Private Tired Eyes On Glittering Gems

[Sergeant Omen]

Omen heard the voice of Valery as she screamed and begged for him to come back. His brain heard the voice but his feet just kept going. To think Valery would call after him was illogical... If she really wanted to get him out of the caverns, she would send her attendants to get him out. Or else she actually would say the Sith or whatever enemy had arrived. It just didn't make sense.

The voices didn't annoy him as much as the darkness did. It seemed to be all-encompassing and pressed around him with his headlamp barely being enough to light his path. It reminded him of being stuck in the vacuum of space all alone. No stars to keep you company, just endless blackness. The feeling made the Clone shiver.

After about 30 minutes of walking (Or was it 45? The ARC had lost track) he stopped and took off his helmet. He grabbed the flask from his belt and took a drink. Mandos were shock troops that were meant to descend from above, not marched over miles and miles though they could if forced. Their second skin weighed them down too much for overland campaigns. As he put the flask away and put his helmet back on his head, his thoughts changed back to the task at hand. Surely his crystal couldn't be that far away now. All he could hope for is that he was right.

 

[Valery Noble]

Outfit | Weapon | Appearance

Location: Ilum

With the decision not to turn around and answer the call, Valery's whispers seemed to gradually fade away while her presence in the Force disappeared slowly but completely as well. Instead, the call from the Force was getting stronger — the gentle and welcoming touch that had guided Omen so far.

But again, there was another voice as well.

"What brings you here?"

This time, it wasn't a whisper carried across the winds, he could actually hear this voice coming from up ahead, and after a few seconds, a blue shimmer marked the appearance of a figure - a spirit manifested through the Force. It looked like an older man, a Jedi in long robes who had long passed away and now watched over these caves.

Sergeant Omen ​

 

[Sergeant Omen]

As Omen looked up to see where this new stronger voice was coming from, he was startled to see a blue force ghost in front of him. He had heard of them of course but this was the first time seeing them in person. The energy of the older man was intoxicating... Almost like that a drug. As for his question, well that was complicated... Sensing this might be a longer convo, he took a seat cross-legged on the stone cold floor and started to speak.

"To be honest, it is complicated like most things. Maybe it is just wanting to get a weapon so I can protect myself and others. Maybe it is wanting to prove all those people who rejected me from being a Jedi wrong. Hell, maybe it is my destiny and all that nerf... All I know is that I have an opportunity in front of me and if I don't try to take advantage of it, it will pass me by."

He took his helmet off and laid it to the side as he tried to let the force ghost see his true face, though he had a feeling the specter already knew. "I don't know that I'm worthy of the power you may or may not give me but all I can say is that I will do the best that I can not to abuse it."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Outfit | Weapon | Appearance

Location: Ilum

The spirit listened to his words and only when Omen finished, a faint smile touched the man's lips, "While not a Jedi, you speak with the wisdom and sincerity of one," he began. "Kyber Crystals react to the true nature of their owner; it's what gives them their color. The intent to not abuse them will allow you to form the bond."

He then paused and stepped forward.

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.​

"This is the crystal code, which describes the importance of the crystal, and how it's intertwined with the lightsaber, the Force, and the Jedi. You may not be a Jedi, but it still applies to you as well."

Now, ahead of him, he'd finally see it — the crystal that reached out to him, still colorless until it was bound to its new owner. All that remained was for Omen to reach for it.

"Farewell, and may it accompany you well."

​

 

[Sergeant Omen]

Omen returned the smile as he listened to the spirit's compliments. "Maybe I'll join an order someday. Until then, this crystal is a nice beacon of hope for me to hold onto."

The Clone nodded along with the code. It made sense like most things the Jedi revered. "I'll keep it in mind." Reaching into his belt, he got the husk of a lightsaber hilt out and opened the power chamber. Gingerly, he grabbed the kyber crystal and put it in the husk. The Crystal started to glow a pure white as he closed the chamber and touched the activator. Electricity started to spark within the chamber and with a flash, the blade exploded out in a shimmering snowy white color. "This... this will do nicely..."

As the force ghost disappeared into the darkness, Omen would deactivate the saber and put it away. After giving where the ghost had been a slight bow before turning around and starting to make the long way back to the cavern's entrance.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Outfit | Weapon | Appearance

Location: Ilum

When Omen finally reached the entrance of the caves again, Valery would be there waiting for him with a soft smile, "You went through it fairly quickly, but then again, you're not a troubled Padawan," she said before a hand came up to once more trigger the mechanism to redirect the sunrays. The door slowly began to freeze up again, closing it for the next gathering.

Finally, her eyes then turned to the lightsaber Omen carried with him, "Did the assembly of the weapon work? I don't know if you were taught moving meditation for it, but I wouldn't trust that weapon otherwise." As simple as it may seem, the precision the Force offered in the assembly of these weapons could be quite crucial. It was something no machine could replicate.

"Either way, congratulations on a successful gathering."

 

[Sergeant Omen]

When Omen finally reached the entrance of the caves again, Valery would be there waiting for him with a soft smile, "You went through it fairly quickly, but then again, you're not a troubled Padawan," she said before a hand came up to once more trigger the mechanism to redirect the sunrays. The door slowly began to freeze up again, closing it for the next gathering.

"Only the nerf god knows I don't have the hormones of one." As Omen left the doorway, he turned around and admired the empty space in the entrance as it turned into an ice sheet. Oh, how simple a wonder can be.

And how a simple conversation can turn into stern talking too. Well, he couldn't blame Valery for wanting to make sure his weapon was up to snuff. "I preassembled my weapon so I didn't have an awkward moment where my saber couldn't light up. And please... don't think into that. Besides, I'm not all that good at the levitation thing anyway remember? You can always look at it take a look at it though and give me your expert opinion on it though." He smirked as Valery gave him congratulations for a task well done. "Save the congrats for the four padawans once you knight them. Just getting to spend some time with a busy friend is a reward enough for a successful mission."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Outfit | Weapon | Appearance

Location: Ilum

"Well, if you activated it and the weapon didn't disengage or explode in your hands, you did it right," she smirked and made it seem like she was checking to see if his hands were still there. They were, so she looked back up and gestured for him to follow her back to the main hall, where it was much warmer.

"Save the congrats for the four padawans once you knight them. Just getting to spend some time with a busy friend is a reward enough for a successful mission."

"That's kind of you, but it's still an accomplishment, and one you can be proud of," Valery said, not wanting to entirely drop her congratulations. Crystal gatherings had the potential to be very difficult and confront someone with challenges that delved deep into their fears or insecurities.

"Now... if you'd like something to eat or want to rest, you can stay as long as you'd like. But I won't keep you here if you're busy or if you have some mercenaries to go after."

 

[Sergeant Omen]

Omen gave a Jedi a small tired smile and nodded as he accepted her point. "Yes, it is. I'm glad you weren't actually in trouble. The voices in there were very realistic..." He gave a small shiver as he imagined what he would have done if the Sith actually had invaded. That would have been a bloodbath... and he would have been kept out of it, unable to help. That would really be the darkest nightmare his mind could conjure.

"To be honest, I want to stay a few days. Meet your students, and see what life is really like here. Maybe you and Kal could host me for dinner. Though I don't know if I want to meet them if they put bubble gum in my hair as they do yours." The Clone causally reached up into the Jedi's dark brown hair and pulled out a pink flake. "Probably was Iris who gave you this huh? She does have a way with colors. I saw some of her murals on Kashyyyk and they were very... the only word I can think of is abstract. I'm glad she discovered a playful side at your expense."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Outfit | Weapon | Appearance

Location: Ilum

"Yes, it is. I'm glad you weren't actually in trouble. The voices in there were very realistic..."

Valery blinked, "You can get in trouble a little bit... but it's mostly safe," she said with a totally innocent smile. The caves were cold, after all, and Padawans could get lost or stuck somewhere. But that's why she was waiting at the entrance, ready to help if anything ever did happen.

"You're free to stay here and they did what?" She pulled her head back a little, but when she realized he was reaching for something in her hair, she stopped and let him pull out the pink flake. Iris. She let out a soft sigh and nodded, "A playful side that hasn't just been at my expense. She once tagged a slavers compound and was almost sold off into slavery because of it — that's how I found her and brought her to the Jedi."

Ah, the memories

"I'll see if some of my students come over, but Kahlil likely won't. He got injured on Empress Teta, so I've been forcing him to take it easy and stay with Vera for now."