11 The Gathering 2
I will be changing the way they get their crystal from Ilum. What I'm changing is that the younglings will find the amount of crystals they need for what they think will create the best lightsaber/lightsabers for them. If you don't like it suck a dick.
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Entering through the door, snow ice and rock came together to make a beautiful scene in the cave. The light reflected against many things, giving wherever you looked a bright shine. We followed the main path down the cave while taking in the view as we went.
Eventually we came to a room where the path ahead splits up into 3 different sections. Surrounding the pathways were surrounded by stone door frames that looked very antiquated, but still had an ancient charm too it from all the patterns and runes craved all over them.
"The path splits up here I think we should split up and find our crystals separately" Ashoka stated.
"How will we pick which path we a going to take?" Knox asked. Thinking for a few seconds I tell them, "I have an idea" and walked over to stand in front of the 3 doorways. Taking a deep breath and pointing my finger at one of the doors.
"It, bit, bird, shit, hairy, fanny, juicy, tit, you are, going, to, be, it" before my finger finally landed on the doorway to the right.
"Well I'm taking this door" I decided while looking back at the three of them to make sure they knew.
Ashoka didn't seem impressed with my display and argued "Lycan I thought you were being serious here, what happened to letting the force guide you".
"I'm being dead serious, that's the path I'm taking so yous better hurry up and pick one so we can find our crystals and leave already" I said as I began to walk down my chosen path.
After a few moments I could hear the pitter patter of footsteps coming from behind me, before I could turn my neck to see who it was the person already reached my side.
"Laila how'd you end up picking this path?" I questioned.
"Not sure, I just felt like the right one to pick" she replied. That's about as good an answer I'd get considering the force was involved.
As we strode down the path I couldn't help but wonder what trial I would end up getting from the cave. It's not as if I've got any blaring weaknesses, unless you count an extreme dislike for cold weather but I doubt that would be a problem since being here would already count as a trial to overcome.
It also made me think about how the cave even does shit like trial, like is the cave sentient or is it the crystals that make the cave sentient, man star wars is filled with lots of unexplained shit like this. For all I know it could be the tiny green fella moving the cave about from where he's sitting just to take the piss, I wouldn't even blame him for it imagine being nearly a thousand years old and spending most of it with the jedi. Fuck that noise.
Reaching a wide open space with a mini lake covering the opposite side from the one we are on splitting the room into two halves, with icicles looming over our heads that spread over the entire length of the room. It gave the area an untouched feeling as if it had been forgotten about for decades.
Looking across too the other side off the room our eyes are attracted to the 3 brilliant white shining crystals that were held within a block of ice near the middle of the frozen lake.
Finally these kyber crystals showed up, I was wondering if we were going to have to bust out the ice door because we were so late in finding them.
"Laila you seeing what I'm seeing" I said with a big grin on my face, but after a few moments there was still no response. Looking next to me I see Laila with an expression of abject horror on her face. This surprised me as I've rarely seen her sad never mind horrified at something.
Gently resting my tattooed hand on her shoulder I ask her calmly "Laila what's wrong, you don't look so good". She looked at me with a fearful expression on her face and quickly tore my hand off her shoulder and put some distance between us.
"Stay away from me" she stammered with a nervous expression on her face. If I was to guess what was happening, I'd probably this rooms done something to her that's made her suddenly fearful of me.
Standing in place for now I raise my hands in the air to show that I mean no harm, "It's ok I won't move" I calmly stated while trying my best to put a gentle look on my face. "Why don't you tell me what's so we can fix the problem.".
Taking several deep breaths Laila spoke "I... I cant feel anything from you. My senses feel empty"
Still not understanding I questioned "I still can't understand what you mean. Is it your senses that have been dulled or?".
"Its... your emotions, I can't feel them, it's like my mind's been cut off from everything".
So that's the problem, this area must've cut off all of her species telepathic abilities. That'll be rough for her since she's never experienced anything like it before. What she's feeling would be similar to if a human was suddenly prevented from seeing and hearing, no wonder she's so terrified.
"Laila listen to me" I insisted as I carefully walked towards her. "You can trust me you know. Do you think I'd do anything to you just because you can't sense how I'm feeling" me saying this evokes a complicated look to appear on Laila's red face.
Getting closer to her, "Think about how much time we've spent together over the years, have I ever done anything that would hurt you". Standing in front of her I knee down slightly and gently place my hand over her head.
"Tell you what, if not being able to feel how I'm feeling right now bothers you so much. Why don't we get those crystals quickly and leave this place." I comforted her while stroking my hand through her deep blue hair."
As I comb her hair Laila's eyes begin to water slightly and she pulls me in for a tight hug. Resting her head on my lowered shoulder. "It's fine now Lycan, if its you I won't need my powers too feel safe here."
Woah woah woah hold the fuck up. I think this place might've broke her, don't get me wrong a cute girl giving me a hug doesn't bother me. It's just she's a bit young for me to be relishing the moment. When she gets a bit older I'll totally be down for all the cuddling she wants, but for now I still need to be weary about the intergalactic FBI.
A few moments later "As much as I enjoy this, don't we have some crystals to get" I smirked at Laila, making her skin turn a deeper shade of red as she eventually let go.
"Sorry about that" she squeaked.
"Don't worry doll, was my pleasure but what's the plan for getting those crystals. I won't be able to get across the ice without breaking it and I'd probably freeze to death if I fell in that water." I told her, getting a thoughtful look to appear on her face.
"I think I'm light enough to cross over the ice but it'd be a problem to break the ice that's holding the cyber crystals" She replied.
"Wait her for a second and I'll go get something for it" leaving the area I returned to the rocky hall and approached one of the stalagmites. Sizing it up for a moment I give it a solid punch that cracked the tip off before bringing it back and handing it to Laila.
As much as I didn't want someone else to touch my crystals in case of complications I said "Use this and just pick away at the ice till the crystals come out" getting a nod as a reply she begins to slowly edge across the frozen lake.
The walk across was mostly safe, with a few subtle crack appearing on the surface of the ice but Laila made her way safely across the the block that was holding the crystals. Holding on to the side of the ice she began to chip away at the ice.
After several hits the first crystal was visible, Laila tore the it out of it's ice casing and put it in her jacket pocket. As she does this the ice she was standing on began to visibly crack, spreading across a good portion of the lake giving her a fright and causing her to speed up her efforts of removing the crystal.
Watching this happen from where I was standing I quickly shouted to my companion "The ice holding the cyber crystals is holding the entire sheet of ice together" causing her to stop for a moment to look over to me. "Just come back over and I'll find another set of crystals"
As much as I wanted those crystals, it would be worth it if Laila fell in the freezing water. I might be an asshole but not on the level I'd risk my friends life just to get something. Only sith pussies do that kind of stuff.
Surprising me Laila reprimands me saying "Lycan if you want these crystals you'll have to trust me as much as I trust you. Have faith that'll I'll be able to get them, and the ice breaks I trust you'll be able to stop me from falling into the water".
She's got a fair point there, bit off a dick move from me after I said all that shit about trusting her a few minutes ago. Deciding that if the ice breaks I'd just catch her with telekinesis I told her to continue.
The second crystal that came out caused the ice to become even more unstable, making me ready my arms to prepare for catching her. Slowly but surely she chipped away at the ice over the third and final crystal. Every strike caused the ice's crack to worsen making my heart clench in my chest, I don't know why I was so scared since I knew it should be and easy task to use the force to lift her, but the fact that if I drop her she could die made my palms sweaty.
When the last cyber crystal was freed Laila swiftly grabbed it, as she done this the ice beneath her free finally cracked open prompting me to use the force to surround her can drag her over to me. Dropping her at my side I was filled with a sense of relief, while Laila just seemed pleased at getting the crystals safely.
"See I knew you would save me" she said with a smile of happiness and getting a similar smile from me.
"Catch" as she tossed over two of the three crystals into my grasp. Pocketing them I told her "Right, lets get back to the ship already, it's fucking freezing in here".
On the trip back out the cave we came across a trapped Ashoka stuck in a deep hole struggling to get out. Giving each other a quick look we go over the the edge of the pit to speak to her.
Laila shouts down "Ashoka do you need some help!" moments later a similar shout returns saying "No I'm fine I'll escape myself this must be my trial."
Shaking my head I bellowed down "There's not much time left before the door closes, you'll be stuck here if you don't get out in time"
Getting no reply in turn I look at Laila to get her opinion on this, when she nodded I leaped down the hole to go and talk some sense into her. As I land Ashoka angrily told me "Lycan why'd you jump down, now you'll be stuck as well".
"Doesn't you saying that mean you've admitted that your stuck" getting an embarrassed look to show on her face. "Don't worry about me I can just jump out no hassle. It's you that me and Laila are concerned about".
"But I've already got my crystal what if it disappears or something if I get help from you" she stated.
"Losing your crystal after already getting it just because of getting help sounds a bit daft does it not. Listen there's no harm in getting help if you can't do something, isn't helping each other out the jedi way or some shit."
Ashoka is silent for a few moments as she lets my words settle in before looking me dead in the eyes and asking "What's your plan then". Walking over to her I whisper in her ear the plan getting a startled response from the aspiring padawan, "You sure that's safe" giving her an assuring look I say "Should be as long as my aims decent".
"Laila you ready!" I yelled up to her, getting a shout back to confirm I tell Ashoka to get ready. Standing at he bottom of the ice wall Laila was at the top of I get into position, clasping my hands in front of me and leaning down a bit I nod to Ashoka to say I'm ready.
She begins to run towards me at high speed before jumping and using my clasped hands as a springboard. As she lands on my hand I use my strength to lift push her up and send her flying towards Laila who grabbed Ashoka's hands and pulled her too the top.
Seeing that she made it up without any accidents I channelled the force into my muscles and leapt up to where they were standing.
"Thanks for helping me you two, sorry for, err being so difficult" Ashoka say bashfully while her eyes drifted around the room, allowing Laila to grab her hand and say "Don't worry about it, that's what friends are for" as she gives her a cheerful smile.
"Right lets boost out of here before the entrance closes" I told them as we started to jog towards the exit.
