Psycho-kriffing-metry

[D.C.]

PSYCHO-KRIFFING-METRY
Crystal Cave, Dantooine​

Inside the dark cave sat a Kiffar. The faint glow of the crystals around him fell upon him. He sat crossed-legged on the ground, his hands on his knees and his eyes closed. The Force swirled around him. This one belonged to neither the Light nor the Dark Side of the Force. The two sides had become one, and he had become stronger since his redemption; only a couple of weeks ago. He’d come to Dantooine, to this cave, to meditate and—more importantly—to build a new lightsaber. His old one got destroyed back on Ruan, when he dueled with Valena Karasu, a Jedi Knight.

The metal parts floated before him. In the middle of the parts floated a gold crystal. It glowed brightly with a gold hue, as if it responded to Koran’s Force-touch. The moment Koran had stepped into the cave, he’d felt the strange calling of the crystal. It’d beckoned him to come closer. He’d taken it from the rock it was nestled in.

Inside his bag he had new lightsaber parts. His new weapon would be much better, much stronger than his old one; the one he found ages ago inside the cave on Kiffu, left behind by an old Jedi Master. He’d carried that one as a Bogan, until Val broke it. This one would be better, and it would be one he created himself. Its blade would be broader than a standard saber and slightly longer. Its glow would be bright as the sun. It would be the perfect saber for him.

The crystal floated in the middle of all the parts. Slowly the parts floated into place and then Koran connected them all through the Force. He never touched the parts for that would disturb the process of creating a saber. It had to be done through the Force. It was always done through the Force.

The parts connected and then the saber was complete. Koran slowly opened his pale-brown eyes. He smiled when he saw the beautiful hilt floating before him, and took it in his right hand. He rose to a stand, slowly. And when he stood, he pressed the tiny red emitter button. With a loud hiss the golden blade ignited; bright and hot as a sun. It illuminated the cave he was in brightly. And its hum was a beautiful voice that sang a siren song.

Koran raised the weapon in a two-handed grip. He took the Shien opening stance; holding the saber above his head. He swung widely, horizontal, from left to right. He raised the weapon in both hands again and raised it above his head, to slash downwards. Then he took a step forwards with his left leg and thrust the blade forwards. He took it in both hands again and turned around, and in his turn he slashed from the left to right again. He continued to walk this Kata for some time longer. Elegant and graceful moves, and the saber was so perfect. Its glow so bright.

The Grey Jedi was not unarmed anymore. He didn’t have to stick to vibroswords and blasters anymore. He was back, with a burning hot saber.

 

[Garuga]

Well well, how did I skip over this?

Outside the cave stood a woman, her entire body wreathed in a grey cloak as she stood silently, gazing in the entrance. Her hood did not cover her face, a rarity when she was on a trip such as this. Holding a curious smile on her face, the woman studied the entrance to the cave as though as if it were a painting, while the night wind outside caused her untied hair to flutter about her. Deathly pale, the white tone of her face was separated by the startling black qukuuf markings. This too, was a kiffar. For fun once, she had tattoos done on her upper body, a matching charred black to the inherent marks of her face.

Still pondering on why she had not located this cave during her previous visits to Dantooine, one could see that she was fairly young, still in the physical prime of her life. Nevertheless, without seeing her face and physique or listening to her voice, one would fail to determine her age correctly. Mafalda was a knowledge hunter, one that searched far and wide for any traces of force activity. The force to her was an open tome, from the beginning to the end, there was nothing that she could not find and learn. The dark side or the light side were inconsequential to her in the end, for she use it however she wished.

Knowledge has no boundaries or borders, and knowledge is power. But of course, just knowledge was not enough. Mafalda had hurled herself into the deepest of philosophical battles, delving into what everything around her meant, the reasons why they happened, and envisaging every scenario that could appear. This force cave was one that she had not discovered previously, leading her to be rather puzzled over the reason why. There appeared to be something different, perhaps not just a simple force cave after all. Closing her lavender eyes, Mafalda shifted through all the ‘spikes’ of force activity within the cave in her mind, moving from crystal to crystal, searching for an anomaly.

Then, she found it. Mafaldas’ eyes darted open in surprise as she came across something that definitely was not a blue lightsaber crystal. A kiffar? No slouch either, as their force signature was more than distinct to overcome the lesser auras originating from the crystals and the cave itself around him. Luckily, Mafalda nearly maintained her force disguise constantly when she was travelling on more secretive trips such as this. Being no mere Bogan or Jedi, Mafalda was intrigued by this presence, no one spent time inside such a cave without a motive. Even her, she always had a reason to visit these locations, and the person she had sensed was certainly not some beggar without a home.

Mafalda latched her mask into place once again, her original smile replaced in place by a ghastly metallic grin. The grim unmoving smile could spell a great meaning things, but one would ultimately have to enter it’s owner’s mind to find out it’s true meaning. Stepping into the cave now, Mafalda traced her fingers along a small exposed vein of crystal. Allowing her force energy to rub off on the crystal, causing it’s colourless texture to be filled with a luminescent green for the briefest of moments. The force ripple would make itself evident to Koran that he was no longer alone, before he would only feel nothing once again.

 

[D.C.]

Koran deactivated his lightsaber. The cave was dark again. The Grey Jedi looked up and could've sworn he'd sensed something in the Force. Someone had come here. A quiet powerful being, it seemed, but he wasn't sure who. Then, it was gone. Yet he did feel a strange empitiness in the Force, that told him the being wasn't gone yet. It was still here, and it was come closer. Koran frowned and wondered why anyone would conceal his/her presence in the Force. In a crowded area it could've worked, but here... It was too obvious. And Koran'd been a master Assassin in the Bogan Empire. He knew everything about concealments and cloaks. He was an expert.

He sent out a message through the Force: ~Who's there? You can't hide from me, whoever you are.~

He used the Force to see in the darkness and glanced into the tunnel up ahead. The Force User was down there, and coming closer. Soon he'd find out who this was. He just hoped it was no Bogan, because then he'd have to do battle again. He was not in a battle mood.

 

[Garuga]

Well, that was quick. Mafalda chuckled. Continuing her walk down the tunnel, she wondered what she would find at the end of it. The crystals running alongside the walls shimmered, illuminating the path before her foot reached the ground. Not that it was neccesary for the two force-sensitives inside the cave of course, their force senses could allow them to move within the pitch-dark cave like it was their own homes.

Not so much hiding... Mafalda transmitted telepathically, this form of communication being second nature to her. More of a precaution. A test to see whether you were someone insane enough to immediately start launching attacks everywhere. Stopping her feet for a moment, Mafalda reached out and sensed the various entrances and pathways of the cave structure.

Just because the man did not seem like a psycopath, it did not mean Mafalda would drop her guard or be any less cautious. Or one of those lovely fellows, who would probably come to me and check whether i have a cut leg or the sort. Mafalda joked telepathically, taking a shot at the Jedi's reputation. koran should likely be able to discern that Mafalda was female, as her proficiency with telepathic communication was enough to establish tone and the sort clearly.

 

[D.C.]

~I'm Silence,~ Koran sent, a little mysteriously. ~Show yourself now, or leave me be. I haven't come here to chitchat.~

He could sense her, and he sensed she was nearby. He clenched his new lightsaber--which was still deactivated--tightly in his strong hands. His pale-brown eyes were half-shut, as he stared into the darkness up ahead, only faintly lit by crystals.

The big Kiffar remained silent for now, because, like he said, he's Silence. He could've Cloaked himself and disappeared. He could've made it impossible for her to see, sense, smell or hear him. But he didn't. He could have become Silence, but he didn't. He just stood there, in the cave, waiting for her to show herself... or for her to take her leave. He didn't care. He just hoped she wouldn't continue to bother him. Not now.

~I'm not in the mood.~

 

[Garuga]

Mafalda pouted as she continued to move forward now, making a few 'tsks' at the man's response. That's how one conducts a greeting eh? She jokingly sighed, even telepathically her words were laced with sarcasm. Well, at least it would appear you don't live here. Nevertheless, the man appeared to be on a short leash, and who wouldn't? Force caves were not random places that people would stumble in. Being inside a force cave meant business for force-sensitives, and that could cover a wide range of 'business' indeed. From the innocent such as playing a tribute to a place of importance, to the absolutely bizzare, Mafalda had seen it all.

Still, even if the man was not in the mood for chit-chat, it was exactly what Mafalda was here for. A force cave was one thing, only one of many. This type of encounter was rather rare. Having decided to step out in the open, lest anything aggravates the man who called himself 'Silence' even more. Coming around a bend, koran would soon be able to identify her outline. Chuckling, with each step she took, her entire body seemed to evaporate and melt. By the time she had turned the bend, Mafalda's mask, robes and entire body was no more. What now occupied her place was a mass of green hair, her entire body a radiant gold. A Ghostling.

"Hello then." The young girl, no more than 12 or so, smiled brightly. Standing at less than 5 feet, the disparity of height would nearly be comical. As the girl walked towards the center of the chamber, behind her the faintest traces of a metallic smile could be seen before dissolving within the darkness that occupied the tunnel.

 

[D.C.]

'What?'

Koran raised both eyebrows. He'd expected something, but... not a... child? A Ghostling? What the hell was going on?

He could sense something was off. Something was wrong. But he wasn't sure what it was. He couldn't place it. It was also rather odd that a twelve years old kid was sauntering about through a cave. A Padawan perhaps?

'Where's your master?' Koran said. He clenched the hilt of his new saber tightly. If this was a trick after all, and the Ghostling wanted to ambush him somehow, then he'd be ready for her. For now he decided to play along.

 

[Garuga]

The little girl shook her head and smiled, waving her right index finger sideways. "Just because I'm short, I need a master?" The girl asked accusingly. "They always ask the same thing. Does an adult know where you are? Are you supposed to be out this late?" Taking a long look at the seemingly tense man in front of her, the girl giggled.

"She's meeting someone right now, but she's fine with me strutting about." She conceded, taking a glance at the force crystals in the main chamber and the lightsaber that Koran gripped firmly with his hand. "She might come along later, but don't worry, she's no Jedi if they are people you have problems with." The girl chirped.

The force signature that would radiate from the girl would be identical to the small glimpse Koran had sensed earlier. Perhaps, if he searched carefully enough though, while it would not sound any alarms, the force currents did not move through the girl as they did naturally. It'd seem more as though as if they were literally her being. Nevertheless, it could be attributed to an unnaturally powerful attunement for someone her age.

 

[D.C.]

'Are you here for a crystal?' Koran asked.

He wondered who her master was. But maybe she was the master, and she was playing a trick with him. It was possible. There was something really odd about this one here. No, Koran wouldn't let her fool him, but he still played along.

 

[Garuga]

"Nah, I don't need one." The girl laughed, drumming her fingers on her leg. "I'm guessing that it is why YOU are here in that case?" The girl took a seat on a boulder, drawing her knees to her chin. The girl squinted her eyes for a moment, seemingly contemplating something of great importance before smiling slyly. Jumping to her feet, the girl cleared her throat and flattened her dress before breaking into song.

"The tall sprout Kiffar, his business his own to care! All alone, on this lonesome night. Deep in a cave, no worries in sight. But for his own, this tall sprout Kiffar!" An arrangement of one of the current popular children songs, one sung while a whole group of children would dance hand in hand. "What's your name?" The girl asked, continuing to smile.

 

[D.C.]

Koran looked at the girl with a stern face, but in fact he tried really hard not to smile. He sensed that something was wrong with the Ghostling girl and he was pretty sure that she just wasn't who she wanted him to think she was.

'What's yours?' he asked, as if she had not asked him for his name at all. But he couldn't just tell her his name, could he? What if she was a Bogan in disguise? What if she was here to hunt him down and kill him, for his betrayal. He betrayed the Bogan after all. He betrayed the whole empire. He betrayed a man who called himself a God. And that's where it got dangerous, for a man who calls himself a God will not hold back, never ever. They will go on until the galaxy burns. Until the galaxy's dead.

No, Koran couldn't reveal his name yet. Not until he knew who the kriff this Ghostling really was.

 

[Garuga]

"Wow, you dodge questions better than a politician! Ever considered that path?" The girl tittered. It seemed like the man will remain staunch as ever, but at least it did not appear like he was a psychopath. Sighing in mock defeat, the girl raised her arms, the force drawing loose fragments of crystal in front of her. Like a thousand invisible beetles each carrying their prize, from the minute specks of crystal dust to marble sized ones, the glowing substance crawled towards the girl's feet. Covering near all the spectrum of colours, the crystals arranged themselves into letters. All the while, the girl held her smile, her handiwork continuing their operation.

MAFALDA

"Mafalda." The girl chirped, in case the Kiffar was, amusingly enough, illiterate.

Of Clan Saveri... Whispered the initial telepathic voice, a moment before the silver grin emerged beside the ghostling. Turning to face the new figure, the little girl beamed with pride as the woman lay her hand on her head. Then, as if reality itself was distorting, the young girl's smiling face shimmered before it crumbled away to join the shining shards on the ground. Her hand coolly drifting towards her mask, the woman peeled off the metallic skin, her bemused smile and taunting eyes becoming visible.

Waving the mask with a flourish, Mafalda finally spoke in her own voice. "At your service..." She said politely, letting the words roll off her tongue.

 

[D.C.]

'Saveri...?' Koran said. He wore an amusing expression on his face; his eyes wide open, his mouth wide open. You know, that typical expression people wear when they are really taken aback, because something happened which they absolutely didn't expect.

Now, you might find this odd, but the truth is; Koran'd never met another Kiffar from Kiffu again after he left Kiffu, all those many years ago. He met other Kiffars, of course, but those weren't born on Kiffu; had never even set a foot on Kiffu. But this one was from Clan Saveri and that was just... amazing.

'You wear Saveri's markings. I recognize them,' Koran said. 'And if you're really from Kiffu, you'll recognize mine.'

He passed his saber from his right to his left hand, and let it slide into the small sheath he wore at his left hip. He crossed his muscular arms in front of his chest and fixed his pale-brown eyes on her. So, he finally met another Kiffar from Kiffu, and a beautiful one at that.

'Tell me,' he said sternly, 'which Clan do I belong to?' It was a just a simple test. Of course, if she gave him the right answer it didn't mean anything, for a Force Sensitive Kiffar could very well be a Bogan—look at Koran, he used to be one. So, if this Mafalda of Clan Saveri was a Bogan as well, and she was hunting for Koran, then this would end in a bloody duel.

Then again, Koran didn't sense the Dark Side in her. This was intriguing...

 

[Garuga]

Mafalda was impressed that the male could recognise Saveris' markings. Their reputation was hardly a clean slate, being a clan that was known to produce an inordinate number of Darksiders. Perhaps this made the man uneasy, having to wonder whether the woman in front of him was one such individual. Mafalda smiled as the tall male finally released the lightsaber from his grip, oddly enough it was the sight of herself that seemed to make Koran more relaxed, as opposed to the young girl.

"Certainly... bold warrior of Mak." Mafalda chuckled sarcastically, momentarily diverting her lavender eyes away from his arms to his facial markings. "Though really, even an outsider could learn to discern the subtle differences if they wished."

Mafalda wore her own markings proudly, the mask she commonly wore had more to do with convenience as opposed to hiding herself. "If you have heard of Saveri's name, then certainly you'd be wondering if I follow some of my kins' footsteps?" Mafalda inquired, taking a few steps forward. "The answer is no, though my mother too was struck down because of her ways. Those who only indulge themselves utterly upon the ease of the Dark side are both undeserving and incapable of the gift of knowledge."

Pulling her hood back, Mafalda revealed her head fully. Taking out a hairpin from her pocket, Mafalda quickly adjusted her hair while talking. "Does that answer you sufficiently to warrant your first name?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

 

[D.C.]

Koran didn't think she was lying. He'd been through a lot and learned a lot about the art of deceiving (he used to be a Dark Assassin after all). He looked at her for a while, and didn't answer immediately. She was an odd one, but also an intriguing one.

'Mafalda of Clan Saveri,' he said, 'I am Koran of Clan Mak.' He decided to take the risk. If she turned out to be an assassin sent by the Bogan, he'd ignited his new golden saber and give her one hell of a fight. If she wasn't an assassin—he sincerely doubted she was one—it'd be all good. Or at least, it would be less of a problem.

'What brings you here?' he asked, more friendly now. He sounded less tense.

 

[Garuga]

"i go anywhere that interests me." Mafalda chuckled. One big advantage of being without a family, or a job at that. "Whether it's a particular object, or a location, i go. Well, and i suppose people must also count don't they." Seemed like the man had finally dropped some of his suspicion. "Yeah, i don't exactly have a job... so i travel around as much as i can afford."

A sightseer of particular tastes, you could say. Caves, ruins, archives. Anything related to the force was worth seeing, and anything that Mafalda had not seen yet was something that needed to be visited. Or you know, visting a crystal cave for no reason other than to pick out a few pretty crystals for decoration, but that's up for debate.

"And you? Other than to presumably construct your weapon. What do you do, Mr Mak?"

 

[D.C.]

'I am a Chimera of CARD,' Koran answered, 'and I came here to build a new weapon, to replace my old one. A powerful opponent destroyed it in a heated duel. I came here, because the crystal caves on this world seem to produce powerful crystals.'

It was true. These weren't ordinary crystals. When used in a saber, the blade seemed to glow brighter and the blade seemed to be thicker. Hence Koran came to this specific cave.

'So, you're a wandered,' Koran said. 'A Grey Jedi.'