Private Jedha Jeopardy

[Metis Athena Elpis]

Metis was going through some basic breathing exercises, she was frustrated, and she was frustrated that she was frustrating. Usually going through some basic breathing techniques calmed her down or atleast helped her bring balance to her thoughts and feelings. This time though her frustration had routes. She was nervous and anxious. More so than she was before battle or even engaging in a delicate diplomatic envoy mission. For some reason this mission scared her more than either of those. Even when she had left Naboo permanently she had been more excited than nervous.

In truth Metis knew why she was scared, nervous and axious more than she could remember which in turn made her frustrated. The cornucopia of swirling emotions. Metis was embarking on a signature adventure of her young life. Today was the day that she would – hopefully- get her own lightsaber crystal.

Metis gave a frustrated grunt more of a growl and got up from her attempted meditative state. This relatively small errand in the greater galaxy was insignificant on a galactic scale. Metis got up, taking out her encyclopedia note pad, and begun writing in her journal. It had started out as just Metis’s notes on various cultures, races, corporations, anything that Metis found interesting during an encyclopedic holonet dive. Metis wasn’t sure when it had started as a journal, the first one she had kept since her training as a handmaiden on Naboo, but at some point it had.

Metis pulled up what little she had on Jedha and Lightsaber crystals.

Jedha, no doubt getting it’s name from some ancient mixed or mispronunciation of Jedi, a planet holy to the order, possibly as far back as the Rakatan Empire. There was no mention of it, in the class I took on the history of the Jedi. Nonetheless the ruins and origins are no doubt ancient in origins. The planet specifically the township of main space port city and nearby landscape, including possibly a Jedi Temple were allegedly destroyed by an Imperial Empire centuries ago. Factual checking of this is difficult as not long after the destruction of Alderaan and the first Death Star itself were destroyed which are considered larger events of historical significance in the history of the galaxy. Regardless of when it occurred the damage was significant, a fortunate result of the damage done to the planet however revealed deep ores of Kyber crystals an element crucial in the development of Lightsabers. It is for this reason as well as any historical significance or knowledge that we may find that we have been sent here.

Metis realized when she had been writing the word ‘we’ that she was not alone on this task. Metis chided herself for her lack of diplomacy, it was unlike her to ignore others to the point the she became self involved in her own emotions.

“Uhm.. would you like to read my notes on our mission?”

Metis offered awkwardly

Merlin deWinter

 

[Merlin deWinter]

Looking up from his own holopad he watched her for a moment as she pulled up her notes, noting the frustration. He remembered his own mission to get his first crystal. He had been not much older than 18, having trained with padawan use lightsabers previously which were not bound to himself, and the excitement had been palpable. Your first real lightsaber was always something special, and he remembered holding his only a month ago though it had been far longer than that.

The memory held a slight shadow in his eyes and a hint of sadness in his smile as he remembered those who were only memories now. Shaking his head Merlin responded with a calming smile. He had read what little there was a little earlier and there wasn't really all that much. "No. I believe you have everything covered." There would hopefully be some interesting findings here, and he also aimed to find crystals with which to build another lightsaber. Would it be green this time? Or had he changed with had happened so much, with what was inside of him now while he was still struggling with this whole deWinter debacle that it would be different?
Merlin was no longer that 17 year old bright eyed padawan who thought the world had enough light and hope and kindness to heal all wrongs but that did not mean he had to ruin anyone elses energy in that matter.

He turned off the holopad and slipped it into his pocket, standing to look at the articles Metis had up. They had only known each other a short time for this mission. "Sometimes we have to trust in the force and that it won't get us killed. Notes and plans should be taken but trust in your gut first." Something his last jedi master had taught him. He wasn't a reckless man at all but he wasn't really someone who overplanned anything. Things rarely turned out the way you planned - or wanted.