Dust Rock Blues

[Galahad Vult]

theme​

Jedha, the dusty moon that served as the religious capital for the entire galaxy. The Jedi temple that once stood here was the place where Galahad had grown up, trained in the Jedi arts from a young age. Most of his life he had spent here, serving the Order as a dutiful Temple Guard for many years. He had many fond memories of this place, and it was a shame that the temple now lay in ruins, destroyed by the whims of an Empress. Though the Jedi could make efforts to repair the building, that was no longer a priority for the Order. Beset on all sides by the Republic and the Empire, the Order now must work to ensure their survival, which was exactly why Masters Vult and Wolfe were there.

Skirting the perimeter at the bottom of the great plateau, the two Jedi were in search of the entrance to the caves that housed Jedha's most valuable and most protected resource: Kyber Crystals. Galahad had personally not been to the caves in many, many years, and since Austin had visited them more recently, the ex-temple guard was deferring to the doctor's knowledge of the terrain. Reaching a hand into a bag clipped to his belt, Galahad drew out a few small pebbles of platinum he had acquired earlier. Resting them in his palm, he offered the mineral beads to the white-scaled reptile that perched on his shoulder, who hungrily snatched the rocks up and swallowed them whole. "Doesn't that hurt?" he asked Felwinter rhetorically, receiving no response but the blue-eyed stare of the hatchling.

His mind wandering to their recent journey to Ruusan with Marina, a question formed in Galahad's mind. "Austin," he began, "Saeros spoke of meeting you once before, here on Jedha. When was this, if you do not mind me asking? You have never spoken of such a phenomenal occurrence before." Austin was not a secretive person by nature, and though Galahad did not wish to pry, he was curious nonetheless.

@Vosrik​

 

[Austin Wolfe]

Upon arriving at the Holy City, a wave of nostalgia rushed through Austin as he beheld the dusty red landscape of rocks and plateaus. He had not returned here for many years — not since the temple was destroyed and the doctor had tended to the survivors with Master Halan on Vrogas Vas. While back then he had wished for the temple to be rebuilt as soon as possible, now he realized that such efforts would have been in vain. The Jedi were to scatter, leaving their temples and monasteries behind to preserve the Order in utmost secrecy. It was for this reason that the two Jedi Masters had decided to establish their sanctuary — not a true "temple" by the Order's standards. It was simply a place that could be used to preserve knowledge and hopefully teach many generations of Jedi to come. Having already planned to provide the parts to build new lightsabers there, Austin and Galahad now needed suitable unattuned crystals that would power such weapons.

"Land there," the doctor instructed Tennant, who was once again given the privilege of flying the Azarael. "That is the closest we shall be able to get to the caves. We will travel the rest of the way on foot," he stated, observing the Arkanian Dragon swallow whole pieces of platinum with great curiosity. Despite having been to many systems and seen first-hand the many fauna that inhabited them, Austin had never seen any other creature that willingly ate rocks. As the Medical Triage touched down gently, the doctor pressed the release for the loading ramp as Galahad asked him the question. Nodding solemnly in response, Austin's mind traveled back to that day he had last journeyed into the caves here on Jedha.

Stepping off the ramp and beginning their expedition, he also started his tale. "You are correct, I never told you. In fact, this was the same day we had our discussion long ago in the marketplace on Jedha — do you remember?" That was the day the two Jedi had met and conversed with Venatus Phoenix. Though it was the only day they had spent time with the unusual Knight, he certainly left a lasting impression on their minds. "After we had finished speaking our points of view to each other, I journeyed into these caves to further commune with the Force. I do not know what brought me there that day — attempting to meditate surrounded by Kyber crystals is not practiced often and has little benefit. However, I stumbled upon Master Telunaris, Knight Tynian, and Venatus once again in the depths below. It was there that we melded minds, seeking wisdom and answers from the Force."

Despite it having been many years ago, the vision that Austin had witnessed was still fresh in his mind. The two Jedi Masters turned onto the path that lead down towards the cave entrance, and the doctor continued his story. "It was then I saw a vision of my dead sister upon the icy slopes of Ilum. I opened my mouth to speak, but I could not. I heard her voice, and she told me that she fought for the Order because it was her duty. As she vanished, I now know I saw the spirit of Saeros who commanded me to let go of my sister's death." Continuing to walk onward as the path sloped even further downward, Austin looked to Galahad as he finished the story. "It was after this vision that I believe I was able to see the error of my ways. We then visited that settlement on Dantooine, and I believe you know the rest."

A smile lay on the doctor's face. It was incredible to think that such events happened so long ago, and yet they still felt so recent. Both Austin and Galahad were now Masters, having grown in wisdom and strength to better serve the Jedi Order. Now that they had fulfilled their duty in life, both Masters had a growing sense that this sanctuary would be their final resting place.

@Shalken​

 

[Galahad Vult]

Galahad nodded, memories returning of that fateful day resurfacing in his mind. The freshly discharged Temple Guard desperately wanted to return to his set duties in spite of his wounded leg. Back then, Galahad didn't want things to change, and had a hard time accepting reality. He was a far different man now. The bearded Jedi was surprised to hear that even then, his words had affected the stuck-up doctor. He was also surprised to hear of how many had gone down to the crystal caves to meditate; perhaps it was a more occurrence than he expected. However, now it all made sense to the bearded Jedi. Not long after that day they had gone out on an expedition to Dantooine and saved an entire village from the machinations of an outcast doctor, and when Galahad reasoned with Austin after the day's events, he swayed the doctor to rededicate himself to the Order. Now that Master Vult knew of Austin's vision with his sister and Saeros, his seemingly sudden decision made a great deal more sense. Galahad chuckled. "How coincidental indeed, that Saeros would be the one to help restore your faith in the Order, and now you are the one to finish his book. It is quite fitting." And in doing so, both Austin and Saeros' legacy would pass on to generations of Jedi, if their plans for the sanctuary should succeed.

Stepping out behind Master Wolfe, Galahad scanned the high cliffs of the Holy City's plateau. "It has been a great many years since I have visited these caves...I was only a young lad then, back when I first built my lightsaber. If my memory serves me correctly, it should be just around this bend and right..." As he spoke, the two Jedi stepped around an outcropping, revealing another section of the wall. However, where the cave's entrance should have been was a large pile of rocks that had fallen from its roof, sealing it off completely. "...here." Galahad could only wonder as to why the cave-in had occurred. Was it intentional, or caused naturally from misuse? Whatever the case, they needed to remove the obstruction. Those Kyber Crystals were a necessary part of their plan, and the two Jedi would not be inhibited by some stones. Grasping the pile of red rocks telekinetically, Galahad cast most of them aside from the entrance. However, several more stood in their way, and another chunk of the ceiling fell down into the opening.*

@Vosrik​

 

[Austin Wolfe]

Looking down at the tome strapped to his side, Austin smiled as he unlatched it and flipped through the pages nostalgically. He had indeed finished it, but its blank pages were not completely filled. "I did finish what he wished to teach, but there is still more that could be written for others. If I had the time, I would delve into the art of healing. Perhaps once our work is complete," the doctor sighed, replacing Caladglær to his side as they neared their destination. Galahad was correct about the location of the cave entrance, but Austin was just as surprised to see it completely blocked. "Ah..." he commented softly. "It must have collapsed when the temple was destroyed."

These boulders blocking their path would be difficult to move, being immense in size and weight. Stepping out and planting his feet firmly on the rocky path, Austin drew upon the Force with as much strength as he could muster. Reaching out and gripping the stones sealing the door, he pulled them away and hurled them out of the way.* Though the ceiling had caved in a bit as Galahad moved some of the rocks earlier, it held firm now,* allowing the Jedi to enter without any further difficulties for the time being.

Having been through the caves a few times previously, Austin was vaguely familiar with the direction he needed to go. However, it was likely that with the destruction of the Temple, many had come to steal what crystals they could. Finding a fork in the cave after walking some distance inside, the doctor sat down on a stone outcrop and closed his eyes. "I will see if I can find the best path we should take," he informed Galahad, reaching out with his mind to feel the crystals around him. He could see the visage of his fellow Jedi Master clearest — a bright and burning beacon of the light, shining like an unquenchable flame. Further in the distance the doctor searched though, looking for the reflection of the Force that each crystal gave. Unable to see the exact location of the Kyber crystals, Austin was still able to determine which direction the two Jedi should take.* "This way," he proclaimed suddenly, getting up from his short trance and striding purposefully down one of the paths. It was unfortunate indeed he had no memory crystal for directions like the one Telunaris had — such a thing would have been exceptionally useful in this situation.

@Shalken​

 

[Galahad Vult]

Galahad suspected that cave-ins would not be the only trouble they would find in the caves. Only after seeing the fork in the cavern did he remember that one needed a map of some kind in order to navigate them without getting lost. Though Austin discovered the direction they needed to take after some meditation, Galahad decided to carve an arrow in the sandy floor, pointing the way out. If they did so at every crossroad, then even without a map they would be able to retrace their steps once they had gathered a sufficient number of crystals.

The two Jedi Masters then headed down the path Austin directed them in, Galahad looked up at the ceiling to investigate its stability. "If the tremors from the Temple's destruction were strong enough to dislodge the rocks at the entrance, I hope that the entire cave network does not fall down upon us," he remarked. His concerns were unfounded however, as the ceiling held stable and their progress was not halted by more cave-ins.* After walking for a short while deeper into the caves, a faint glimmer of light appeared ahead of them and steadily got brighter as they approached. Soon, Galahad was able to deactivate the glow from his staff. They had found the Kyber crystals.*

Despite the urgency of their mission, Galahad could not help but pause for a few moments, gazing wide-eyed in wonder at the sparkling natural beauty of the Force-imbued gems. "Truly a pity that the Sith desecrate these crystals," he mourned. He could not fathom to what depths of depravity one would need to fall to destroy all that was good and right in the galaxy. Perhaps that was a testament to how wholly the Dark Side can corrupt those that feed from it. Kneeling down, Galahad set aside the crate that he had brought along and gently began to remove Kyber crystals from their beds and into the case. "We must find a way to pass down the knowledge of the Crypt," the ex-guard mused. "It cannot be done simply through word of mouth. If the Sith ever found those that knew of it, the darksiders could easily extract that information. There must be another way."

@Vosrik​

 

[Austin Wolfe]

Out of the corner of his eye, Austin noted that Galahad marked the path they had taken in the fork of the caves. It occurred to the doctor that doing so was an incredibly wise thing to do — he had heard many stories in his time on Jedha of younglings getting lost and only finding their way out by the Will of the Force. While a good learning experience for one becoming more adept with the use of the Force, the two Masters did not have the time to become lost in a cave network. Upon hearing Galahad's statement, Austin looked upwards at the ceiling of the cave. Despite the horrific cave-in that happened at the entrance, it seemed as though they were deep enough underground that their path would not be affected by any more rocks falling. It was not long indeed until their eyes were met by the otherworldly glow that Austin clearly remembered from his last expedition to the caves. The crystals were here.

As Galahad stopped to survey the beauty of the glistening walls dotted with crystal growth, Austin did the same to once again take in the view. It was not often that Jedi had the privilege of seeing these Kyber caves — as there was little need to journey back unless one was creating a new blade. Today though, the two Jedi Masters would be retrieving enough crystals for hopefully many generations of Jedi to come. "You are right," the doctor replied, sighing deeply. "We may need to pass down something more discreet — something that cannot be easily forgotten." As he spoke, Austin looked around at the crystals that lay nearby. To his dismay, the ones he saw were wholly unsuitable to be taken back and used for the Crypt.*

"We must continue further down," Austin commented. "We cannot use these ones here. Former Jedi have clearly picked these outcroppings clean." Having spoke, he strode deeper into the cave network, hoping that they might gather all the Kyber crystals they needed for their sanctuary.

@Shalken​

 

[Galahad Vult]

When Austin mentioned that the crystals in this location were unusable, Galahad looked down at the handful he had already gathered. He had been so deep in thought that he had not even paused to look at their condition — most were chipped or broken. Sifting through the bad shards in his palm, Galahad clutched the two remaining and stuffed them into his crate before moving on.

Further down into the cave they trod, their path lit entirely from the constant, gentle glow that emanated from the Kyber crystals. The fact the two Master had to delve deeper was truly a shame to Galahad; in the Jedi's absence, raiders had been allowed to collect Kyber and sell it off like mere trinkets with none to stop them. However, it was not long before the two Jedi rounded a corner and found a section of the caves that had been completely untouched and was ripe with good-quality crystals.* A wave of relief washed over the bearded Jedi. "Perhaps the cave-in at the entrance prevented the robbers from carting off all the Kyber crystals," Galahad speculated as he knelt down and began gathering the precious resource. "The sanctuary should have a caretaker," Galahad pondered out loud. Though Felwinter was going to defend the establishment, it would be prudent if they found someone to take care of its interior...but who could they entrust with such a secret? Who would willing spend their entire life living in exile on a dangerous mountaintop? Would Felwinter even allow another person besides himself to live so close to his roost?

As the two Jedi had nearly completed their task, a distant boom echoed throughout the cavern, followed by several tremors that shook the floor and walls. Galahad looked over his shoulder back towards the cave's entrance. "Not good," he muttered. The ceiling had collapsed again somewhere — the two could only guess as to how badly.

@Vosrik​

 

[Austin Wolfe]

Continuing onward, the two Jedi Masters stayed silent as they beheld the beauty of the caves and searched for more Kyber crystals suitable for lightsabers. Turning a corner in the cave network not too far ahead, the wondrous glow being reflected off of the fully intact crystals met Austin's gaze. A smile crept onto his face and he breathed a silent sigh of relief. Looking around the area, the doctor suddenly realized that this was the exact same spot where he, along with Telunaris, Venatus, and Tynian had melded minds and experienced visions from the Force. Stepping down into the same alcove he'd been before, Austin began gently picking apart Kyber crystals from their outcropping formations when Galahad spoke about a caretaker for the sanctuary they were establishing. The thought made the doctor pause his collecting for a few moments, his mind pulled away as he thought of a solution. Ideally, the two would need someone they could wholly trust with the knowledge of the sanctuary. Not only that, but someone who would hopefully be able to maintain it for many years to come.

As Austin broke off another piece of a Kyber crystal, a thought came to him. Perhaps not someone, but something would be the best to oversee the maintenance of the crypt on Ellora. "I think our best option would be for Tennant to take care of the sanctuary," he suggested. "Drawing power from the Great Storm, I am certain he would be an excellent choice for years to come." It was not long before the two Jedi Masters had collected all the crystals they needed, though not before the rumble of a cave-in resounded throughout the cavern.

Returning the way they had come, it was not long before they arrived at the pile of rocks that blocked their exit. Thankfully, only a few large stones had fallen from the ceiling, which Austin and Galahad were easily able to move out of their way.* Having exited the crystal caves and back out into the sunlight, it appeared their work on Jedha had been completed. "Well then, let us return to Brighthome."

Fin​

@Shalken​