Initiate's Learnings

[Alhazred]

“Just relax your mind, let go, and focus on the stones”

Alhazred glared slightly at the monstrous green brute of a being. Despite being only half of Kharag’s size, his annoyance was winning over the sheer intimidation the Orcolan exuded.

“You cognize that such actions are counter-intuitive, correct?”

Kharag sighed and pointed at the small pile of water-smoothed gray stones before the Nu-Vaal.

“You can do it. Just relax into the Force, and focus.”

Alhazred sighed and stared at the stones. Closing his eyes, he raised a webbed hand and began to focus on that so-called ‘energy field’ the Jedi called ‘The Force’. The entire thing still befuddled Alhazred's scientific mind. Such an energy was impossible to measure, and yet controlled by thought alone? If he hadn’t witnessed its actions before, and heard its music when he meditated, Alhazred would’ve ranked the entire thing as magic mambo-jumbo. His own arcane and esoteric research into the placements of celestial bodies and their effects on life was more scientifically founded, and that he admitted was more a religious pursuit like the codes of Mandalore.

Alhazred furrowed his brow. He swore he could feel something happening. He could most certainly hear something occurring. No sooner than he began, he could hear the whistling of woodwinds. Was that the stone moving and tapping again and again? It was so difficult…if only those flutes would shut up!

Alhazred held his breath and tightened his grip, trying to concentrate with all his might. The flutes raised in pitch. The blissls faded in and grew in sound. Alhazred could barely hear the the stone fumbling around maddeningly. Was he finally accomplishing the task of levitation? He had to look, but if he looked, he would lose it again!

Alhazred couldn’t stop himself and peaked a glance. No sooner than he did so, the flutes died out and the stone became still. Alhazred emitted a deep disappointed sigh.

“Better. Try again” Kharag ordered.

Alhazred grumbled slightly.

“It would be so much easier without those blasted instruments in my ear every time…”

The Orcolan placed a heavy hand on the Nu-Vaal’s shoulder, while raising an eyebrow.

“What instruments?”

“The instruments!” Alhazred motioned with a hand. “You know, flutes and blissls and those ear-aching chindinkalus! Doesn’t everyone perceive them when they utilize the Force?”

Kharag shook his head. “First I’ve heard of it. When do you hear these instruments?”

“Only when I meditate or practice these lifting exercises,” Alhazred explained. “When I’m meditating, its normally quieter and easier to tolerate. But lifting these rocks, they always whistle at impossible tones and their timbre becomes immeasurably flat.”

Alhazred looked at Kharag inquisitively. “This isn’t normal?”

There was a worried tone in Alhazred’s whisper.

Kharag scratched his chin, intrigued by Alhazred’s words. “Not really. But it does sound kind of familiar… hmmm…for now, just meditate. Tomorrow you will try again. But expect some reading tonight before bed.”

Alhazred nodded as Kharag excused himself and walked away. Despite being schooled by someone twice as big and twenty years younger, Alhazred couldn’t help but feel a bit more at ease. It felt like he had made progress.

_________

That night, Alhazred found a datapad at the foot of his bed, as well as a note from Kharag

“Knew I heard of it. Friend had it growing up. Hope this helps” Alhazred read the note aloud. “...same here Kharag”

Tapping on the screen, Alhazred opened the files.

“Synesthesia and You: Understanding your Brain” Alhazred read aloud the title. Confused but interested, the elder initiate began to read further. Unable to stop himself, the Nu-Vaal had quickly devoured all the information, and began rereading every word over and over, memorizing each tidbit of information. The files ranged from self-help, to informative, to research notes, to speculations. While none of them tied directly to the Force, Alhazred quickly made a connection.

“Perhaps…” Alhazred mused to himself. “The Nu-Vaal mental facility, or at least my own, has part of it tied to the part of the brain that houses sensory input information.”

Alhazred thought to himself further. Whether or not this was a common, rare, or completely unique phenomenon was unknown, though the lack of evidence amongst aliens across the galaxy pointed it towards rarity at least. It was entirely possible that what Alhazred was suffering from wasn’t even Synesthesia at all, but something extremely similar to it.

Alhazred looked up at the turban on his head.

“Welp, time to test a theory”

Leaving his bed, Alhazred returned to where the pile of stones waited. Alhazred sat down, closed his eyes and began to meditate. A deep breath in. A slow breath out. A simple mantra to quiet his mind down. Another breath in. Another breath out.

The ethereal instruments began to drift in. Soft woodwinds floating on invisible winds, quiet drums thumping through the ground, brass horns falling from the sky. Strings rippling through the water. The clingings of triangles hanging in the corners of the air. All of the noise was very discordant, but strangely, rightly and quietly so. The galaxy was chaotic and disorderly. Why shouldn’t the music of life not also be that way?

Sure of being alone, Alhazred began to focus on his turban. He knew each seam and fiber like the back of his hand. He would begin by loosening the inside knot. Normally it was un-tied by his hidden prehensile tendrils, but this time, it would be the force that would do it.

The flutes began to rise in pitch. Alhazred winced and stopped focusing. No sooner than he had done so, the flues returned to their normal tone. Picturing the knot in his head, Alhazred attempted to focus on a different part of the knot. The flutes raised in tone again, but this time, so did the strings. Curious, Alhazred pushed further. The flutes stayed the same pitch, but the strings began to increase in their intensity ever so slightly.

It’s….beautiful… Alhazred thought as he continued experimenting with the discordant music in his head. Slowly, but gently, Alhazred pulled at the knot inside his turban. As it came loose, Alhazred smiled slightly. He couldn’t stop now. He could do more. A downward pull at the cloth here made the flutes change in timbre. A tug here made a drum beat harder. A sudden jerk made a triangle clash loudly, nearly breaking the Nu-Vaal’s concentration.

Slowly…gently…this was what the Force prefers. Alhazred thought momentarily.

Finally, the turban fell down into Alhazred’s open hands. Breaking from the Force, Alhazred looked at his turban with a sense of pride filling his entire being.

“Looks like it did help Kharag”

 

[Alhazred]

Alhazred rubbed his throat as he walked through the foliage of the Jedi Temple. His recent experience of listening to and asking questions of Master Kharag had left his voice sore and irritated beyond degree again. He silently cursed himself as his hand produced a small nutrient cube from his pocket and shoved it between his face tendrils. Sucking on the cube, Alhazred began to get the juices flowing in his mouth to soothe his aching vocal cords

How fortunate all others can be... Alhazred thought to himself, his head tendrils wiggling the words out under his turban. To have articulation unrestrained in patterns of speech by poorly developed vocal chords. A curse by my gods to restrain my people indeed...

Alhazred plopped on the ground in his typical meditative spot and began to attempt to meditate, but the notes came harder this time. His mind continued to wander back to his questioning of Kharag. Alhazred had so many more questions he wanted to ask the Jedi Master, but did not do so. Instead, he simply had to pause and let other initiates ask their questions, and act as if those questions would satisfy his own curiosity. He had routinely been allowing others to speak lately, and it was beginning to wear on his mind. While he knew in his mind that envy was an ugly color on his soul, he was unable to keep the green beast down very easily.

Alhazred looked at another initiate meditating in the area. They were speaking to a knight about the steps of meditation. Alhazred glared slightly. As serene as the gardens could be, the place was often visited by numerous Jedi Initiates, padawans, knights, and masters. While it was simply to find a place to be alone, many sometimes wouldn't. Alhazred wasn't sure if there was some biological reasoning why others liked to meditate in groups, but at this moment, it was not helping. All these people, with their vocal cords developed to the point of...

Are you done yet?

Alhazred's body posture changed from an annoyed but relaxed slouch to one at attention. Cautiously, the Nu-vaal looked around.

"Who said that?" Alhazred whispered.

I did

Alhazred scratched at his head. Was he hearing voices now?

Of a sort. You've heard of telepathy, yes?

Alhazred looked around again.

Who are you? Alhazred thought, this time not outloud.

A fellow meditator. Hope you don't mind my intrusion, its just you were annoying me.

Alhazred tilted his head in confusion. Excuse me?

No I won't. At least not yet.

Not what I meant.

Oh. Sorry, I have trouble reading tones and meanings. Even in the mind, I struggle with it. See, your envy is... nauseating to be honest. Like a putrid, puss-filled yellow in a sea of vibrant green. It's quite distracting.

How do you think I feel? Alhazred fired back. I have to survive its presence.

Not very becoming of a Jedi. Most Jedi would try to work through it. But you...its as if you have just surrendered to it.

How would I do that?

Work through it? Well, therapy is usually the go to.

I disbelieve therapy can aid my situation.

I doubt that. Let's see, the source of your envy is your voice?

Alhazred grumbled slightly.

Ah, your annoyance has risen. So it is your voice. Or rather, your vocal cords...

You know, most people consider individual thoughts and memories to be sacred.

I do as well. And trust me, I'm not fishing through your memories, just your surface thoughts. Tampering is too closely related to the darkside. Its just that I won't be able to focus until you get this under control. I could ask you to leave, but that wouldn't be productive for you, and honestly mean-spirited for me, so I need to be a bit more intrusive. I hope you will forgive me in time.

Look, if you just need some space to meditate, I'm sorry for disturbing you, and I'll find another place to focus my thoughts.

NO! Do not apologize.

Alhazred blinked in confusion. Um, why not?

Well, for one, I don't believe you. Two, it isn't productive in this situation. Three, apologizing for your emotions means that they have control over you.

Alhazred blinked a few times.

Can you explain that last bit for me?

Of course. As sentient, living beings, we experience emotions. All sentients do. But by apologizing for experiencing these emotions, whether its envy or anger or happiness or love, indicates we feel shame for them, and in turn, allow them to control us. But as Jedi, we must not allow our emotions to control us. We control ourselves.

Alhazred nodded at the line of thinking.

You do makes sense. So what do you recommend?

Acknolodge your emotions exist, and deal with them. Do not run from them, or bury them. Instead face them, and embrace the fact that these emotions are telling you something important about yourself. Do not feel shame. Feel grateful that you can feel these emotions as fully as you can. But most of all, face these emotions, or they will face you on their time of choosing. For example, your envy. You were wanting to go off and be by yourself, yes? How would that deal with your envy?

Alhazred was silent, unable to think up a good response.

See? You most likely would've tried burying it, and in turn it would fester and grow like some horrid little parasite. It would have been gnawing at the back of your mind each time you saw someone speaking. And that would do you no good. But this envy of your peer's voices, what does that say about you?

That I can't speak well?

Dig deeper. Why are you envious that you cannot speak like others do?

Because...because it means I am restricted and alone. I am unable to connect with my peers like my fellow initiates can.

Aha! So you feel lonely. I can understand that. I felt the same way once. My speaking skills are quite disabled as well.

How did you deal with it?

I learned to communicate in other ways besides speaking.

Like telepathy. Alhazred nodded.

Oh no, I didn't learn that for a long time, despite...well despite certain things. But I found other, better ways to communicate with others. Writing usually helped me at first.

I did that a lot at Yag'Dhul Alhazred explained mentally. Sadly, I doubt writing will be effective when carrying out Jedi duties.

Indeed. Which is why I'm willing to teach you telepathy.

Oh?

Indeed. Come, stretch out with your feelings. Embrace the Force. I will guide you as you do so.

Alhazred nodded and closed his eyes. Once again, the music of the Force came to him. All manner of instruments flooded his ears as the Force around him connected with him and through him. For Alhazred, he was no longer an entity separate from the whole, but a fellow musician in a grand orchestra, one that consisted of every single living thing in the galaxy. The chords the Force created were awe inspiring in themselves, and overwhelming to behold. Trying to understand the entire song known as the Force would have driven Alhazred a step away from sanity.

How beautiful... The voice spoke, a grouping of strings carefully dancing between notes like a Twilek dancer: full of grace and purpose.

Now...find my presence in the Force. Listen to my notes, and follow them to the source. I will try to make mine...louder for you to find.

Alhazred shook himself and tuned in to the music around him. It was difficult. The number of instruments he could identify were more numerous than the stars in the galaxy, and the ones he could not were even more countless. Loud ones, soft ones, flat ones, rich round ones, warm and lush, cold and stagnant, harmonious and melodic, tuneful and dulcet. Each instrument carried its own tone and pacing, as if playing its own song, but in essence, each song each instrument played blended perfectly with the music of the Force.

One grouping of instruments grew louder. Alhazred focused on the groupings, mentally blocking the rest of the others out. No sooner had he done so, the instruments responded to him.

Excellent! I feel your presence even greater now. Now, listen to your own song. Recognize it for what it is in the Force. Hear the melodies you are producing, and alter them. Blend your presence, I mean, your song, with my own, as I have been doing for you.

No sooner than these notes were produced, the stranger's song suddenly shifted its chords and rythmm. It became slightly more upbeat and lively. Alhazred recognized what had occurred. The stranger had exited his meditative state, to help teach Alhazred how to communicate through the force.

Alhazred breathed in deeply. He breathed out even deeper. His notes were erratic, and his Temp was slow, compared to the new music the stranger made. Slowly, Alhazred began to play with the music notes. He pulled a finger. He lifted a tendril. His tones became more hollow. His tempo began to speed up. Alhazred took a breath and spat out his nutrient cube. His notes crescendoed slightly. A plucking here. A playful banter here. An introduction of an octect and a lowered octave.

Soon, Alhazred found his song and the stranger's song to be harmonious. Slowly, Alhazred merged his song with the strangers.

Wow...

Very good my friend.

This...is... Alhazred thought very slowly.

Yes, it takes practice, but in time, you will get better...

Suddenly, Alhazred opened his eyes, unable to keep the song going. He breathed in several gasps of air, surprised at how his breath had been taken away.

Yes, that will happen at first. If you ever need practice, I'm usually here somewhere. For now, relax, and dwell on what we've talked about, alright?

"Of course. thank you for that and...thanks. For pointing out my emotional state." Alhazred whispered outloud.

Think nothing of it

 

[Alhazred]

Alhazred was stunned to say the least when the Jedi asked him to play a few games of Klikklak in the study area. It had been several years since he had played the game, and while the Jedi continued to teach him to expect the unexpected, he did not expect to be asked to play a classic gambler card game.

Still, here he was, sitting at a table across from the massive Herglic. Jedi Knight Gurph was hard not to notice in the Jedi temple, but Alhazred was surprised he did not witness the porpoise-esque humanoid more often. The Nu-Vaal felt like the two would’ve had much to talk about.

“You know how to play?” Gurph asked as he set the Sabaac deck between the two on the table.

Alhazred nodded. “Classic timer, or Shortened Breath?”

Gurph smiled slightly. It was obvious he had not had a proper opponent in a long time, or at least one who knew the rules well enough to know the optional timers.

“I know you squids have bad vocals, so Shortened Breath”

Alhazred smiled back as he raised a hand towards the deck. “And here I thought the insults didn't start until we both drew a card.”

Alhazred squinted and focused his breath. The music of the force rose in his ears alone as the deck moved towards himself. Gurph watched with a smirk as the Nu-Vaal slowly began to move the cards between his hands without touching them. The shuffling was slow to be certain, but neither Gurph nor Alhazred seemed to mind. It was good practice for the initiate.

Once done, Alhazred pushed the deck slowly back to the center and gestured to his opponent for the first draw. Once each player had drawn their card, Gurph tapped the small droid he brought along, which began to beep as it counted down.

The game had begun.

“I have to admit, I never played against someone twice my age” Gurph smiled as he held his practically tiny card in his overmassive blubbery hand. “You sure you can do this old-timer?”

Alhazred nodded again, trying to show no emotion from the jab. Klikklak was a game that actually expected insults to be passed around as the players gauged the opponent. Alhazred recognised both the insult as well as the attempt to gauge his own reaction to the insult to indicate his card’s value. He was playing against a professional.

“Age is but a number as the young ones say…” Alhazred replied as he glanced at his own card again before looking into the Herglic’s black eyes. “Besides, that just means I’ve bested numerous more opponents than you Master Gurph”

“Ain’t a master oldie. But lets change topic shrimp”

“Yes, let's do that big guy”

Alhazred winked at his opponent. The Herglic trait of being sensitive about their size was well known throughout the galaxy. Anyone who met a Herglic would eventually encounter the trait by saying the wrong thing or forcing the whale to go through a door.

“Oooh, low blow, low blow. Come now, surely you can do better than that” Gurph replied, unfazed. He looked back down to his card and then back up to Alhazred.

“Maybe you shouldn’t have played after all. I don’t think your moon is in alignment”

Alhazred was taken aback momentarily at this new approach.

“I believe I know more about celestial alignments than you know about card games Master Gurph”

Gurph smiled. It was rather frightening, seeing a Herglic show all of his teeth.

“Like your religion even matters”

Alhazred was once again taken aback.

“Excuse me?”

“Your religion. It's a pointless excuse of trying to find meaning in a meaningless universe. I’m sure you know that already?”

Alhazred stayed silent, unable to conjure an appropriate response.

“Aww, you didn’t?” Gurph continued, seeing Alhazred’s hesitation. “Come now, moons controlling people’s destinies? Planets influencing people’s actions? You and your kind sound crackers if that's what you truly believe. Jedi don’t have such silly beliefs. Our religion at least has physical evidence to back it up, unlike you.”

Alhazred gripped his webbed hand into fist and glared at Gurph.

“You’re not playing the game right…”

“The game? Come on oldie, insults and jabs are appropriate for Klikklak! I thought you knew that, you superstitious, star-gazing idiot.

Alhazred opened his mouth to reply, but before he could, the droid on the table began to beep loudly. The timer was up. Still grinning, Gurph grabbed a pair of cards with an up arrow and down arrow. Picking one, the whale layed one down with his original card face down on the table, as well at 5 credits.

Fuming, Alhazred glared at the Jedi. The whale had gone too far in the game. He had gone personal and attacked his personal beliefs, calling them silly and meaningless. His people’s religion, a sacred tradition passed down from host to child through the eons, was not meaningless! Such an affront should not be left unanswered. It would be so easy to reach into his mind with telepathy and steal the card’s number from the Jedi. To sync his own music with Gurph’s, and then pull whatever he needed. It was right there, and the Jedi deserved it.

Alhazred placed a card along his original card facedown. On the count of three from the droid, both players turned their cards over. Gurph had bet his card of a Saber 13 was higher.

Alhazred had bet that his Idiot card was lower.

“A push!” Gurph exclaimed at the tie. Chuckling, he took the cards back and began to reshuffle.

Alhazred sat in silence for a few moments before speaking again.

“You did that on purpose”

Gurph looked up and nodded.

“No harm intended. Just wanted to test your character. Glad to say you showed restraint”

Alhazred breathed deeply as the next cards were drawn.

“It was very tempting.” he mused aloud.

“But do you recognize something? That connection to your people’s religion and no doubt your kind? That is an attachment”

Alhazred looked slightly confused.

“As long as you have that attachment, you run the risk of being drawn to the darkside. Not that attachments are bad mind you. I’m not one of those old school Jedi who think all attachments are abhorrent. I was married before I joined the order, and still keep relations. But as long as you cling to that religion of yours as something to be proud about, you run the risk of doing something foolish, or worse, wicked. When the cards are down, and you are called between doing the right thing for the Force and aiding your religion or even your people, or even getting revenge for your people, that attachment will influence you big time. “

Alhazred nodded. “You are wise Master Gurph”

“Hey, its just knight. Now come on, lets go again. You aren’t half bad a player”

 

[Alhazred]

With extreme grunting and panting, Alhazred brought the lightsaber up into a defensive position. The green blade crackled and sparked as Kharag’s massive blue blade came crashing down. Alhazred’s knees buckled slightly under the blow but remained strong.

“I’m going easy on you…” Kharag pointed out as Alhazred pushed back slightly.

Alhazred grumbled at the Orcolan’s comment. He didn’t need that fact explained to him. The old man knew when someone was not giving their all against himself.

Alhazred spun sideways and slashed diagonally upwards at Kharag’s chest, only for the blade to be parried away. Kharag spun his blade in large hands like it was weightless, a feat Alhazred knew was not easy. Before their sparring session had begun, Kharag had the Nu-Vaal hold his weapon. Alhazred nearly dropped the thing. It weighed as much as a nerf calf in Alhazred’s opinion.

Kharag swung again downwards. Again, Alhazred brought his blade to stop the blow, but this time, his knees did truly buckle. Pressing down further and further, Kharag drove the pupil to his knees.

“Enough…” Kharag grunted. He stepped back and deactivated his own blade. Panting, Alhazred deactivated his own and holstered it, more than a bit annoyed.

"This is so stupid..."

“Oh no, not this again…” Kharag sighed, seeing Alhazred’s annoyance.

“This is a pointless skill Master Kharag” Alhazred stated plainly, knowing it was better than to beat around the bush with the massive being. “Such violence is useless for me to learn. I am no combatant and certainly not a violent being.”

Kharag rubbed his eyes at the Nu-Vaals statement. How could someone so old be so dumb some days?

“The galaxy is full of dangers Al.” Kharag started. Alhazred was also slightly annoyed at how quickly that nickname had been picked up around other Jedi. “As peacekeepers and protectors, we must be able to protect those who cannot protect themselves”

“You guys are protectors, I’m a scholar. A practicing seer” Alhazred countered. “You can work on trying to prevent the galaxy from being a worse place, but I prefer to make the galaxy a better place. To study the Force is my call, not to swing energy blades at people like a soldier.”

Kharag sighed slightly. “Even if that is true, the galaxy is still dangerous. Jedi are an endangered creature, hunted by many who do not understand our ways. That blade is your protection from that cruel universe.”

“I always thought the Force was our guide” Alhazred countered again.

After a brief pause, Kharag spoke again. “I have a bet then for you. Lose your blade for the next three days. Afterwards, you can choose whether or not you need to be trained in the arts of the blade. “

Alhazred looked at the Orcolan. What game was he playing here? No matter, Alhazred held out his blade, and the Jedi took it carefully. Practically palming it, Kharag nodded with a grin.

That moment, looking at Kharag’s gleeful eyes, Alhazred felt a chill go up his spine.

_____

The next day and night, Alhazred’s studies proved uneventful. He carried out further work into the force and its properties via meditation and experimentation with hardly an ounce of trouble plaguing his mind, save when he practiced his theories on the grounds at night.

It was the following evening when something occurred. Unable to sleep, Alhazred took it upon himself to tour the gardens the Jedi utilized as an area of meditation and contemplation. He believed that perhaps the flowers and leaves would help either quiet his mind, or at least help him relax.

Sitting on a bench, Alhazred mused over some texts he had read earlier about the ancient art of sign casting when the shriek of the music of the Force split apart Alhazred’s mind. Not accustomed to the Force actively screaming in his ear, Alhazred fell over in shock, just in time to see two black objects fly inches where his head used to be and vanish into the underbrush.

“What in the…?!?” Alhazred exclaimed.

From the shadows, two droids stepped out. Their chassis painted black, the only light they showed was from their sensor eyes. One had the putrid color of yellow puss, and the other sported crimson red. In their hands, they held several throwing stars and small daggers.

Alhazred’s eyes widened in realization at why the Force had screamed at him. It was a premonition. A warning.

Red Eyes threw out his hands, sending several throwing stars in Alhazred’s direction. Working on instinct, Alhazred rolled off the bench and dived for the underbrush. Yellow eyes followed behind him, its dagger glinting in the pale moonlight.

Moving through the underbrush, Alhazred's mind tried to rapidly figure out what was going on. All around him, it felt like the droids were closing in. Throwing stars from Red-Eyes, while Yellow constantly on his tail. Only after a sudden roll forward did Alhazred feel safe enough to stay crouched next to a tree. After pausing and regaining his breath, Alhazred had a moment to regather himself enough to focus on the situation.

The underbrush broke open, with Yellow Eyes charging forward with whirring motors. Alhazred’s eyes widened. Unable to do anything else, he threw his hands up and pulled at the notes in the Force. A sharp chorus of strings, a sudden thundering of drums.

Alhazred opened his eyes at the sound of splashing and sparks. The droid had flown backwards and crashed into the lake feature of the gardens. The Force push Alhazred had conjured instinctively had done its job. Alhazred slowly stood up and glanced around. One droid down, one more to…

The sounds of whirring gears got the Nu-Vaal’s attention. Alhazred looked and saw Red-Eyes flying through the air, preparing to throw another handful of stars.

Seeing what was coming, Alhazred raised his hands in a defensive position. Red-Eyes threw the blades and rolled on the floor. Having prepared himself, Alhazred closed his eyes and began to alter the notes of the Force. His practice in the temple had finally shown results, as the Force wrapped its ethereal energy around the blades. In one swift motion, Alhazred played several new chords in the Force as the blades circled around his head like a planet orbited a star. Alhazred released his hold on the Force, and sent the blades flying towards their new target.

Red-Eyes fell down lifeless, the blades striking its head in a lethal manner. Alhazred breathed a sigh of relief.

“That…was not pleasant…” Alhazred breath out with a gasp.

A spray of water. A shadow of a figure jumping from the water. Alhazred fell backwards as the blade stopped inches from his neck.

“Thats enough OOM-25” A familiar voice broke the darkness.

“Kharag!” Alhazred exclaimed as the Orcolan made himself known. The smiling giant clapped his hands.

“Good job at taking care of yourself. Lasted longer than i expected.”

Alhazred chuckled slightly as he caught his breath. OOM-25 stepped away and sheathed his blade.

“These things yours?”

Kharag shrugged. “Older relics belonging to the temple. Don’t worry about damaging them. Those commando droids are actually easily repaired. I sent them after you to show you that being without a lightsaber is a dangerous position for a Jedi, but it seems you have your own ways of defending yourself.”

Alhazred smiled and bowed his head. “The force is my ally, is it not?”

Kharag nodded. “Indeed. So, then, do you want your blade back? If not, there is a thing called sign casting you may want to look further into…”