi brought him here for a crystal, and this could only happen with the approval of the locals.

Locals who had now sought them out.

"We welcome you, Jedi Cailen Corso."

"We knew you'd help us."

Valery blinked but remained quiet and watched the interaction happen with a gentle smile. It was potentially a lot of pressure on her Padawan to help them, but this was what being a Jedi was all about.

"Outsiders came. Outsiders took," one of them spoke up. "Drills and tools and bombs to break the rock, and take what isn't theirs to take." It seemed angry now, not with the Jedi, but with whoever was on the planet as well.

"You will stop them."

 

[Cailen Corso]

Location: Hurikane | Soundtrack: Campfire

"Who?" Cailen asked, perhaps a bit too excitedly. He cut his eyes to Valery, then spoke again, this time a bit softer.

"Who has stolen from you?"

Hurikane was far from the typical factions of the galaxy who were known for thieving kyber. The Empire, the Maw... they were crushed, scattered. Cailen doubted they had any reason for harvesting crystals. Were they mercenaries? Pirates, looking for a quick tradeoff? The Padawan looked to each of the rock creatures ahead.

"I'll stop whoever they are, and get your belongings back."

---

Tags: Valery Noble ​

 

[Valery Noble]

Hurikane

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Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Cailen Corso

"We do not know."

"Outsiders."

"Thieves."

"They must be stopped, before it's too late."

Valery raised an eyebrow for a moment, but nodded at the natives before turning to Cailen. It seemed he had his trial to earn his crystal ahead of him now, but she wasn't going to let him do this alone. There were too many questions, and this was not an ordinary crystal trial either. The risk here wasn't losing out on a crystal — it could be getting injured or worse. So after taking a small breath, she turned to her Padawan and smiled softly.

"Let's go ahead and go through the cave, hm? I'm sure that we'll find them in there if they're looking for crystals. I'll even let you lead the way, as this is your trial, but we'll confront them together."

 

[Cailen Corso]

Location: Hurikane | Soundtrack: Campfire

Cailen nodded to his Master, then looked to the cavern. There wasn't much to say, and even if the words had come to him, he wasn't sure that speaking would do anything but distract him now. For the first time in forever, he could feel with the Force. Sense the world around him, feel the plight of the crystal people. He feared that if he broke his focus now, it may not come back so easily. With a nervous hand around the crystal on his neck, Cailen stepped forward, leading Valery on the trail he was following.

He was determined to find them, and tried his best not to get distracted by the beautiful formations that hid inside the tunnels. Amazing crystal pillars jutted out from dozens of angles, each of them hued in a beautiful purple color. Cailen thought of Valery and her own mission to Hurikane, and he understood how perfectly the crystals here fit her... chaotic, strong... for a brief moment, a surge of doubt jolted through him.

Was he really meant to find his crystal here?

Cailen shook the thought away when he heart a pair of angry voices ahead, their bickering bouncing off the cave walls. The Padawan looked to Valery before inching further, craning his neck to spot the source of the argument.

A pair of black-clad non-humans were filling a strange crate with shards of purple crystals. They were broken haphazardly, unlikely usable now for any kind of lightsaber construction due to the damage. Cailen wasn't sure what else kyber could be used for, but it couldn't be good.

"Master," the boy whispered, pointing ahead. "I think those are our thieves."

---

Tags: Valery Noble ​

 

[Valery Noble]

Hurikane

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Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Cailen Corso

Under his guidance, Valery walked into the caves and began to look around. Much of it was familiar to her, even though she had never been in these exact caves before. It was just... the feeling in the Force, and the way crystal and rock had been shaped here over the course of millennia. It brought a gentle smile to her lips again, as memories of her visits here returned. Those trials had been hard, and during a time when she struggled.

But she came out of them much stronger, as both a person and a Jedi.

Soon enough, however, her focus was pulled back to the present — they heard voices and silently agreed to take a closer look. Cailen was the first to look into their part of the caves, but Valery squinted down the darkness as well, and spotted the two figures with crystals. Had they retrieved natural ones or had they attacked the locals for their crystals?

If so, this was more than just theft. It'd be murder too.

"I think so, too but let's be careful. There might be more of them," she whispered back, and glanced around once more. "I'll give you a chance to strike, if you can disarm them?" She asked, and only with confirmation, Valery reached out with her hand and suddenly pulled on their legs to bring them both down to the ground.

A perfect opportunity for Cailen to follow up on.

 

[Cailen Corso]

Location: Hurikane | Soundtrack: Campfire

The thieves hit the ground hard, scattering the crystals across the floor. They tried to recover, but Cailen was quick to reach them before they drew their blasters. He ignited his lightsaber, whirling it around in a fluid hand motion to be sure they saw that he was armed - luckily, the glowing heat of his blade was enough to deter them from grabbing their guns.

Both of them resigned, hands up on surrender.

“Your blasters!” Cailen barked. “Slide them over. Now!”

It felt good to be the one in control, to have power over the bullies. They deserved repercussions, but Cailen reminded himself of the last time he let such powerful emotions overcome his thoughts. He took a deep breath in through his nose, eyeing the pair of thieves as they tossed their pistols to his feet. In a single, almost lazy swipe, he bisected the weapons with the tip of his blade.

Then, he looked to them with a tinge of frustration in his eyes.

“What are you doing with these? Why are you stealing from these people?” Cailen questioned.

“Why are you doing this?”

---

Tags: Valery Noble ​

 

[Valery Noble]

Hurikane

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Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Cailen Corso

Caught by surprise, the two thieves were in too much of a panic to even respond at first. They watched the young Padawan cut through their weapons like butter and swallowed hard. Of course, they knew that Jedi occasionally visited these caves, but it wasn't as common anymore.

Ilum was the go-to planet for Jedi.

"Well done, Cailen." Valery briefly placed a hand on his shoulder when she caught up. Just to help him steady himself now that they stood face-to-face with these horrible people. Her fiery gaze then slid to the two men, and they suddenly seemed even more frightened. A Padawan was already too powerful for them, but now there were two Jedi.

"Answer him," she demanded.

One of them swallowed hard and finally spoke up, "What d-do you think? Credits, of course." He knew it wasn't an answer the Jedi would like to hear, but he knew better than trying to lie. "These go for a lot on the black market."

 

[Cailen Corso]

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Tags: Valery Noble
Location: Crystal caves, HURIKANE

Cailen's eyes twitched with disbelief. He was disgusted with the pair of looters, even though he already knew their answer before they gave it. "These crystals do not belong to you," he reiterated to them. His lightsaber glowed richly against the crystalline structures that jutted from the dense rock. The thieves kept fearful eyes on the blade, afraid of how easily the plasma could slice through their gear and bite their flesh. Cailen wouldn't hurt them, though, despite what they might be thinking. The Padawan was better trained than that, and even if he wanted to kill them, he wouldn't out of respect for the crystal creatures who sent him here.

"You need to take your things and leave. Bring everyone else who's down here with you and go." Any thoughts they might have had about resisting the boy's orders were beaten down by the fiery glare from his Master, who wouldn't be half as patient with them as her Padawan was right now. The pair looked between one another, then moved -slowly- to retrieve their belongings. "This is your only warning," Cailen said as the slinked away toward the surface. "Next, time, you won't be leaving this place." When he was sure they were gone, or at least out of earshot, Cailen deactivated his lightsaber and looked to Valery with a small smile tugging on his lips. "It felt good to stop them," he said. "But I don't think their friends will go as easily, if there's any more down here."

Of that, he was certain. The two they encountered likely would have put up more of a fight if they had a whole pack of looters at the ready. The act of slicing their blasters alone would have incited a full-on shootout. Cailen hoped the rest were scurrying away or at least laying low. Something told him that fighting in the crystal caves would only serve to upset or even anger the crystalline watchers, even if it was to defend them. Cailen looked around the chamber, then brought his eyes back to Valery. "I sense that there's more to this place," he said. "Should we go further?"

 

[Valery Noble]

Hurikane

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Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Cailen Corso

Her demand for them to speak was enough. The two of them turned to Cailen, and she let him handle the rest. Jedi were kind and keepers of the peace most of the time, but sometimes they needed to assert themselves to get things done. She watched with a proud smile as he got them to move and leave without any protesting or attempts to cause trouble. He had done well, and she wanted him to know that.

"Well done," Valery said with a smile of her own. "If there are more of them, we'll deal with them." She placed an encouraging hand on his shoulder and turned away. It was hard to tell if more people had gone down into the caves. The combined presence of all the crystals made an ordinary person no longer stand out.

But a few thieves being in here didn't worry her in the slightest.

Looking around for a moment, Valery studied the crystals with her senses and dipped her head, "Let's keep going further, but you'll be our guide. Try to listen to the crystals and hear their call."

"There's always one that speaks to you just a little louder."

 

[Cailen Corso]

​

Tags: Valery Noble
Location: Crystal caves, HURIKANE

“Right,” Cailen said. He was familiar with the process after having done his Gathering ceremony before on Ilum, with none other than Master Noble herself there with him to facilitate it. She wasn’t even his Master then, but Valery still guided him as if he were her own student.

This time, things were different. She was his Master and friend, and this crystal… its song was totally unlike the one his first crystal sang. He thumbed his lightsaber over in his hand, remembering well the way it called to him. It was like an old friend, familiar and warm despite the chill of Ilum’s ice caves. This one, though -the Hurikane crystal- felt eager and wild. As if it wanted to be free. Cailen sensed it clear as day over the cacophony of hums and whispers.

“This way,” he said, picking the direction that felt right. It would lead them deeper into the caves, far past the reaches of daylight where only the glow of the crystalline outcrops shined. “Did you find your crystals in a place like this, too?” Cailen asked as they walked. He spoke in hushed tones, but the excitement and curiosity was palpable. “Were there pirates?” he added, wiggling his eyebrows. His smile was infectious despite the relative seriousness of their task.

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber

"I found mine in a stretch of caves just like this," Valery said, a smile forming on her lips when he joked about the pirates. But the question did bring her mind back to that day, when she entered the caves on Hurikane. "But the circumstances were a bit... different," she went on to explain, her smile now suddenly fading a little.

Her journey here hadn't been exciting.

"My first crystal came from Ilum, just like yours. But I lost it when my own arrogance of the time got me in serious trouble on New Cov. It's when my face was scarred for life but the worst wounds weren't physical at all. That night had shattered my confidence and for a very long time, I continued to doubt if I could ever be a good Jedi." She looked at the walls, studying the crystals that illuminated their path forward.

"What I found in these caves represented that feeling. My crystal, once blue to capture bravery or my path as a Jedi Gurdian, was now purple, representing the turmoil within me."

She looked at Cailen and offered a gentle smile again, "I faced myself when I came here the first time."

Cailen Corso ​

 

[Cailen Corso]

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Tags: Valery Noble
Location: Crystal caves, HURIKANE

Cailen found his own smile fading along with hers as she spoke. He had only ever seen Master Noble as a hero, the perfect example of what it meant to be a Jedi. Infallible, almost, though he knew nobody was ever truly perfect. Some might allow their hero's self-doubt to crumble their image of them, but Cailen actually felt more connected to her hearing those words. "I still doubt myself sometimes too," the Padawan admitted. He had spent a great deal of time trying to 'fix' himself by restoring his connection to the Force. So many long nights of studying, so many perilous missions, all to test himself and give the Force no choice but to flow through him like it once did.

It took a long time for Cailen to realize that the Force cannot be commanded. It must show itself and allow you to use it. When he understood that, things became so much clearer. That's what led him to Tython, to find the crystal belonging to Tarus Undara that now hung from his neck. Valery helped him make it, and he wore it always, even to sleep. Now, the Force had brought him here to Hurikane where another crystal was calling to him. "I wonder what color mine will be," Cailen said. His first one was a special hue, an icy cyan color that was rarer than the blue crystals his Master had referred to.

Perhaps it would be green; Cailen fancied himself a Jedi Consular when the day would come for him to choose a specialty. He was good as any other Padawan with the lightsaber, but the inner workings of the Force itself were more interesting to him than learning new saber techniques... no offense, of course, to the Battlemaster who called him her apprentice. But did he want to study the Force to master it, or did he simply wish to restore what he had lost? There is a great difference between the two, and at present, he couldn't deduce his own motivations. Perhaps it would be best just to allow the crystal to decide for him.

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber

Valery looked down into his eyes and smiled, "It's very normal to have doubts or fears. What's important is how you choose to manage them." Some avoided confrontation with anything outside their comfort zone. Others were perhaps too reckless in the way they engaged them. As with most things, finding the right balance was crucial to being a good Jedi.

For his age, Cailen was already very good at it.

"Your color?" Valery looked at him and chuckled. "It's always hard to predict. Some crystals have only one color — some on Hurikane are always purple. But most crystals will form their color based on the nature of their owner." It's why the colors varied greatly, even within specializations or among Jedi with similar interests and skills.

Everybody was different.

"Are we getting close?" Valery asked after a moment. "Or do we need to keep going further? The fun thing about joining someone else is that you just never know."

Cailen Corso ​

 

[Cailen Corso]

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Tags: Valery Noble
Location: Crystal caves, HURIKANE

Managing those fears was more difficult than admitting he had them, but Cailen felt like he was pretty good at it, all things considered. He had always been told he was mature for his age, something he took pride in. Cailen looked up at Val when she laughed. A smile formed on his face, then turned into a giggle. "Purple, just like yours." It seemed quite fitting, in retrospect. So much of who Cailen had grown to be was defined by who Valery was; that his second lightsaber matched hers was just another mirror between Master and Padawan.

"It feels like we're close," he answered. "There's still a lot of background noise, and I sense... trouble. It's the rock creatures, I think. I wonder if the pirates are causing more trouble ahead." Cailen kept his lightsaber handy, just in case. They rounded the next bend and entered a new portion of the caverns. "It's getting stronger," he told his Master. He placed his hand against a large crystal that jutted from the cave wall and closed his eyes, focusing on the energies all around him. "I can hear it."