Kathracite, Pontite and Mephite

[Thel Antares]

Thel was still in the early stages of his Jedi training and had yet to learn any force abilities such as Force Healer. He wandered over to the droid, clearly interested in what was being offered. The expedition to Ilum was intended to act as training for the padawan, and so he jumped at the chance to learn a new force power from this acquaintance. "I hope to be a Jedi consular in the near future, so healing has always peaked my interest."

He watched closely as the droid would heal Equinox, taking in all the knowledge available, before speaking once again. "I was meaning to ask back there - how does a droid use The Force? I've not seen such a scenario before." Thel had heard of Shards being able to manipulate the Force from within the body of a droid, but he still had little knowledge in this area and would of rather received a clear and reliable answer from the droid himself.


[member="Ultimatum"] [member="Dano Dil"] [member="Equinox"]

 

[Ultimatum]

Ultimatum would have grinned at the statement, the droid was a more intellectual type and preferred the concept of a Jedi Consular rather than the warriors and knights. "Admirable goal. We hope the Force gets you there." With that, the robot lowered the injured body to the ground and began examing him.

"One of the first steps should be to identify the type of injury sustained. If one was to begin blindly healing, it might cause more harm than help. If you cannot tell what sort of injury it is, say it is internal or a form of disease unknown to you, then the best possible bet is to simply coax the body to begin healing overall. It is not as efficient and therefore should be used as a last attempt." Ultimatum explained, hoping that it wasn't too complicated. It should have been fairly simple; he had avoided medical terms and concepts, which the droid guessed [member="Thel Antares"] would be learning in the near future. Ultimatum believed that to be a competent healer required experience in the field and in knowledge, which meant studying medicine and biology.

Upari began his ministrations, using the Force to rejuvenate the man, who had little in the way of injuries and was really just exhausted to an extreme. This was hardly life-threatening, the only concern was to ensure that he didn't go into shock, on this cold planet that would be a death sentence. It was a matter, therefore, of stabilizing his body and then keeping it warm. Upari could handle both of those tasks, the first was healing and the second was a rudimentary form of pyromancy, instead of creating flame it was merely causing the atoms around the man to begin to vibrate with energy. In that way, it would be possible to create a layer of warmth around him.

As the Shard continued his work, Ultimatum addressed the padawan's next question. "I do not use the Force; it is Upari, a Shard that is embedded in my body, who has control of the Force. We are mentally connected via mechanisms designed in the suit, allowing our thoughts to flow as readily between us as if we were one mind. It is a symbiosis where I grant mobility and knowledge, and he grants the Force abilities." That was one of the primary reasons that he tended to think and occasionally speak in plural about himself. They were almost at the point of being one person, their thoughts became more alike every day. Perhaps in the future they would become one being and become stronger for it.

[member="Dano Dil"] [member="Equinox"]

 

[Equinox]

Equinox started to wake. He was extremely cold and flustered at the same time. He needed warmth, and he could start to hear the conversations that the two were having about force healing. He'd learnt it all in the past, and it brought back good memories. The sort that he would cherish forever because he had very few of them. As the atoms around him started to warm up he lifted his head and said "Thank you so much guys, you'd make great companions." Then he flopped his head back down and laughed. "Haven't used the Force Repulse in a long time, glad you guys could see my show."

[member="Ultimatum"] [member="Thel Antares"] [member="Dano Dil"]

 

[Thel Antares]

The droid explained the Force technique in a way such as a Jedi master would to a novice student. What was being said was easy to understand and Thel felt he could try to replicate this is the near future. It was not a far fetched idea that this droid would become a very powerful wielder of the Force and perhaps a educator in the area at a later date. The Jedi considered himself lucky that his path had crossed with such interesting characters during this expedition and he understood now why his master had wanted him to make the journey on his own. This was a learning experience, both in the Force and socially.

"I thank you for sharing this knowledge with me. You will make a great master one day I am sure." Thel spoke with a smile across his face, bowing slightly as he did so to show his gratitude. He was eager to try practising this new Force ability and new that his master would be impressed with his furthered understanding. Learning of the symbiotic relationship between the droid and his Shard, Upari, peaked the curiosity of the young man. Having two minds within in one body must be confusing, however he had noticed how the droid often changed his own pronouns, it seemed the two minds had been coming together.

Before Thel could speak again, Equinox began to wake. "You seem okay now, thanks to our friend here. Just be careful with the dark side of the Force, it destroys the body as it does the mind." Thel was saddened by the uncontrolled use of the dark side, if this man was not careful he would be consumed by it one day, "You must learn to control it."

Now that the group was whole again, Thel turned his attention back to the large cavern they had entered. Even in the absence of light, the crystals were still seen to shine and sparkle. This looked to be the place. "We might need that flashlight now," Thel told the pilot, "I don't think he should be using the Force to any degree for a while."



[member="Dano Dil"] [member="Ultimatum"] [member="Equinox"]

 

[Equinox]

Equinox laughed and said "Haha, I can control the force to a degree, but anyone that uses Force Repulse ends up like this, sometimes even worse, even the most powerful force users ever have used that and ended up like this, i'm lucky to have survived if I am honest."

Equinox stood up and decided to see if the Padawan was right, so he tried to reinstate his orbs in the atmosphere, while they did appear, they didn't light up anything, so he just gave up and got rid of them. "You'd both be good teachers I am correct."

[member="Thel Antares"]@Ultimatum@Dano Dil

 

[Dano Dil]

"That was amazing." Dil remarked as Equinox stood up. He had never seen someone come back from near death like that without at least a few days in a Bacta tank. The force amazed him.

Seeing that the force orbs where no longer producing light, he flicked his flashlight back on to help them continue, but sparkle of the crystals in the ice deemed it almost unnecessary.

He turned to Thel. "So what kind of crystal do you need exactly?"

[member="Equinox"] | [member="Thel Antares"] | [member="Ultimatum"]

 

[Equinox]

"Thanks!" Equinox replied, he particularly wanted to become acquaintances with [member="Dano Dil"] so he went over and stuck out a fist. He waited to see if Dano would bump it, or refuse his acquaintance.

 

[Dano Dil]

He bumped it. Dil didn't have many friends in the galaxy, but he thought this large man in black would be a good start.

[member="Equinox"]

 

[Equinox]

"You see? I'm nothing to be scared of, unless I do that whole lightsaber and stampy foot thing again." Equinox laughed but he was happy. It was the start of a good change for him. A good change.

[member="Dano Dil"][member="Thel Antares"][member="Ultimatum"]

 

[Dano Dil]

"I suppose know we're here for what we came for" He said pointing into the cave.

[member="Equinox"] | [member="Thel Antares"] | [member="Ultimatum"] |

 

[Ultimatum]

Ultimatum took the compliment in turn, nodding as way of thanks. He had not contemplated the concept of becoming a teacher. It had potential, but that would be quite some time in the future and Ultimatum could not tell what might have changed in that time. Perhaps Ultimatum would have adjusted to a different way of thought, only time would tell. For now, though, Ultimatum was glad that the organic had pulled through his ordeal. The droid would have agreed with Thel's assessment, that the dark side of the Force was not something to be taken lightly. Its influence was far the stronger compared to the light and had a more significant potential for harm to the user. Yet it was a tool to be used if the need arose.

Ultimatum then turned his attention to the caverns around them. The Force filled this place, as was to be expected. In the faint light of the crystals, Ultimatum took a moment to absorb the surroundings. These places were calm, without the threats from greater creatures, and then had a calming influence to the droid and Shard. It reminded him of the time they had spent in space. The beauty of the stars and nothing more, the lack of sensation was an experience in and of itself. He would not expect organics to understand, for only a few species could live in the vacuum of space. The robot knelt down in the cavern and allowed Upari to drink in the Force from the surroundings.

[member="Dano Dil"] [member="Equinox"] [member="Thel Antares"]

 

[Thel Antares]

"I don't know what kind of crystal I need. When I find the correct one, I will know." Thel didn't mean to answer the pilot in riddles but this is how his master explained it to him. Kyber crystals were attuned to the light side of the Force and it was not uncommon for a Jedi to find the crystal aligned to him. It was an interesting concept and Thel wondered if there was any truth behind it, or if it was another story fabricated by generations of exaggerations and inconsistencies.

Thinking of this concept brought Thel's mind back to the feeling he encountered earlier. With his attention brought back to it, he would feel the unintelligible voice at the back of his head, trying to direct him somewhere. This was a weird feeling to Thel. Was this his crystals speaking out to him? It had lead him, along with the rest of the group, to this cavern which he would not be able to do alone. Focusing intently to this feeling, Thel began walking deeper into the cavern. Every step he took caused the feeling to become stronger.


[member="Ultimatum"] [member="Dano Dil"] [member="Equinox"]

 

[Dano Dil]

Dil looked around amazed. The crystals shimmered and burned a fantastic memory into his mind. He'd never forget this wonder. The crystals were so abundant and ranged in every size. He walked over to a large blue chunk jutting from the floor. With careful precision, he broke of the tiny tip of the massive crystal and slipped it in his pocket. From here on it seemed that he would wait for the other 3 to force sense out their crystals.

[member="Thel Antares"] | [member="Ultimatum"] | [member="Equinox"] |

 

[Thel Antares]

With the others finding their crystals, Thel broke away from the group and followed where the feeling lead him. It was leading him deeper into the cavern away from the light. Whatever was calling to him was getting louder and must've been close. Trying to see in this darkness was beginning to strain Thel's eyes but he still continued deeper. He would trouble to hear the rest of the group this far in.

"Here..."

A voice that was not spoken by any mouth made it clear that the padawan was at the right place. In front of him was a small collection of crystals hardly rising above ankle height. Reaching down, Thel went to touch the crystal and small portion of broke off into his hand as if it wanted to be taken by the Jedi. The piece was small and the size that was expected to fit within a lightsaber.


[member="Dano Dil"] [member="Ultimatum"] [member="Equinox"]

 

[Ultimatum]

Upari felt the call, the summons of the Force. The Shard recognized it for the Force leading them to a crystal. A second crystal for the lightsaber. With the care found only in the calm of meditation, the Shard reached out through the Force. From within the metal shell, the Shard's mind traveled down the twisting and winding tunnels. Unlike their previous trip, this travel did not go on for a seemingly infinite distance. The short walk with his mind was pleasant and relaxing. Unlike the droid, who would have seen the crystals all around and probably noted how it reminded him of starlight, Upari was surrounded by the pale blue light of the Force. It was constantly moving, a rippling effect that was almost hypnotic.

He felt the intrusion of another mind, Ultimatum was checking on him. The Shard opened his consciousness to the droid, and in the mind's eye, Upari visualized another being in the world around him. This one was grey, but not dark. The Force filled all things, living and otherwise. The metal that made up the droid had the Force in it, just as the rocks and plants. Thought Ultimatum could not feel the Force, it was within him, just not in the way that organic's considered normal. Silently, for no words could penetrate the Force meditation, the two continued on the path. After a short span, there was a distinct humming, and the rippling walls began to become more erratic.

The droid's mind looked to Upari, and the Shard nodded before continuing. Down the passage and then a turn. Before them stood a wall of pure crystals and at its center a golden glow and the source of the ripples. Upari and Ultimatum stretched out together to grasp the crystal. As they did so, the glow grew brighter, and there was an alien sensation in both. For a moment, the two minds merged and there was only one being. This new person pulled the crystal from its place, and the glow died. The one presence fell apart, becoming two people once more. With a rushing like the wind, the two were pulled back from the tunnels and back to their bodies.

Ultimatum opened his eyes and felt refreshed, in his hand lay a minute silvery crystal. With some shaping, it would be suitable for the lightsaber. The robot looked to see how the others were doing as he picked himself up off the ground and stood.

[member="Thel Antares"] [member="Dano Dil"] [member="Equinox"]