7 Star Samurai

[Zanza Hijikata]

PART 1: THE SEVEN​

Lights Reach
Catia, Jungle Moon of Shri-Tal

Location: The Crystal Caves

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Oxz-LmklV4​

"So sista'how long have you been one of them?" the old lady with the wrinkled smile said as she rinsed a towel in the crystal illuminated waters.

"Them?" Zanza replied with jerk of her brow.

"You know, the Jedi." said the old woman.

The old woman wrapped the soaking clothe with a crystal that glowed vibrate and eerie blue light. The crystal was natural growing lightsaber crystals. The flooded caverns of Lights Reach had always been a home for lightsaber crystal colonies growing in large stalagmite pillars. With the crystal wrapped in the towel soaked in the rumored healing waters of the caverns, the old woman began to dab the crystal and towel onto Zanza's body. She herself was bathing in the pools lit by the glow of the crystals. Her kimono, armorweave under suit and positions were neatly folded together placed beside her at the edge of the pool. Zanza sat with her one-arm sat back on the rim of the rocks reclined. Her other arm, was gone lost during the battle within the Force Storm of Jar'Kai. As a result the nub of her lost arm, just below the shoulder joint was permanently tainted by Dark Side. Zanza had made it a tradition to return to the light side healing pools of Catia to receive treatment.

"Jedi?" Zanza laughed, "Once, once I was a Jedi. I haven't been called that for some years now." Zanza continued as she reached for the tobacco pipe resting in a tray. Picking it up she smacked it down to the tray to expell the fiery dregs before returning it to her lips to take a deep inhale. Giving out along sigh she exhaled a long smoke trail from her nostrils.

"That's a shame, we could use some." the old lady said.

"Don't you have some? Those Silver Jedi?" Zanza replied. "I'm afraid they have fallen, the have relocated their Order to another world." the old lady lamented.

Zanza turned her head and looked at the old lady confused. "They left?" Zanza asked. "Most of them. Some who have come to call this place home have remained. But, we are on our own as it were. Shame."

The old lady continued applying the crystals powers to Zanza's wounds. Across her chest were long cut scars, blaster bolt crater burns, and the remnant trails of stitches that run up across her belly. The crystal indeed held a powerful connection to the lightside. Zanza could feel its power diffusing into her body. For someone so torn and damaged by the dark side, it was refreshing to feel the lightside wash over her. It was like a warm embrace. Zanza rolled her one good eye to look back to the rest of the cavern. Various pools glimmered in blue and white lights, tall stone pillars covered in lightsaber crystal colonies. Other locals were bathing as well, some old some young, some women, some men, some children. The pools were open to all, so long as they respected the sacredness of the area. No other place made Zanza feel one with the Light Side again, after years of pain and suffering. The old woman set aside the towel and crystal on a log tray. She stood back up from the kneeling pose she was in and let out an old grown as she rose up.

"Oh? Done? Thanks as always Ba'chan." Zanza thanked the old woman.

"No problem dear. I'll be back with the tea later on." The old woman said. Zanza took another long puff and let slip another smokey serpent from her lips before setting the pipe aside. Then with her one arm she propped herself up and stepped out of the pool. Reaching for a long towel draped over a stone she flung it over her shoulder.

"Nah, I'll come up for it. Keep it hot, I'll be up." Zanza said as she reached out in the with her hand and summoned her kimono to her side. The old woman replied with a curt nod and went about her way. Finishing dressing herself Zanza reached down and put on her lightsaber belt that fitted over the obi sash of her kimono. She then retrieved her pipe and tucked it into the pocket sewn onto the inside of her long dangling sleeves. Exiting the pools she reached a long corridor within the caverns and approached a repulsorlift.

"Time for a drink." Zanza said with a smile.

[member="Asaraa Vaashe"], [member="Trextan Voidstalker"], [member="Tanaski Yumi"], [member="Kenzō"], [member="HK-36"], [member="Jyoti Nooran"]​

 

[Kenzō]

Lights Reach
The Citadel

The essence of light, it was all felt in the peaceful nation of Lights Reach, that lies in the planet of Catia. Vendors put up their businesses unto their stalls and deal with the common folk, and merchants from worlds unknown stop over the jungle moon to introduce state-of-the-art innovations. People of varying races, origins, and religion can be seen here. It seemed peaceful for the inhabitants to live without the fear of an uncertain doom. ​

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A darkness that may rule the innocent lands. An invisible foe looming from the pitch black space. When will the time come? No one can know but the fate that lies ahead. But one thing is known, the world is a brittle, glass jar, waiting to be broken. Shards, it will be all that's left. Memories cherished whether good or bad, now vanquished. ​

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The crowds of the Citadel were getting bigger as time passed, the populace were busy in their ventures. Seen walking among the waves of people was a half-faced mascara, painted in nothing but grey. Its form was derived from the serpent of myth. Engraved in its center were two interlocking semi-circles called taegeuk, a symbol of unity between contraries At a closer look, the shade of the mask shifted as it swiftly moved, as the visage of the man was covered by shadow Then revealed a figure of a black robe embedded with golden embroidery that resembled a series of rose decorations, and characters alien yet to the society. This man was a roaming visitor of different culture seeking refuge from the obscurity of peace in the known galaxy. He wore sandals for his feet to cup upon, and seemed to bring nothing but himself and his walking staff he used to stroll around. Step by step he glanced at each individual he would come across to, feeling sympathy underneath his hidden identity. The strands of his hair fall down his face and give obscurity. He felt he needed to be alone in this place, as he cannot withstand the rowdy noise of the people. It was his first encounter outside the quarters he had been trained. But then, he was here for a single mission.​

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In a soft-spoken manner, the wandering monk approached a seemingly young bystander. Gradually, he closed his right hand into a ball of fist and raised it opposite from his left palm,​

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" Haikei. " ​

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The lad was visibly shocked, as he did not know how to respond the monk's greeting. A stutter of words were all that was heard until he formed gently his mouth to a single-worded question,​

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" S-s-s-sir? "​

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Despite the culture shock, he monk remained calm, knowing that the boy was not aware of his native tongue. The monk himself was in a culture shock, too. The ambience of the place was clueless for him, a monk who isolated from civilization to accept religion as his own. He sighed after observing the busy streets for a short while, and then answered back. ​

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" I am from the far regions of the galaxy your eyes shall see. The lands beyond what you know, young one. "​

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The lad's face was agitated at first, but the excitement of meeting an outsider was a joy for him, such for a young age. The monk added,​

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" You remind me of my past, child. Once I was like you, a boy full of ambitions. But remember, strive to become a tree, sturdy and tall, and bear the fruits of your labor. Follow the current of the river that flows and take whatever direction it takes you to. "​

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The monk's serious aura was comforted by a slight smirk visible on his cheek, and patted the boy on his head. He remembered the past he left to serve his order, all the adventures he may have done.​

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" Kind sir, if I may ask, who are you?" the boy asked.​

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The man made a full smile and went to take something inside his side pocket, and as he slid out revealed a brown paper bag that contained traditional pastries from his home world. He stretched out his arms to the young child.​

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" It does not matter who I am, but what you have known of me. "​

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He slid his elongated hands through his hair as if it is silk, and fixed his robes in a dash. He would need to experience the mystical abilities of the Lights Reach healing pools, and trusting a ragged-looking boy was not a problem for the man.​

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" I would need a guide into the heart of this city - to the famed crystal caves of Lights Reach. Will you help me, young one? " ​

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The monk grinned as he adjusted his half-mask, his nomadic staff standing ground.​

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[HK-36]

[member="Zanza Hijikata"], [member="Kenzō"],

Catia,
Slopes of Light's Reach,


Heavy fabric of robes and bandages flapped violently as gusts of wind ran past a tall figure standing upon a rock, watching over Light's Reach from the tall rock formations beneath it. HK was clad in his usual black armor, formed from organic black flesh-like material and dark hard chitinous plates arranged in an ancient and forgotten pattern. The machine did not like to go into organic settlements, human ones especially, revealing his nature, not unless they are under influence of the Droid Lords or their allies, so he stood there on the outskirt of the settlement covered in bandages and heavy robes which covered his armor and chameleon cloak, with multiple weapons hidden throughout his disguise and the suit beneath. It was rare nowadays for the droid to go anywhere unarmed.

"Silly nerf munchers."

The machine muttered to himself as from below his disguise, hidden beneath shadow of a large straw hat, his mechanical eyes zoomed in on the Light's Reach, scanning through multiple spectrums and taking readings of heat signatures within to track movements of the settlement's occupants within. There was a reason why the machine would go out of his way to venture into old Silver Jedi territory. One of the arcane practices invented by the Technomancers, through HK's involvement and sharing of his own observations, is the Farseer Meditation, a technique which involves a droid going into a trance like meditative state while connecting their mind directly into the HoloNet and continuously run simulations and cross reference data of all known past events between each other. Through this connection, if a droid gathers enough subtle obscure variables which had grandeur effect upon the turn of events and suddenly upset the balance of power, variables known as the Touch of the Force, and finds enough connections to the way past events unfolded, they can to a degree predict what would happen. The idea is that history likes to repeat itself, and the way things unfolded in the past makes it more likely for them to unfold in a similar way when presented with the same variables, and by observing the points where the Force or Fate seemingly intervened, one could interpret what the Will of the Force is.

"The Darkness is coming."

HK muttered to himself. It was the Farseer Meditation that brought him there, according to his calculations and simulations, the Light's Reach would soon become a battleground between the forces of Light and Darkness, and if he interpreted the Force correctly, and where it wished for him to serve it, he was meant to take part in this battle. Besides, the fact that Light's Reach was a place where lightsaber crystals were present and coming here meant that he could get his hands on some of them, especially now that the Jedi forces were gone and could not stop him so easily, was definitely a plus.

"And I will be here to punch it in its fat fething face."

The machine finished his musing, pulling out a pistol-shaped devices he would launch forth a grapplehook, shooting across a great chasm towards the main mountain on which Light's Reach sat, embedding the cable into a base below one of the outer walls. Even if HK wouldn't get anything directly from this venture, he would have probably still came in. Although born as an assassin, HK was shaped into a warrior by the early Mandalorians, thought their ancient canons and codes of honor and chivalry, being one of the few beings who still follow them. Plus the mechanical knight was a Metal Lord now, it was his duty to lead his subjects, whether machine or organic, by example, especially if that example was to fight Sith and protect the weak and innocent. The cable suddenly went tout and the droid was propelled off of the stone he was standing on, with heavy flapping of his robes and cloaks the machine was pulled up by his grappling gun towards the ancient city.


The droid did not came alone however, although they were not in the immediate area but instead staying hidden, his Greycloak guards were there along with the Knight of the Eclipse, his personal stealth transport shuttle. Their main job was not to intervene directly however, instead it was to drop supplies and additional armaments and weapons in for the droid lord should he need it.

 

[Tanaski Yumi]

Tanasuki was not much of an explore as his sister, but still valued the essence of travel and knowledge and being new to the Silver Jedi wanted to delve deeper into its past and meaning, beside it was also a means to up hold the promise to Master Ike in becoming the best Padawan that she had ever had. From what was common knowledge the original Silver Jedi domain spanned from Kasyyyke, the orders new home world, all the way to Voss and beyond, so much land to cover, so little time. Though out of all the worlds the small jungle moon Catia of Shri'Tal stood out to most, perhaps it was the name, maybe it was the likeness to the tropical tree covered world of Kasyyyke or perhaps its crystal caves whatever the case may be the you Jin had found way onto the prominent world.

Tanasuki wandered the citadel, adorned in a red force enhanced wintrium yukata fashioned from, said attire fashionable but also very resistance again many different hazards, having been presented upon officially becoming the Padawan of Junko Ike, princess of Atrisia, a rather big step up in the galaxy from but a mere rouge force users, placing a rather large burden of responsibility and expectation. It also gave a much larger goal in life, no longer just serving one’s own selfish need, but those of other too, a sense of accomplishment that other work lacked, giving the oh so needed drive to press forward, it was nice, even if such a path would most likely contain many trials.

So far, this trip had been uneventful, the stores and busy market place being all but like man plants, even though it had its own personalized flavour to it, the main hub being pack with large crowds of people going about their daily business, not concerned about what was happening elsewhere in the galaxy. It was simple, something one could respect but Tanasuki could not help but note a slightly lack of joy here and there like something had been taken away from the very planet, affecting those that lived here. Whatever it was such a task might have proved too large of a challenge, and overconfidence was a flimsy shield, it was better to do what one was good at, and do it well, then attempt something out of reach and accomplish it poorly.


With that in mind the most obvious place to start on this self-assigned pilgrimage was to visit the moon well know crystal cave, though its location for now remained unknown, the records about said place not being open to everyone at the Jedi temple. This meant Tanasuki would have to use older method to find in search of the caves, said methods being asking for direction, but who would have knowledge about said subject. Was knowledge about the caves common? or did only a few select people know about it? would asking around be a waste of time or would going straight to the more affluent people be more fruitful.

Whatever the case was it seemed luck was on Tanasukis side, or perhaps it was guidance from the force but the sound of talking and the mention of crystal cave seemed to echo over the mass of people, its tone of voice seeming to be a question was someone else asking for the location of said caves. Quickly glancing around the young Jedi’s brown eyes fell on two men standing off to the side, one young looking to be a local the other, standing out like a sore thumb, just as much as Tanasukis own self, his attire being alien, but familiar.

For now, it was a lead, if it proved wrong going to the governor of the moon would work, though this possible chance would greatly limit the time frame of searching, a resource that unfortunately was not in much supply lately. "Pardon me, but I could not help but over hear you queering about the whereabouts of the moon crystal caves of Lights Reach, I am looking for the location as well, if you are willing to disclose its location that is".

[member="Kenzō"] l [member="Zanza Hijikata"] l [member="HK-36"]