Crystal Clear

[Space Prius]

[member=corvus raaf]
The shuttle was in orbit around Illum preparing to land. Gades was very anxious, this was his first lightsaber. He had been waiting for this for a long time, and was ready, he had one, but before he left, he went through the archives for lightsaber designs. One design interested him, paired light sabers, they could be used as saber staffs, or dual lightsabers, or just one, because they had a locking mechanism, though in order to do this he needed a second crystal, which wouldn't be hard to find on Illum. There was another interesting thing about this lightsaber though, it was biologically compatible, so he could absorb it into his body if need be. He had also read about an old jedi temple there, he thought he would ask about it, because apparently it was abandoned 800 years ago, so he might as well ask if they could go look at it.
"Grandmaster Raaf, i was looking through the archives before we left, and i read something about an old jedi temple here, is that still active?" He inquired
He was ready for what is down there, not that there was much down there anyway, being a deserted ice world and all. First he needed a second crystal, then he needed a quiet place where he could meditate, possibly for multiple days.

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Although the Jedi Order had deliberately banished Ilum from all standard star charts for many centuries, almost everyone in the galaxy knew not only of the planet, but its location.

And Corvus knew that still Jedi trainees dreamed of visiting the sacred, secret planet in the Unknown Regions. That was because many generations of Jedi had gathered crystals from Ilum to energize their lightsabers, and some Jedi maintained that Ilum crystals were the finest in the galaxy.

This was a claim Corvus was ambivalent about – but there was one undeniable fact. This was where Obi-Wan crafted his first saber – and if it was good enough for him, well, it was ideal for any Padawan.

She knew little of her travelling companion, the trip here had been unfortunately interrupted by Jedi affairs and she’d spent little time chatting and getting to know him.

Constructing a lightsaber on Ilum was not regarded as the most challenging trial for a Jedi apprentice, but to most, it was confirmation that they would one day become a Jedi Knight.

And so it was that travelling in her Jedi Corvette they were making their pilgrimage to the snow-covered world of Ilum. As Corvus punched in the codes for the landing – the snow travelling past the cockpit window horizontally now – and handed the controls to her astromech, she turned to face Gades.

“Yes, the temple is still there but entirely inactive. In fact, you have to go through it to get to the crystal caves. I will need to help a little initially, but once into the caves, I shall play as large or as small a part as you require. So, do you have any questions before we land?”

[member="Gades Vassic"]

 

[Space Prius]

"Not really grandmaster, but i do know what I need to do before construction, I need a second primary crystal. That is all I need to finish this saber." Gades said.
He then went to go put on his snow gear, as Illum was very cold, so he could not just walk outside, he also did not feel like changing from his current human state either, though he would revert to his natural form for the meditation, as he often did for formal affairs. He had went the entire trip as his generic human form, black hair green eyes, about 1.8 meters. He was in full disclosure about his shapeshifting with the grandmaster, as he did not like surprising people. He was oddly calm today, especially since he has been waiting for this day for many years. Once he had his gear on he sat down as the ship began to land.

[member=corvus raaf]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

She smiled warmly - in contrast to the external environment. "Please, call me Corvus. And I'm glad to heart you have all you need - bar the second crystal of course."

So Corvus headed to her room and put on the ankle bracelet that had been given to her by a Silver Jedi Master. Innocuous to look at, it was in fact a very useful tool. It kept her warm in cold climes and cool in hot ones. It even filtered noxious gases for a period - allowing her to breathe normally even in toxic atmospheres.

So while the Padawan put on the layers to ensure he didn't freeze in the caves, Corvus was able to travel in her usual robes. So she met him in the cargo bay and as the ship touched down, punched the button to lower the landing ramp.

The wind and snow combined to make the external situation entirely uncomfortable - and she had to shield her eyes from the driving storm, but the moment the ramp clicked into place she was off.

"Mind your footing," she offered as she headed to the ancient looking building in front of them - clearly a Jedi temple from the architecture.

[member="Gades Vassic"]

 

[Space Prius]

Gades walked down the ramp, slightly modifying his body to bear the cold better, the only thing he did was add a small air pocket between one of the skin layers, which helps with thermal insulation. He then stepped foot onto the snow, and started walking towards the jedi temple. It was cold, he was wearing 4 layers and was still uncomfortable. They then reached the jedi temple, it was spacious, but bleak, there was nobody visible, and it looked like it was going to fall apart. Cracked pillars, dusty walls, everything was old. There were no lights in the building, so he turned on his flashlight. He then turned to Corvus.
"Where to Corvus?" Gades asked.

[member=corvus raaf]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

The temple was a welcome respite from the icy winds. She stared up at the mountain cliff and marvelled at how many Jedi must have trodden the same path over the years. But first they had to enter and pass through the ancient and now unused Jedi Temple. Selected because of its isolation, it was still a pilgrimage for many Jedi of various Orders. And quite rightly so.

"Be wary of the footing," she reminded Gades. "Don't forget Master Seta-Le fell through the ice here." She made it sound so matter of fact, as if every Jedi knew the story. They were now in the temple, it was snow covered and bare. Large transparisteel windows allowed pale light in from the snow-swept world.

The entrance to the caves was covered in ice, so Corvus used the Force to open the circular windows high in the chamber. These allowed light to enter and refract through a series of massive crystals that were suspended in the chamber. Using the Force to focus them, the ice soon melted and they were able to enter the caves themselves.

Corvus bowed. "From this point on you're on your own until you need me." And without warning she entered White Current. To all intents and purposes, she simply vanished. It would allow her to track the Padawan without appearing intrusive. When she was needed, all the Padawan had to do was ask.

[member="Gades Vassic"]

 

[Space Prius]

Gades stepped through the entrance, and was in awe with the beauty of the caves. The contrast between the dull blue ice, and white snow, with the vibrant blue and green crystals, it was beautiful. The second he stepped in, he felt something through the force, like it was calling to him, he started following it. He walked through the caves for a good hour, the feeling getting stronger as he moved through. When he reached the feeling he saw something it was a yellow crystal, in the center of a large circle of blue and green crystals. It was a perfect circle and the coors alternated with each layer, and in the center, a yellow crystal, it had an odd air to it, so he decided to first consult the jedi master, since he knew the force was weird, and picking up something like this could cause you to explode, or turn into a snowflake, or something like that.
"Okay, Corvus, do you think this thing is cursed or something, because this formation looks arranged, and knowing the force, that could easily be a bad thing." He said
[member=corvus raaf]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus smiled as Gades spoke. She could sense the wonder and awe in him as she'd followed his progress and she'd always found such things infectious.

“I’ve been told the crystal picks the Jedi, not the other way around. I’m not sure how true that is, but I do firmly believe the Force plays a hand in the selection process. If this crystal is calling to you in some way, then it must be a sign. I sense nothing malevolent here, so I am sure you are safe to choose it, if you wish.”

[member="Gades Vassic"]

 

[Space Prius]

Gades listened to Corvus, and then went up towards the center of the circle. He then very carefully removed the crystal from the ice using telekinesis. He then put it into his hand, and saw it in all of its beauty. He thought that this was as good a place as ever, as as soon as he removed the crystal, he could sense that the area was strong in the light side of the force. It was odd, he could sense everything else about the area, but its force alignment. He then made mental note of it, as this could prove to be useful. He then sat down and layed the parts out in front of him, the two primary crystals, and two clear focusing crystals, then all of the other parts, such as the powercell, superconductor, among other things. He then began the long meditative process of creating his lightsaber. It took 2 days, and during that time, he relied only on the force for sustenance, he calmly meditated on the saber, and when it was finished, he awoke from the meditative state. His lightsaber complete. It was made from organic compounds, so that his body would not reject it, should he need to absorb it into himself, this also made it difficult to detect via scanners. It was a paired saber, so he could use the blades as a saberstaff or individually, albeit, he didn't have any saberstaff training, but he was thinking for the future. He stood up and began to leave the chamber, heading back up to the jedi temple, and then spoke to Corvus.
"Are you ready to go?" He said.
[member=corvus raaf]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus laid a hand on Gades arm gently. “Not quite,” she said, and indicated the Padawan should hold the sabers out for her to see.

As Gades did, she closed her eyes and held her hand out, so it was ten or so centimetres above the hilts.

“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.”

It was an ancient ritual, and one she liked to observe. “Now, now I’m ready,” she smiled as she looked at the Padawan. “You have done well.”

[member="Gades Vassic"]

 

[Space Prius]

"Thank you." He said with a grin.
He started walking back towards the grandmaster's corvette, He was happy, he finally had a lightsaber, and could now actually do things, you know it is kind of hard to run around the galaxy as a jedi without a proper lightsaber. Once he was back on the ship, he got some food, as he had not properly eaten in 2 days, and therefore was starving. After he was done he sat back and smiled.
"And this is where it all begins." He said to himself.
[member=corvus raaf]