A Karkin' Shark Ate Me!: the Tragedy of Samuel L. Jackson

[Tyberius Fel]

The great white orbs that were Vorian's eyes went alight with a rainbow of refracted colors from the lightsaber that the Selkath used to demonstrate the resistant nature of the Jedi robes. The technology, the marine work ethnic of these creatures to develop such fascinating devices. It seemed like every day more and more advances were made and boundaries broken.. For nothing. The thought caressed him with a skin tightening chill. Face drawn tight in a neutral expression, the Arkanian quietly pivoted on a heel to face his masters. "I feel like.. this all seems so pointless. What will all these advances do for us when the Sith keeps winning and winning. Occasionally we vanquish them, but they always return. We kill them, they kill us, the galaxy is flooded with blood and at the end of the solar rotation, nothing has changed except a few more graves." A small sigh escaped the petulant lips of Vorian, shoulders slack. "My apologies, masters. I know defeatism is not the Jedi way."

[member="Matsu Ike"]

[member="Dune Rhur"]

 

[Dune Rhur]

[member="Vorian Adasca"] [member="Matsu Ike"]

"You're not wrong," the Bith replied "The cause is virtually always politicking. For example, the Sith control the inner rim because Jedi are more interested in their own ideology as opposed to working together. If we banded together, we could drive them out."

"Unfortunately even Jedi are fallible. Still, it's ironic that the Empire which values the individual is more united than the group which values the whole."

He watched the testing, gathering his thoughts.

"That's a very short term view, I must admit. From a metaphysical perspective, the balance of the Force shifts back and forth. It's been the way of things as long as we've existed."

 

[Matsu Ike]

"Matsu listened to them as she grinned a little to herself the idea of a unified order was wonderful, jedi helping each other and working for a common goal... problem was as she had seen plenty. Tooo many jedi she had seen were about their own advancement or the advancement of those who boosted their egos. They befriended darksiders for political purposes and chose to prefer their own ego and bigger boasts over what can help people... Usually to their detriment or danger. Matsu looked at the robes as they continued to be worked on and she looked at the two of them. "Ehhh it will be like that, sadly jedi of this era are more political and rely on their ego over their skill. It is why some dislike me and some choose to accept me and what training I can offer. Either way I find them facinating to observe and compare to the ancient masters I can go and see."

 

[Tyberius Fel]

Vorian fell silent pondering this. His thin, wiry fingers ran along the pale taper of his chin in a contemplative manner. "It is surely a thing of madness that the Sith and their madmen run a free reign over the most populated planet in the galaxy while the Jedi, the guardians of peace in the galaxy sit on the sidelines, watching with their hands tied." The Arkanian gave a shake of his head, his ponytailed silvery hair bouncing as he did so. "About the coral.. would it be possible to make a lightsaber out of it?" Inquired the Padawan, attempting to dismiss the prior topic from his mind. Even then, it refused to leave, lingering like a unwelcome house guest. The Sith value individuality, yet they find strength in going against their tenants; in unity. It makes me wonder.. the Jedi value peace, diplomacy.. but could we not prevail in utilizing force? The thought was a dangerous one, indeed, contrary to the moral values of Vorian, who considered himself nothing if not a diplomat. Yet the idea seemed simple, stared him in the face.

"Has anyone ever attempted to reform the Army of Light?" He eventually asked the two masters.

[member="Matsu Ike"]
[member="Dune Rhur"]

 

[Dune Rhur]

[member="Vorian Adasca"] [member="Matsu Ike"]

"It's been suggested, yes. In time it may happen." It wasn't that the Bith was against it as such. However, it might not happen. It was just as likely the Sith would bring about their own end. Their brief civil war had been just the start of what Dune had calculated to be their undoing.

"As for the coral, I wouldn't see why not. For example, some had used Jorik coral in times past for lightsaber hilts."

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Vorian Adasca"] [member="Dune Rhur"]

"There have been several armies of light created, they fail after a few weeks or months because another jedi order threatens them with war cries or severing the force from them should they fight. Most of the jedi who are appointed to the councils are political and seek personal power over serving the lights. It is why I turn down positions of power or prestige." She remained looking at things that were being worked on down here before she turned. "If you would like we can make you a saber hilt from the coral, it will take a little time and you'll need to make sure you have all of the supplies you want to begin with. Changing things out will not be as easy with a normal saber."

 

[Tyberius Fel]

Vorian noted how both of the senior Jedi seemed highly critical of the Jedi as a whole in regards to their capabilities and efforts in combating the One Sith menace and it's strangle hold over the very center of the galaxy itself. The young Padawan found himself quickly sharing the sentiment, but declined to comment further upon the discussion; instead further inquiring into the coral lightsaber. "I have yet to forge my own lightsaber." Admitted Vorian. "However, I would like to. The coral seems very much like a good material to forge a hilt out of."

[member="Matsu Ike"]
[member="Dune Rhur"]

 

[Dune Rhur]

[member="Vorian Adasca"] [member="Matsu Ike"]

"I don't know specifics of working the coral," he said turning to Matsu "Do you, Master?" Frankly, Dune would be surprised if she didn't or if she didn't know someone who did know. Matsu Ike had a friend in every system, on every planet. Or so it seemed sometimes to the Bith. Not that he thought it was bad, far from it.

His own lightsaber, though, it was about as simple as it could get. Well, he thought, he'd added a few modifications like the bifurcating circuit for use in water. He'd also modified the pressure sensor so that the energy blade wouldn't immediately extinguish outside his grip. That facilitated his ability to throw a saber as a weapon through the Force.

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Dune Rhur"] [member="Vorian Adasca"]

Matsu had begun work while they were conversating and stood there with her hands shaving and shaping the materials as it was being hollowed out slowly. The crystal and metel weaved in to provide reinforcement to him. Slowly the jedi artisan held up a finger while she turned her hand over and flat. Blowing onto the coral as it let the dust go off into the air. "Oh I know a few tricks with making hilts." Her thumb went over the sides smoothing out the rough parts and lightly contouring the grip for his hand as she looked at the padawan. Presenting it up and offering it with a small look. "You will need to assemble it and we have a fitted lens. Once ytou have the components you want slid it int the hilt and fasten it."

 

[Tyberius Fel]

With the gentle care of a mother handling a new born babe, the Jedi Padawan took the coral hilt that Matsu had fashioned for him. The Jedi Artisan had crafted the coral in a relatively small amount of time true; but the craftmanship suffered not for it. Truly, countless years of skill shone within it's nearly flawless shaping. The Arkanian experimentally weighted the hilt, gave it a twirl or two and then grinned as if a child given free run over a candy store. Reining himself back into line, Vorian smoothly pivoted on his heels to face Matsu, lowering his upper body in a wide bow to her. "My sincere thanks for this gift, Master Matsu. Even if I am not entirely worthy of it." Vorian spoke the last part with the humorous smirk of self depreciation. "When we return to Voss, I will be sure to use this in forging my own fully functioning lightsaber." The Padawan rose up to his full height.

[member="Matsu Ike"]
[member="Dune Rhur"]

 

[Dune Rhur]

[member="Vorian Adasca"] [member="Matsu Ike"]

Dune suspected that Vorian didn't understand his worthiness. It was just as well as it would make him strive even harder for greatness. The hilt itself was a simple, elegant design. Matsu had made it just so, with nothing more than necessary. Impressive workmanship from a master artisan, the Bith thought.

"So, what will we do next?"

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Vorian Adasca"]

Do next? Matsu was looking at the two of them as they were going through the place and as the Selkath continued to work on the robes they had also set out the new and improved dive suits. Something nice and well compacted compared to the old bulky ones with built in systems like the sonic protection wave or even reinforce plating. "We are going to go outside and into the ruins, pockets have been set up by the selkath to explore and drained leaving pressurized lagoons where water will not get into without a breach." She started going over while handling the suits and changing out of the robes opening them to reveal the sarashi and underrobes along with the excessive amounts of tattoo's and scars from time as an investigator and shadow infiltrating gangs and prisons to find criminals.

 

[Tyberius Fel]

The Bith Jedi Master peered to Vorian thoughtfully for a moment. The young Arkanian would have given much to know what Dune was thinking in the moment. Nothing bad, he hoped. Then, he turned to Matsu and asked what their next action would be. A simple question, but a good one. Matsu informed them they would be exploring ruins. "Ah, interesting. What type of ruins? Have they been explored before?" Vorian chirped out the string of questions as he slipped off the outer layer of his robings, catching a glimpse of Matsu doing the same. Averting his gaze, he focused on putting on the components of the diving suit.

[member="Matsu Ike"]
[member="Dune Rhur"]

 

[Dune Rhur]

[member="Matsu Ike"] [member="Vorian Adasca"]

Likewise, Dune put on his diving suit, revealing the scars on his body. Scars from his Trials of Knighthood which should not have been there. Bacta didn't leave scars, but then, most wounds weren't caused by Dark Side magicks. Too, there was still the jagged scar on his left thigh where a Sith warblade had scored his thigh on Nar Shadda.

Hardly the sedate life of an historian, he reflected sardonically. Thoughts of his past in turn brought him thoughts of his future. Dune Rhur had no idea what was to come for him. His Padawan recently knighted, it left him free to pursue more personal goals. Whatever those goals happened to be.

He hooked his hilt onto the utility belt with his right hand after tucking the helmet under his left arm. Done getting suited up, he waited for what came next.

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Dune Rhur"] [member="Vorian Adasca"]

"The ruins are old infinite empire but we found some that look similar to the old city." She finished securing the bulk of the compacted dive suit and testing it with her hands as she spoke. "We have been working to make sure this is the latest and best got deep sea gear. The sonic emitter is built into your right wrist to protect and repel the sharks. There are thrusters in your boots and wrists for movement as well as a sonar mapping system in the heads up display." She looked at the helmets getting them on while the suit was sealed up and ready for them to use. THe jedi master stepped itno the airlock. "Your rebreather will give you several hours of oxygen as long as you keep your breathing steady. Can go even lnger if you practice breath control."

 

[Tyberius Fel]

Unnervingly enough, both of the senior Jedi seemed to be covered in their fair share of scars, many of them quite nasty. Vorian gulped down a hard lump in his throat. Was that what would be awaiting him? The young Arkanian had once been close to a real fight, but managed to use diplomacy to convince the combatants to stand down. But what would happen in a situation in which, say a frenzied sith, absolutely refused to back down? Scars were one thing, but many young Jedi failed to live long enough to see wounds heal. Shaking his head, Vorian mentally repeated the Jedi code to himself, firming his confidence in his skills.

Fully equipped with the diving suit, Vorian peered curiously to Matsu. "Infinite Empire?" Perhaps they'd be so fortunate as to find some interesting artifacts, though Vorian did not want to be too greedy, especially after receiving the lovely coral hilt. Spending a few moments checking and double checking the environmental seals, as well as the thrusters and sonic emitters, the Padawan then slid on the helmet and followed closely behind the Jedi Master towards the airlock.

[member="Matsu Ike"]
[member="Dune Rhur"]

 

[Dune Rhur]

[member="Vorian Adasca"] [member="Matsu Ike"]

"Yes, Vorian, that same Infinite Empire you're thinking of," The Bith said over the comm system, smiling just a touch behind the visor of his helmet. "I wouldn't be surprised if we came across something. The great advantage of this place: all of the water prevents more casual treasure hunters." Mind you, it was also a disadvantage too for non-aquatic beings.

The Rakatans were still as much of a mystery as they'd ever been. He'd read many articles and texts on them though they overlapped quite frequently. That was how scarce information about them was. Much of the text was conjecture and heresay which he tended to skip over. Speculation wasn't any more productive than sitting and staring at a wall.

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Dune Rhur"] [member="Vorian Adasca"]

She was looking at the two of them in the airlock as the door sealed filling with water for a moment and the anticipation of the chill wasn't there. The bodysuit and armor doing as needed and keeping her from feeling the water. The waters was in the room completely as the outer doors opened and the lights around the rift made a path as well as a large area of the facility. Matsu moved out staying just above the grating while the ruins were sticking up and near the rift with most of her attention going to the mapping on the HUD. She could navigate wih it and the motion sensor as she snapped the fins down swimming along to the lift and cages near the edge of the rift. She could just look down and into it while the ruins were built along the sides for them to travel in. "we can head down here, most of the sonic fences will have kept away the sharks but that doesn't mean all of them will be gone."

 

[Dune Rhur]

It was only a moment before Dune found himself fully submerged within the airlock. He waited with the calm detachment that a lifetime of Jedi training provided as the waterline rapidly crept up around him. A terrestrial being might find this unnerving, he thought as the water reach past his neck. For his part, the Bith simply lapsed into the simple breath control exercises taught to any apprentice.

As the outer doors opened, he pushed off the metal deck and activated the map display inside of his domed helmet. Though the lines showed true, his large and lidless eyes took in the vastness of the surrounding ocean. His logical mind quickly concluded that they'd passed ordinary crush depth for the single lung of a Bith. If his suit failed, he would die and he accepted that.

The life of a Jedi might mean the end of physical existence in any moment. Such was the balance; gifted with great powers, they took on much responsibility. A Jedi might believe in peace but they couldn't allow for any cowardice in their ranks. No hesitation in the face of danger, simply do what must be done.

[member="Matsu Ike"] [member="Vorian Adasca"]

 

[Tyberius Fel]

Sharks. At this point in his young life, Vorian Adasca accepted that wild dangers that would terrify the average layman of the galaxy into paralyzing fear would be a mundane part of his existence as a member of the Jedi Order. The Jedi Padawan practiced the standard breath and muscle control exercises as the water flooded around his body. Vorian wasn't quite used to the water, an average swimmer at best, but he found little reason to fear it. Infact, the odd sense of floating weightlessness was rather.. calming. Without any further delay, Vorian swam behind the two senior Jedi at a leisurely pace, head constantly swiveling within the confines of his swimsuit's helmet in an attempt to catch early sight of the Rakatan ruins.

[member="Dune Rhur"]
[member="Matsu Ike"]