Ask The Demon Moon

[Zane Garrick]

The story begins here​

Zane’s initial excitement had abated hours ago. Currently, his fingers drummed an impatient crescendo across his cramped knees as he attempted to figure out how long they’d been in hyperspace. He knew that if he slipped out of his hiding place too soon he’d be busted and all his machinations would be ruined, but his full bladder presented an argument he was struggling to refute. The seconds passed by like hours as the pressure increased. Finally, with a pained sigh, Zane decided to emerge from hiding.

The Jedi rolled over to his side and slid his slicing kit from his sling bag. He popped off the rear panel of the container's lock and went to work. A moment, and hiss of compressed air later, and the padawan was free. Zane eased the lid of the container open just a hair and peeked through the gap. The cargo-hold was lit by small yellow running lights which cast the room in a dim sepia-tone reminiscent of candlelight in a meditation chamber. Zane scanned the room, saw no one, and carefully pulled himself free of the durasteel box. As he stood to his full height an involuntary groan escaped his lips and he clamped his mouth shut with both hands.

Garrick mentally berated his stupidity then lowered himself into a crouch. He slipped like a shadow toward the door and put an ear to it, listening for any signs of life. Confident the coast was clear, Zane sliced the door and stepped out into... the hanger bay? The realization left him dumbfounded as he realized he was on a Corvette. A wing of E7 E-Wing Escort Starfighters rested in formation. The only beings on the deck were a handful of astromechs who scuttled performing routine maintenance on the E-wings. An overwhelming need to relieve himself reminded Garrick he needed to find the refresher, fast.

The padawan stuck to the trying to act as natural as he could so as to not draw the attention of the busy little droids. Just as he was about to come to another threshold he spotted a sign that directed him to the bathroom. Relife replaced the impending urgency he'd been holding in and he allowed himself a small satisfied sigh while muttering, "That's the ticket."

Zane pulled up his trousers and washed his hands before exiting the refresher and running smack dab into a strikingly attractive Pamarthen pilot, who swore in her homeworld's tongue before fixing him with a bewildered glare.

"Uh—" he stammered before panicking and reaching out to the force. His hand waved dismissively with the influence of the force and he said, "You gotta pee way too bad to deal with this. I'm harmless."

"I've gotta pee way to bad to deal with this, you're harmless," she repeated in a transfixed monotone. The pilot repeated the words again this time with more of her own conviction. She looked up at Zane, shoved him out of the way, and closed the door in his face.

A self-satisfied chuckle bubbled over into a haughty giggle as he rounded the corner and once again ran directly into another person....

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

The Intrepid glided through Hyperspace towards Dxun. The Sector Ranger crew of the vessel bustling around the bridge. Jedi Master Alexandria Voran stood off to the side. She was trying not to be a bother. Tension between the Rangers and Jedi remained but were thawing. Byblos had been an unlikely step in healing the rift. Alex had been tasked with leading a small group of Jedi to Lightsaber forge on the jungle moon. The Order remained stretched thin, but some artifacts of their past must be maintained. Local Sector Rangers were kind enough to allow the Jedi to hitch a ride. They did not yet have the resources to man vessels beyond the Little Wing. The chimes of warning bells singling an approaching exit from hyperspace. The Bothan Ranger Captain turned to flash Alex a smile.

“Master Jedi, we will be exiting hyperspace momentarily. Now would be a good time to prepare your fighters.” She nodded, returning the smile. “Thank you, Captain. We’ll be out of your hair in no time.” The plan was for the assembled Jedi to take E7’s to the surface and return quickly. They did not need much time to ensure the forage was in working order. Alex took the Captain’s advice to walk quickly to the main hangar. The Force felt odd against her senses, but she could not exactly place the feeling.

It was almost anticipation as if she were waiting on something. But what? The feeling was not the familiar dread of encroaching danger. It was something else entirely. Her mind was consumed with the thought while she walked. Alex nearly smacked into Zane when she rounded the corner. For a moment she was about to make an apology, assuming she was knocking into a crew member. The Force rang against her senses. Quickly, tell her otherwise. A frown marred her typical serene features. “Explain…now.” She did not know the Jedi, but she immediately recognized the young man as a Jedi. Unfortunately for him, Alex had handpicked her team and the blonde Jedi was not on it.

@Zay

 

[Zane Garrick]

A stampede of panic chased the arrogance from his face as Zane locked eyes with Jedi Master Voran, who just so happened to be the exact person he’d been trying to avoid on his little jaunt through the ship... The Jedi Master’s own shifting expression settled on one of scrutiny and Zane decided to match it with an admonished grin.

“You mean this isn’t the way to the temple library?” He started with his hands raised in mock surrender while attempting to slide past her.

When the path became obstructed he attempted another route, “Not buying it? That’s fair...”

A small shudder in the floor below caught the padawan’s attention. The swirling blue hues of hyperspace gave way to outstretched stars which snapped into place with a thunderclap. Zane’s admonished grin spread into an excited smile, “Dxun...”

Garrick had done it, he’d made it to the moon, he couldn’t go back now.

"Would it be crazy if I said, I wanted to build a lightsaber on that planet?"

Honesty was the best policy, right?

 

[Alexandria Voran]

Alex did not consider herself among the strictest Jedi Masters, but she had an unwavering sense of responsibility. She had accepted the burden that came with the title of Master. That meant she needed to act like it. Max had taken that burden seriously. He had instilled that same feeling within her. A shadow of grief briefly passed her mind. Would she ever stop missing him? Alex quickly returned her attention to the Padawan. Her mind flipped through the Jedi she knew. You can place him. She had been making a concerted effort to learn the students on Yavin. It was arduous work but important. Finally, it clicked in her mind. Zane…a notorious daydreamer.

Her face remained a flawless Jedi mask when she spoke. “Padawan Garrick.” Alex shook her head in disapproval. “If I remember correctly, it had been decided you were not yet ready for this particular journey.” Choosing a kyber crystal and building a lightsaber were sacred rites of passage. That right was also dangerous and difficult. Not every Padawan was ready for that journey. She knew very little about Zane outside what his teachers had written. He did not seem the type prepared for what lay ahead…but he had risked everything to stowaway. That did prove something, she just was not sure what that something was. Alex remained silent for a moment…the Force nudging her forward. Alright.

“Why? Why do you think you’re ready?” They did not have much time for her to make a choice. She could hear the bustle of the fighters being readied. If Zane was going to convince her it needed to be quickly. Alex doubted there was much he could say. The Force continued to nudge her meaning there certainly was a chance he found the right words.

@Zay

 

[Zane Garrick]

The fact that he was still standing here and not in the brig said more to him than the Jedi Master might have intended. As far as troublemakers go, Zane, was prolific in his ability to be a thorn in just about any side was put around. Granted most of those "sides" were boorish bureaucratic temple Masters that sought to lord their status over Padawans relegated to mass training. Zane stamped out a growing ember of indignance when Master Voran surprised him. She'd taken the time to know his name. She'd had no reason to it didn't benefit her in any way or shape and honestly, he lowkey wondered if someone had been talking shab.

Master Voran had his attention and though he wouldn't show it outwardly her small act of decency, at least on some level, had earned his respect.

"It's true I was passed over for this mission," he remarked standing up a bit straighter as if doing so would salvage his wounded pride.

Garrick considered her question. At face value, he'd done this specifically to stick it to the man, but truthfully he knew the answer was more complex than that. His eyes slipped to the pilots who were busy preparing to head below. The pilot he'd mind tricked reemerged from the refresher an inkling of recognition on their face as they jogged past and made for their ship.

Zane licked his lips and shrugged, "I was helpless to help the planet I was born on when the sith attacked," he cursed his nerves as he felt his hands begin to shake. He fought back the frog that had formed in his throat, cleared it, and said, "I'm tired of sitting on my hands doing nothing. I... I wanted to prove I'm more than a troublemaker."

"Please give the chance to prove myself."

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

The Force did not always speak clearly. For those who knew how to look, you could see the paths, the shades of future, but it was always shifting…changing. The path only became clear when you stepped on it. Alex tried for years to understand the path for which she was destined. She had finally learned to accept there were no easy answers. She learned to accept the path would become clear when it needed to be. The moment Zane uttered prove myself, the picture snapped into place. Alex felt the Force ring in her mind. It was an unmistakable feeling. Destiny.

She could sense the earnest nature in the young Jedi. This was not some attempt to stir up chaos. He truly meant the words he spoke. She could understand a feeling of powerlessness…the burning will to do more. Opportunities to set your path came rarely. This was a chance for change. “I’ll make you a deal.” Alex eyes flicked up and down Zane. “You and I will go to the forge together…the Light will guide us.” She ran a hand through her short hair. “If you are deemed worthy, the Force will make it known.” Her voice grew serious for a moment. “However, your training at the Temple is over.” Alex turned and began to walk towards the fighters.

“No matter what happens…I’m your teacher now.” She turned and flashed a smile. “So, you better buckle up kid, because it is going to be a bumpy ride.” She pointed at one of the E7s. “I hope you know how to fly.” The Force burst alight in the Jedi Master. She vaulted easily into the cockpit. A little mysticism never hurt. In a matter of minutes, the Jedi Squadron was in the air and headed towards the Dxun. The Force hummed loudly in her head. This was the path, but it was not certain.

@Zay

 

[Zane Garrick]

Zane hadn't noticed his breath trapped in his throat as the Master spoke. Everything hung on her decision, everything. If she turned out to be like the others he'd be relegated to staying on the ship, but if she gave him a chance.... He started to push the optimism from his mind. Hope in the gaze of folly was more painful than a cynic's acceptance.

That's when Jedi Master Voran presented her deal. Zane couldn't believe what he was hearing. She was gonna let him join the expedition, and not only that but he was done with the mundane existence of temple study! It took every ounce of self-control in his being to stop from jumping for joy. A smile slit his lips like a blaster bolt as he pretended to consider the proposition for half a heartbeat.

"Deal!"

Zane watched as Voran punctuated her words with a show of the force and couldn't help but think they were cut from the same cloth. He followed suit, jogging up to one of the unmanned E7's. As he did so the pilot from before approached, a stern look in their eye, and their jaw set in a frown. Zane stopped and swallowed before attempted the same apologetic smile he'd flashed Voran only moments before.

"I—" he started, but the pilot cut him off.

"Never again."

Zane bobbed his head admonished and muttered his apologies.

"We found your gear."

Zane recognized the gear the pilot was carrying, they handed over his poncho, utility sling, and DH-17 carbine, which he'd borrowed from the temple's reserves before stowing away on the ship. He bowed his head in gratitude and looked up to see the beginning of a smile tugging at the corners of the pilot's lips.

"Don't get yourself or us killed, sound good?"

The Padawan bowed, "Sounds good."

Garrick, using a little help from the force, vaulted into the cockpit of his E7. He was greeted by the chortling warbled of an astormech as the ship was finishing it's diagnostics.

"Nice to meet you, BG-34. I'm Zane, mind if I call you Beegee?"

The little droid whistled amusedly in agreement to the nickname. The other ships began to lift and file out in a loose military formation and Garrick followed suit. The ships exited the Corvette and made for the planet maintaining an easy-to-handle speed. The trek from start to finish was uneventful, but Zane was caught up in the fervor of his first mission. As they passed through the atmosphere they were greeted with sheets of rain over the dense;y packed jungle below. The scene was like something ripped from a story as the ships moved toward a clearing to the northeast.

Zane threw a leg over the side of his ship and slid off, plopping onto the ground. He pulled the hood of his poncho over his head, adjusted his sling bag across his chest, and tightened the utility belt at his waist which contained his holstered blaster. He excitement permeated his whole being then he heard the roar.

Garrick's head snapped toward the jungle's edge where shadows danced and toyed with the imagination. This wasn't training, this was the real deal and it was time to put his credits where his mouth was. Zane sidled up to Voran and followed her lead.

"What in the hells do you think that was?"

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

Alex guided the craft easily towards the moon’s surface. The flight was thankfully uneventful. She was finished with surprises for the day. Her mind floated through the Force while they flew. A perfect formation on either side. The purpose of their mission needed to stay the same. The Forge required inspection, but the Force had shifted her perspective. She could serve both purposes. Fortify the Forge and find whatever Zane’s path might be. Yes, that was what the Light required.

Her fight burst through the atmosphere, flying beneath rain-soaked skies, circling the clearing. The Order was stretched thin. That meant some duties were not always performed timely. In years past, the path to the Saber Forge would have been clear. Guardians would have met them in the clearing to guide their journey. Those days seemed impossibly long ago. Alex set her fighter down gently, the cockpit opening with a hiss. She quickly climbed down onto the wet ground. She did not bother putting her hood up. It felt good to be in the elements. She tipped her face towards the sky, letting the rain wash over her. Dxun was dangerous but it was also alive. The Force pulsed with the unmistakable teeming life. It brought warmth to her chest and a smile to her face.

The Force was already working. “Dxun greeting us.” Alex patted Zane on the shoulder. She raised her voice to the other Jedi. “Guard the fighters…young Padawan Garrick and I will check on the Forge. If we’re not back by nightfall, something has eaten us.” She flashed a smile at Zane. “Come on.” She led to the edge of the clearing where the remnants of the path to the Lightsaber Forge cut into the jungle. Worn and haphazard stone steps cut into the jungle. “The Force will show you the path.” Alex motioned for Zane to step in front of her. “Listen…and follow.” This was his journey. She would guide the young Jedi, but only he could find success on this path.

@Zay

 

[Zane Garrick]

"If that's it's greeting I'd hate to hear it's mating call," Zane muttered glancing out at the ominous tangle of foliage ahead.

A sudden wave of insecurity made him wonder if he was in over his head, but it was too late to dwell on that. He was here and he wasn't leaving until he heard that sweet, sweet, snap-hiss. The Padawan took a breath and prepared to follow Jedi Voran, when she gestured for him to take the lead.

"Uh, what?"

Jedi Voran advised him to listen and to follow. His brow knit together as anxiety gnawed at his innards. He turned to the path that lay ahead and scanned the densely packed jungle. From deep within he could feel the force compelling him forward. Zane swallowed his inhibitions and took the plunge.

The jungle was considerably darker than the field they'd set down in, and Zane had to work to keep his imagination from getting the better of him. It felt like they'd been walking for hours, and the padawan was slowly regaining his confidence. Of course, he was aware Dxun was home to some of the most aggressive fauna in the galaxy. From the tiny reptilian Boma, to the gargantuan Drexl, nearly every creature on this moon was prepared to rip trespassers to shreds.

Just before he committed to his next step he felt something squirm underneath his boot, glancing down his gaze met a pair of eye stocks glaring up in indignant fury. Zane yelped attempting to change his step last minute, but it was too late. The baby Cannok narrowly managed being crushed, but it's stubby tail couldn't say the same. The little beast wailed with a mouth far too big for it's body and Zane froze like a man who'd stepped on to thin ice and had just heard an unsettling crack. The cannok shot off into the underbrush and one by one pairs of considerably larger eye stocks emerged emanating a symphony of threatening croaks.

Instinctively, Zane reached through the force attempting to placate the masses from an impending charge, but before he could something barreled into his back sending him crashing to the ground. Confusion threatened to send him to an early grave, but his force-enhanced reflexes took hold and he managed to slip the snapping jaws of a Maalraas. The predator's visage rippled into existence as it's camouflage dissipated as it continued to snap at Zane. The padawan struggled to keep the beast at bay and cried out when it's jaws finally found the meat of his forearm.

Teeth gritted Garrick fired off a burst of power that struck the beast in it's chest sending it backward. Zane scrambled to his feet and drew his blaster. He sucked in a breath as the beast got to it's feet and around it flickered a full pack. The Nighthunter's fanned out attempting to flank, Zane and his master.

"Huh, didn't expect a welcoming party."

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

A thousand cliches whipped through Alex’s mind when Zane stepped on the little Cannok. The paths of the Force and all their mysterious teachings. That was certainly true sometimes, she had felt it above Dxun, but not everything was a sign from the Light. Sometimes, you just had bad luck. Zane stepping on that little beast felt much more like a cruel twist than divine intervention. Alex would have laughed if the entire situation did not quickly devolve into chaos. One small Cannok became a circling pack of Maalraas. The young Jedi had acquitted himself well but still bled onto the jungle floor. Alex’s mouth formed into a thin line. Lessons were important but just like the Force, not everything was a teaching moment.

“The Forge has gone neglected for too long…” She kept her eyes carefully on the beasts. “This is the price.” There would have been a time this path was kept clear of the worst dangers Dxun had to offer. A pang of sadness ran through her heart. They had lost more than lives during the war. The Maalraas were hungry…they smelled prey. She would not change their minds. Instead, she reached deep into the earth. Life greeted Alex while her mind expanded. The roots of a thousand jungle trees spread across her senses. She smiled. Her hands went to her sides, her palms turned up, and her arms raised. The roots of the trees burst forth, winding around the Maalraas, gripping, and tying them to the ground.

Her mind worked quickly to form the tapestry, but it was not a perfect solution. The Nighthunters earned their name. They were fast, smart, and deadly. She managed to ensnare most but not all. Her eyes quickly shot to Zane. “Together, young one.” The Maalraas who managed to avoid the whipping zines started to spring towards them. She could not manage this feat alone. Hmmmm…perhaps it was a test.

@Zay

 

[Zane Garrick]

So far, Zane was convinced Master Voran was going to fire him from being her padawan as soon as this little shindig was wrapped up. It'd be the most plausible course of action seeing as how he was clearly the unluckiest being in the galaxy. His eyes flicked from one predator to the next as they undulated between one another attempting to posture themselves to the Jedi's flanks.

Garrick kept his blaster up and at the ready. Suddenly a stirring in the force wheeled up from below like the moment just before an earthquake. The jungle around them seemed to quiet and just as the lead Maalraas lunged for Zane, the earth exploded with writing, snapping tendrils. Showers of dark moist soil sprayed the padawan as a thick vine bound the lunging beast mid-air, ripping a yelp of fear from the beast's fang-bared maw.

Zane lept back a step and drew the force into him like a wave preparing to crest. As he landed, the two Maalraas that had managed to escape the vines closed in with a frenzied hunger. Zane holstered his blaster and shot both hands forward unleashing the power he'd cultivated. The force crashes into the beasts and sent them sprawling back into the vines they'd attempted to escape. The earthen tendrils coiled around the nighthunters, pinning them in place.

The padawan breathed a sigh of relief as Master Voran's trap settled on their assailants. Blood slicked the space between his elbow and wrist, and he pulled some gauze and wrap from his sling bag.

Zane tended the wound quickly and then turned to his master, "Uh, maybe you should lead for a bit?"

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

Alex was a torrent of the Force. Power rippling out from beneath her feet while we worked. Dxun made it easy. The moon was comically dangerous but bursting with life. Wielding the Light surrounded by such life was perfectly smooth. She dimly aware of Zane fighting off the Maalraas she had missed. In time, the two of them had managed to subdue the entire pack. The vines tightening around the Maalraas. They would escape in time…hopefully not before the Jedi completed their journey. Alex breathed a sigh of relief. She titled her head to look at Zane, blood seeping between his elbow and wrist. “We are close.” Yes…the Forge was nearby. “Just a little further.” Something was wrong. The Forge felt slightly off kilter. She could just barely feel it from this distance.

“I’ve already walked this path, Zane.” Her lightsaber hilt flicked into her hand. “This is not my journey, and I cannot complete it for you.” She quirked one eyebrow pointing at a clearer section of path. “The Forge is just through the next hill. I would guide you to it if I could…but it is not my place.” Alex focused in the Force again. The Forge continued to ring oddly against her sense. She did not like that at all. The Forge was not whole, broken in some way, but it was impossible to tell. “You’re not alone.” The truth was Alex would never let Zane actually be harmed. It was her responsibility to keep the young Jedi safe and she took that very seriously. That did not mean this path was meant to be easy. Earning your saber was rightfully a struggle.

She motioned for Zane to lead the way. They would arrive at the Forge soon enough. What they would find upon arrival was the Forge had been damaged. By whom, that was a mystery. What the Jedi would find was a Forge that could not possible work on its own. Another solution would need to be found.

@Zay

 

[Zane Garrick]

Zane swallowed hard as his eyes followed Master Voran's insistent gesture. This was his journey. He needed to see this through if he expected to obtain a weapon from the mythical forge. So, with a deep breath, the padawan took point and pressed on. His mind was acutely aware of the force, his mistake in the first place had been to ignore the power that flowed through the moon, and the wound on his forearm was a testament to it. He'd not make the same mistake twice.

As he pushed through the brush the ground beneath his feet became noticeably more solid. The rustle of fallen leaves gave way to the soft crunch of gravel and as he hit the top of the hill mentioned by Voran he smiled. The mouth of a humble granite cave sat straight ahead. The opening of which was nearly invisible from the dense foliage that had grown around it. Zane scanned the area for any threats and once he was sure it was safe continued on.

Standing before the cave's entrance the padawan was overcome with a sense of accomplishment. He didn't have a weapon yet, but in all honesty, it didn't matter. He'd set out to see something that had been considered myth and now he stood in front of it. His being here proved it's existence. The force was readily apparent in the area and Zane reached out to the power for guidance. A small tug in his gut ushered him forward and so he followed.

As one would expect the cave was dark. He pulled a maglight from his sling and turned it on. The light lit up the space before him and Zane froze. The floor was littered with earthen-hued carapaces. Hundreds upon hundreds of them lay scattered across the floor making traversal nearly impossible. Garrick drew the lightside into him and channeled it into his legs, he charted a course that would allow him to move forward without disturbing the colony taking residence on the floor.

Zane steadied himself took two powerful steps and then leapt into the air. He came down carefully, landing in a crouch, and launched upward again. unfortunately, for his second jump, he'd not taken into account the granite stalactites hanging from the ceiling.

"Oh shii—"

Zane collided with the obstacle. He felt the wind escape his lungs as a constellation of stars burst forth across his vision. He managed to lock his limbs around the structure and hold on for dear life until he could regain his bearings. Zane slipped around to the other side and shook the fog from his head before springboarding off the stalactite and onto the ground.

As he landed, the flicker of light stopped him in his tracks. Twin torches conflagrated simultaneously bathing the cave in firelight. The torches stood sentry beside an enormous slab of stone which was adorned with a Jedi crest. Zane reached out and felt the cool stone beneath his fingertips. Curiously he gave the humongous slab a shove and found himself propelled backward a few steps. The stone was immense, solid granite placed here to keep out unwanted guests hundreds if not thousands of years ago.

The force swelled around him like the wind before a storm. He wasn't sure he could do this alone, but he had to try, after all this was his path, right?

Zane extended both hands and closed his eyes in concentration. The padwan called out to the light and began to work it's power through him. At first the stone didn't move, sweat began to dot his forehead and coat his back. His brow creased and his lips curled into a frown and then a grimace. The muscles in his arms flexed as the force took it's price for the work he'd asked of it. The stone shuddered. A plume of dust was shaken from it's surface and then it slid aside.

Zane dropped to his knees sucking in air. The door was open.

 

[Alexandria Voran]

A small smile appeared on Alex’s face. Zane would never see it as he trudged forward. Any number of Jedi may have back off even with her insistence, they may have decided the journey too dangerous. Zane forged ahead. She was still uncertain he was ready. She simply did not know enough about the young Jedi, but she admired his determination. No fool would have made it this far. Alex continued to feel the pang of sadness as they neared the Forge. They had neglected an important piece of the Order. It was heartbreaking to see it in such a state. The entrance to the cave was covered in the trapping of the jungle. Nothing used to be this way. The Order focus was elsewhere and so some pieces of the past were left to collect dust. There were only so many problems she could solve.

Compounding the dereliction were the carapaces littering the entrance. Alex didn’t move while Zane very clumsily made his way over the barrier. Her mind flicked across him quickly…just to make sure he wasn’t concussed. The young man seemed to be a walking injury. This was his journey, but it was her responsibility to ensure he made it out relatively in one piece. The winds picked up behind her. Humidity brushing across her cheek. Perfect. Alex reached into the earth again. The wind gently encircled her, floating her harmlessly across the carapaces when she jumped. No need for them both to end of knocking the ceiling. She landed softly just as Zane started to push on the slab. This was meant to be done by student and Master. Alex carefully lent her strength to Zane. The beginnings of a Force bond humming between them. With a little extra push, the door opened. Now it was her turn. The Light appeared in her hand.

“Follow me.” She walked carefully into the next room, the Jedi crest sitting in the center. Alex took a few deep breaths…the Force willing her soul. She knelt at the center of the crest, pushing the Light and her palm into the center. The crest came alive with soft white light. It rapidly spread throughout the room, racing up the walls, and illuminating cavern. The Force shone brightly across from the door. “It is time Zane.” She could only hope the young man had some strength remaining. Alex would lend him what he needed.

@Zay

 

[Zane Garrick]

Zane was physically spent, sweat dripped from his face to the floor and his arms and legs felt weak. He could feel a trickle of energy ebbing it's way to him, but he refused to accept it. He needed to feel this pain, this exhaustion, he needed to understand what it meant to have nothing left and press forward. He managed to get to his feet with some effort and nodded as Alex led him into the forge.

The soft white light bathed the forge's surroundings with an air of antiquity befitting a relic of an age gone by. The force beckoned him to the center of the room directly in front of the forge. As he approached Zane noticed the lightsaber left on the mantle. It was covered in dust, but with each closing step, the remanence of time that clung to it was cast off in pulsing waves.

Zane knelt before the alter like forge and bowed his head in reverence of the force. The lightsaber on the mantle rose from it's resting place and stood up as if presenting itself to him. Images of it's legacy flashed through his mind offering him both wondrous glory and ominous warning. The instrument before him had saved lives, but it had also maimed and destroyed. The impact of taking a life splayed out in the struggle of the weapon's former master as they wrestled with the agony of their choice.

Suddenly, the timeline of the lightsaber's "life" flowed backward. Images moving in rapid succession until finally the same Jedi from before knelt at this same forge. The saber disassembled piece by piece in a methodical manner as if showing Zane how it was done. Finally, the kyber crystal was all that remained. the piece's lingered there for but a moment before they reassembled. As the weapon returned to it's resting place several compartments opened. With his eyes still closed, Garrick reached out to them brushing against each piece with his consciousness until he'd found the one's that were his.

A pale crystal presented itself to him and as he connected with it a pale yellow light began to emanate from within the crystal. The pieces began to come together, one by one around the crystal until finally, a new saber hung in the air.

Zane stood, still with more effort than he'd wanted to admit and grasped the hilt. He ignited the saber and with the iconic snap hiss, golden light spewed from it's emitter as the blade sprang to life. The deep hum of the weapon filled the silence of the space as the immensity of this moment finally hit him. He cut the saber off and turned to Master Voran.

"Thank you."

The words seemed lacking compared to what she'd helped him do, but without her accepting him he'd have never been able to do this, hell he'd have been dog food. In a matter of hours, she'd done what no other mentor in the order had been able to do in years, gain Zane's trust.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

It was time. Alex watched carefully as Zane approached the Forge. The Force whispering in the back of her mind. He was ready if he seized the chance. Her head tilted to the side, she watched as the Force worked through the young Jedi. Yes…he was ready. The Order had failed young Jedi Garrick. They had failed to see the Jedi he could be and only saw the Jedi he was. Alex shook her head slowly. Their methods were outdated, unsuited for the challenges they faced now. The Temple training worked for some but was a hindrance to others. How would she have turned out if locked in the Temple all those years? She never would have succeeded. The same disservice was nearly done to Zane.

As Alex’s mind whirled through possibilities, Zane worked, until he stood before her. The saber ignited with the classic sound, filling the cavern with soft golden light. A broad smile stretched across her face. It was genuine. “You are very welcome.” Her voice beamed with pride. “But all I did was lay out the path. You were ready for this Zane. You would not be holding that saber if you were not…the Force knew you were ready…even if the Order didn’t.”

She stepped a little closer to look her new student in the eyes. “I have one rule for that blade. A rule we will never break.” She pointed at the saber hilt. “I do not take lives and I expect the same from my students.” Alex’s voice rang clearly in the cavern. “We are at war, but we will not sacrifice our soul.” Images of Max flashed through her mind. “Master Tionson taught that until his death and I teach the same.” Her face softened as did her tone.

“Now, you need to learn how to use that thing and the jungles of Dxun are not the ideal location.” They had managed to skirt many of the worst dangers of the jungle mood but that would only last for so long.

@Zay